VIA Foundation connects people restoring land with finance, training, and data.
Founded in 2023, Vumbuzi Impact Africa (VIA) Foundation is Africa’s first institution dedicated to financing the restoration of degraded landscapes. VIA Foundation finances, trains, and monitors the outcomes of community groups and local enterprises that manage high-quality, locally led projects.
VIA Foundation envisions thriving landscapes that generate economic opportunity, strengthen communities, protect biodiversity, and contribute to climate resilience across the continent.
VIA Foundation mobilizes finance, technical support, strategic partnerships, and innovative financial solutions that enable restoration champions to deliver measurable environmental and social impact.
As a trusted partner of donors, investors, government agencies, and communities themselves, VIA Foundation connects capital to grassroots organizations so restoration is led by those closest to the land. Together, VIA Foundation develops blended and outcome-based finance solutions to close the funding gap for Africa’s restoration economy.
Registered in Rwanda, VIA Foundation builds partnerships that support Africa’s growing restoration economy. Today, the institution operates in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, with the goal of expanding to other countries across the continent.
VIA Foundation staff have extensive experience in finance and operations, portfolio management, communications, and monitoring, reporting, and verification.
Chief Executive Officer
Assumpta leads VIA Foundation's mission to finance and support Africa's locally led restoration champions. She brings deep expertise in climate finance, community development, and pan-African conservation strategy.
Project Manager, Kenya
Field coordinator
VIA Foundation is grateful to the Bezos Earth Fund and The Audacious Project for their anchor financial support.
African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) (opens in a new tab)
Bezos Earth Fund (opens in a new tab)
The Audacious Project (opens in a new tab)
One Tree Planted (opens in a new tab)
Realize Impact (opens in a new tab)
World Bank (opens in a new tab)
World Resources Institute (WRI) (opens in a new tab)Experienced leaders steward VIA Foundation’s growth as members of the board of directors. Members act in their individual capacity.
Chair | Rwanda
Dr. Kaberuka is the former president of the African Development Bank and former minister of finance of Rwanda.
Member | South Africa
Mr. Diakhité is head of the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Division at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and leader of the AFR100 Secretariat.
Member | Norway
Mr. Solheim is the former executive director of the UN Environment Programme and former minister of environment and international development of Norway.
Member | Kenya
Dr. Shirley is the executive director for Africa at World Resources Institute and former chief of research at Power for All.
