Around the world, entrepreneurs are often hailed as “drivers of innovation” or “agents of change.” But what does this really mean for the poor or vulnerable — those who are far removed from bustling tech hubs? In developing countries, innovative entrepreneurs are creating jobs and boosting economic development, while extending essential products and services to those who need them most.

In Kenya, for example, Peter Chege, an entrepreneur from Nairobi, is helping local farmers adapt to climate change. According to some models, cereal yields are expected to decrease by 10 percent to 20 percent by 2050 due to droughts and rising temperatures. Peter is developing and installing hydroponics systems for farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda that will allow them to grow produce without soil, significantly increasing their crop yields while reducing water usage.

In Jamaica, farmers lose a significant portion of their produce to spoilage because they lack direct access to the markets. Instead, they must haggle about prices with middlemen, resulting in increased costs and delays. To address this inefficiency, Jamaican entrepreneurs Jermaine Henry and Janice McLeod developed AgroCentral, a mobile app that matches farmers with buyers in the hotel and restaurant trade. The result? Greater revenue for farmers, lower prices for buyers, and reduced waste.

Jermaine Henry and Janice McLeod, AgroCentral

Growth-oriented entrepreneurs like Peter, Jermaine and Janice are the backbone of local economies. They create new jobs in high-value sectors, like climate technology, agribusiness, and digital innovation, while also extending access to products and services — such as mobile banking and medicine — to poor or remote communities. They also advance the fight against climate change by providing clean water, delivering affordable off-grid power, and improving climate-smart agricultural techniques.