AFi receives renewed grant funding from the Walmart Foundation

The Accountability Framework initiative (AFi) is pleased to announce new funding from the Walmart Foundation. The philanthropic grant to the AFi aims to deepen and broaden adoption of the Accountability Framework to support the elimination of deforestation, conversion, and human rights violations in agricultural and forestry commodity supply chains. Achieving responsible supply chains as a matter of urgency is critical to supporting global goals for climate, nature, and sustainable development.

Building on the progress companies have made towards improving sustainability policies and practices since the AFi was established in 2017, the grant will enable the AFi to further improve how companies produce, source, and finance commodities. With this support, the AFi will also continue to strengthen and align the enabling environment to support accelerated action. Funding for the 2025-2026 period marks the third grant to the AFi from the Walmart Foundation.

“2025 is a critical moment for companies, as investors, regulators, and other stakeholders sharpen their expectations for responsible supply chains,” said AFi Director Jeff Milder. “Thanks to support from the Walmart Foundation and other funders, the AFi is able to offer companies consensus-based guidance and insights to support them as they navigate this context. By following the Accountability Framework, companies can make progress on climate, nature, human rights, and sustainable development goals in an integrated manner, and drive positive change throughout their supply chains.”

The grant will support the AFi’s collaborative work with its Coalition member organisations and other partners to achieve three objectives:

• Increasing the number of companies engaging with and applying the Accountability Framework. This includes first time users adopting the Framework’s guidance, as well as existing adopters using it to improve their responsible supply chain approach, including by closing implementation gaps.
• Maintaining the Accountability Framework as the common, up-to-date, globally-applicable reference on responsible supply chains. This will be accomplished through Framework updates that address pressing questions and achieve clarity where it is lacking. 
• Integrating effective action on deforestation and ecosystem conversion into leading climate and nature initiatives, guided by the Accountability Framework. This integration is important because many companies cannot meet their climate and nature goals without addressing land use change in their supply chains.

“Walmart Foundation is pleased to support the AFi’s work to align key stakeholders on advancing in a common direction towards more responsible agricultural and forestry commodity supply chains,” said Simon Hall, Director, Strategic Initiatives (Forests & Nature), Walmart Foundation.