Rose Goslinga is transforming agricultural insurance in Africa through Pula, using technology to protect smallholder farmers from climate and financial risks.
Rose Goslinga is a social entrepreneur helping reshape agricultural finance across Africa. As the co-founder and President of Pula, an insurtech firm providing insurance solutions for smallholder farmers, she has played a central role in making risk protection more accessible to farmers vulnerable to climate change and market fluctuations.
Having grown up in Tanzania and later lived and worked in Kenya, the Netherlands, and parts of Europe, Goslinga was exposed early to the inequalities that define rural economies. This multicultural background, plus a deep interest in development policy, shaped her understanding of how economic systems affect vulnerable populations.
She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Political Economy of Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, an academic path that would later inform her approach to social entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
From innovation to impact
Rose Goslinga began her professional career with the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, where she led the Kilimo Salama (Safe Farming) programme. The initiative provided smallholder farmers in Kenya and Rwanda with insurance against losses caused by drought or excess rainfall. Starting with a pilot of around 185 farmers, the programme expanded to cover over 185,000 farmers within a few years. It was proof of the potential for scalable, technology-driven agricultural insurance.
This experience inspired Goslinga to co-found Pula in 2015 to address structural barriers that prevented smallholder farmers from accessing affordable insurance. Many farmers were excluded not because of a lack of demand, but because existing products were either too costly or not suited to their needs.
Building Pula
Based in Nairobi, Pula designs and distributes insurance products tailored to smallholder farmers. The company works with governments, development agencies, and agribusinesses to integrate insurance into broader agricultural support systems. Using mobile technology, satellite data, and predictive modelling, the startup enables farmers to access insurance, often via mobile phones, even in remote areas where traditional banking infrastructure is limited.
According to the company, more than 15 million farmers across over 20 countries have benefited from its insurance solutions. By protecting against climate-related shocks, Pula aims to help farmers invest more confidently in inputs such as seeds and fertilisers, thereby improving yields and income stability.
Broader Influence
Rose Goslinga has positioned Pula to receive several international recognitions, including the Financial Times/IFC Transformational Business Award for Sustainable Finance and selection as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer. She has also been a speaker at global platforms such as TED and the World Bank, where she advocates for climate-smart agriculture and inclusive financial systems.
While Pula’s work has drawn international attention, Goslinga remains focused on the practical realities of scaling agricultural insurance in developing economies—balancing innovation with affordability and long-term sustainability.
