The Aegis Peace Fund has four levels of investment:

Level 1: Investments in social entrepreneurs, artisans and small holder farmers with high impact projects in the Eastern Province, with a particular focus on value-added agriculture such a chilli processing and coffee projects.  

Level 2:  Working at the village level, the Aegis Peace Fund will invest 'patient capital' in infrastructure and systems that have potential to strengthen industry sectors. Such investments will have an emphasis on long-term return for the fund and co-investors, while enabling farmers and artisans to lift themselves out of poverty.​​ Working with specialist technical partners, these projects will create significant employment opportunities and wider economic transformation, as well as improving nutrition and health. 

Example projects include:
- Sustainable textile production​
- Maize processing for animal feed and human consumption
​- Cold supply chain logistics

Level 3: The Aegis Peace Fund will broaden the scope of its investments to the whole of the country of Rwanda, developing a model that can be applied across the region.​

Level 4: With partners, we will see the Aegis Peace Fund scale its model across Sub-Saharan Africa and the globe. ​​It will build on a foundation of learning from its previous phases of development and draw on the experience and insights of others.

​​In the context of a volatile global environment and the acceleration of climate change, the Aegis Peace Fund aims to reach this stage by 2026 with the capacity to have swift and widespread impact. ​

We hold within our framework, the Marina H Smith Foundation. This is a special fund to continue the incredible legacy of Mrs Marina Smith MBE in perpetuity, in partnership with The Smith Family.

A Founder of The National Holocaust Centre and Aegis Trust, and a staunch supporter of social enterprise, Marina was dedicated to humanity. First and foremost, she cared for survivors of the Holocaust and genocide and made a lifetime commitment to support them. She was also an advocate for those building peace in communities torn apart by violence. She invested her time to encourage their teams and muster together resources that were specific and timely.

To continue Marina’s vital work, the Marina H Smith Foundation provides grants to support survivors of genocide, peace builders, education and social enterprises. By donating to the Marina H Smith Foundation, you make a very tangible difference to those who need it, ensuring that the love Marina showed, continues on. Please visit www.marinahsmithfoundation.org to find out more

The Marina H Smith Foundation is supporting a number of causes. One such project is raising funds for peace builder, Albert Rutikanga in Rwanda.

Albert is teacher who lost his parents and siblings in the Genocide against the Tutsi, was inspired through Aegis’ peace education training to become a peace builder between survivors and perpetrators. He established enterprises with goats and kitchen gardens to encourage collaboration and brought peace education into the community. Now he has made the courageous decision to give his up his formal role as a teacher to run the Peace Initiative. The Marina H Smith Foundation will support Albert by contributing to a year’s salary and we invite you join by donating to the Marina H Smith Foundation.