UTAFITI SERA YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CREATION (YEC IV): CAPACITY STRENGTHENING OF MSMES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN MANGO, POTATO AND AVOCADO VALUE CHAINS

UTAFITI SERA YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CREATION (YEC IV): CAPACITY STRENGTHENING OF MSMES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN MANGO, POTATO AND AVOCADO VALUE CHAINS

Venue: Waridi Paradise Hotel and Suite, Nairobi, Kenya

Date: October 17-18, 2024

The Centre for African Bio-Entrepreneurship (CABE Africa) in collaboration with the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research is hosting and implementing the Utafiti Sera (Research-Policy) Project on Youth Employment Creation in Agriculture and Agro-processing Phase IV (YEC IV). This project is funded by funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and aims to enhance research evidence uptake in Agribusiness and Agro-processing and focuses on building more inclusive policies and practices for the agri-based micro, small, and mediumsized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya.

In order to catalyze uptake and application of research evidence to inform policy and decision making by MSMEs, capacity building through short trainings and development of learning materials was prioritized as one of the objectives of YEC IV project. Capacity assessment of 106 MSMEs was undertaken and administered using a digital capacity assessment tool in July 2024 for the selected Agri-based MSMEs in Makueni, Nyandarua, West Pokot and Kakamega counties to identify opportunities and challenges in mango, potato and avocado value chains. The study revealed capacity gaps that required a design of capacity strengthening plan for effective MSMES participation in successful sustainable businesses, entrepreneurship and policy process.

The key assessment areas included: Sales Marketing and Quality Control, Use of Information and/or Technology, Business Relationships and Networking, Resources and Financial Management, Leadership and Governance. These assessment areas were informed by the synthesis of evidence from secondary literature, prior rapid assessment of the MSMEs, and input from stakeholders at the Launch of Utafiti-sera Youth Employment Creation in Agriculture and Agro-processing (YEC IV) in March 2024.

The capacity strengthening or building envisages to improve an individual’s or organization’s ability “to produce, perform or deploy” by enhancing capacities in four strategic areas including Operational, Management, Financial Management, and Personal capacities for a strong and successful entrepreneurship. While some capacities are gained through career experience, through educational avenues, some capacities are strengthened through learned responses in  the business environment.

The capacity building intervention envisages to address the identified capacity gaps in the following areas:  

  • Market access and market linkages
  • Digital platforms for marketing
  • Market information
  • Quality standards for agro-processing
  • Appropriate transport logistics
  • Resource mobilization
  • Financial literacy and financial management
  • Digitalization of records and e-payment
  • Leadership skills and governance

Objectives

  1. To facilitate knowledge sharing among MSMEs in Mango, Potato and avocado value chains, including entrepreneurship practices, leadership and governance, technology and innovation, Finance, marketing and market access for products
  2. To Create a platform for collaboration and linkages among MSMEs to access accurate and timely access information on markets and innovation to improve entrepreneurship
  3. Promote the utilization of research evidence to inform policy in agribusiness.

Expected Outcomes

  • Co-created short training curriculum for use by MSMEs to improve entrepreneurship.
  • A platform created for collaboration and linkages with industry players in specific enterprises in targeted counties. 
  • A culture created on the of use of evidence to inform and influence policy in decision making at county level.

Approach

The convening will adopt PASGR’s innovative Utafiti-Sera approach to which is an innovative evidence- informed policy making approach to issues identified by MSMES in the capacity assessment study to co-create capacity plan.

The two day training workshop will be held on Thursday, 17th and Friday 18th October, 2024 at Waridi Paradise, Kilimani, Nairobi, approximately 40 participants are expected to attend drawn from MSMEs from Makueni Mango value chain, Nyandarua Potato value chain, West Pokot, Mango and potato value chain; and Kakamega Avocado value chain, PASGR and CABE staff and facilitators.

Youth Employment Creation (YEC IV) Training Programme

TimeDay 1 – Thursday 17th October 2024Facilitator
8:00-8:30ARRIVAL & REGISTRATIONSusan Malema
8:30 – 9:00Introduction: Introduction, Expectations, and climate settingLucy Adoyo/CABE/PASGR
09:00 –10:00Marketing: Markets, Marketing & Marketing StrategiesLawrence Wambua
10.00 -10.30Plenary DiscussionsLucy Adoyo
10:30 – 11:00TEA BREAKSusan Malema
11:00 – 12:00Marketing : Market segmentation & Digital marketingLawrence Wambua
12:00 -01.00Activity: (Group Work): Developing Digital Marketing PlatformsLucy Adoyo/Collins
01:00– 01:00LUNCH BREAKSusan Malema
2:00 –03:00Financial Planning and Management Business Financial Cycle, Capital Requirements & Sources of FinanceLawrence Wambua
03.00 – 04.00Financial Planning and Management Costing, Pricing, Business Finance, Cashflow ManagementLawrence Wambua
04.00 – 04.30Q & A SessionLucy Adoyo
04.30 -05.00Business Model Canvas: A Business Plan in one pageLawrence Wambua
 Take-Away Business Plan Assignment 
 EVENING BREAK 
   
DAY 2 – Friday 18th October 2024 
8:00 – 8:30Arrival and registrationSusan Malema
8:30 – 9:00Recap of Day 1Lawrence
9:00 – 10:00Record KeepingLucy Adoyo
10:00 -10:30Q & A SessionsLucy Adoyo
10:30 – 11:00TEA BREAKSusan Malema
11.00 – 12.00Partnerships and NetworkingLawrence Wambua
12.00 – 01.00Group Work – (Mapping Partners and Networks)Lawrence
01.00 – 02.00LUNCH BREAKSusan Malema
02:00– 03:00Leadership and governance Business registration (why and how) Decision making (The rebirth of the eagle)Lawrence Wambua
03.00- 3.30Way Forward and ClosingLucy Adoyo/CABE

Waridi Paradise Hotel and Suite, Nairobi, Kenya

October 17-18, 2024

STRENGTHENING SEED SYSTEMS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN KENYA: PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICAL ECONOMY AND POLICY PROCESSES

CABE in conjunction with Tegemeo Institute is organizing a two-day workshop on Strengthening Seed Systems and Market Development.

Seed systems in Africa south of the Sahara have been a central topic in the public discourse as part of wider conversations on policy options for agriculture and rural development. Although seed systems in the region have followed different development trajectories, they do seem to be affected by political economy, farming system, agroecological, and market development factors that policymakers and stakeholders must address if the systems are to thrive. Political economy issues appear to shape the debate, including limited support for agricultural research, restrictive regulations and inadequate capacity of regulatory agencies, and weak vertical and horizontal coordination among different key actors. Political economy refers to actors and coalitions of actors with competing perspectives, interests, and resources shaping seed policy change processes in each country and for each crop (see Hassena et al. (2016) and Alemu (2011) on Ethiopia). Policy and regulatory reforms are purported to facilitate increased production, delivery, and uptake of improved seeds and technologies. Influencing government agencies to initiate the review of existing and enact new policies involves many stakeholders including a range of seed industry players such as regulatory agencies, parliament, agricultural technical groups, government policy directorates, public and private research agencies and seed associations.

Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development of Egerton University and Centre for African Bio-Entrepreneurship (CABE) in partnership with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) conducted a study between June and October 2019 to assess the pace and dynamics of policy change and the factors that affect the development of maize and potato seed systems and of markets in Kenya. The study involved a review of key policy, regulatory, and strategy documents relevant to seed system and market development in the country, with a focus on the progress made in strengthening maize and potato seed systems and markets and political economy factors that have influenced policy adoption and outcomes. The review was augmented with information from key informant interviews and focus group discussions with a wide range of actors in the respective seed systems.

The workshop will be at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi on 19th and 20th July 2022


 

 

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