Our Portfolio

Program Overview

Intensive business plan development training designed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to formalize their business ideas and access funding opportunities. The program focused on translating business concepts into comprehensive, investor-ready business plans.

Training Topics Covered

• Executive summary development
• Market research and competitive analysis
• Financial projections and budgeting
• Marketing and sales strategies
• Operations and management planning
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Funding requirements and sources

Target Audience

Women entrepreneurs in various stages of business development, from aspiring business owners to those seeking to scale existing operations. Participants came from diverse sectors including retail, services, agriculture, and technology.

Key Outcomes

• 18 comprehensive business plans completed
• 85% of participants reported increased confidence in business planning
• 12 participants successfully applied for business loans
• All participants demonstrated improved understanding of financial management

Program Overview

A comprehensive, multi-year business development program covering the complete entrepreneurial journey from feasibility analysis to business expansion. This flagship program represents our most extensive training initiative, reaching entrepreneurs across 15 counties in Kenya.

Training Spectrum

• Feasibility & Planning: Business idea validation, market research, and feasibility studies
• Startup Launch: Business registration, licensing, and operational setup
• Financial Management: Bookkeeping, cash flow management, and financial planning
• Marketing & Sales: Customer acquisition, branding, and digital marketing
• Operations: Inventory management, quality control, and process optimization
• Growth & Scaling: Market expansion, strategic partnerships, and diversification

Target Demographics

Primarily women entrepreneurs (90%), with significant representation from youth (8%) and male entrepreneurs over 35 (2%). Participants span various sectors including retail, manufacturing, services, agriculture, and technology-enabled businesses.

Geographic Coverage

15 counties across Kenya, with focus on both urban centers and rural communities. The program adapted training methodologies to suit local contexts while maintaining quality standards.

Impact Metrics

• 2,000+ entrepreneurs trained over 6 years
• 500+ new businesses launched
• 1,200+ established businesses scaled operations
• 85% knowledge retention rate
• 75% business sustainability after 2 years
• Average revenue increase of 40% among participants

Program Overview

Financial literacy and entrepreneurship training for individuals and families affected by the EU-funded A7 Road construction project. The program aimed to empower project-affected persons with skills to leverage compensation packages and create sustainable livelihoods.

Training Components

• Financial Literacy: Budgeting, saving, and investment basics
• Business Idea Development: Identifying viable business opportunities
• Entrepreneurship Opportunities: Exploring sectors aligned with corridor development
• Financial Management: Managing compensation funds and business capital
• Access to Finance: Understanding credit, loans, and financial institutions
• Business Registration: Formalizing businesses and compliance requirements

Target Audience

Both male and female project-affected persons along the Mombasa-Mtwapa-Kilifi corridor, including landowners, tenants, and business operators displaced or impacted by road construction. Participants ranged from subsistence farmers to small business owners.

Unique Challenges Addressed

• Managing sudden influx of compensation funds
• Transitioning from land-based to business-based livelihoods
• Identifying opportunities in corridor development
• Preventing financial mismanagement and exploitation
• Building financial resilience during transition period

Key Outcomes

• 1,000 project-affected persons trained
• 450+ viable business ideas developed
• 280+ new businesses launched
• 65% of participants opened formal bank accounts
• Average savings rate increased by 35%
• Reduced instances of compensation mismanagement

Program Overview

A specialized Business Development Services (BDS) program designed exclusively for youth entrepreneurs, combining traditional business skills with digital literacy and technology adoption. Part of the Mastercard Foundation's Youth Employment initiative.

Comprehensive Training Modules

• Business Idea Generation: Design thinking and innovation methodologies
• Business Planning: Lean canvas and traditional business plan development
• Marketing Strategies: Digital marketing, social media, and customer engagement
• Business Formalization: Registration, taxation, and compliance
• Business Growth: Scaling strategies and market expansion
• Digital Literacy: Technology tools for business operations
• Financial Management: Digital payments, mobile money, and online banking
• E-commerce: Online selling platforms and digital marketplaces

Digital Literacy Focus

Special emphasis on integrating technology into business operations, including training on digital payment systems, social media marketing, e-commerce platforms, cloud-based accounting tools, and customer relationship management software.

Target Demographic

Youth aged 18-35 years, including recent graduates, young professionals seeking entrepreneurial opportunities, and early-stage youth entrepreneurs. Mix of rural and urban participants with diverse educational backgrounds.

Key Achievements

• 300 youth entrepreneurs trained
• 200+ viable business plans developed
• 180+ new businesses launched
• 95% digital literacy competency achieved
• 150+ businesses integrated digital payment systems
• 120+ businesses active on e-commerce platforms
• Average business revenue increase of 45%

Program Overview

Targeted training program focusing on financial literacy, stock management, and record keeping for small and medium enterprise owners. Designed to strengthen business fundamentals and improve operational efficiency.

Core Training Areas

• Financial Literacy: Understanding financial statements, cash flow, and profitability
• Stock Management: Inventory control, reorder points, and stock valuation
• Record Keeping: Bookkeeping basics, transaction recording, and documentation
• Cost Analysis: Pricing strategies and break-even analysis
• Financial Planning: Budgeting and financial forecasting
• Working Capital Management: Managing receivables and payables

Practical Tools & Templates

Participants received practical tools including cashbook templates, stock cards, sales registers, purchase registers, and simple financial statement formats. Training emphasized hands-on application using participants' own business data.

Target Businesses

Primarily women-owned SMEs (80%) and youth entrepreneurs (20%) in retail, wholesale, and service sectors. Most participants had been in business for 1-5 years and sought to formalize their financial management practices.

Outcomes & Impact

• 170 SME owners trained
• 150+ businesses adopted formal record-keeping systems
• 130+ businesses improved inventory turnover
• 90% reduction in stock discrepancies
• Average profit margin increase of 25%
• 85% of participants able to prepare basic financial statements
• Improved access to credit due to better financial records

Program Overview

Multi-year training program for tea farmers focusing on good agricultural practices, climate resilience, and farm record keeping. Aimed at improving tea quality, yields, and farmer livelihoods while promoting environmental sustainability.

Training Modules

• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP): Tea cultivation best practices, pruning techniques, and field maintenance
• Climate Resilience: Adaptation strategies, water conservation, and climate-smart agriculture
• Record Keeping: Farm diaries, input tracking, and production records
• Soil Health Management: Soil testing, fertilizer application, and organic matter management
• Pest & Disease Management: Integrated pest management and disease control
• Harvesting Techniques: Optimal plucking standards and post-harvest handling
• Quality Control: Understanding quality parameters and factory requirements

Climate Resilience Focus

Special emphasis on building resilience to climate variability, including drought-resistant practices, water harvesting and conservation, soil moisture retention, agroforestry integration, and weather-based decision making.

Farmer Field Schools Methodology

Training utilized Farmer Field School (FFS) approach with hands-on learning in demonstration plots, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, seasonal learning cycles, and practical experimentation. This participatory methodology ensured high knowledge retention and adoption rates.

Impact Achieved

• 500 tea farmers trained over 2 years
• Average yield increase of 30%
• Tea quality improvement reflected in higher factory prices
• 85% adoption rate of GAP practices
• 350+ farmers maintaining regular farm records
• Reduced input costs through efficient fertilizer use
• Improved environmental sustainability of tea farms
• Strengthened farmer-factory relationship

Mentorship Overview

Specialized one-on-one mentorship for aspiring entrepreneurs at the idea stage, helping them validate business concepts, conduct feasibility analysis, and develop comprehensive business plans before launch.

Key Mentorship Activities

• Business idea brainstorming and refinement
• Market research and competitive analysis
• Feasibility assessment and viability testing
• Business model canvas development
• Financial projections and capital requirements
• Risk identification and mitigation planning
• Business plan development and review
• Funding strategy and investor readiness

Mentorship Approach

Each mentee receives 6-12 months of personalized guidance through weekly or bi-weekly sessions. Mentors provide objective feedback, industry insights, and connections to relevant resources and networks.

Outcomes

• 150+ aspiring entrepreneurs mentored
• 120+ viable business plans completed
• 85+ businesses successfully launched
• 70% transitioned from idea to execution within 12 months
• 45+ secured startup funding

Mentorship Overview

Intensive support for startup founders navigating the critical launch and early operations phase, focusing on overcoming initial challenges, establishing operational systems, and achieving product-market fit.

Core Focus Areas

• Operational setup and systems implementation
• Customer acquisition and retention strategies
• Cash flow management and financial sustainability
• Product/service refinement based on feedback
• Team building and organizational structure
• Sales and marketing execution
• Regulatory compliance and business formalization
• Crisis management and problem-solving

Typical Challenges Addressed

Common startup challenges including cash flow shortages, customer acquisition difficulties, operational inefficiencies, product-market fit issues, team conflicts, and scaling too quickly or too slowly.

Success Metrics

• 120+ startups mentored through launch phase
• 90+ achieved operational breakeven
• 75% survival rate after 2 years (vs. 50% industry average)
• Average time to profitability: 14 months
• 85+ secured follow-on funding or investment
• 60+ expanded to multiple locations or markets

Mentorship Overview

Strategic mentorship for established business owners seeking to scale operations, expand markets, diversify product lines, or prepare for major growth milestones including investor fundraising or strategic partnerships.

Strategic Focus Areas

• Market expansion and geographic diversification
• Product line extension and diversification
• Operational efficiency and process optimization
• Financial restructuring and capital raising
• Leadership development and succession planning
• Strategic partnerships and collaborations
• Technology adoption and digital transformation
• Investor readiness and fundraising strategy

Growth Challenges Addressed

Typical growth-stage challenges including scaling operations while maintaining quality, managing increased working capital needs, building management teams, maintaining company culture during expansion, and balancing growth with profitability.

Mentorship Methodology

Combination of strategic planning sessions, operational reviews, financial analysis, market research support, and network connections. Mentors bring industry expertise and growth experience to help navigate complex scaling decisions.

Impact Results

• 130+ established businesses mentored
• Average revenue growth of 60% during mentorship period
• 85+ successfully expanded to new markets or locations
• 70+ raised capital or secured strategic investment
• 50+ implemented significant operational improvements
• 40+ launched new product lines or services
• 95% sustained growth trajectory post-mentorship

Program Overview

Specialized capacity building for field officers, extension agents, and community organizers working in development programs. Focused on modern training methodologies, adult learning principles, and stage-appropriate business development support.

Training Competencies Developed

• Adult Learning Principles: Understanding how adults learn and applying appropriate methodologies
• Participatory Approaches: Facilitating rather than lecturing, encouraging peer learning
• Farmer Field School Methodology: Hands-on, experiential learning approaches
• SIYB Methodology: Start and Improve Your Business training approach
• Business Diagnostics: Assessing business needs and tailoring interventions
• Mentorship Skills: One-on-one guidance and coaching techniques
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Tracking impact and measuring outcomes
• Communication Skills: Effective knowledge transfer and feedback

Training Approach

Combination of classroom training, practical demonstrations, field practice with supervision, peer coaching, and continuous mentorship. Training includes certification in specific methodologies and ongoing professional development support.

Organizations Supported

Development partners, NGOs, government programs, cooperative societies, and private sector companies implementing farmer or SME support programs across Kenya and East Africa.

Multiplier Effect

• 200+ field officers and extension agents trained
• Each trained officer reaches 50-100 farmers/entrepreneurs annually
• Estimated indirect beneficiaries: 10,000-20,000 people
• 90% improvement in training quality metrics
• 85% of trained officers certified in specific methodologies
• Improved knowledge retention among end beneficiaries
• Enhanced program sustainability through local capacity

Project Overview

Comprehensive end-of-program evaluation for the AGRIFI (Agricultural Finance) program focusing on food safety systems across all value chains in Kenya. The evaluation assessed program impact, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Research Objectives

• Assess food safety system improvements across value chains
• Evaluate program effectiveness in strengthening compliance
• Measure impact on farmer/SME knowledge and practices
• Identify sustainability mechanisms and gaps
• Document lessons learned and best practices
• Provide recommendations for future programming

Methodology

Mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys (400 respondents), key informant interviews with stakeholders, focus group discussions with beneficiaries, and document review. Data collection conducted across all 47 counties ensuring national representation.

Value Chains Covered

Comprehensive coverage of all major agricultural value chains including dairy, meat, horticulture, cereals, fish, poultry, and processed foods. Special focus on compliance with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) requirements.

Key Findings

• 65% improvement in food safety knowledge among beneficiaries
• 45% increase in compliance with food safety standards
• 30% reduction in post-harvest losses due to contamination
• Enhanced market access for compliant producers
• Identified gaps in enforcement and monitoring systems
• Documented successful public-private partnerships

Study Overview

Baseline assessment for post-harvest loss reduction technologies intervention in maize and beans value chains. The study established baseline data on loss levels, causes, current practices, and technology awareness before program implementation.

Research Components

• Quantification of post-harvest losses at each value chain stage
• Assessment of current storage and handling practices
• Evaluation of existing technology adoption levels
• Identification of barriers to technology uptake
• Gender analysis of roles and decision-making
• Cost-benefit analysis of different storage technologies

Methodology

Comprehensive value chain approach with data collection from farmers, traders, transporters, processors, and retailers. Utilized physical measurements of losses, structured surveys, market assessments, and participatory rural appraisals.

Key Baseline Findings

• Average post-harvest losses: 25-30% for maize, 20-25% for beans
• Major loss points: Storage (40%), handling (30%), transportation (20%), processing (10%)
• Primary causes: Pest infestation, moisture damage, poor storage structures
• Technology awareness: 60%, but adoption only 15%
• Gender gap: Women involved in 70% of post-harvest activities but control only 30% of decisions
• Economic impact: KES 15,000-25,000 annual loss per farming household

Deliverables

Comprehensive baseline report, indicator tracking framework, county-specific fact sheets, technology assessment matrix, and monitoring and evaluation framework for the intervention program.