← All ProjectsEntrepreneurship Development Program for Micro and Small Enterprise (MSMEs)
Funded By
Yara Africa & Asia (YAA)
Impact Area
Kenya, India, Tanzania
Dates
2023 – 2024
AGMARK was the lead of a consortium of three organizations including Building Rural Incomes Through Entrepreneurship (BRITEN), and Unifiers Social Ventures Pvt. Ltd (Unifiers) that developed and delivered a training program for MSMEs for YARA Africa & Asia (YAA).
The goal of this program was to develop and implement a Business Management training program on a Learning Management System (LMS) platform. It was designed for Agro-dealers/Stockists and lead farmers, with courses such as Goal Setting, Basic Business Finance, and Marketing, among many others geared towards helping them grow their businesses. The training content was localized into English (Kenya), Swahili (Tanzania), and India English, Hindi, and Gujarati (India).
AGMARK, as the management agency for this Project in Kenya, was responsible for ensuring the Project implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation proceeds as described in the approved Project proposal and as described in the Contract signed with YARA. AGMARK was accountable for all Project funds to ensure that funds are spent in accordance with the Project budget and YARA requirements and was responsible for providing accurate and timely narrative and financial reports to YARA.
Yara YLA User Guide Video (Kenya)

Goal

To build the capacity of Yara's MSME partners (Agrodealers, stockists, and lead farmers) through a digital Learning Management System, resulting in more efficient business operations and better incomes.

Objectives

  • Reach smallholder farmers with timely intelligence and digital solutions that enable efficient, climate-smart farming.
  • Increase the participation and economic empowerment of women and youth in agriculture.
  • Connect small and medium agri-business channel partners to the digital economy to spur job creation and growth.
  • Reduce hunger and improve nutrition across Africa and Asia through collaborative investment along the food value chain.

Activities

  • Developed 15 MBA-style training manuals with an education, business, and technology team drawn from Kenya, Tanzania, India and Europe.
  • Translated training manuals into Swahili, English, India English, Hindi and Gujarati for local delivery.
  • Converted all 15 modules into SCORM format and built an Android-based Learning Management System app.
  • Produced localized audio and video content, filmed at MSME shops and farms using local talent.
  • Validated training manuals with a sample of 41 MSMEs before final approval.
  • Recruited and trained 10 Yara Impact Champions to support MSMEs through the 15-week learning programme.
  • Conducted 13 MSME orientation meetings across Kenya's Northwest/South Rift and East Central & Coast regions.

Course Modules

  • Growth Mindset
  • Goal Setting
  • Setting Up New Business
  • Budgeting
  • Basic Business Finance
  • Financial Records
  • Inventory Management
  • Marketing
  • Quality Products & Services
  • Customer Service
  • Measuring Success & Business Development
  • Exploring Business Potential
  • Business Plan
  • Leadership & Influencing for Your Community
  • Continuous Improvement
MSMEs in green Yara Leadership Academy polo shirts attending a business management training session in Kenya

Key Achievements

1,000
MSMEs enrolled in the YLA programme in Kenya
672
MSMEs who completed the 15-week YLA programme in Kenya
10
Yara Impact Champions trained to support MSMEs
13
MSME orientation meetings conducted across Kenya
1,500
MSMEs Trained in India
150+
Jobs Created