TechnoServe’s Post

🗞 Extra Extra! Check our my Op-Ed in the local Business Daily: 🥑 #Kenya’s food systems face significant challenges, from climate change to fragmented supply chains. In my op-ed, I emphasize the importance of a collaborative approach, and how empowering women and youth is key to building resilience. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gmNse--G #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateResilience #FoodSystems

Kelvin and I hosted an evening at our home to discuss the incredible work TechnoServe undertakes to reduce poverty across the world. It was particularly fascinating to have Catherine Mwikali Musangi join us from Ethiopia and share personal stories of the impact of our work on improving the lives of 1.2 million clients last year. Thank you to so many of you for taking the time to join and learn more about this important work. #Technoserve #PovertyReduction #GlobalImpact #Board

Today at the Global Youth Economic Opportunity Summit in Washington, DC I had the pleasure to co-lead with Harry Devonshire a session on how we get ecosystems to work for supporting entrepreneurs that will create more and better jobs needed for tackling youth unemployment in developing countries. The discussion with colleagues from many organization was very rich and covered different critical angles of entrepreneurial ecosystems like culture and policy, enterprise support organizations, funding and access to markets to name a few. A few lessons among the many we discussed: - Segment entrepreneurs: entrepreneurial ecosystems may look very different to different profile of entrepreneurs, even in the same city. Some important variables for segmentation: stage , growth potential and demographics. Even in the same city, youth, women or men entrepreneurs may have different access to finance or opportunities for example. - Enhance entrepreneurial culture for everyone. We discussed how different cultural attitudes can make a huge difference in the entrepreneurial journey. For example, while in some countries if you fail you are done, in others, failure is seen as a learning opportunity and is required in an entrepreneurial team. Good news is that cultural attitudes can be influenced. Find in the comments below one example from TechnoServe´s WIN program that influenced the cultural attitudes towards women entrepreneurship in Mozambique. - Strengthen your Enterprise Support Organizations work with what evidence show it works. For a good compilation on good practices look at SCALE from Argidius Foundation.

We're addressing the limited access to finance of agribusinesses and unlocking more value and support for smallholder farmers through the expansion of CASA: https://lnkd.in/dtRfSwcz In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, agribusinesses face a USD 74 bln financing gap, while also needing specialist support to develop strategies that bolster smallholder inclusion which can transform the global agricultural food system. The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) is a program which increases investments in inclusive agribusiness models, with its first phase funded and managed by UK International Development and TechnoServe. For its second phase, CASA Plus, we're contributing USD 3 mln to its new expanded facility alongside the UK Government, with British International Investment contributing the same amount. CASA Plus will offer a range of technical assistance services, which aim to improve the development impact of existing agribusiness investments, support new investment opportunities, and create solutions to address barriers that stop investments in green and inclusive agribusiness models in low- and lower middle-income countries: all goals which exemplify our #marketcreation approach. Learn more about our market creation strategy here: https://lnkd.in/dGxskVz3

We're addressing the limited access to finance of agribusinesses and unlocking more value and support for smallholder farmers through the expansion of CASA: https://lnkd.in/dtRfSwcz In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, agribusinesses face a USD 74 bln financing gap, while also needing specialist support to develop strategies that bolster smallholder inclusion which can transform the global agricultural food system. The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) is a program which increases investments in inclusive agribusiness models, with its first phase funded and managed by UK International Development and TechnoServe. For its second phase, CASA Plus, we're contributing USD 3 mln to its new expanded facility alongside the UK Government, with British International Investment contributing the same amount. CASA Plus will offer a range of technical assistance services, which aim to improve the development impact of existing agribusiness investments, support new investment opportunities, and create solutions to address barriers that stop investments in green and inclusive agribusiness models in low- and lower middle-income countries: all goals which exemplify our #marketcreation approach. Learn more about our market creation strategy here: https://lnkd.in/dGxskVz3

Last week I had the privilege of co-hosting #NutriVision2024 a Pan African Youth Dialogue on Nutrition with Nile University, during which we had a conversation with Bill Gates about innovations in nutrition and solutions for malnutrition and food security. It was an exciting event with thousands of youth joining virtually. The energy in the room was palpable. Thank you to all the partners and colleagues who made this happen. Great things happen when we collaborate. #TechnoServe #Goalkeepers