The Scaling up Rural Youth Access to Inclusive Financial Services for Entrepreneurship and Employment project was implemented by the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) under an IFAD youth project covering Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and South Sudan. AAA’s work covered Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
The project aimed to build the capacity of youth and women agripreneurs to refine their business ideas, develop business plans and source funding to build profitable enterprises.
What AAA did
- Developed the skills youth need to write business plans and scale up their agri-enterprises.
- Trained trainers of trainers (TOTs) to lead business plan training and coaching for youth in their countries.
- Identified and supported financial mechanisms and the scaling up of successful practices.
- Shared lessons learned and helped set up regional youth business networks.
Results
AAA helped 155 youth enterprises develop bankable, investor-ready business growth plans — 68 in Kenya, 47 in Uganda and 40 in Rwanda — and enabled “elevator” pitches to potential financiers for the 24 most promising youth businesses, the programme’s business champions.
Case study
- The challenge
Youth and women agripreneurs had business ideas but needed support to refine them, develop business plans and source the funding to build profitable enterprises.
- What AAA did
AAA built business planning skills among youth, trained trainers to lead business plan training and coaching in their own countries, identified financial mechanisms, and helped set up regional youth business networks.
- What changed
155 youth enterprises developed bankable, investor-ready business growth plans — 68 in Kenya, 47 in Uganda and 40 in Rwanda — and the 24 most promising businesses pitched to potential financiers.
