Agripreneurship Alliance
Growing the Agripreneurs of the Future
Welcome
Welcome to the home page of the Agripreneurship Alliance. This is the first stage of developing a website that will act as a portal to and a repository of information, tools and resources designed to support young adults become entrepreneurs in Agriculture and Agribusiness.
The Agripreneurship Alliance is a partnership drawn from around the world including Business, Universities and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's) who all have a shared vision of thriving rural communities that are supported by successful youth-driven businesses within the local and global food system.
The Agripreneurship Alliance launched as an Swiss-based non-profit Association, based in Montreux, in August 2017. We have an exciting future ahead of us as we work with our partners to develop web-based tools, resources and courses that can be used in training institutions and universities across sub-Saharan Africa.
After reviewing the impact of this pilot, we worked hard to review and re-design the "Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness" programme to better meet the needs of participants and institutions. This course is now being taught in several universities in Uganda, Kenya and Somaliland and is being offered, for the first time, as an online course for individual remote study.
The Agripreneurship Alliance is a partnership drawn from around the world including Business, Universities and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's) who all have a shared vision of thriving rural communities that are supported by successful youth-driven businesses within the local and global food system.
The Agripreneurship Alliance launched as an Swiss-based non-profit Association, based in Montreux, in August 2017. We have an exciting future ahead of us as we work with our partners to develop web-based tools, resources and courses that can be used in training institutions and universities across sub-Saharan Africa.
A core focus has been to work with partners to develop a unique cloud-based agripreneurship programme that will take the budding agripreneur through the business start-up process and develop a suite of business start-up guides to help inspire and guide young Agripreneurs. In addition, we will build a network of experts who are willing to share their knowledge by responding to 'Ask the Expert' type requests from young Agripreneurs and also recruit a team of volunteers who can share their skills and experience to support young Agripreneurs develop their business ideas through short-term coaching and mentoring.
In 2018 we were delighted to work with SIANI and our partners at Egerton and Laikipia Universities (Kenya), Gulu University and IITA Kampala (Uganda) and ISTVS (Somaliland) to roll-out a pilot 'Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness' blended learning course to enable students to develop high quality business plans within the agrifood sector.After reviewing the impact of this pilot, we worked hard to review and re-design the "Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness" programme to better meet the needs of participants and institutions. This course is now being taught in several universities in Uganda, Kenya and Somaliland and is being offered, for the first time, as an online course for individual remote study.
Why Agripreneurship?
The continent of Africa is at an exciting and challenging point in its economic development but continues to face such challenges as poverty, malnutrition, conflict, climate change and a growing youth population.
However, there are significant local and global strategic initiatives that aim to address such issues, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union's Agenda 2063 Framework and the African Development Banks’ Feed Africa strategy.
It is worth recognising that:
In 2015, 226 million youth aged 15-24 lived in Africa, accounting for 19 per cent of the global youth population (UN, 20151)
10 million youth enter Africa’s labour market annually.
Youth is defined as people between the ages of 15 (exclusive) and 35 (inclusive).
By 2020, three out of four Africans will be an average of 20 years old.
Youth unemployment rate in sub-Saharan Africa is about 12%.
Only 16% of youth have a ‘wage job’, while 62% work on family farms and 22% in household enterprises.
At the US$2/day level, the working poverty rate was about 64 % in 2013 (YAP, 20162)
The average age of farmers in Africa is about 55 years (WTO, 20153)
However, there are significant local and global strategic initiatives that aim to address such issues, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union's Agenda 2063 Framework and the African Development Banks’ Feed Africa strategy.
It is worth recognising that:
In 2015, 226 million youth aged 15-24 lived in Africa, accounting for 19 per cent of the global youth population (UN, 20151)
10 million youth enter Africa’s labour market annually.
Youth is defined as people between the ages of 15 (exclusive) and 35 (inclusive).
By 2020, three out of four Africans will be an average of 20 years old.
Youth unemployment rate in sub-Saharan Africa is about 12%.
Only 16% of youth have a ‘wage job’, while 62% work on family farms and 22% in household enterprises.
At the US$2/day level, the working poverty rate was about 64 % in 2013 (YAP, 20162)
The average age of farmers in Africa is about 55 years (WTO, 20153)
Mission
Mission
To promote and stimulate youth driven entrepreneurship in agriculture and agribusiness within developing economies.
Aims
- To encourage and support young adults to become the farmers of tomorrow through choice rather than necessity
- To inspire young entrepreneurs to establish food-based businesses thus supporting the development of the wider rural community eco-system
- To encourage new and novel approaches in locally based food systems that consider local opportunities and the challenges of climate change, conflict and malnutrition
- To contribute to local and global food security
Objectives
- Build a multi-sectoral partnership to support and engage in activities to fulfil mission
- Design an online platform that will support in-person training programmes and individual young agripreneurs to acquire business skills specifically related to the early stages of business design and creation within agriculture and agribusiness
- Develop an online course that can be embedded into in-person training programmes to enhance business skills acquisition specifically related to the early stages of business design and creation within agriculture and agribusiness
- Establish a team of experienced volunteers who are available to mentor young agripreneurs
Growing agribusiness entrepreneurs in East Africa
The Agripreneurship Alliance is running a crowdfunding campaign to change the lives of young African Agripreneurs. To get involved go here and please make a donation before it closes on 28 July 2019.
Summary
Unemployment is soaring in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet there are huge opportunities for new agribusinesses as food imports into Africa are already high and are expected to increase further. The Agripreneurship Alliance is training young people in East Africa in Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness to help them create their own businesses to generate income and employment. In particular, we encourage and support young women to become entrepreneurs.
Challenge
Africa already imports 35 billion USD of food every year and this is expected to increase to 100 billion USD by 2025. The opportunities for agriculture and agribusinesses are enormous. At the same time, Africa has the youngest population in world. Unemployment is skyrocketing with all the associated consequences that can lead to migration, extremism and substance abuse.
Solution
Vivian, David, Risper and Nelius are about to launch their Fresh Farms Mushroom business in Kibichoi, Kenya. They followed the Agripreneurship Alliance's training Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness which enabled them to fully analyse the business opportunities for mushroom farming in Kenya and step-by-step build a solid business plan. They are among the 87 students that participated in the training in 2018 in 5 locations in Kenya, Uganda and Somaliland in 2018.
Long-Term Impact
Of the 31 business plans that the teams of students produced, 16 businesses have already been launched or significantly strengthened, and more are in the pipeline once the students complete their studies. Will you help young people, like Vivian, grasp the opportunities to create their own businesses, generating income and employment? Will you help change lives?
Governance
The Agripreneurship Alliance is a membership based non-profit 'Association' established in Montreux and as such is subject to Swiss legal frameworks.
The membership has a key function in the transparent operation of the association and oversees strategy and finance through General Assembly. In addition the membership elects an Executive Assembly which implements the decisions of the General Assembly. It conducts the Association and takes all necessary measures to ensure that the stated purpose of the Association is attained. The Executive Committee for 2019:
President: Dr Anne Roulin
Treasurer: Valerie Hanbali
Secretary: Charlotte Roulin
Member: Makeba Magambo
Member: Bora Kizil
Memeber: Ines Burrus
The membership has a key function in the transparent operation of the association and oversees strategy and finance through General Assembly. In addition the membership elects an Executive Assembly which implements the decisions of the General Assembly. It conducts the Association and takes all necessary measures to ensure that the stated purpose of the Association is attained. The Executive Committee for 2019:
President: Dr Anne Roulin
Treasurer: Valerie Hanbali
Secretary: Charlotte Roulin
Member: Makeba Magambo
Member: Bora Kizil
Memeber: Ines Burrus
Key People
Professor Ruth Oniang'o
Patron
Dr. Ruth Oniang’o, winner of the 2017 African Food Prize, has kindly accepted our invitation to become Patron of the Agripreneurship Alliance.
Anne Roulin
President
Across my career, I have worked in academia, in the private sector (Tetra Pak and Nestlé) and as an entrepreneur in the UK, Switzerland, the USA, Italy and France.
Steven Carr
C.E.O
I am focused on improving the life chances of young adults with particular experience on those living in conflict and/or poverty within a Community Development framework.
Stuart Kennedy
Training Officer
I believe that young adults are powerful innovators & change agents. I work to empower young adults to enable them to challenge old ideas and practices so that they may change not only their own futures but also that of their families and the wider community.
Innocent Chamisa
Social Media Officer
Early career international development expert, with a background in Agricultural Sciences, International Development, Natural Resource Management and Development Law, whose work has been centered on policy and promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development practices across the globe, encouraging active participation of youths and women.
Online Course
Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness
A free online course designed to help you develop your business idea and create a professional standard business plan.
This 10-week online course has been developed by the Agripreneurship Alliance in partnership with the African Management Initiative. The course will enable you to explore the challenges within your community and come up with sustainable business ideas to address them, creating wealth, employment and providing access to nutritious foods while considering the impact of climate change on society and the environment and how your agribusiness can thrive in this changing world.
By participating in this course you will:
•Develop your Unique Value Proposition
•Identify the Market for your product or service
•Establish the Financial Structure of your business
•Devise your Action Plan
•Create a professional standard Business Plan that will support the launch of your agribusiness
•Learn how to pitch and present your business
•Connect with Agripreneurs from around the globe
This course will be available later in 2020, look here or on our facebook page for updates
A free online course designed to help you develop your business idea and create a professional standard business plan.
This 10-week online course has been developed by the Agripreneurship Alliance in partnership with the African Management Initiative. The course will enable you to explore the challenges within your community and come up with sustainable business ideas to address them, creating wealth, employment and providing access to nutritious foods while considering the impact of climate change on society and the environment and how your agribusiness can thrive in this changing world.
By participating in this course you will:
•Develop your Unique Value Proposition
•Identify the Market for your product or service
•Establish the Financial Structure of your business
•Devise your Action Plan
•Create a professional standard Business Plan that will support the launch of your agribusiness
•Learn how to pitch and present your business
•Connect with Agripreneurs from around the globe
This course will be available later in 2020, look here or on our facebook page for updates