New partnership for agribusiness incubation signed in Nairobi

Sep 06, 2016

AAIN’s commitment was signed by the CEO Dr Alex Ariho, who considers this a step in the right direction.

PIC:AAIN's Dr. Alex Ariho (left) with Dr.  Kenton Dashiell, deputy the director general for delivery at IITA after signing the MoU in Nairobi Kenya. Photo/Solomon Kalema


Agribusiness incubation in Africa is set to benefit from increased support thanks to an MoU signed between the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nairobi Kenya on Thursday.

Under the new partnership, AAIN and IITA will undertake exchange of expertise and joint development and implementation of agribusiness incubation programmes across Africa.

The two organisations will also co-develop agribusiness incubation units and systems for experiential learning and capacity development of Youth and Women and in general Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and create a link between their scientists and line managers, among other ventures.

AAIN's commitment was signed by the CEO Dr Alex Ariho, who considers this a step in the right direction.

"This is demonstration of the commitment by regional and international organisations to support job and wealth creation through incubation," he says.

Ariho says that the joint effort will also support the implementation of the ENABLE programme that was initiated by the Africa Development Bank to promote job creation for the youth.

"To date, 31 countries have expressed interest in this programme and the youth in Africa should seize the opportunities availed by agribusiness incubators," the AAIN CEO says.

The IITA signature was penned by Dr. Kenton Dashiell Deputy the Director General for Delivery.

Revisiting agribusiness incubation

A 2015 toolkit from the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) defines incubation as a business support process that accelerates the successful development of start-up and existing businesses by providing entrepreneurs with customised services and resources.

This process, according to the toolkit, is facilitated by establishments called incubators which provide support and advisory services, access to finance and premises among others.

Uganda is host to agribusiness incubators like the Kabanyolo-based Consortium for Enhancing Universities Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD).

AAIN, according to their official website, is a continental network of institutions working on agribusiness incubation spanning 54 countries and provides technical support in agribusiness development through incubation and mentorship.

The organisation is currently implementing an Agribusiness Incubation Agenda for Africa in four focus areas including the African Agribusiness Incubation Fund, Technology Commercialization, Agribusiness Education and Mentorship Programme and the Youth Employment Programme.

IITA, the co-signees are an Africa-based international not-for-profit research-for-development organization, established in 1967 to offer a research partnership that facilitates agricultural solutions for hunger, poverty, and natural resource degradation throughout the tropics

 

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