USAID award no. 623-0263-A-00-7015-00 to APPROTEC to provide support for a program in agribusiness subsubsector development

APPROTEC will implement the program in collaboration with Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT), Mwaniki Associates, and Improve Your Business (IYB). The project will concentrate its interventions in and around the Mount Kenya region, where APPROTEC will open a new office. APPROTEC will conduct a detailed analysis of four potential subsectors (fruits and vegetables, oilseeds, dairy, and animal feeds) to determine their potential for job creation in new and growing MSEs. In addition, APPROTEC will "test market" in the project area two technologies that it has developed and promoted in Western Kenya: a manual oilseed press and a manual irrigation pump. Depending on the results of the studies and the test market, 1-3 of the subsectors will be selected for further development. Subsector activities will focus on "leveraged" interventions aimed at ensuring the sustainability of project impacts. Examples of such interventions include assistance in: (1) private sector development and marketing of new technologies, such as fruit juicers and blenders, improved crisp slicers for potatoes and bananas, solar dryers, hay balers, milk pasteurizers, etc.; (2) advocacy for policy change; (3) ensuring the supply of raw materials; (4) market development; (5) provision of technical and business skills training; and (6) establishing ties to credit programs. Finally, "action research" will be used to develop and promote ways of providing sustainable training and other non-financial services to MSEs. In addition, regular seminars and meetings will be held to share lessons with key subsector players. Targets are to create over 5,200 new jobs for MSE entrepreneurs and their employees during the project period.