Building Small Agribusinesses in East Africa

Building Small Agribusinesses in East Africa

Agribusiness Investment for Market Stimulation (AIMS) is a five-year initiative of Global Communities to bolster trade in key agricultural sectors, grains, pulses, dairy, and horticulture in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi by increasing access to financing and markets for small and medium-sized agribusinesses. AIMS is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and includes a planned $50 million loan guaranty facility backed by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

Small and medium-sized agribusinesses (A-SMEs) are a potential driver of inclusive agriculture-led economic growth, but they face constraints – including inadequate financing, lack of market information, lack of market orientation, limited market linkages and limited connections to quality service providers that can help them achieve sustainable and inclusive business growth.

In partnership with the Eastern Africa Grain Council and business advisory service providers, AIMS builds the capacity of these A-SMEs and improves access to both domestic and regional markets through enhanced buyer-seller linkages and better market information. It also build the capacity of banks in the region to lend to small and medium-sized agribusinesses to develop improved products and establish appropriate risk mitigation techniques under the loan guarantee facility.

Read the full factsheet here.