1. Africa Agribusiness Academy Investing in knowledge for entrepreneurship
Agribusiness incubation models and best practices: the Africa Agribusiness Academy model
Author:
Hans Nijhoff
Wageningen University and Research centre
Program director AAA
28 September 2015

2. Overview AAA Introduction: background, mission, criteria, structure.
AAA Approach & Challenges
Organization
Members
Business Clubs
Knowledge Networks
Training
Online communication
Resource center, Business bulletins
Contact

3. The Africa Agribusiness Academy
AAA was founded in 2010 by a group of innovative agrifood entrepreneurs from Eastern Africa, Wageningen University and Research centre, and Sokoine University of Agriculture.
AAA members are active in a multitude of sectors a.o. Dairy, Poultry, Agri-input supply, Honey, Animal Feed.
AAA members are a selected group of SMEs with a proven record of successful entrepreneurship based on fair business practices.
Aim is to promote entrepreneurship and business development in the agrifood sector in Africa.

4. Mission The AA Academy is an entrepreneur platform,
seeking to foster innovation and growth of small and medium scale agribusiness firms in Africa,
with the ultimate aim to contribute
to economic growth and improvement of rural income and food security in Africa

5. AAA Membership criteria
According to set AAA business standards
Owner-entrepreneur of a company with
5-100 employees
Turnover between $50,000 -1,000,000
Proven link with small-scale farmers to market
Willing to share knowledge and ideas
Willing to coach others
Willing to pay annual membership fees and one-off registration of $ 100 each (payable in local currency)
Have audited accounts for at least two years

6. The AAA Organization
Country chapters in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia & Rwanda
Target is to reach 8 countries by 2017
AAA expects to have members by 2017
The AAA has a Pan-Africa Board, a secretariat, and country boards in each country
In each country there is a AAA office with a full-time country coordinator supporting AAA activities

7. AAA Structure

8. AAA approach & challenges
Organization
Members & recruitment
Business Clubs
Knowledge Network
Trainings

9. Organization: approach
From small pilot to Pan African organization
Project: implement the 5-year strategy
Phasing in / phasing out approach

10. Organization: challenges
Towards self-sustaining AAA: management, finance flows, reporting flows, overall control.

11. Members

12. Members & recruitment approach
By invitation from AAA members
Approaching relevant organizations
PR and advertisement through media
Strict procedure managed by the country chapter
Based on code of conduct
Decision to accept new members is with chapter
Probation for a period of 1 year as aspirant member
Coach the new member during first year

13. Members & recruitment challenges
Criteria: being on top of selection & invitation
Reality: new member company visit a must
Fee: collection membership fees
Active: participation - give and take
Cost sharing: no free ride (allowances, support)
Expectation: clear - tailor-making up to a point
Termination: when do, when don’t..

14. Business Clubs

15. Business Club approach
The Business Club is a place where members meet, share their experiences, link, learn, support & make business deals
BCs have a leader and assistant, and implements with Country Coordinator annual needs-based BC plans
Business Visits to AAA members / Agri-SME companies
Invite guest speakers and experts
Organize and participate in trainings
Link to investors, technology institutes, other businesses
Organize and participate in business events, symposia and trade fairs
BCs leaders report: knowledge used for Resource Centre
The BC leader and assistant are responsible for organizing the BC meetings and reporting on those meetings

16. Business club challenges
Lead: organize, lead, report (voluntary)
Distance: even within zone
Participation: time dedication
Micro-budgeting: control of budget

17. AAA Knowledge Networks

18. Knowledge Networks approach

19. Network and Sector Desk challenges
Networks: leader – cross-cutting, abstract
Sector desk: leader in field – time, value
Distance: online groups, how scale up?
Participation: online problems, easy app access
Micro-budgeting: control of budget
Strategy : more sector-driven, less on country-driven focus.
Incl. recruitment, B2B, trainings

20. Training

21. Training & Coaching approach
Trajectories: Investment Planning + Managing Business Growth, in collaboration with funds / banks
Stand-alone: Branding & Packaging, Marketing, Financial Management Systems, Inclusive Business Models
By members for members (trainers, experts, coaches)
Scaling up, at Network and BC level
Members pay, continues quality upgrade

22. Training & Coaching challenges
Remain focused: business growth
Manage expectations: steps to funding
Post training: keep the speed
Funds: only best can go
Costs versus output: balancing

23. AAA Online

24. Online Communication approach
Platform for internal communication crucial / underestimated.
Facilities: Blogs, Online discussions, Event calendar, Resources, Success stories, and so on.
Facebook group for members-only, Facebook page for wider audience, and a Twitter account.
Transfer to new lighter version website
2016: App that is accessible on smart phones and tables
Platform also host of Resource Centre.

25. Online Knowledge approach
Resource Centre: database with unique agrifood SME knowledge (non-academic), personal experience, contacts
Since 2015: Business Bulletins available to members
Search: for example Dairy + Finance, or Honey +Diversification
CoP meetings or BC events produce the raw inputs

26. Business Bulletin approach
Business Bulletins: 2 pages, so easy accessible to its members

27. Communication: Quarterly Newsletter

28. Measure your impact Three key conclusions:
Average number of farmers an AAA member works has grown: before being AAA member it was 800, current average nearly 1,600
Average number of staff employed by an AAA member: was 29, current average 43;
Average turnover of an AAA member: was US$, current average nearly 400,000 US$.
When asked if AAA made a difference in this growth: 75%+ said it had.

29. Country Chapter coordinators
Director: (base in Arusha)
Tanzania:
Kenya:
Ethiopia:
Rwanda:
Uganda:

30. Thank you for your attention
@AAAcademy1
Africa Agribusiness Academy