The Effectiveness of the Metro Agri-Food Living Lab for Gender Inclusive Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Kenya
The world’s urban population will surpass its rural population by 2030. In order to provide food to the growing cities, an innovative and inclusive approach for agri-food entrepreneurs will be necessary. This presents an important opportunity for youth, whose unemployment rate surpasses that of adults by 25%.
The first phase of this project (June 2015-March 2017), implemented by the Metro Agri-Food Living Lab, tested the effectiveness of various interventions, including training and business counselling, to actively engage Kenya’s youth in profitable agri-businesses. Three components were identified for the youth entrepreneurship model: training, mentoring, and funding. This second phase will integrate rigorous research design to test these components individually and in combination. The project seeks to answer two fundamental research questions: what works to successfully build youth-led businesses in the agriculture sector; and what is the added value of training, mentoring, and funding in building successful youth-led businesses. Other key research topics will include gender barriers and opportunities for youth entrepreneurship and the role of the external environment, including government policies.
The project increases the number of participants from 210 to 1,200 and expands the range of agribusinesses beyond poultry and fisheries. Gender will be integrated throughout the project cycle from the selection of participants to the evaluation of outcomes. Youth participating in the program are expected to boost their sales, expand their businesses, and improve their livelihoods. This growth is expected to benefit an additional 15,000 youth as employees, suppliers, and peer mentors in the following 24 months. The financing module is also expected to catalyze private investment into early-stage enterprises.
This project is funded through the Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund (CultiAF), a joint program of IDRC and the Australian International Food Security Research Centre of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. CultiAF supports research to achieve long-term food security in eastern and southern Africa.
Project ID
108867
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
24 months
IDRC Officer
Edidah Lubega Ampaire
Total Funding
CA$ 840,900.00
Location
Kenya
Programs
Climate-Resilient Food Systems
Cultivate Africa's Future
Climate-Resilient Food Systems
Agriculture and Food Security
Institution Country
Kenya
Project Leader
Francis Wambalaba
Institution
United States International University
Outputs
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Effectiveness of the metro agri-food living lab for gender inclusive youth entrepreneurship development in Kenya Report
The project scaled up Cultivate Africa’s Future Phase I (CultiAF1) pilot project, where training and business counselling significantly enhanced youth participation and investment in agribusiness. The study set up randomized control trials testing effects of training, mentorship, and linkage to financing; combined effects of interventions; and key business performance indicators. Findings show the project increased youth Agripreneur sales, employment and entrepreneurial resilience, and enhanced Agribusiness resource mobilization among the male and female youth. Engaging county governments and local stakeholders from inception to closure increases the level of scaling up and out. Author(s): Wambalaba, Francis, Njuguna, Amos, Asena, Salome Language: English |
Gender inclusive youth entrepreneurship in Kenya Brief
This brief provides a description of the Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund (CultiAf) project and Phase 2 aims, which seek to expand the scope of the first phase by increasing the number of youth trainees from 210 to 1,200 and by expanding the range of agribusinesses beyond poultry and fisheries. It will integrate a rigorous research design to test the three components of the Metro AgriFood Living Lab youth entrepreneurship model. Business growth is expected to benefit an additional 15,000 youth as employees and suppliers, along with peer mentoring. Author(s): Wrenmedia Language: English |
Entrepreneuriat commun aux deux sexes chez les jeunes au Kenya Dossiers
Author(s): Wrenmedia Language: French |
Effectiveness of the metro agri-food living lab model baseline report Report
This presentation by the Busara Centre for Behavioural Economics shows results of a survey of entrepreneurial activity in agri-business in regions of Kenya. It includes variables that can be used to highlight the extent to which the entrepreneur is likely to have control over their business affairs, such as: access to infrastructure, use of technology, previous experience, access to financial resources and business training. A detailed breakdown of findings in terms of male and female entrepreneurship illustrates differences in capacity. Wider access to, and ability to effectively use technology will assist entrepreneurs in planning effectively. Author(s): Busara Institute of Behavioural Studies Language: English |