AMEA ended the event with the launch of the AMEA Toolbox Guide 2025. The AMEA Toolbox is a collection of peer reviewed tools that are highly aligned to ISO 18716. These tools enable SMEs to build a performance track record which is useful to accessing new markets and new finance. The inter-operability of these tools has developed and examples are included in the Guide.
Over three years, Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) achieved a breakthrough in business development services delivery—creating a tiered BDS model that generated exceptional returns while reaching over 1,200 agri-SMEs across four regions and twelve value chains. With an 18:1 ROI on revenue increases and 84:1 ROI on capital mobilized, the ATI AgriHub program demonstrates how strategic segmentation and diagnostic-led approaches can revolutionize SME support systems, delivering ETB 3.16 billion in finance access while creating sustainable employment across Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.
L-IFT join us as a global member because it wants to become part of this network that jointly addresses agricultural development and strengthens agri-MSMEs.
AMEA ended the event with the launch of the AMEA Toolbox Guide 2025. The AMEA Toolbox is a collection of peer reviewed tools that are highly aligned to ISO 18716. These tools enable SMEs to build a performance track record which is useful to accessing new markets and new finance. The inter-operability of these tools has developed and examples are included in the Guide.
AMEA ended the event with the launch of the AMEA Toolbox Guide 2025. The AMEA Toolbox is a collection of peer reviewed tools that are highly aligned to ISO 18716. These tools enable SMEs to build a performance track record which is useful to accessing new markets and new finance. The inter-operability of these tools has developed and examples are included in the Guide.
Kafui presented IDH’s five-component approach to gender-transformative business models that deliver both commercial viability and women’s empowerment by addressing root causes of gender inequality. He conducted an interactive demo of IDH’s Innovation Library tool, showing how users can filter innovations to address gender inequality while maintaining business benefits. The presentation emphasized intentional design over add-on approaches.
IFC and ATI had both experimented with blended approaches which was necessary due to the COVID-19 restrictions. So we now asked: Does Digital Deliver More for Less? Africa Turnaround, African Management Institute and L-IFT presented different aspects to this question. We learnt about an “Uber for BDS” Model: Concept for certified BDS providers to build on and use existing content (rather than reinventing the wheel).
We continued the Ethiopian theme as we launched the IFC-Soufflet Ethiopia Case Study which documents the latest phase in IFC’s decade long support to the barley value chain. IFC’s Agribusiness Leadership Program was highly valued but it was the whole package of support that enabled the SMEs to rapidly grow their business.
Data is also valuable for Segmenting and Tailoring BDS for the SME market.The Agri-SME Learning Collective (ASLC) has proposed moving beyond use of traditional business size/stage criteria
Day 2 started where Day 1 left off by urging participants to move from a project mindset to systems building through strategic data sharing. The example of a 7 year project to support Nigerian input suppliers was provided where initial skepticism was overcome through:
• Building relationships through development of a shared vision
• Building in incentives where added value to each participant was clear
• Providing technology to enable participants to easily share data
• Guaranteeing confidentiality through NonDisclosure Agreements and transparent data usage protocols
The result was a sustainable data sharing platform which the private sector co-invested $100,000 to maintain.
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