Access to finance: COLEAD offers resources tailored to the context and needs of agri-MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)

Stay tuned in 2025 for in-depth and useful knowledge to understand access to finance and how to actually get it

Access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges for micro, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While the sector accounts for nearly 49% of employment and 17% of GDP, the lack of adequate finance hinders productivity, rural development and food security.

Yet agricultural MSMEs play a driving role in economic growth and poverty reduction. However, three out of four agricultural MSMEs have no access to bank loans and are stuck in the ‘missing middle’: too big for microfinance but too small to attract traditional investors. The annual financing gap is estimated at $74 billion, affecting nearly 130,000 agribusinesses.

The COLEAD approach

In response to this challenge, COLEAD is taking action through programmes such as Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) to help agribusiness MSMEs overcome these barriers. In addition to technical assistance focused on productivity, market access and sustainability, COLEAD has stepped up its support for agricultural businesses to prepare for investment.

Our approach is based on three strategic pillars:

• Scalable investment readiness training: COLEAD’s structured Investment Readiness Path equips partner beneficiaries with financial literacy and business acumen through scalable trainings, including webinars, self-paced courses, and collective workshops.
• Targeted technical assistance: Beyond training, we provide hands-on support to high-potential MSMEs (focus on scalable, high-impact projects) to reach the last mile of access to finance, helping refine business plans and investment proposals, and identifying relevant funding options.
• Partnering with the agri-finance ecosystem players: We connect agri-MSMEs with impact investors, development banks, and financial experts to bridge funding gaps and improve access to capital

Our common thread in 2025: share inspiring stories and in-depth knowledge to understand access to finance and how to actually obtain it.

Throughout the year, we will bring you a series of key articles dedicated to access to finance. We will share inspiring stories of agribusiness MSMEs that have been able to raise finance and grow, in particular thanks to COLEAD’s resources and support. For example, COLEAD’s approach to access to finance was recently successfully tested in Kenya, where five agri-food companies were supported in their journey to investment readiness. Thanks to tailored technical assistance, four companies were able to secure funding, while all were equipped with the tools they needed to secure funding for their future projects. This pilot project demonstrated the impact of personalised financial support and strategic networking in unlocking funding opportunities, reinforcing COLEAD’s evolutionary approach to Access to Finance.

Future articles on access to finance will highlight the challenges, concrete solutions and tools to better understand and access available funding. Stay tuned in 2025! You will discover:

• Key blocking factors to access to finance – structural, institutional and market challenges
• COLEAD’s positioning on Access to Finance for agricultural SMEs
• COLEAD’s partnerships & success stories in access to finance
• The link between business skills with access to finance
• COLEAD’s Investment Readiness Path
• The importance of a well-structured business & financial plan in access to finance
• How to effectively navigate online platforms listing sources of funding
• Understanding funding options: Key eligibility criteria for your agribusiness project
• Choosing the right funding option: A step-by-step guide for agri-MSMEs
• Securing funding for your agricultural project: effective engagement strategies with identified sources of funding

All these expert analyses, practical advice and resources have been developed as part of the FFM+ programme to help you better understand the agricultural finance landscape, access existing opportunities, overcome funding barriers and make your agricultural project a sustainable success!

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.