Why MSMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector struggle to access finance: key blocking factors
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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Agriculture plays a critical role in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)— the sector employs nearly half of the workforce[1] and drives food security, rural development, and poverty reduction. At the heart of this sector are agricultural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (agri-MSMEs)—the backbone of SSA’s rural economy. However, despite their importance, agri-MSMEs face a persistent barrier: access to finance. With three out of four agri-MSMEs unable to secure bank loans[2], these enterprises struggle to grow, innovate, and contribute to the region’s sustainable… +Ethiopia: Chives company invests in sustainable waste management
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Founded in Menagesha in 2004, around 15 km west of Addis Ababa, Jordan River Herbs PLC Ethiopia has become a leading producer and exporter of fresh and processed chives. Located at a high altitude, the farm benefits from optimal growing conditions with minimal disease, virus and pest pressure. Cultivating 13 hectares under controlled conditions, the company employs 595 people, most of whom are women, and holds key certifications including GLOBALG.A.P., BRCGS, SMETA, LEAF, Tesco and M&S. Its products are exported… +Malawi: From training to action to strengthen quality and traceability
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus programme (FFM+), two Malawian horticultural companies, Thanthwe Enterprises in Lilongwe and Mtengo wa Mizu in Salima, received post-training support in food safety, quality management, and traceability. This followed a collective training session on the principles of quality and traceability management systems for food safety. The training enabled an assessment of existing systems, including field visits and discussions with management teams, and the formulation of practical, tailored recommendations. Both companies now have concrete… +Senegal: OFRUTTI strengthens its quality and traceability system
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD supported the Senegalese company OFRUTTI, specialised in dried mango processing, in setting up concrete tools to structure its quality and traceability management system. This post-training support followed a collective session on the principles of quality and traceability management for food safety. The goal: to turn the knowledge gained into operational practices tailored to the company. Tangible results Thanks to strong commitment from the management team, several key achievements were… +Uganda: United Pearl Exporters strengthens HACCP compliance
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Within the framework of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD provided targeted technical assistance to United Pearl Exporters Ltd (UPEL), a Ugandan exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables (chillies, okra, bananas, green beans…) to the European Union and the United Kingdom. After participating in a COLEAD collective training on HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) in 2024, UPEL received post-training support to improve its food safety systems and progress towards certification. Tangible progress The support enabled: A… +‘Market access and trade facilitation’ at the AU-EU Ministerial Conference: call to strengthen collaboration between the private sector, decision-makers, researchers and donors
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
COLEAD participated through the FFM+ programme at the high-level thematic session on market access and trade facilitation, organised as part of the 6th African Union–European Union Ministerial Conference on Agriculture, entitled ‘A sustainable future for agri-food systems’, held in Rome on 10 October. The session, opened by French Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard, brought together a prestigious panel composed of Estherine Fotabong (AUDA-NEPAD), Agata Gałińska (DG AGRI, European Commission), Alice O’Donovan (CELCAA) and Isolina Boto (COLEAD), moderated by Steven Were… +Gillian Goddard (Trinidad & Tobago), co-founder of the Alliance of Rural Communities
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
An activist, systems thinker, and organic food pioneer, Gillian has spent over three decades cultivating not just crops, but community. As co-founder of the Alliance of Rural Communities, she has turned her passion for food justice into a bold movement spanning the Caribbean, Africa, and North America, with a single vision: to restore power, pride, and prosperity to rural communities. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Gillian left for the United States at 17, where she built on her gardening experiences… +Fatou Cissoko (Guinea): “Our work goes beyond products: it’s about people.”
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Fatou Titine Cissoko is the founder and managing director of Jedengui (EFK), a Guinean agri-food company that transforms local agricultural surplus into high-quality natural products. She is a leading figure in women’s entrepreneurship in West Africa, committed to empowering women, supporting small-scale producers and reducing post-harvest losses. Originally from Kindia, Fatou witnessed over 40% of fruit production being wasted due to a lack of markets. Hailing from a farming background, she established EFK in 2014 to reduce waste and enhance… +Access to finance: capacity building based on a pathway to investment for MSMEs in the agri-food sector
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In response to the challenges of accessing finance, COLEAD has developed through the FFM+ programme a comprehensive approach called “Investment Readiness Path”. The approach aims to strengthen the financial capacity of agri-food businesses by equipping agricultural business managers and owners with the skills to validate their business models, develop business and financial plans, and interact with potential sources of financing. This increases their chances of accessing capital. These tools are essential for demonstrating the viability and profitability of businesses to… +Development of an internal training system – example of Dobi AgriCo Ltd., a committed partner for sustainable agri-food in Nigeria
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Founded in 2013 and located near Abuja, Dobi AgriCo Ltd is a Nigerian agri-food company that farms 200 hectares (100 of which are in active production) to grow vegetables in open fields and greenhouses for the local market. As a supplier to retail chains such as Shoprite and Spar, the company now aims to break into the export market. As part of the L.A.T. Cleveson Group, Dobi AgriCo has received substantial investment to develop a processing centre and dedicated training… +