Project: Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced (EDGE)
Client: ACDI / VOCA
Date: 2020 – 2025
The Problem
EDGE is a USAID-funded five year project aimed at increasing the profitability and revenue for 450 agricultural MSMEs in Zambia by addressing their key constraints in access to finance, gaps in business management skills and technology, and limited access to markets.
The Solution
Agova has been contracted to be an implementing partner on the project to conduct key activities focusing on increasing the competitiveness of SMEs’ products by 1. Strengthening SMEs’ marketing and management capacity through the provision of business development services (BDS) such as tailored consulting, periodic trainings and targeted technical support; 2. Improving SMEs’ input / output relationships by facilitating linkages with key inputs suppliers, off-takers and other relevant partners.
Results
Agova has set up and equipped a network of 18 Business Advisors and 8 Technical Experts who have been providing business development services (group trainings, 1-on-1 coaching, technical expert support) and market facilitation services (market intelligence, b2b meetings, business linkage forums, etc.) to more than 385 rural SMEs in Eastern, Central, and Lusaka Provinces across 6 value chains, of which 47% are women-led enterprises.
To date, the project has created 840 full-time jobs, and achieved an average of 80% increase in profits and a 72% growth in revenue for the 385 MSMEs. Additionally, $10 million worth of crops have been sold to markets through improved market linkages and $14 million in financing has been leveraged for 125 SMEs and individual producers.
