In most of the countries where CNFA works, the majority of people are engaged in rural—predominantly agricultural—enterprises. These entrepreneurs face challenges at nearly every level, from poor input supply to outdated technologies to limited market access. To reduce rural poverty and stimulate economic growth, CNFA's rural enterprise growth and development projects provide rural businesses with the tools they need to grow.
Enterprise Development Grants Management
CNFA uses grants—most often with a matching contribution from the recipient—to provide a needed influx of capital to jumpstart enterprise growth. To maximize long-term success, before an enterprise is deemed eligible for a grant, it must pass a rigorous evaluation of business experience, financial strength, management strength and commercial viability, among other things, and each company must submit a viable business and marketing plan. CNFA closely tracks progress to ensure grants are used for maximum effect.
Cooperative & Association Development
CNFA's rural enterprise growth projects promote and offer training in the formation of democratic farmer cooperatives and associations. CNFA's strategy for cooperative and association development rests on the basic principle of empowerment.
Business Development Training
Training modules include financial recordkeeping, business planning, accessing and qualifying for credit, cash flow management, market research and analysis marketing, sales and negotiation. In addition to directly providing training to individuals and groups, CNFA supports the development of local businesses that can provide these services for a fee in the longer term. Distinct from the direct training module, training to these providers focuses on developing and adapting training materials, helping commercial providers identify and serve a market at a rate that is affordable to the entrepreneur and sufficiently profitable to motivate the provider and linking entrepreneurs to other providers for specialized learning, e.g., evening courses offered by registered academic institutions.
Related Projects
Haiti: Market Chain Enhancement Project (MarChE)
Georgia: Agribusiness Development Activity
Ghana: Commercial Strengthening of Certified Cocoa Production in Ghana
Kenya: Kenya Agrodealer Strengthening Program (KASP)
Malawi: Malawi Agrodealer Strengthening Program (MASP)
Mali: Agrodealer Strengthening Program for Mali (ASPM)
Moldova: Agribusiness Development Project (ADP)
Pakistan: Improving Livelihoods and Enterprise Development Program (I-LED)
Tanzania: Tanzania Agrodealer Strengthening Program (TASP)
