TechnoServe

Passing the Baton: Rethinking Leadership for Resilient Enterprise Growth On July 31st, the IIGS program hosted a one-day Succession Planning Masterclass bringing together founders, Gen Z successors, and business mentors from Kenya’s food processing sector. Designed for family-run SMEs, the session addressed a critical question: How can leadership transitions be planned, not just hoped for, to ensure business continuity, inclusivity, and growth? Key Insight Leadership transitions in SMEs are inflection points that determine whether businesses evolve or dissolve. When intentional, they create space for shared decision-making, generational learning, and resilience. Yet for many founders, especially in closely held businesses, letting go is personal. For successors, especially young women, stepping in means leading confidently while honoring legacy. This session fostered structured, values-driven conversations around succession, identity, and vision, blending technical tools with relational dynamics. What Shifted in the Room Mapping Values to Vision Through the “Tree of Life” reflection, participants linked personal history to leadership identity, clarifying their leadership path. Naming Barriers, Building Voice Exploring imposter syndrome helped both generations unpack silent blockers to effective leadership transitions. Dialogue as Strategy Structured intergenerational conversations surfaced assumptions, clarified expectations, and built mutual respect. Balancing Legacy and Innovation Participants committed to preserving what works while welcoming next-gen ideas and digital evolution. Gender Inclusive Transitioning Young women voiced bold aspirations, challenging norms and demonstrating the value of inclusive leadership. From Passive Roles to Strategic Action Successors developed leadership plans, signaling a shift from supportive presence to long-term ownership. This session reminded us that when inclusive leadership, dialogue, and planning are embedded in enterprise support, the result is not just a smooth transition but a stronger business. A huge gratitude to the facilitator Tara Ndichu  for anchoring a space of deep reflection and forward momentum. Additionally, our incredible SME founders and next gen leaders Ndalani Farm Produce LTD, Beecare Apiaries International Limited, Wimssy Limited, Dashcrop Limited, Sabina Tingo  and Soko Kijiji Impact. A special thank you to the team who made this a success, Visa Foundation, Wendy Muniu , Monica Githige , Neema Mandi, Benson Gachago and Anne Mugai.  IIGS will continue to support these transitions through mentorship, technical assistance, and enterprise resilience programming.  #SuccessionPlanning #EnterpriseResilience #NextGenLeadership #VisaFoundation#WomenInBusiness #YouthInSMEs #LeadershipTransition #FamilyBusinesses #FoodProcessing #IIGS #InclusiveGrowth #FutureReady #BusinessContinuity #KenyaSMEs #GRBPInPractice

When we give young people the chance to lead, extraordinary things can happen. Golebilemang from Botswana transformed her dreams into TeeGee Poultry, a thriving business with 500 laying hens. From unemployment to entrepreneurship, she's proving that with the right support and training, young leaders can change their own lives and transform their communities in the process. In a country where unemployment hits nearly 26%, young entrepreneurs like Golebilemang are writing new stories of possibility. She's building a legacy, planning expansions, and dreaming of property investments. Every young person has the potential to be a game-changer. The question isn't whether they can lead. it's whether we'll give them the opportunity.

Listen closely. That's the sound of change in rural Brazil. The brainstorming sessions. The breakthrough moments. The celebration. When women and men gain real opportunities, communities grow and thrive.

After a competitive selection process, we are excited to congratulate Smitha Allapat on her CFO appointment! As TechnoServe’s Senior Director of Finance & Global Controller for the past six years, Smitha has led critical organization-wide initiatives which have strengthened TechnoServe’s financial stewardship and operational effectiveness. She is passionate about leveraging finance to drive impact in international development. We believe in investing in our employees' growth and development. Read the full announcement: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eXtWriGd  #TechnoServe #WeAreTechnoServe #InternationalDevelopment

Cocoa farmers are building prosperity from the ground up across West Africa.  Poverty ends when people have sustainable, profitable work. Through a TechnoServe program, TechnoServe is transforming farming into a pathway to prosperity for West African families. The impact: nearly 10,000 cocoa farmers now access credit for inputs that double yields and incomes. From Côte d'Ivoire to Ghana, farming households are building financial security that ripples through entire communities. This is how we’re partnering with with farmers to create jobs that end poverty, one harvest at a time.

While tourists see crystal blue waters and pristine beaches, local entrepreneurs see something even more valuable: opportunity. The beach tourism market is worth $256.85 billion this year. At TechnoServe, we help coastal communities capture their share through sustainable business solutions. Every swimming lesson taught, every seaside meal served, every guided tour creates jobs that transform lives. When tourism meets entrepreneurship, entire communities thrive. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eB_Ra4dt

Creating Meaningful Market Access for Young Entrepreneurs in the Blue Economy From 10th to 13th July, TechnoServe, through its BlueBiz Program, supported youth entrepreneurs from Kenya’s coastal counties to participate in the Changamka Kenya Shopping Festival held at Visa Oshwal Grounds in Mombasa County. For these young entrepreneurs, this was more than just an opportunity to exhibit their products,it was a significant milestone in their business development journey. The experience provided tangible value in several key ways: 🔹 Exposure to New Markets – Participants were able to present their products to a wider and more diverse customer base beyond their local communities, leading to direct sales, cross-county orders, and expanded brand visibility. 🔹 Customer Engagement and Product Validation – Engaging directly with consumers allowed entrepreneurs to receive immediate feedback on their offerings. This enabled them to refine their product features, packaging, pricing, and marketing strategies based on real market insights. 🔹 Business Confidence and Professionalism – Representing their businesses on a national platform significantly boosted participants' confidence and helped them recognize the potential of their enterprises to operate competitively beyond their local markets. 🔹 Opportunities for Collaboration and Growth – The event created space for networking, peer learning, and exploration of future business collaborations with fellow entrepreneurs, potential partners, and distributors. 🔹 Practical Learning and Exposure – From managing a professional exhibition booth to interacting with varied customer segments, the experience offered valuable lessons in business operations, customer service, and strategic communication. This event reaffirmed one of the core objectives of the BlueBiz Program: to empower youth in the Blue Economy by enhancing their access to markets and building their capacity to sustain and grow competitive businesses. We commend our youth entrepreneurs for their dedication and resilience, and we are grateful to our partners and stakeholders for their continued support. Together, we are building ecosystems that unlock economic opportunity for young people across coastal Kenya. #BlueBizProgram #TechnoServeKenya #YouthEntrepreneurship #MarketAccess #BlueEconomy #ChangamkaFestival #BusinessGrowth #EconomicInclusion #KenyanEntrepreneurs

What happens when 700,000 cocoa farmers learn to think like entrepreneurs? Brighter futures are in sight. TechnoServe's business training and agricultural best practices are delivering game-changing results across Ghana's cocoa sector. The numbers speak for themselves: tripled incomes, quadrupled yields, and a more profitable future for farming families. Read more stories about the positive impact cocoa farmers are having on the communities and the environment: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eAbqJ4vy

🌍 Exciting Opportunity: TechnoServe RFP for Government Engagement & Event Planning 🌍 TechnoServe is inviting qualified firms and consultants to submit proposals for an upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) focused on Government Engagement and Event Planning for the 2025 Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) Awards — part of the Millers for Nutrition (M4N) initiative under the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 📅 Deadline: August 7, 2025 📍 Location: Nairobi, Kenya 🎯 Event Date: September 16, 2025 We are seeking: 🔹 Lot 1: Government Engagement Consultant Lead strategic engagement with senior government stakeholders, coordinate participation and protocol, draft speeches and press materials, and manage partnership agreements with public institutions. 🔹 Lot 2: Event Management Firm Deliver a seamless, high-profile awards event including venue logistics, registration, audiovisual production, catering, guest protocol, and overall event coordination. This is a chance to help amplify the achievements of food millers advancing nutrition through fortification and promote multi-sector collaboration for long-term impact. 📩 Proposals should include: Company profile & team bios Technical and cost proposals per lot Work plan and timeline Client references and credentials 🕒 Anticipated start date: August 15, 2025 💼 Project duration: ~3 months Submit your proposal to: buy+RQ8241@tns.org Please do not send submissions to individual TechnoServe staff or in hard copy. Let’s partner to deliver an impactful, dignified, and collaborative celebration of progress in nutrition. #RFP #TechnoServe #EventPlanning #GovernmentEngagement #NutritionSecurity #KMFI #M4N #FoodFortification #InclusiveDevelopment #PublicPrivatePartnership #NairobiEvents #DevelopmentImpact

Next week, this corner of the internet will be shifting its focus to the conversations happening around the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa #UNFSS. In anticipation of the occasion, I reflected on what has changed in my work over the last 6 months, -- At a time when our mission risks being overshadowed by dramatic cuts in international aid that threaten to stall, or even reverse, the gains made in recent years -- And what I think still matters for building fair, sustainable, and healthy food systems. We’re at a critical juncture. The global community has shown what’s possible when urgency meets collaboration. But with today’s challenges, that momentum is under threat. I’d love to hear from you: What other priorities should leaders, lawmakers, organizations, and the private sector be discussing at the Summit to drive lasting change in #FoodSystems and #FoodSecurity? I read you in the comments below. TechnoServe https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eusYfYvS