Zimbabwe
Despite its rich natural resources, Zimbabwe’s economy has been in steep decline during the past decade. Unemployment is estimated to be as high as 95 percent, and about 1.7 million Zimbabweans lack ready, reliable access to food. But the country is taking steps toward a brighter future. TechnoServe is working with entrepreneurial men and women in Zimbabwe to capitalize on this momentum and promote sustainable development. By assisting medium-sized agricultural businesses, we hope to create new jobs and income opportunities for small-scale farmers, demonstrating a new way forward for Zimbabwe’s agriculture industry.
Technoserve/Zimbabwe
7 Albany Road
Alexandra Park
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: 263 4 744 127
TechnoServe/Zimbabwe Contact: Margaret Rose
Established: 2011
Practices: Building Businesses and Industries Developing Entrepreneurs
Sectors: Agriculture & Agribusiness
Developing Entrepreneurs
Promoting Innovative Ideas in Agriculture Through a Business Plan Competition
TechnoServe is running a national business plan competition called Agro Innovation Zimbabwe. The program supports promising ideas in agriculture by awarding capital prizes and technical assistance to medium-sized businesses that can be models for the wider industry. TechnoServe is seeking applications from businesses with innovative ideas for including smallholder farmers in their supply chains. We expect to award five to 10 prizes to companies in areas such as staple crops, high-value crops, livestock and food processing.
Key supporters: The Nduna Foundation, Delta Corporation
Building Businesses and Industries
Developing the National Poultry Industry
TechnoServe is working to strengthen Zimbabwe’s poultry industry through an 18-month pilot program that will test new models of linking poultry companies with small-scale chicken outgrowers. We aim to raise the incomes of 70 outgrowers by more than $1,000 each per year. Our partner DAPP Zimbabwe will help 3,000 soy and maize farmers improve their productivity, and TechnoServe will facilitate connections with local feed processors to ensure a stable market for these farmers. TechnoServe will also provide technical assistance to the Zimbabwe Poultry Association to promote the inclusion of smallholder farmers within the industry.
Key supporter: U.S. Agency for International Development
"To me TechnoServe has always been distinguished by its long-term commitment to building cooperatives and businesses from the bottom up in a way that makes sense for the individuals."
PATRICIA M. CLOHERTY
Chairman and CEO, Delta Private Equity Partners