Imani’s goal is to channel the overwhelming level of support to the agricultural sector into development that improves competitiveness in a pro-poor manner. Imani therefore approaches agriculture at both a macro and micro level – from developing national agricultural policies to linking smallholder farmers with markets for their produce.

Imani has developed a specialisation in agricultural value chain analysis (VCA) and value chain development (VCA/VCD) and has completed these for a range of clients and various crops and commodities. VCA work is often conducted as part of a wider piece of consultancy that we have delivered. A market assessment is usually undertaken to determine which value chains will be analysed and thus developed as part of a specified project or programme.

View our latest Agricultural Development Capacity Statement by clicking here.

Agricultural development principles:

  • Context Specific: Imani’s use of staff on the ground ensures we are well positioned to undertake the collection of primary data and conduct consultations that make our work grounded in the context of implementation. The thorough understanding of local nuances ensures analyses and strategies that are practical and implementable.
  • Market Based: We base our analysis on the current market structure, future growth possibilities and market dynamics. In order to be sustainable, this theory must be applied, as it is the market that dictates the characteristics of the sector and the individual value chains within it.
  • Targets Market Players: Support to agricultural development is often approached via an external player, such as an NGO, assuming the role of an internal player. Imani focuses on permanent market players to increase the project’s sustainability when the player withdraws at the conclusion of a project.
  • Time Period of Intervention:. Imani takes into account small-scale farmers hesitation towards production and marketing and recommends agricultural development programmes that are of a suitable time frame.

Project Highlights:

ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund (2020-2025)
Under the 11th European Development Fund (2014-2020) for Zambia, the European Union and the Government of Zambia have agreed on a EUR 99 million “Support to the sustainable commercialisation of Zambia’s smallholder farmers” Programme. The first and largest component of this operation aims at supporting investments conducive to strengthening the market integration of smallholder farmers into value chain developments, through innovative business models including agribusiness operators and smallholders. This project seeks to create markets for up to 150,000 small scale farmers and producers, and more than 8,000 new jobs in the sector over the next five years. Imani Development’s role in the management of ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund include technical assistance, undertaking extensive value chain assessments, reviewing business plans, as well as implementation support to successful applicants.

AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund (2018 – 2023)
The AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund is designed and implemented by Imani Development and Self Help Africa (SHA). The objective is to improve the capacity of 100,000 smallholder farmers and pastoralists to practise environmentally sustainable and climate-smart agriculture and a business in inclusive value chains. Through an innovative challenge fund approach, AgriFI Kenya will also sub-grant approximately €19 million through a competitive call for funding. Target sectors of the grant will be the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors, including their respective down-stream industries. Imani’s role in the management of AgriFI Kenya includes technical design of the fund, technical assistance (including the provision of value chain assessments using the Market Systems Development and Sustainable Livelihoods frameworks), due diligence of applicants, and the provision of technical support and business development services to successful applicants.

Ireland Kenyan Agri-Food Strategy (IKAFS) (2023)
The Ireland-Kenya Agri-Food Strategy 2017-2021 (IKAFS) was launched in 2017 and aimed to bring together Ireland’s objectives in development cooperation, trade promotion and the development of institutional linkages in a manner that enhances cooperation and investment in agri-food for the mutual benefit of Ireland and Kenya. The first phase of the strategy came to an end in 2022.

The Irish Embassy plans to develop the next 5-year agri-food strategy which will incorporate an integrated food systems approach and guide the delivery of Ireland and Kenya’s key development priorities. As programme design and management specialists, Imani was contracted to design and facilitate the strategy development process through a consultative and evidence-based process that will yield a results-orientated Agri-Food strategy.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) Climate Change Research Amongst Female Tea Growers (2022)
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), under the FCDO’s Work and Opportunities for Women Programme (WOW), entrusted Imani to conduct research on the impacts of climate change on female tea growers in Thyolo and Mulanje districts, with special attention to climate resilience and adaptation. Imani conducted a series of participatory workshops and key informant interviews to gauge the effects of climate change across three domains (tea sector, household, and community levels), as well as assessing general risk/vulnerability and recommending strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

EIB Intermediated Lending Operations for Agri-Food Sector SMEs Integrating Smallholders (2020-2024)
The purpose of this technical assistance programme is to support access to finance for the agricultural sector in Malawi and Zambia by (i) enhancing financial institution’s capacity to assess, execute and monitor longer-term investment projects in agri-food value chains that aim to integrate smallholder farmers in the respective value chain and (ii) supporting potential final beneficiary enterprises and groups of smallholder farmers to develop market linkages through off-take and service provision agreements and enhance group capabilities to develop and implement viable investment projects. The Programme is expected to strengthen capacities of several stakeholders, by providing guidance and tools on integrating smallholders into agricultural value chains.

Imani Development was contracted to provide technical support to ensure credit facility compliance with EIB processes and requirements, design and deliver tailor made capacity building and training to FIs and FBs.

Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (2014-2022)
The Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF)  was a UD$22 million UNDP initiative that offered grant financing for innovative projects in Malawi’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors. MICF provided matching grant financing to businesses and financial institutions, enabling them to develop innovative products, delivery channels, and business models that can increase the number of SMEs receiving formal financing in Malawi.

Imani Development was assigned the role of project implementation manager, offering specialized services for the agribusiness funding window. Key activities included technical and financial appraisal of concept notes, due diligence for potential grantees, development of project logic models and monitoring frameworks, performance monitoring and reporting, and input to policy engagement on Private Sector Development through the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Ethical and Fair Trade Development

Imani’s strategic intent is to work with marginalised producers and workers in poor countries in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency. Imani engages at all stages and levels of the process – from informing policy development in Europe to working with Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) registered producers in East and Southern Africa and Asia. Imani has been working with ethical and fair trade companies and initiatives, such as the Fairtrade Foundation and Fairtrade Africa, since 2002.

Imani bridges the gap between supplier and buyer within the value chain and has experience in getting products to markets on time for buyers. With our base, background and offices in Africa, Imani brings a unique perspective to ethical and fair trade and is fundamentally committed to promoting equitable regional and international trade.

Imani’s services in the Fair Trade arena include:

  • In-depth knowledge of Fair Trade and Product Supply Chains
  • Assisting organisations new to Fairtrade to comply with standards and become registered with FLO
  • Assisting with new product development and sourcing suitable suppliers to fulfil this need
  • Maintaining long term relationships on behalf of companies with suppliers
  • Ensuring strong supply chains often in the face of extremely difficult trading conditions
  • Preparing policy documents and proposals to support the development of Fair Trade as a global initiative
  • Developing product and supplier strategies that reflect their values and objectives
  • Lobbying FLO on the producers behalf regarding issues of standards and compliance
  • Quality management through product development, improvement and innovation
  • Capacity building through training in Fair Trade and through organisational development and improving performance
  • Assisting small-scale farmers in accessing markets
  • Improving quality and farmer revenues through identifying and establishing ‘win-win’ projects
  • Engineering sustainability into the supply chain
  • Measuring the impact of Fair Trade projects and organisations