Imani has a long history of working in both prominent strands of the private sector. The first is public sector development which involves support to developing a more favourable business climate within a country. This includes identifying barriers to business setup and growth and developing policies to overcome these. The second strand consists of hands on support to private operators (farmers, SMMEs, large businesses) and private sector associations. Imani has worked directly with governments and regional bodies (the PTA, COMESA, SADC, the EAC and PIPSO) as well as with industry (tea, coffee, aquaculture, textiles, agro-processors, SMMEs, inclusive businesses and business associations).

Identifying early on that the private sector needed to be included in this process of regional integration in Africa, Imani has helped governments develop policies that support private sector growth, such as credible pro-industry regulation, industrial development and investment promotion strategies. Our wealth of operational experience means we are able to offer practical support to businesses, business associations, government, civil society and public-private sector dialogues. Imani has undertaken many PSD studies and participated in numerous workshops and seminars across Africa and in the Pacific, helped governments formulate economic growth and export strategies, facilitated trade partnerships, and established high level discussion platforms for constructive engagement between government, private sector, civil society and the development community.

Download our latest Private Sector Development Capacity Statement by clicking here.

Private Sector Development services offered by Imani:

  • Competitiveness and Structural Transformation
  • Economic Growth and Export Strategies
  • Identifying Constraints to Business and Cluster Development
  • Industrial Policy
  • Enabling Environment Programmes and Policies
  • Doing Business Index Improvement Programmes
  • Public-Private Dialogue and Cooperation
  • Investment Promotion and Facilitation
  • Trade Policy and Negotiation
  • Trade Facilitation
  • Access to Finance Policies and Programmes
  • Institutional Capacity Development around Private Sector Development
  • Innovation challenge fund and innovation matching grant fund management

Project Highlights:

Africa RISE (Reform for Investment and Sustainable Economies) (2020 – 2024)
Africa RISE is a EUR 12.7 million technical assistance facility funded by the European Union, which aims is to promote business development and improve the investment climate in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, in support of inclusive and sustainable growth, job creation and decent work. The technical facility covers 25 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, assisting private and public sector organisations at national and regional level.

Imani Development was contracted to provide technical assistance services to support interventions aimed at creating a fertile environment for private sector growth, addressing market failures, enhancing value chains and competitiveness.

Assignments delivered to date by Imani Development as lead or supporting partner include:

– Feasibility Study on a Wool & Mohair Testing Facility in Lesotho;
– Scoping study for the identification of an Access to Finance Action for Tanga and Mwanza Cities;
– Technical assistance for mapping of the informal sector in Zimbabwe and identification of possible projects for young entrepreneurs;
– Feasibility Study to Improve Export Potential for Botswana Goods and Services to the DR Congo Market;
– Capacity building on investment & trade promotion and facilitation for the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre;
– Development of a policy framework on anti-illicit trade for the COMESA region;
– Study into economic impact for tourism sector development in Eswatini;
– Strategy for the development of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals in Mauritius; IEC
– Private sector action document support in Zambia;
– Position papers for private sector engagement in the EAC region;
– Anti-corruption support in Malawi;
– Support to action document for improving the business environment in Malawi;
– Dissemination and planning workshop to follow up on the NICF for Botswana.

AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund (2018 – 2023)
The AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund was 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, the project will 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.

Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF) (2014 – 2017 & 2018 – 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.

Green Economy Transition Facility (GETF) (2023-2025)
The Green Economy Transition Facility (GETF) is an initiative aimed at catalysing green business solutions in Malawi. Financed by UNDP and Irish Aid, the GETF is birthed out of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Growth Accelerator (GA) and is designed to support private sector companies in initiating and scaling alternative energy and fuel-efficient solutions. The GA/GETF will support approximately 91 enterprise projects with a total portfolio value of approximately USD5,486,000. Imani Development and Landell Mills are fund managers for the Green Accelerator and the Green Economy Transition Facility (GETF).

Study on SMEs and Value Chains and Trade Development in Southern Africa (Sep 2022 – June 2023)
This UNECA funded assignment sought to understand the challenges and opportunities that MSMEs face in growing their participation in national, regional and global value chains. It prioritized cases where innovation has facilitated increased participation and utilisation of preferential and global trade agreements by MSMEs. The objective was to strengthen capacities of MSMEs in Southern Africa, focusing on how they can leverage innovative approaches to address competitiveness challenges during and after adverse shocks like the COVID pandemic. The assignment involved country visits to Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. The final deliverable was a selection of case studies based on findings from research on Technology and Innovation among MSMEs in Southern Africa.

ESG among African Private Sector to enhance sustainable business practices in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) (2022-2023)
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has increasingly become an important factor in determining the competitiveness of businesses as they operate in society, with a critical focus on the sustainability of their activities. Worldwide trade and investment agreements and arrangements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), have recognised the need to contribute towards advancing ESG and in turn, helping to achieve positive benefits across the triple bottom line (People, Planet and Profit).
Imani Development was contracted to conduct a survey among the African Private Sector to ascertain the current practices of ESG. The main objectives were to (i) take stock of the current ESG status; (ii) identify current challenges and issues; (iii) devise key strategic recommendations to enhance the practices of ESG among the African Private Sector and sustainable business practices in the AfCFTA market.

Feasibility study to improve export potential for Botswana goods and services into the DRC market (2021-2022)
The European Union’s Africa RISE programme aims to promote business development and improve the investment climate in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean. The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), in partnership with Sea Rail Botswana, has been exploring strategies to help Botswana companies enter challenging export markets, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Imani Development was contracted through the EU Africa RISE programme to develop a market entry strategy for Botswana’s exports to the DRC. The study considered various factors, including market size, business models, export finance, the operating environment, local laws, competitors, and potential partnerships. The consultancy also evaluated the feasibility of establishing warehouse facilities near the DRC/Zambia border.

The development of the market entry strategy relied on interviews with businesses in Botswana, Zambia, and Congo, as well as customs officials, transport providers, and commercial banks.