Presentation by Felicia Muriuki, African Women Agribusiness Network, at the SIANI Members Meeting in Nairobi, November 14th 2018

1. Access to markets for women-led
agribusinesses: contributing to food
security
Felicia Muriuki
African Women Agribusiness Network
14th November 2018

2. • Non-profit, Business member organization
• That promotes women’s small, medium and large enterprises.
• The Network was established in 2003 and envisions African women
in agribusinesses becoming key players in global trade.
• AWAN’s secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya and has chapters in
the Eastern Africa Countries.
• The organization also has presence in Western, Central and Southern
Africa through Agribusiness Clubs.

3. Our Mission
Provide women owned agribusinesses a platform that facilitates access to
markets, trade information, blended and inclusive financing, innovative
technology and opportunity to share what works
Our Value Proposition
• We focus on Knowledge and targeted advocacy, to address a deeper
understanding of the factors that provide a conducive business environment.
• AWAN is moving toward innovative technologies in data collection, analysis
and experiences in order to understand the changes in trends and realities of
existing and new markets and challenges in the value chains.
• Based on that information we provide support to our members by advising on
policies and strategies to improve competitiveness and food value chain
performance

4. Our SIANI project: How can women farmers
in Kenya get better access to formal markets
through collaborating?
THE CHALLENGE
A. The market
• Large buyers of produce demand consistent quality and
quantities
• Buyers want to buy directly from farmers, but middlemen are
often more consistent and can deliver large quantities
B. Farmers
• Majority of small farmers/producers struggle with the capacity
and consistency demanded by large buyers such as schools,
restaurants, exporters or food processors
• Cooperatives could facilitate collaborative selling, but locally it
is difficult to manage and to run in a financially sustainable
way. It also requires significant resources to establish.

5. Our collaborative selling model- working together to
access formal markets
• A collaborative selling model can be explored for focusing
on local markets comprising of:
• A digital tool to manage the sourcing and consolidation
• A logistics and infrastructure system e.g. warehouse
and staff for quality control, physical consolidation and
delivery of produce
• Ongoing marketing of available produce
• A sustainable business model
• Periodic training of farmers on standardization of
produce

6. Our collaborative selling model- working together to access formal markets

7. Thank you!
Contact us
Head Office
Address: Marsabit Plaza, 3rd Floor
Ngong Road, Nairobi-Kenya
PO.BOX 20642-00200
Email: info@awanafrica.com
Phone: (254)705362738
Website: https://www.awanafrica.com/