2SCALE: Incubating inclusive agribusiness in Africa

Building inclusive agribusiness clusters

2SCALE: Empowering Agribusiness and Communities Across Africa

The 2SCALE project aims to bolster smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and improve access to nutritious and affordable food for base-of-the-pyramid consumers across ten sub-Saharan African countries. By fostering agribusiness clusters (ABCs) and supporting MSMEs, farmer groups, and public-private partnerships, 2SCALE is driving inclusive agribusiness development throughout the region.

iCRA’s Role in Building Agribusiness Clusters

As a key consortium partner in the first phase of the 2SCALE project, we played a crucial role in establishing over 300 Agribusiness Clusters (ABCs) across ten African countries. These clusters bring together farmers, lead buyers, transporters, financial organizations, and technical advisory services to co-create and implement shared action plans that enhance their ability to meet consumer demands.

iCRA’s unique contribution was in training and mentoring over 300 local coaches and national agribusiness trainers, equipping them with the skills and tools needed for effective partnership facilitation and ABC formation. This capacity-building effort enabled local actors to collaborate more effectively, tackle challenges such as last-mile service delivery, innovation costs, skilled labor investment, and climate and environmental issues.

Strategic Partnership and Continued Support

From 2019 onwards, iCRA has continued its collaboration with 2SCALE as a strategic partner, focusing on the formation of agribusiness clusters and providing expertise in partnership building, co-creation, and facilitation. iCRA remains the preferred training provider for 2SCALE, delivering essential training to 2SCALE’s staff, Business Development Service providers, and local coaches. These training sessions ensure that the skills and methodologies required for successful ABC formation and partnership management are effectively disseminated throughout the program’s networks.

Additionally, iCRA works closely with 2SCALE to co-facilitate partnerships and conduct Reflection & Adaptation workshops, where all stakeholders assess and refine their strategies and action plans, ensuring ongoing alignment and success. This collaborative approach strengthens the impact of the 72 public-private partnerships supported by 2SCALE during its second phase.