MARKUP II Youth Agribusiness Accelerator Kenya Launch
On September 15th, Ashoka Africa, Africa Harvest, and partners under the EU-EAC-funded MarkUp II initiative officially launched the MARKUP II youth Agribusiness Accelerator Program in Kenya.
The program, implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with Africa Harvest and Ashoka Africa, brings together 30 youth entrepreneurs from the coffee, leather, and packaging value chains, from producers and processors to exporters and innovators such as coffee waste turned into beauty products and fuel, fish leather, eco-packaging from agricultural waste, and digital traceability tools.
Notable speakers included Dr. Florence Wambugu, CEO of Africa Harvest, who shared her entrepreneurial journey and emphasized the power of innovation and partnerships for growth. Ashoka Africa’s Country Director inspired participants to embrace a changemaker mindset, urging them to go beyond conventional business and position themselves as social entrepreneurs driving solutions to societal challenges.
The entrepreneurs are also part of the Ye! Community (Youth Entrepreneurs), a global networking platform that connects participants with peers and opportunities worldwide.
Kenya’s cohort now joins their counterparts in Uganda and Rwanda, who are going through the same journey under MarkUp II with an even wider scope of value chains, including avocado, spices, essential oils, gum arabica, French beans, cocoa, and tea.
Entrepreneurs shared opportunities, barriers, and solutions, and officially began their learning journey through the MARKUP Online Academy, which will provide training in export markets, business skills, and enterprise growth. The participants expressed enthusiasm for the online training modules and cross-country learning.
“I am looking forward to networking with my peers, acquiring mentorship, and also learning more about agribusiness,” said Daniela Nairita, from Yarsi Acquacycle, Turkana Marsabit County.
The launch marks the beginning of a transformative regional journey for youth agripreneurs to scale their enterprises, create jobs, and unlock opportunities in East Africa’s agricultural value chains.
