2023 AGRI-TA Working Group Meeting

The Agriculture Technical Assistance (“Agri-TA”) Working group, born out of a 2019 workshop organised by
TechnoServe at British International Investment (BII), strives to enhance industry-wide technical assistance
quality and impact through collaborative ideation and knowledge exchange.
Between 2-3 November 2023, in-person meetings were convened – co-hosted by TechnoServe (the CASA
Technical Assistance Facility team), BII and UK International Development; focused on networking, best
practices, and methodologies to foster continuous improvement across the sector. Meetings were held over
two days at FCDO in King Charles St and BII offices in Victoria St respectively. Key objectives of the 2023
meeting included:
● Explore high priority impact themes & how they drive commercial value: Assess the role and
potential of gender, climate, nutrition, and digital initiatives in agribusiness, with an eye on both the
upliftment of smallholder farmers and the commercial competitiveness of businesses. Spark critical
discussions about the tangible commercial value and practicality of integrating these themes into the
business models. Encourage debate on the actual versus perceived contributions of these themes to the
sustainability and profitability of agribusiness.
● Have an honest discussion on navigating competing interests: Address the challenge of aligning
with diverse, and sometimes competing, objectives of funders and donors. Discuss how to meaningfully
engage with these themes without being pulled in too many directions or diluting the focus on core
business operations.
● Share experience: Share real-world examples of both successes and setbacks, fostering an open
dialogue about the challenges and learnings encountered when supporting these themes in
Agribusinesses.
● Build connections: Dedicate time for networking to stimulate the exchange of ideas and potential
collaborations, fostering a vibrant and diverse dialogue among participants.
Forty-one participants (3 virtual) from 19 organisations attended Day 1 of the working group, and 35
participants (3 virtual) attended Day 2. A list of attendees is attached. The detailed agenda is also available
upon request. This brief presents the key takeaways. s

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Overview
“Scene-setting” Agribusiness Panel
The "Scene-setting" Agribusiness Panel offered a platform for agribusinesses active in Africa to convey
real-world experiences of weaving climate action, gender equality, nutrition, and digitalisation into their
operational fabric. The discussion centred on the challenges facing agribusinesses in working with smallholder
farmers, such as a fragmented farmer base and lack of organisation, supply inconsistencies, and literacy
barriers. Key strategies highlighted include revenue growth through an expanded farmer base, quality
enhancements, and leveraging technical assistance. Effective approaches that were identified include
fostering strong relationships with farmers, digitalisation for operational efficiency, and integrating gender and
financial inclusivity into business practices. These efforts aim to transform farming from a traditional activity
into a sustainable, profitable venture that is attractive to the next generation.
Deep dive thematic session: Gender
The gender session distilled the benefits of gender inclusion in agribusiness, presenting anecdotal evidence
and case studies where women's involvement led to higher yields, improved quality, access to concessional
finance and greater business sustainability. Practical measures such as gender action plans and targeted
technical assistance were discussed, with a particular focus on overcoming barriers to women's land
ownership and financial literacy.
Despite some proven advantages, the group voiced concerns regarding the challenges in quantifying the
commercial value of gender inclusivity. Concerns were raised about the difficulty in convincing larger,
commercially focused businesses of the merits of gender-focused initiatives, particularly in contexts with
deeply entrenched cultural norms. The group, in particular the agribusinesses, highlighted the need for using
direct, business-centric language when discussing gender inclusion with agribusinesses, moving away from
NGO jargon and processes to articulate the clear commercial benefits. Highlighting the practical impact of
gender diversity on profitability and resilience, the group emphasised the necessity of presenting gender
inclusivity as a straightforward component of sound business strategy. This approach aims to better engage
stakeholders and align gender initiatives with the core commercial objectives of agribusinesses, and also
avoids agribusinesses seeing this as a checkbox, compliance exercise.
The interactive mini-working group session underscored the necessity of developing a stronger evidence base
to encourage more robust investment in gender-inclusive business models and closed with collaborative
problem-solving aimed at integrating these insights into actionable strategies. To achieve this, it was discussed
that there is a need for more common frameworks for measuring success such that insights can be generated
in ways that are comparable and relatable across the sector.

Deputy Director address

During lunch on the first day, Jen Haugen, Deputy Director of the FLAG Team, Humanitarian, Migration and
Food Security Directorate, joined the group and gave a brief address on the importance of Technical
Assistance and the role of agribusiness in food systems.
Deep dive thematic session: Climate expert and panel
During the thematic session on climate finance, the invited expert underscored the urgency for smallholder
agriculture to adopt both mitigation strategies to lower emissions and adaptation practices to deal with the
inevitable effects of climate change. The session focused on two primary types of climate mitigation finance:
the voluntary carbon credit system, including the CORSIA scheme, and value chain decarbonisation through
science-based targets (the latter at a fairly earlier stage). Discussions revealed the necessity of refined
corporate frameworks for carbon accounting, although the use of carbon credits, despite being beneficial,
requires prudence due to market volatility and quality issues. Decarbonisation efforts, particularly in forestry,
are seen as crucial, alongside a push for net-zero standards and a transformation in financing systems to back
these initiatives. The agribusiness model confronts the need for context-sensitive reforms, with a focus on
incentivising farmers and aligning emission reductions with financial gains.
Coffee sourcing complexities brought to light the need to establish systems that benefit both the climate and
farmers, focusing on transparency, equity, and scalable models, and pointing towards the requirement for
long-term supply chain strategies and relationships. Carbon credit quality scandals highlight the imperative for

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stronger standards and mechanisms to secure credibility, quality assurance and fair pricing in the carbon
market.
Following the expert session, a Panel consisting of representatives from agribusinesses, TA providers
and investors discussed climate adaptation. Technological advancements, particularly in crop
development and farming techniques like agroforestry, were identified as key to implementing comprehensive
regenerative agricultural strategies. The panellists discussed the importance of sustainable practices and
training provided by corporations and NGOs to small-scale farmers.
Investment decisions are increasingly being informed by the long-term benefits of sustainable agriculture,
despite the difficulties in businesses budgeting for or working in annual cycles which don’t always align with
longer-term outcomes. Additionally, businesses are considering integrating sustainable and adaptive practices
into their core operations, leveraging tools such as predictive analytics.
The discussion also highlighted the need for competency in understanding the nuances of business needs,
the importance of ESG managers in decision-making, and the challenges smallholders face, such as
difficulties with irrigation. Investments in specific technologies to support adaptation were advocated to
enhance climate resilience across farming operations, emphasising the critical role of small businesses and
the need for more appropriate and innovative forms of finance and TA to support testing and scaled use of
these technologies.

Panel discussion and open forum – Navigating competing interests:

The panel discussion explored the complexity of balancing multiple objectives within agribusinesses, technical
assistance, investment, and donor fields. An agribusiness discussed their experience with challenges of
operational constraints due to external factors like drought, and the critical support needed for growth,
emphasising the role of funding in areas like farmer aggregation, climate change and gender. Discussions
also delved into the pros and cons of initiatives and grants for business scaling, and the necessity of prioritising
initiatives with a dual focus on commercial value and impact.

Both agribusinesses and investors acknowledged that the impact case for smallholder inclusive business
models, and associated impact priorities such as gender and climate, are increasingly part of rather than
separate to the commercial case. That said, practically investing in smallholder farmer services, climate and
gender initiatives can be complex, costly and risky. The agribusiness reflected on the continued need for donor
funding and the value of partnerships between investors, donors and agribusinesses (when well designed) to
work together to drive inclusive growth and support growth. The agribusiness highlighted that successful TA
involved TA collaborators who were intentional about understanding the business’ needs and aligning with
commercial priorities to avoid inefficiencies and optimise chances of successful and continued adoption.

Investors reflected on the power of good data, robust upfront analysis and bespoke TA in helping to figure out
and prioritise shared value opportunities. However, this relies heavily on the right expertise and resources to
invest in that depth of support customised to different types of businesses and their contexts. The participants
candidly discussed questions around scalability and sustainability of approaches which rely on donor funded
expertise. At the same time, it was acknowledged that there is a continued role for public funding and subsidy
to de-risk and supplement private agricultural investments, similar to agricultural investments in developed
countries.

Implementing digital innovations in agribusinesses

During the expert session on digital innovation in agribusiness, a consistent message was to 'keep it simple'
and focus on practical, low-tech solutions that align with specific business needs. Configurable SaaS platforms
have gained favour for their ability to adapt and expand with businesses, a model that has shown success in
various countries. It was also recognised that there's a need for technical assistance and expertise to support
agribusinesses in evaluating the business case for technological investments and assessing their readiness
for adoption. This insight is vital in combating the trend of 'pilotitis,' where the sector suffers from a cycle of
trialling new tech without a clear path to scaling. The expert urged a halt to endless piloting, suggesting new
project implementation strategies, such as free trials, transparent pricing, and the use of low-code/no-code
platforms, to encourage broader adoption of technology. This approach is crucial to develop technologies that
are locally effective, like those in the Indian sector, and scalable on a global level. The session underlined the
necessity for technology strategies that are sustainable and collaborative, ensuring tangible business value

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and steering clear of the pitfalls of 'pilotitis'. It emphasised the importance of a transparent approach to sharing
both successes and failures, creating an environment where innovation is propelled by actual needs and
proven outcomes.
There were calls from some participants for a clearer distinction between the different forms of technology
available, associated objectives and service requirements and challenges. Some TA practitioners also
admitted that it can be difficult to evaluate and interrogate offerings presented by technology providers given
the niche technical expertise required, fast changing and ever evolving landscape.
AgTech business panel discussion
The AgTech business panel, including representatives from Farmerline (Ghana) and DeHaat (India)
illuminated how digital innovation is reshaping agricultural investment strategies, aiming to boost productivity,
sustainability, and inclusivity, especially for smallholder farmers. Investors underscored the economic
incentives provided by tech, which cuts acquisition costs and efficiently extends services to smallholders.
DeHaat exemplified this by blending digital platforms with on-the-ground services, reaching a broad farmer
base with comprehensive farm management solutions. Similarly, Farmerline detailed its growth strategy
involving digital upskilling and training, both supported by technical assistance. The transformative effect of
investor engagement was clear, as they contributed not just capital but also governance expertise,
connections, and support for experimental business models. Tech companies are responding to the sector's
dynamics by diversifying their offerings and leveraging data analytics, though they face hurdles in scaling and
monetizing such innovations.

Key takeaways
● Over the course of the two days, both agribusinesses and investors acknowledged that the impact case
for smallholder inclusive business models, and associated impact priorities such as gender and climate,
are part of rather than separate to the commercial case. Tied to this, agribusinesses are increasingly
seeing the need for a shift from transactional relationships to building sustained and long-term
partnerships with farmers as a fundamental part of their business growth and sustainability.
● That said, practically investing in smallholder farmer services, climate and gender initiatives can be
complex, costly, and risky. There is a continued role and need for partnerships between investors, donors,
and agribusinesses to work together to drive inclusive growth and support these investments.
● Various sessions reinforced the power of good data and robust upfront analysis in helping to figure out
and prioritise shared value opportunities. However, this relies heavily on human capital and the
participants candidly discussed questions around scalability and sustainability of approaches which rely
on donor funded expertise. At the same time, there is a continued role for public funding and subsidy to
de-risk and supplement private agricultural investments, like agricultural investments in developed
countries.
● The Agri-TA working group network in itself is building a community of practice that has the potential to
stimulate:
○ Greater transparency and awareness of what others are doing, thereby encouraging coordination,
collaboration, and matchmaking between relevant market system actors
○ A resource repository that enables fast access to expertise, tested approaches and tools, and
practical case studies for wider learning
○ Opportunity for greater industry alignment on best practice methodologies, common impact metrics
and performance measurement frameworks to support more efficient, effective, and impactful TA
across the industry

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Attendance list
# First Name Surname Company
1 Magdalena Banasiak Acumen
2 Rebecca Mincy Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund
3 Jasmin Hidanovic AgDevCo
4 Ellen Brookes British International Investment
5 Ethan Harradine British International Investment
6 Johanna Strikwerda British International Investment
7 Simon Meier British International Investment
8 Roshni Patel British International Investment
9 Minahil Amin British International Investment
10 Vaishnavi Viraj British International Investment
11 Olivia Christie British International Investment
12 Bookie Ezeomah CABI
13 William Leonard NIRAS
14 Paula Whyte Common Fund for Commodities
15 Jos de Best Common Fund for Commodities
16 Radio Save FCDO
17 Cally Levine FCDO
18 Amber Mezbourian FCDO
19 Tessel de Jong FMO
20 Anne Grootenhuis FMO
21 Marcel Neutel IDH Sustainable Trade
22 Kafui Adjogatse IDH Sustainable Trade
23 Dominique Gangneux Independent consultant
24 Noel Verrinder Independent consultant
25 Kyle Denning Kentaste
26 Giacomo Celi Mercon Coffee Group
27 Inger Nygaard Norfund
28 Nathaniel Durant OH Ecosystems
29 Anne Rappoldt Rabo Foundation
30 Matt Capelli Simple Data Tools
31 Melanie Machingawuta TechnoServe
32 Ana Herrera TechnoServe
33 Wadzanai Nyambayo TechnoServe
34 Cait Nordehn TechnoServe
35 Kindra Halvorson TechnoServe
36 Alexander Hurst TechnoServe
37 Jonny Barnow TechnoServe
38 Anaïs Amazit TechnoServe
39 Richard Roberts TechnoServe
40 Malick Coulibaly 54agri
41 James Muturi Delish and nutri
42 Wambui Rigaga Afrimac
43 Shyam Sundar Singh DeHaat
44 Worlali Senyo Farmerline
45 Caz Shaps FCDO

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