Could you help African food entrepreneurs?

Grow Movement, a charity founded in 2009 which works with developing businesses in Africa, has called on experts in the UK food and drink sector to help these entrepreneurs acquire the skills they need to grow their companies.

Those with formal qualifications in business, wide experience in the food sector and/or managers at blue chip companies are being sought to coach entrepreneurs in Uganda, Rwanda and Malawi by Skype, email or phone.

Grow Movement works with micro- to medium-sized businesses that employ between one and upwards of 22 people. However, most firms it works with employ fewer than five people.

Don’t necessarily have the skills​

Many entrepreneurs in Africa don’t necessarily have the skills or knowledge to make their businesses as profitable as they could, nor identify the potential for growth, said Claire Jenkins, chief executive of Grow Movement.

Working with African entrepreneurs for six months, UK volunteers could help them turn their businesses around. Volunteers might offer coaching on finance, different business models, strategy and marketing, Jenkins added.

To date, more than 15,000 entrepreneurs in Africa have been helped to improve their businesses since the charity was founded and nearly 500 jobs have been created as a result.

“We believe the biggest potential to create jobs is by helping those that already run a business to run it better,”​ said Jenkins.

The charity supports all types of businesses in Africa, however, there has been considerable growth in the agri-processing sector, where entrepreneurs are especially in need of support, she added.

To get involved visit: Grow Movement​