Assistance to Micro and Small Enterprises

Programme (ASMEP)

 Assistance to Micro and Small Enterprises Programme (ASMEP) is a European Commission (EC) funded programme, anchored within the Ministry of Trade. The programme’s overall objective is support to the private sector by championing the development of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Kenya.

One of the key areas of support to the MSEs Sector in the country is through Business Development Services (BDS) component whose overall strategy is to support and facilitate the MSES in identification of sector constraints and development of strategies to overcome the constraints. The BDS support is targeted to the Horticulture and Fisheries sectors and management is to be outsourced to Micro Enterprises Support Trust (MESPT).

 The Assistance to Micro and Small Enterprises Programme (ASMEP) is designed with the overall objective of Improving Private Sector Development and Growth in Kenya, and ultimately to alleviate Poverty.

 The purpose of the project is to support the development of micro and small enterprises through the enhanced development of micro and small enterprises with specific reference to cross cutting themes of strengthening women entrepreneurs, enhancing advocacy and governance capabilities and promoting business development, as well as in sectoral contexts. In order to attain this purpose, outputs and results have been defined and grouped into components:

 Micro Enterprises Support Trust (MESPT) is implementing ASMEP under the following interventions:

 i) Facilitation of the provision of BDS services focusing on two sectors:

 3.a. Horticulture Sector to improve the income of small scale farmers across the sector through reduced post harvest losses and value addition to be achieved through improved processing and packaging, including storage and addressing sector constraints along the entire value chain.

 3.b. Fisheries. Proposed interventions under this programme will focus on reduction of post harvest losses and value addition to coastal and inland fisheries.

 2. ASMEP Component 3 Subcomponent A

- Horticulture Sector

 The interventions under horticulture sector seeks to contribute most specifically to ASMEP’s overall objective of improving private sector development and growth in Kenya and generally to the objectives of Kenya vision 2030 of promoting micro and small enterprises. The sectoral interventions focuses on enhancing value addition within specific horticultural value chains through improved processing, packaging and storage technologies resulting to reduced post harvest losses and increased market linkages. A range of interventions will be funded within the sector with close reference to sectoral contexts targeted to promoting business performances and effectiveness and efficiencies in delivery of related business services.

 Main activities:

 Activities envisaged under the sector include:

• Upgrading collection centers and/or related community facilities to serve as business hubs offering producers and markets a range of services such as bulking, technical advice, market linkages, digitalized weighing, sorting and grading as well as promoting hygienic practices through establishment of a prerequisite programme (PRPs).

• Promoting good agricultural practices among target horticultural MSEs benchmarked on industry standard (domestic scope) for fruits and vegetable value chains.

• Developing business capacities of specific cottage processors on product development/ improvement and linkages to key service providers to increase their business performances and overall market access.

• Sensitizing target MSEs on importance and use of appropriate available marketing information management systems to enhance productivity and business performance.

• Promoting market access for value added products through targeted market appraisals, business forums and promotional events.

• Building the capacities of business services providers to adequately and effectively respond to the needs of producers and cottage industry processors and establish linkages.

• Facilitating the development of capacities of nursery outputs’ providers, including certification, to improve their response to the needs of the producers.

 3. Component 3 - Subcomponent B

– Fisheries sector

 The potential for growth in the sector is large and positive impact at household level (and particularly women) is expected to be achieved through escalation of the current interventions both for inland waters and at the coast. The interventions under this programme focuses on reduction of post harvest losses and value addition through improved processing and packaging with the overall objective of improving the income of small and micro enterprises within the sector. A range of interventions will be funded within this value chain that will enhance productivity and business transactions as well as promote the emergence and development of needed business services.

 Overall objective

 To support the development of micro and small fisheries enterprises in areas of processing, packaging, marketing and value addition including cross cutting themes of strengthening women entrepreneurs, enhancing advocacy and governance capabilities and promoting business development

 Main activities:

 • Promotion of efficient and hygienic processing methodologies that include, drying, deep frying, salting, filleting, canning to increase the shelf life and quality of the fish products and improve access to markets.

• Facilitate the development of fish certification, traceability and quality control procedures.

• Assess and implement training programs related to processing technologies, fish quality control procedures, business skills, advocacy skills, financial and accounting skills and marketing skills.

• Establish market information system to promote fish trade, access to the markets and improve on the fisheries income.

• Promotion of linkages to MFIs that will facilitate the upgrading of fishing and processing equipments and to competent BDS providers with relevant fisheries experience to facilitate training, technology transfer, quality improvement and market information.