IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

About This Initiative

The ‘Systems Strengthening for BDS Provision and Access to Finance for Agricultural SMEs in Nigeria’ is a 33-month consortium initiative running from 1 July 2025 to 31 March 2028. It is led by Kaduna Business School (KBS) in partnership with SMEDAN and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, with support from AGRA.

The project addresses the structural barriers that prevent Nigeria’s Agri-SMEs and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from reaching their potential. Nigeria’s agricultural sector employs over 35% of the national workforce, yet Agri-SMEs and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) — especially those led by women and youth — face a significant financing gap that stunts productivity, constrains rural incomes, and undermines food security. This initiative intervenes at the systemic level: professionalizing BDS provision, equipping government institutions, facilitating investor matchmaking, and building digital infrastructure for nationwide certification and training delivery. Women and youth-led agribusinesses are a primary focus throughout.

“This initiative represents more than a project. It is a systemic intervention designed to permanently change how agricultural business development services are conceived, delivered, and sustained across Nigeria.”

— Project Consortium Statement, July 2025

Project at a Glance

27+

Stakeholders
Engaged
at Launch

3

Consortium
Partners Delivering
Nationally

33

Months

Programme Duration
(Jul 2025 – Mar 2028)

Women
& Youth

Priority Beneficiaries

Project Goal

The overall goal is to strengthen the performance and delivery of Business Development Services (BDS) and increase access to them for Agri-SMEs and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) operating across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains. Special emphasis is placed on increasing the uptake of structured BDS among women and youth-led Agri-SMEs, boosting their competitiveness, and unlocking access to agricultural finance on a national scale.

Specific Project Objectives

01	Improve the BDS ecosystem in Nigeria to enhance Agri-SMEs’ productivity and access to financial services.
02	Increase the capacity of BDS providers to service Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
03	Increase the use of BDS, financial services, and market information by agricultural market actors and smallholder farmers, with special emphasis on women and youth.

Core Strategic Pillars

Four interconnected pillars drive this initiative. All pillars priorities women, youth, and smallholder farmers as primary beneficiaries.

Institutional Capacity Building

Strengthening the capabilities of government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to support MSME growth and create policy environments where agribusinesses can flourish. Training across multiple states, equipping officials with practical tools to better interface with SMEs in the agricultural sector.

Agri-SME Financial Inclusion

Bridging the gap between emerging agri-entrepreneurs with priority given to women and youth-led enterprises and Farmer Producer Organizations and the investors who can catalyze their growth. The Annual Agri-Invest Matchmaking Event, pitch competitions, and the Multi-Donor Cost-Sharing Facility (MDCF) create concrete financing pathways.

BDS Professionalization

Addressing critical competency gaps among Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) using the internationally recognized DACUM Occupational Analysis and SCID Curriculum Development methodologies. The result is a nationally accredited, competency-based professional standard for Agri-BDS practitioners applicable across Nigeria.

Digital Learning Innovation

Modernizing training and certification delivery through a fully upgraded Learning Management System (LMS) hosted at lms.kbs.edu.ng. The platform supports scalable programme delivery, real-time learner feedback, secure certification records, and multi-stream programme management for nationwide reach.

Target Beneficiaries

Agri-SMEs and FPOs

Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises and Farmer Producer Organizations operating in Nigeria’s key agricultural value chains.

Women and Youth

Women and youth-led agribusinesses receive dedicated emphasis to boost their competitiveness and unlock access to agricultural finance nationwide.

Smallholder Farmers

Smallholder farmers who engage with market actors and BDS providers across AGRA’s programme states.

Expected Outcomes and Impact

By strengthening the BDS ecosystem and empowering key market actors over 33 months, the project will create a sustainable environment for agricultural growth across Nigeria. Anticipated outcomes include:

A more effective and responsive network of BDS providers, equipped with nationally recognized competency credentials.
Increased uptake of business and financial services by Agri-SMEs and FPOs.
Measurable improvements in the productivity and competitiveness of targeted enterprises.
Greater economic empowerment for women and youth engaged in agriculture.
A replicable model for systemic BDS reform applicable across ECOWAS partner countries.