Development Shift Consulting strives to promote the link between development and business.
In this regard, the firm offers a wide range of specialized consultancy services to an equally wide range of clientele
AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
We recognize the obvious strategic importance of agriculture and food security within the developing world, and particularly in the East African region. Transforming agricultural performance through improved productivity, efficient market systems, enabling environment, trade and investments is vital to feeding our growing populations, and lifting them out of poverty through increased incomes from agricultural commodity
trade and investments
STRATEGIC AREAS
Our team of international development and private sector professionals has experience working with clients in local and global contexts to identify, design and implement solutions that add value to agricultural market actors, right from smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, industry associations, key logistics actors, market actors and food supply and distribution systems.
We enhance agricultural activities including contract farming and out-grower models, agricultural market development, commercialization of smallholder agriculture through adoption of better farming practices and application of modern farming technologies such as efficient use of irrigation, and introduction of new crop varieties and livestock breeds.
We link our agricultural development work to nutrition outcomes, because we know that good nutrition is an essential foundation for health and development. In a context that malnutrition continues to be one of Africa’s most serious health problem and the biggest contributor to child mortality, progress in this area has significant opportunities for generating positive returns.
Work in this area is rooted in our belief that competitive agribusinesses is vital to overall performance of the agricultural sector. Successful agri-businesses can significantly improve incomes and food security of suppliers, majority of who are engaged in agricultural production. We help agribusinesses in service and product markets to improve performance by promoting efficient supply chain partnerships and providing strategic and operational assistance, including creation of new business models that add value, attract new investments and generate the highest possible returns.
VALUE CHAIN AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT
We partner with farmer organizations, private sector, development
agencies and governments to build competitive agricultural value chains.
Our work helps key actors to improve business performance and creates
competitive and inclusive value chains. We train farmers in handling of
produce, for example, grain handling techniques and, train on improved food quality standards and safety. We address barriers to trade within domestic markets and across regions.
STRATEGIC AREAS
We provide a fully integrated project management process that is solution
based and including;
● Strategic Plans
● Action Plans
● Project Design
● Project Development;
● Project Contracting;
● Project Finance/Resource Mobilization
● Project Implementation
● Project Sustainability
● Resource mobilization
Our experience in project management provides us unique ability to
design and manage complex projects in sustainable development across
our strategic areas of expertise. By drawing expertise from our team of
professionals and associates, we blend classic program management
processes with innovative approaches. We implement best practices
through development and consistent application of project management
standard operating procedures. We strive to complete our projects on time
and within budget.
Development Shift believes that small and micro-enterprises are critical to
increasing market opportunities and catalyzing local economic
development. We therefore provides business training and advisory and
management consulting to small and microenterprises, cooperatives,
including in operations, strategy, marketing, financial management and
new product development.
In instances where food security is less about production and more about
a broken route-to-market, we address the root causes of inadequate and
inefficient distribution. Our work may include assisting smallholder
farmers to access; credit and farm inputs, storage and warehousing
facilities and vital logistics that ensure quality foods are preserved and
efficiently distributed to consumers
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Farmer organizations are
critical intermediaries for promoting efficient production practices and
marketing of smallholder agricultural products, but often have weak
management and operational systems. Our work builds the governance,
management and operational capacity of farmer organizations to improve
their chances of becoming successful links for their members-the
smallholder farmers.