DAVID A. YATES
Africa-Press – Liberia. USAID, in partnership with the Africa Trade and Investment Program has launched the application process for an agribusiness incubator, with the aim of supporting and scaling the growth of the sector through access to technical assistance, mentorship, and co-financing of up to US$50,000.
Launched on June 16, in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, the program seeks potential applicants and interested entrepreneurs from five of Liberia’s 15th counties, including Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Lofa, Bomi, and Grand Gedeh counties, to apply up to June 30. It is expected to
The USAID Liberia agribusiness incubator, which was also graced by participants from the five counties, will be implemented by iCampus, the Business Start-up Center (BSC) Monrovia, and Agro-Tech Liberia under cohort one, Lot C that comprises the five counties mentioned.
The launch also provides detailed information to stakeholders in the agribusiness ecosystem as well as local leaders and policymakers the scope of the program in the selected locations; application process, qualification criteria for selection, and the nature of agribusinesses that are eligible for the program.
Making remarks at the launch, Rory Donohoe, Deputy USAID Mission Director in Liberia, encouraged potential applicants in the agribusiness sector to make use of the opportunity.
“So, I will encourage you all to apply, participate, and take the knowledge you have, get it to work, create jobs and wealth for yourself, and allow people to eat food that is growing here in Liberia. We are going to be your investors; we are not going to give money away; we are not here to tell you what to do; but we want to know the best ideas. We are paying these guys to help you build these ideas into businesses,”he said.
Donohoe told the participants that it is good to start small and get big noting that to be an entrepreneur is hard.
“I personally have a huge amount of respect for entrepreneurs — people who are willing to take an idea and invest their own time and money into it to make something bigger and better, create jobs for people, and create a satisfying market,” Donohoe averred.
He continued, “We, at USAID, really believe from all of our experience in the economies around the world that small businesses like what you people are about to do or what you are already doing are the strength of the economy and generate the biggest economic growth.”
For this activity, the Deputy USAID Mission Director revealed that they are not the donors but the investors because they are going to give agribusinesses money, it is not free. Adding that, “You have to invest your own time and decide what you will do with the money, and if you don’t have an idea, we are not going to give you our money.”
“We are happy to open and launch cohort one of the USAID Liberia Agribusiness Incubator for the first time in the agriculture space of Liberia. So, people can now start to apply,” said Luther D. Jeke, Executive Officer iCampus Liberia.
According to him, the USAID agribusiness incubator program is not just for the five counties mentioned but the entire 15th counties.
“So, USAID awarded three incubators, so the iCampus Consortium is made up of BSC Monrovia and Agro-Tech Liberia.” Jeke indicated, “These three organizations are running Lot C. We also have Lot A and Lot B. TRACK Liberia is operating one of those lots in five counties, while Educare Liberia, is also running another lot in five counties. That means the program covers all 15 counties in Liberia.”
He continued, “Lot C is what we are launching here today for Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Lofa and Grand Gedeh. So, this program, specifically the agribusiness incubator, is here for the next three years, beginning this year and ending in 2025.”
Jeke added that the program is basically intended to engage with small and emerging agribusinesses that lack the potential to co-invest in larger grant opportunities through highly participatory workshops, technical assistance, coaching, and mentorship.
“The agribusiness incubator will be giving grants to 20-30 winners, non-equity grants — that is, not loans, where you pay back; the only thing USAID is asking is that you use the money for the right purpose, which is to scale and grow your business so that you can be able to employ other people, including women and persons with disabilities,” he said.
Jeke urged, “We want this money to be invested in agriculture. We will be hosting a pitching ceremony, and after that, USAID will be giving the finalist grants in the difference category.
According to him, selected applicants will receive up to US$10,000, 25,000, and 50,000, and that money will be given to each agribusiness without strings attached. The only string that will be attached is that the selected applicant will sign a contract telling us these are things that you will be doing to scale and grow my business. We will also do a check and balance.
For his part, Amos Cooper, Superintendent of Bomi County, has lauded USAID and iCampus for the initiative.
Cooper, who officially launched the launch application process, said there are a lot of Liberians involved in the agriculture sector, but what they need is a little financial help to strengthen the sector.
Cooper explained that the USAID Liberia Agribusiness Program is very important to them as people and citizens of Bomi and the rest of the counties where the project will be implemented.
“So, we are happy and once again thank the donor and implementers for the initiative, and we hope that these institutions that have come to seek this grant should use it wisely so that the agriculture sector can improve in Liberia,” he said.
Source: Liberian Observer
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