Menu
Since 2017, FIPS Africa has established or grown over 185,000 youth-led agri-enterprises in Kenya. FIPS provides a combination of technical and business training, coaching and mentoring, agricultural starter packs and connections to market actors and financial institutions.
FIPS-supported agri-businesses contribute to food security, increases dignified employability and delivers decent incomes and give agency and leadership opportunities to young people. Many of the young people go on to create jobs for others.
Key facts:
FIPS should be the partner of choice for youth enterprise delivery in Kenya
It is currently working in the following Kenyan counties:
FIPS can also provide technical assistance to youth agri-enterprise programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Working with colleges in Kenya
Since 2024, FIPS has been piloting a partnership with colleges to help their students develop successful agri-businesses after graduation. Working with Pwani-Tvet College, FIPS Africa has trained 38 students as village-based advisors (VBAs). Up to 16 students have also completed attachments to FIPS Africa. FIPS Africa is looking to work with a network of college partners in Kenya. Download the application pack to find out more.
Supporting partners in Sub-Saharan Africa
FIPS Afruca can provide a technical assistance package to help the public or private sector to deliver youth enterprise programmes at scale.
Priority entry-level agri-businesses
FIPS Africa pre-selects entry-level businesses with low barriers to entry, quick turnaround, and regular income. Currently, there are four agri-enterprise areas:
FIPS has a pipeline of new ventures it is testing.
Recruitment
Village-based Advisors (VBAs) are central in the recruitment of young farmers. Up to 30% of all farmers who decide to scale FIPS technologies with VBAs are under 35 years of age. FIPS field staff help to identify young people to be trained to become agri-entrepreneurs. These pioneer youths often go on to recruit other young people once they have established their own businesses.
Ready for business
Young people receive a tailored training package based on the technology options they wish to pursue. They receive technical and business skills training. The programme also offers ongoing coaching support to help with the growing pains and market linkages. FIPS offers starter packs, which are available through cost-sharing and grants. FIPS is in the process of training a cohort of youth training consultants to advance the training programme.
Formalisation of groups
Young people are encouraged to support each other by forming and registering young enterprise groups – usually around 20 like-minded young people. The group members help each other with ideas and advice. Participating in a formal group can also be the basis of a savings and loan scheme, or make it possible to attract external finance, for example, as a loan or a grant.
Impact
When FIPS starts working with young people, they are typically struggling to make money. They usually work as part of the gig economy with what they call hustles instead of jobs, struggling on $1 (USD) a day or less.
With support from FIPS, they grow their businesses to meet their objectives. The successful young people reinvest in their business ventures and often diversify into several different income streams.
FIPS monitors how young people grow their businesses, with around 20% thriving after two years.
Coping and scaling, earning $2.5-$4 (USD) a day | Managing $4-$5/day (USD) FIPS aims to get 60% of young people to this point in two years | Thriving $5- $7/day (USD) FIPS aims to get 20% of young people to this point in two years. | Excelling More than $7/day (USD) |
Meet Eric, see how he is coping | Meet Sam, see how he is managing
| Meet Sarah, see how she is thriving
| Meet Naomi, see how she is excelling |
Eric Age: 25 Location: Bungoma County Venture: Vegetable farmer – six months since training He began agribusiness training and applied a 20g trial pack of giant nightshade; he successfully cultivated 1,500 plants. Encouraged by the results, he expanded into collards and black nightshade. In February 2025, he re-invested in a one-acre maize plot and expects to harvest in August 2025. Net income: KES 14,000 per month ($3.5 USD per day) in July 2025. |
Name: Sam Age: 22 Location: Kilifi County Venture: Vegetables – six months after training Description: After an initial setback with cowpeas, he shifted to cultivating ¼ acre of amaranth and okra. The pivot paid off, and he has leased two acres to scale up his vegetable business. Net income: KES 20,000 per month ($5 per day) in July 2025. |
Name: Sarah Age: 26 Location: Bungoma County Venture: Vegetables at scale – 2 months from training Description: Sarah began with vegetable farming in a quarter-acre plot. Within 4 months, she had expanded to one acre. Today, Sarah comfortably earns Income: KES 25,000 per month ($ 6.50 per day) in July 2025.
|
Name: Naomi Age: 25 Location: Kakamega County Venture: Poultry and vegetables Description – 20 months from training Graduated from Bukura College in March 2023. Unable to secure formal employment, she enrolled in FIPS Africa’s poultry and vegetable management training in Today, she manages 200 chickens. She has leased a one-acre plot to grow sweet potatoes. She is establishing a demonstration plot to empower other young women in her community Income: Monthly net income of KES 46,000 per month ($10 per day) in July 2025. |