Supporting startups and scaling businesses
Youth Economic Empowerment through Agribusiness in Kenya (Vijabiz)
The Vijabiz Project was implemented from 2018 to 2021 with the goal of improving the economic empowerment of rural youth in Kenya through agribusiness development. The project focused on increasing youth participation in key agricultural value chains by building their skills, strengthening their enterprises, and improving access to markets and finance.
CoELIB played a key role in the implementation of Vijabiz, offering business incubation, training, mentorship, and technical support to youth groups across Nakuru, Kilifi, and Nyeri counties. The project was implemented in partnership with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
What We Did
- Mobilized and worked with 120+ youth-led agribusiness groups across selected counties.
- Delivered targeted training in agribusiness management, market development, ICT for agriculture, and financial literacy.
- Provided one-on-one mentorship and business coaching through CoELIB’s incubation framework.
- Facilitated linkages with markets, finance providers, and value chain actors.
Impact
- Increased youth income through viable agribusiness ventures.
- Improved youth participation in the dairy, cereals, poultry, horticulture, and ICT4Ag sectors.
- Promoted inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to rural agribusiness development.
- Strengthened the sustainability and scalability of youth agribusiness enterprises.
Vijabiz remains a cornerstone of CoELIB’s work in promoting youth-led transformation in agriculture. The project laid the foundation for continued innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership among young people in rural Kenya turning agriculture into a platform for youth opportunity and economic growth.
