The Workshops

Background

Started in 2001, the Making Markets Matter workshop series offers multi-day, intensive training workshops to assist African agribusiness firms build capacity and meet the ever-increasing demands of today's global agro-food system. Organized by Market Matters, Inc. in partnership with local institutions, this innovative business development services (BDS) training program acquaints emerging agribusiness firms and business organizations with contemporary business principles, processes, and tools that are essential for successful management and marketing strategies. By enhancing the competitiveness of African agribusiness firms, the workshops aim to expand employment and incomes in rural communities, ultimately reducing rural poverty and promoting greater economic opportunities across the continent.

Emerging markets in Africa

In the last fifteen years tremendous change has occurred in the political institutions of many African countries; change in economic performance, however, has proven to be more elusive as millions of rural citizens are yet to attain a higher standard of living. Agribusiness firms that can efficiently convert raw commodities grown in rural areas into semi-finished and finished products that are in demand by urban consumers, business-buyers, and export markets will have a positive economic impact on the rural economies of Africa.

Targeted participants

Our program is designed for micro-, small- and medium-sized agribusiness firms in Africa that are engaged in farm and off-farm services and in the production and processing of natural, agriculture and food products. The workshop targets entrepreneurs and business development facilitators who are actively engaged in emerging industries but lack the requisite basic business management and marketing training and experience.

The program actively seeks out participants who represent diverse backgrounds and experiences, including entrepreneurs and business development facilitators, as well as personnel of non-governmental organizations, business and commodity associations, government departments, and donor agencies involved in the delivery of management, marketing, and business training services.

Benefits to the participants
  • A series of stimulating marketing and management seminars presented by world-class facilitators
  • A participatory approach involving actual market development and management case studies
  • A chance to listen to and interact with engaging guest speakers, who are leaders in their professions
  • Access to and interactions with real emerging businesses through business mentoring, networking, and study tours
  • A chance to improve strategic marketing and management skills
  • Business development after-care services and consultations

Market Matters, Inc.

Market Matters, Inc. is dedicated to improving the market and product strategies of small-medium sized entrepreneurs in selected emerging markets so that they can enhance the standard of living in their communities. A not-for-profit organization based in Ithaca, NY (U.S.), MM, Inc. seeks to have a profound effect on the management of firms in emerging markets by bringing together from both technical and business areas, leading practitioners and academics in training and outreach programs.

The Making Markets Matter workshops are collaborative initiatives with local partners. Since their inception, MM, Inc. has partnered with Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and Cornell University (USA) to produce this one-of-a-kind and state-of-the art program.