2SCALE: The largest incubator for inclusive agribusiness
Burkina Faso,Ethiopia,Ghana,Kenya,Mali,Niger,South Sudan,
ongoing
Through a range of tailored support services, 2SCALE worked with private partners—companies and farmer groups—to strengthen inclusive agribusinesses and enable the production, processing and supply of quality food products for local, national and regional markets, including base-of-the-pyramid consumers.
After more than a decade of catalysing inclusive agricultural business in Africa, the 2SCALE programme has officially concluded. Through strategic support, facilitation and incubation of public–private partnerships (PPPs), 2SCALE became the largest incubator for inclusive agribusiness on the continent—connecting smallholder farmers, local SMEs and market actors to deliver sustained value for producers and consumers alike.
Over the course of its two phases, and with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implementation by SNV, IFDC, and BoPInc . The programme worked across 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen agribusiness clusters, accelerate markets, and improve food systems.
Key achievements of the 2SCALE programme include:
Establishment and development of hundreds of inclusive agribusiness partnerships that continue to operate beyond programme support.
Support for thousands of small and medium enterprises and producer organisations, expanding access to markets and finance.
Enhanced agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for more than a million smallholder farmers, including strong participation by women and youth.
Strengthened food supply chains that improved availability and affordability of nutritious products for base-of-the-pyramid consumers.
Creation of nearly 2 million non-farming jobs and significant uptake of innovative practices in targeted value chains.
Additional financial services valued at tens of millions of euros accessed by participating micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Voices and stories of impact
Reviving sorghum: a 2SCALE success story in Nigeria
The Sorghum Public-Private Partnership (PPP) illustrates how the 2SCALE approach strengthens agricultural systems while improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Implemented in Nigeria’s North Central zone, the partnership set out to revitalise sorghum production—an indigenous, nutrient-rich crop that has long been central to rural food systems and household incomes.
Sorghum plays a vital role in local communities, providing food and fodder, serving as a raw material for processing, and generating cash income. Through the partnership, smallholder farmers were linked directly to two local aggregators—Nalmaco Nigeria Limited and Adefunke-Desh Nigeria Limited—creating clearer market access and more predictable demand.
By organising into cooperatives and receiving targeted business coaching, farmers strengthened their collective capacity. They improved production practices, accessed quality inputs, and gained the confidence and skills to negotiate fairer prices and formal supply agreements. This inclusive structure ensured a reliable supply of high-quality sorghum for buyers, including multinational companies such as Nestlé, while providing farmers with greater economic security and bargaining power.
Translait: a model for inclusive growth in Mali’s dairy sector
In Mali, the Translait partnership is an inspiring example of how the 2SCALE approach supported inclusive enterprises to improve access to nutritious food for low-income consumers. The partnership set out to increase the availability of fresh pasteurised milk and other dairy products for 15,000 base-of-the-pyramid consumers—a critical goal in a country where annual milk consumption remains far below recommended levels.
Through 2SCALE support, the Translait Cooperative Union strengthened the local dairy value chain through targeted capacity building, market research and brand development. The partnership also invested in training on product development, marketing and sales, helping Translait better respond to consumer needs while improving commercial viability.
These combined efforts led to the official launch of the revamped Translait brand in March 2022, marking an important milestone for Mali’s local dairy sector and demonstrating how inclusive business models can deliver tangible benefits for both consumers and producers.
Lessons from navigating agribusiness challenges
The journey of 2SCALE was not without its challenges. While the programme delivered positive results for communities and built many successful partnerships, it also encountered significant constraints over its 12 years of implementation. Some of these—such as climate change, political instability and the COVID-19 pandemic—were external shocks that continue to affect agribusiness across Africa.
Other challenges were more closely linked to the realities of implementing inclusive business models. Recognising and reflecting on these challenges has been essential to learning what works, what takes time and where trade-offs are unavoidable. Three key challenges stand out.
Resistance to financial contribution and investment.
Many actors in the ecosystem expect development programs to cover all costs. 2SCALE, however, believes in business leadership and expects business people to in their activities, with 2SCALE providing support to reduce risks. This often faces resistance as actors prefer fully funded programs.
Promoting inclusivity while maintaining profit margins.
2SCALE encourages companies to include smallholder farmers and develop food products for low income consumers. However, inclusivity can reduce profit margins, making it hard for companies to adopt these practices. To overcome this, companies need to innovate to lower production and distribution costs.
Balancing competition and coordination.
2SCALE strives to balance competition and coordination among actors. While collaboration can expand the market and benefit everyone, promoting coordination while advocating for competitiveness is challenging. Failing to maintain this balance can weaken partnerships. promoting coordination
