The Agro Business Centre (ABC) stimulated the development of small and medium-sized agri-businesses with high growth potential by supporting them through advices, providing assistance and facilitating their access to funding. The project was funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Benin for a four year period (2013 - 2017).

The services provided by SNV focused on the following elements:

• Management consulting: ABC helped companies to introduce new accounting systems and accounting software, the preparation of annual financial statements, annual accounting assistance and the creation of procedural manuals.

• Technical and organisational support: ABC assisted companies to improve the traceability and the quality control of their products (e.g. pineapple, cashew, palm oil, fruit juice) through training as well as support certification issued by an accredited laboratory, attesting the product quality;

• Access to funding: getting funds goes beyond the elaboration of a business plan, so ABC also supported them to have a functional administration, a formal official registration and right quality certification to reach out a national or even international market.

• Marketing and communication, market research: ABC supported companies in the design of the label and choice of packaging, and helped them to improve their distribution strategy, participate in fairs and trade missions, develop marketing plan and promote their products through news media.