As part of its strategic focus, AMSCO Development Solutions Kenya has identified SME development as a key government priority area for national economic development. In order to achieve this objective, AMSCO will partner with various County governments through their ‘’County Integrated Development Plans’’ (CIDP’s), to establish the capacity gaps of SME’s. Through these collaborative partnerships, AMSCO will deliver Business Development Services and also strengthen the Enterprise development departments within the counties.

 

AMSCO’s current engagement with Laikipia County, will cover several initiatives including; providing Business Development Services (BDS) aimed at empowering upcoming entrepreneurs and specifically innovators to run profitable and scalable businesses within the county. In addition, AMSCO will strengthen the procurement and county enterprise development team through various capacity building initiatives. This partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties on the 19^th January 2019, represented by H.E The Governor Laikipia County, Hon. Ndiritu Muriithi and Country Managing Director, AMSCO Development Solutions, Ms. Judith Lorika.

Background

The Biovac Institute was established in 2003 through public private partnership between the South African government and a private healthcare company in order to set up a human vaccine manufacturer in South Africa.

Government is represented by the Department of Health (DoH) as well as the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Problem

The facility prioritised infrastructure and methodologies that can potentially address HIV AIDS, TB and Malaria vaccine development. Given that the company is the only vaccine manufacturing facility in SSA, the institute faced a difficult market for sourcing skilled experts in the field, as well as challenges in the existing skills capabilities of employees.

The Solution

The objective of AMSCO’s intervention at Biovac institute has been to help in the operational capacity of the manufacturing facility as well as to create a vehicle for South African scientists to gain expertise in the vaccine research and manufacturing technology. AMSCO’s assistance has been in sustaining capacity in the management structure of the organisation.

Impact

• Relevant training interventions for building commercial vaccine manufacturing capability.
• Enhancement of local procurement: currently Biovac institute has 273 local suppliers, with a total investment in their products varying between $10,000 to $200 million, the latter being for vaccine products. Most of these are South African grown organisations with no foreign ownership.
• Product and technology transfer: various technology transfer initiatives with international partners like Sanofi Pasteur, a French multinational drugs company.
• Job creation: with a growth in headcount from 24 in 2003 to the current 154 in 2015.

The KCB Foundation was established in 2007 to implement the KCB Bank Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and as a sign of commitment to sustainable development to alleviate poverty and enhance well-being.

AMSCO has partnered with the KCB Foundation to co-create Business Development Services for the 2Jiajiri programme. The object of the programme is to empower and equip unemployed and out-of-school youth to grow micro enterprises by providing them with technical skill training opportunities as well as up-skilling and certifying existing micro-entrepreneurs who wish to move their business from the informal to the formal sector.

Target Results:

• Catalyse job and wealth creation for at least 50,000 youth engaged in the informal sector within Eastern Africa between 2016- 2020
• Enable 10,000 entrepreneurs annually across the country to overcome barriers they face to business success by gradually formalizing the informal sector

For more information on the 2Jiajiri programme, please visit their website.