MESPT and Consortium Partners Sign Agreement to Implement the Digital AgriValue Project

Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) and its consortium partners have signed a partnership agreement to implement the Digital AgriValue – Empowering Kenya’s Agri-SMEs through Green Infrastructure, Digital Innovation, and Inclusive Market Access project.

The agreement was signed on 10 July 2026 at the MESPT Head Office in Nairobi, marking an important milestone in the consortium’s efforts to promote climate-resilient, digitally enabled, and inclusive agricultural value chains in Kenya.

MESPT leads the consortium and brings together Brand Discovery Ltd, Wedgehut Foods Ltd, Barinate Farms Ltd, BNS Algotech BMS Ltd, CLIMACENTO Società a Responsabilità Limitata (SRL), and Bamboo Horizons. All the partners will combine their expertise in agriculture, value addition, renewable energy, digital innovation, water management, market development, and climate-smart technologies to support the project’s successful implementation.

The Digital AgriValue project was selected under the Sustainable Agro-food Solutions window of the #3DEN Initiative, an initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), implemented in partnership with the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security and the International Energy Agency, and managed by the BASE Foundation.

The consortium has secured a USD 2 million grant, complemented by close to USD 0.9 million in co-financing, bringing the total investment to approximately USD 2.9 million.

The project will be implemented in Siaya, Nairobi, and Laikipia Counties, focusing on the avocado, potato, tea, and strawberry value chains. It will integrate solar-powered cold-chain infrastructure, smart irrigation technologies, Internet of Things-enabled monitoring systems, digital traceability, and artificial intelligence-driven analytics.

Through these interventions, the project seeks to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality, strengthen climate resilience, enhance energy efficiency, and expand access to higher-value markets for agricultural enterprises and smallholder farmers.

The initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 10,000 farmers through improved storage and logistics infrastructure, digital capacity building, efficient use of water and energy, and stronger market linkages.

Partners Bring Complementary Expertise

During the signing meeting, representatives from the consortium partners shared their organisation’s areas of expertise and their aspirations for the project.

Brand Discovery Ltd, led by Chief Executive Officer Sheena Patel, will contribute its experience in market development and branding, with a focus on increasing the visibility and competitiveness of Kenyan tea.

Wedgehut Foods Ltd, represented by Chief Executive Officer Wanjiru Mambo, will support interventions in the potato value chain, including value addition, reduction of food waste, and improved utilisation of potato produce.

Barinate Farms Ltd, led by Dr Barbra Magoha, will contribute its experience in agricultural enterprise development and the economic and social empowerment of women and farming households.

BNS Algotech BMS Ltd, represented by Chief Executive Officer Sheila Wambui Karuga, will support the deployment of smart water-management and agricultural monitoring systems.

CLIMACENTO SRL, represented by General Manager Alphonse Musembi, will provide expertise in renewable energy and solar-powered technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and supporting environmental sustainability.

Bamboo Horizons, represented by Lead Partner Sammy Mwathi, will contribute expertise in digital agriculture, energy access, and community capacity building.

By bringing together these complementary capabilities, the consortium will provide integrated solutions that respond to the operational, technological, environmental, and market needs of Kenya’s agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises.

Advancing Green and Inclusive Agricultural Transformation

The signing of the agreement establishes a shared framework for collaboration, accountability, and coordinated implementation among the consortium partners.

For MESPT, the partnership aligns with its commitment to promoting green transformation, inclusive finance, agricultural enterprise development, digital innovation, and sustainable livelihoods.

The project will support Agri-SMEs and farmers to adopt technologies that improve productivity and resource efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exposure to climate-related risks.

The partnership also demonstrates the importance of collaboration between development organisations, technology providers, agricultural enterprises, renewable-energy specialists, and market-development actors in addressing challenges across agricultural value chains.

Through the Digital AgriValue project, MESPT and its partners aim to contribute to a more competitive, inclusive, low-carbon, and digitally connected agri-food sector in Kenya.