What is the Kuza Project?
Kuza is revolutionizing rural businesses by creating opportunities for youth, women, and small business owners to learn, connect, and grow through entrepreneurship. Combining smart, practical digital solutions with a global mindset, the project champions a transition from subsistence to commercial farming. At its core, Kuza is transforming the landscape of rural entrepreneurship, serving as a hub for digital learning and practical solutions, all while ensuring its mission is aligned with global sustainability standards. This initiative, part of the Software Publishing and SaaS platforms industry, uniquely leverages AgTech, Agripreneur, Fintech, Edutech, Digital Marketplace, and Learning and Development strategies.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
The benefits of Kuza’s approach are evident in its robust, data-driven impact. The following key figures and facts illustrate the trajectory of success:
- Impacted the careers and lives of over 6,000,000 young women and men.
- Created positive economic growth in 253,000 small businesses.
- Generated 155,000 new jobs across Africa and Asia.
- A World Bank Kenya and AgriFin study revealed that 97% of farmers experienced an improvement in their overall quality of life because of Kuza.
- Achieved a B Corporation overall impact score of 137.2 in 2022, up from 104.2 in 2018, underscoring an unwavering commitment to high performance, transparency, and accountability.
Empowering Local Entrepreneurs
The project is about more than just numbers—it’s about creating real-life change. Through its Rural Entrepreneur Development Incubators (REDI), Kuza has nurtured 5,000 youth Agripreneurs. These digital champions deliver bundled services such as crop advisory, quality inputs, credit, and market access directly to more than 750,000 smallholder farmers. In the heart of rural Africa and Asia, these initiatives are proving that digital transformation is accessible everywhere, regardless of limitations in digital literacy or internet connectivity. It’s a movement that blends ambition with practicality…and it’s making a tangible difference.
Innovative Digital Learning and Access
A standout feature of the Kuza project is its commitment to democratizing access to digital learning. By actively listening to the community, a massive library of bite-sized, high-definition video content is available in local languages. Topics range from entrepreneurship and business fundamentals to soft and life skills, as well as specialized content in agriculture that covers good practices, climate-smart actions, and regenerative techniques across more than 40 food and horticulture crops, plus livestock. In remote areas where even a basic internet connection can be scarce, the project’s self-powered, portable digital kits offer immersive learning experiences without the need for high levels of computer literacy.
A Collaborative Ecosystem Model
Kuza operates on a 4P ecosystem model, a dynamic approach that involves convening, catalyzing, and co-creating sustainable solutions alongside public, philanthropic, and private sector partners. The multi-sided digital platform, OneNetwork, gathers ecosystem actors and AgTech players to establish high standards for performance and transparency while keeping the interests of smallholder farmers at the core. This collaborative model fuels innovation, drives regional economic growth, and fosters responsible business practices that address both local and global challenges.
Noteworthy International Partnerships
The project’s success is further amplified by groundbreaking partnerships with renowned global organizations. Kuza and the UN World Food Program (WFP) have embarked on a long-term agreement to incubate 3,600 Farmer Service Centers in Kenya and Rwanda. Collaborations with Heifer involve supporting youth Agripreneurs as Digital Agriculture Champions across 11 African countries. Additionally, the World Bank’s One Million Farmer Platform adopted Kuza’s youth Agripreneur model for its Disruptive Agricultural Technologies initiative in Kenya, involving 27 county governments. Moreover, a joint initiative with Yara has bolstered capacities for agro dealers and farmers, resulting in the successful rollout of 1,000 MSMEs (Agripreneurs) in India and Kenya in 2022. Recognition from B Lab as the top-performing Certified B Corp globally further validates the innovation and dedication embedded within the project.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Reduced Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
Transforming Lives and Driving Change
Kuza stands as a call to action for transformative change in rural settings. Its integrated approach—leveraging digital learning content, practical bundled services, and a resilient partnership network—creates an ecosystem where sustainable agripreneurship thrives. Embracing both high technology and local wisdom, Kuza proves that even in extreme rural conditions, business can be a powerful force for good. The project not only fosters economic growth and job creation but also plays a pivotal role in enhancing overall quality of life. It is a dynamic blend of innovation and social impact—a move toward democratized access to valuable knowledge and opportunities. In quiet rural communities from Africa to Asia, the whisper of digital revolution is rapidly turning into a roar of progress, one farmer, one youth, one ambition at a time.
