Between 2021 and 2025, KIT and IFDC collaborated on two initiatives: the HortiNigeria programme in Nigeria and the A3SEED programme in South Sudan, supporting and strengthening the horticultural and seed sector in these respective countries. Although the programmes operated in different sectors and settings, both prioritised gender and youth inclusion as part of their strategies.

Both projects identified a common challenge: women and young people often lacked the leadership, entrepreneurship, and social engagement skills needed to fully participate in and benefit from sector opportunities. In response, the projects developed practical training programmes focused on inclusive leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment, supported by tailored training manuals and participatory learning approaches.

This learning brief brings together experiences from both contexts, highlighting how locally grounded capacity-building can strengthen agency, expand economic opportunities, and contribute to more inclusive and resilient agribusiness ecosystems.