The PROMAS markets in northern Mozambique (Nampula, Niassa, and Cabo Delgado) are characterized by small, dispersed agribusiness SMEs with limited capacity, including human resources, knowledge, financial resources, and other essential assets. Most operate at the same level with little desire to explore growth opportunities. They are often reluctant to invest in new initiatives before witnessing promised results.
These markets also face limited supply of inputs, as suppliers often do not fully understand the business opportunities. Market coverage is generally restricted to district centers, with little willingness to access remote communities where market activity is limited. At the same time, farmers lack awareness of the need to invest in new technologies.
PROMAS Approaches
PROMAS carries out several initiatives to catalyze the emergence of MSD markets in northern Mozambique:
- Awareness roadshows: Introduce the project and its MSD approach, provide examples of supported activities, and clarify partner responsibilities, including co-financing requirements. These events attract both enthusiastic participants and those expecting direct delivery or freebies. PROMAS prioritizes incentives for partners showing intrinsic motivation while mentoring risk-averse actors to remain engaged.
- Information and dialogue sessions: Once interventions are underway, partners share challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned. Early adopters’ experiences often inspire those initially reluctant to engage fully.
- Inter-provincial learning tours: Selected SMEs visit early adopters in distant areas to learn without competing with the host SMEs.
- Probe-Learn-Adapt cycle: PROMAS and its partners co-create models to address systemic constraints in establishing markets. Models are piloted, patterns are observed, and the technical team engages partners to adapt accordingly. A learning logbook documents coaching sessions and agreed implementation actions.
Overall, the first two seasons provide opportunities to test multiple pilots. Multiple intervention trials and sites encourage risk-taking, especially among late adopters. PROMAS shares costs with early adopters as an investment in learning. The project promotes a culture of learning and encourages staff to report findings promptly so that timely adjustments can be made.
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