Growth plan and roadmap for renewable energy company

About the organisation
Afrisol Energy Ltd. is a new company in the field of renewable energy and biogas in Nairobi. Afrisol builds biogas installations on farms. This way further deforestation (firewood) and health risks (smoke) are minimized, while creating valuable natural fertilizer from the cow manure in the process. 

 Business case
Afrisol has growth plans for the future. In order to get ready for growth they need to professionalize and get to a higher level. Chris Veeningen went to Nairobi to support Afrisol. The agricultural and financial knowledge of Chris, combined with his commercial focus, proofed to be the ideal background.


Results

Analysis
Before leaving, Chris prepared himself thoroughly by exploring the Dutch market and its opportunities and learning more about biomass development. Once in Nairobi, he took his time to really get to know Afrisol, her employees and stakeholders. The orientation involved workshops and meetings with banks, farmers and potential suppliers/customers.

Major conclusions
Main conclusion was that the management was not qualified to bring the company to a higher level. The CEO needed help in convincing the board about the growth plans and the reorganization.


Advice
A lot has to be done by Afrisol; doing market research, making strategic choices, take care of personnel development, getting into partnerships and creating focus. Chris came up a lot of concrete ideas to guide Afrisol. For instance creating a instruction document with do and don'ts for farmers and get into contact with TeamPro for matchmaking with dairy farmers.

Concrete deliverables

Growth strategy, road map and a company presentation helpful for acquistion.

Impact on the partners
Chris Veeningen: "I learned a lot by cooperating, being creative and working fast with people from a different culture. Much can be done in a short time. This, I will practise in my own work and in the coaching of others around me. SharePeople takes care, prepares and makes it happen for you. So you can work hard on the business case and your dream. "

Follow up
In June 2011, Chris and SharePeople facilitated a one-week visit of CEO from Afrisol, Amos Nguru, to the Netherlands. The goal was to get inspired by fellow competitors, and search for possible trade relations and investors. Companies were visited and contacts were established (a.o. van Gansewinkel, Ecoson and Soepenberg). This is a start of a two-year partnership between SharePeople and Afrisol. Both organisations will keep in touch (a.o. via the SharePeople liaison, at least every 3 months), and with the expert as well. After this Programme, an official update on the status of the organisation takes place every 12 months. With this information, a new Programme is one of the possibilities to boost the organisation if needed. Chris is working hard on involving a Dutch investor with Afrisol. 


Chris is still very involved in the development of Afrisol and has provided SharePeople with newsletters on the development and the change Afrisol and the industry has experienced in the last few months.

Newsletter Afrisol Novemver 2011
Newsletter Afrisol December 2011
Newsletter Afrisol January 2012