About Us

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About Agcrest:

Agcrest is also known as Agcrest Development Centre. We implement both humanitarian, development, and business initiatives. We also support the implementation of humanitarian and development activities. Our centre is a social enterprise and not-for-profit.

We are particularly strong in supporting NGOs, UN agencies, academic institutions, and governments in delivering community based humanitarian and sustainable development activities. We also offer development training, microfinance, and run Acrest online technical education platform. We are active across Africa. We have country offices in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and the United Kingdom. Our Africa Head Office is in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

About Us

Our Vision

We strive to be the leading development and humanitarian support institution contributing to a world free of hunger, oppression, and marginalization; where everyone will have an opportunity to live up to their full human potential, enjoy freedom, and access essential services ensuring health, education, and economic stability.

Our Mission

Agcrest Development Centre’s mission is to promote economic and social development at all levels in Africa through innovative, technical, and education-oriented economy strategies, business incubation, and through the provision of comprehensive professional services addressing both development and humanitarian needs.

Agcrest actively operates in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, fostering human development, sustainable farming, and enhancing security in marginalized communities.

Our Projects

Sectors of Focus

At Agcrest Development Centre, we are dedicated to addressing a diverse range of sectors that are
crucial for sustainable development across Africa. Our key areas of focus include:

Food and Nutrition Security: Enhancing the agricultural value chain through support in crops, livestock, veterinary services, and agricultural markets.
Water Resources Management: Implementing initiatives to ensure safe and sustainable water supply and sanitation services.
Rural Financing and SME Development: Promoting financial inclusion through rural financing, Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) development, and business boot camps.
Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and Fintech: Supporting community-based savings groups and integrating digital financial services to foster economic empowerment.

Agribusiness and Market Access: Strengthening the capacity of agribusinesses to access local and international markets.
Sustainable Development Initiatives: Addressing environmental concerns and promoting green energy solutions to achieve sustainable development goals.
Project and Farm Management: Facilitating Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to improve efficiency and effectiveness in project and farm management.
Programme Quality and Research: Ensuring the highest standards of program execution and advancing knowledge through dedicated research initiatives.

Download our Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and Cooperative Management App

What We Have Done:

In the last five years, most of our clients have been either farmers or organisations with a specialisation in food security and enterprise development. We specialise in value chain, enterprise development, cooperative management, and sustainable food production systems, offering advisory services and management advice to individual entrepreneurs (formally and informally), organised farms, and small farmers for business.

We also offer Humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies and Non-Governmental organisations, support services which include Farm Management, Rural Finance and Agribusiness, WASH, NRM and DRR, Education, organisational Development Coaching, Business Clinics, Conduct Assessments, Baselines and Project Evaluations, Training in Participatory Methodologies, Team Building, Managing Change and raising funds. We also promotes agribusiness and value chains and Promote ICT through Partnerships.

South Sudan: We are promoting a web-based market information platform, Acrest Online Education, and the Cresta Cooperative & Management Applications to digitise access to learning and digital VSLAs, respectively. In doing this, we partner with Alpha Commercial Bank, Cooperative Bank, M-Gurush, MTN, Adroite Technologies, and Goshen Holdings. We deliver capacity building training via our education platform, https://acrestonlineuniversity.net/, and with Goshen Holdings, we deliver physical, vocational, and technical training on our premises in Juba.

Sierra Leone: We are implementing the Building Resilience and Economic Empowerment (BRET) Project. Through BRET we support VSLAs and smallholders, mostly women entrepreneurs, in peri-urban areas. Through BRET, we aim to promote digital VSLAs and cooperative management app developed by Agcrest which is currently in use in South Sudan. In partnership with Community Action for Rural Development Sierra Leone (CARD-SL), we implemented a FAO/MAFFS funded Agricultural Business Centre Capacity-Building Project in Moyamba, Pujehun and Bonthe Districts of Sierra Leone. In partnership with MoPADA Sierra Leone, we implement the Rice Value Chain Project. Through our sister organisation, Crest Cabs, we are providing logistical support, such as vehicle rental, to NGOs and individuals.

In Nigeria, Agcrest Water and Beverages, Agcrest Farm, Acrest Cooperatives Society and Acrest Properties are very active. We are at the forefront of promoting sustainable farming methods, which include marketing high quality seeds and biofertilisers.

Sustainable Development and Agriculture Initiatives

We operate in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Sudan. We are keen to work in all communities and regions where we can make meaningful contributions to the development of human capital and through our work ensuring food, health, education and financial security including the sustainable use of natural resources for all marginalised people. We believe in farming as a business and that properly managed farms generate sustainable income for the owners and create intergenerational wealth.

Our Programme Scope:

Agcrest Development Centre’s program scope includes:

Knowledge Management and Innovation: Providing professional advisory services, including program quality assessments (baseline, M&E, evaluations), training, and proposal development.
Education Services: We provide access to technical and vocational education at various levels to strengthen the capacity for beneficiaries using various platforms, including physical, online, hybrid and a combination. We collaborate with world-leading universities, academic and vocational institutions to provide access to the education needed to achieve all the sustainable development goals.
Capacity Strengthening: Enhancing vocational skills relevant to community needs.
WASH, NRM & DRR: Focusing on Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Natural Resource Management, and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Agribusiness Development: Strengthening value chains and market orientation for agricultural enterprises.
Community Engagement: Utilizing adaptable participatory methods and approaches.
Microfinance and Entrepreneurship: Offering business clinics, microenterprise support, Village Savings & Loans (VSLA), digital platforms, credit unions, and entrepreneurial skill development.
Support for NGOs and Humanitarian Work: Enhancing the quality of programs supporting NGOs and humanitarian organizations.
Access to Justice and Good Governance: Promoting rights-based initiatives, equality, and gender issues.

Join Agcrest in Transforming Lives and Futures Across Africa

Partner with us to promote sustainable development, ensure human rights, and build resilient communities through education and innovative business solutions. Contact us and contribute today.