ECAS Institute International Training Courses

Capacity Building Programs Across Africa in Agri-business, Food Systems, and Sustainable Investment

Business Planning for Agri-Business

Course Background

This course equips participants with skills to prepare investment-ready business plans using the RuralInvest software.

Course Objectives

Develop full business plans using RuralInvest software.

Analyze investment feasibility using financial indicators.

Interpret IRR and NPV.

Conduct risk, incremental, and sensitivity analysis.

Training Modules

NoModuleDetails1Business Plan – Basic ConceptsIntroduction to business plan structure, purpose, and RuralInvest software.2Creating a Business Plan with SoftwareHands-on setup, data input, output generation, review, and report export.3Incremental and Sensitivity AnalysisAssessing feasibility and robustness under varying scenarios.4Configuration and Administrative FunctionsCustomizing RuralInvest software, collaborative features, troubleshooting.

Participatory Data Collection and Investment Planning in the Field

Course Background

This course builds foundational skills in participatory rural investment planning, focusing on quality field data and community engagement.

Course Objectives

Identify and define rural investment ideas.

Gather relevant field data through participatory techniques.

Estimate capital, operational, and general costs.

Lay groundwork for basic business planning.

Training Modules

NoModuleDetails1Qualitative Description of the Investment IdeaParticipatory identification of viable business concepts with communities.2Investment, General, and Fixed CostsEstimating and organizing costs, participatory exercises.3Operating Costs and RevenueCalculating operational expenses and expected revenue, simplified cost-benefit worksheet.

Sustainable Food Systems – An Introduction

Course Background

Learn how to apply systems thinking to food system transformation for sustainability, addressing food insecurity, nutrition, and climate resilience.

Course Objectives

Understand food system structure and evolution.

Apply systems thinking to assess sustainability.

Analyze leverage points and trade-offs.

Training Modules

NoModuleDetails1Definition and Evolution of Food SystemsFood system stages, historical evolution, sustainability challenges.2Sustainable Food Systems ApproachDimensions of sustainability, trade-offs, and stakeholder roles.3Key Concepts in Sustainable Food SystemsInterlinkages, value addition, circular economy, stakeholder dynamics.4An Analytical FrameworkFood System Wheel, S-C-P model, feedback loops, system boundaries.5Systems Thinking in Sustainable Food SystemsLeverage points, holistic approaches, tools and mindsets.6Operational ApproachesFour approaches, collaborative frameworks, policy coherence, integrated interventions.

Forest and Water Nexus – Introduction

Course Background

This course introduces the relationship between forests and water, emphasizing ecosystem services, climate resilience, and integrated management approaches.

Course Objectives

Understand forest-water relationships.

Analyze land use and forest cover impacts on water resources.

Apply integrated water and forest management strategies.

Training Modules

NoModuleDetails1Introducing Forest–Water RelationshipsHydrological functions, ecosystem services, and socio-economic significance.2Impact of Changing Landscapes on WaterDeforestation, land conversion, watershed degradation, and policy implications.3Integrating Water into Forest ManagementWater-sensitive forest management, watershed planning, policy integration.4Governance and CollaborationCross-sectoral collaboration, community-based approaches, policy coherence.

Creating an Enabling Environment for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems – Reform

Course Background

This course focuses on reform processes to create an enabling environment for responsible agricultural investment, aligning policy, legal, and institutional frameworks.

Course Objectives

Design reform strategies for responsible investment.

Create inclusive multistakeholder platforms.

Understand regulatory processes for investment policies.

Align national governance with RAI goals.

Training Modules

NoModuleDetails1Key Principles for Driving ReformsPrinciples of RAI, strategy design, aligning national priorities with international frameworks.2Establishing Multistakeholder PlatformsInclusive, gender- and youth-sensitive platforms, good practices, case examples.3The Role of Regulatory ProcessesFunctions of regulatory frameworks, policy-to-law implementation, coordination, monitoring tools.