REPORTS

Given the high levels of unemployment among the youth (15-25 years of age who make up 22% of Kenya’s population) it is our sole desire to continually develop capacity for small business entrepreneurial initiatives as a necessary alternative to unemployment and a needed catalyst to economic empowerment.

Thus we at Possibilities Africa Kenya (Hereby referred to as PAK) identified the concept of a business incubator as one of the practical means of doing this. The business incubator is a facility designed to assist businesses to become established and profitable during their start up phase. This is achieved by providing shared premises, business advice, business services, networking opportunities and mentoring.

1. The incubator finally took root and is now operational; soon it will reach optimum levels. ( with the proposed recruitment of the new incubatees)
2. A management team is finally in place and will be working on both the running of the incubator and the co-ordination of other PAK programmes.
3. Training need analysis has been done and areas that need address identified.
4. Interest generated in PAK activities as a result of the inception of the incubator has greatly increased.
5. Confidence and good will in the PAK business initiative have also soared as compared to several months back.

The current businesses have developed a good working relationship and operate as a team. This greatly helps the smooth running of the organization

1. Overheads too high for sustainability.
2. The first two months was basically a time for the business to settle and take off so not much productivity has been seen.
3. No plan was put in place to ensure incubatees share in some of the financial responsibilities of running the incubator.
4. Still looking for a cheaper place to rent that will meet our expectations without compromising our ability to achieve our objectives.(not easy to come by.)
5. May soon require an increase of staff in order to efficiently manage the incubator, a receptionist will be of great help to the Project Mgt unit.
6. Financial constraints are evident.

Yet to have a robust monitoring and evaluation system in place, that will help both PAK and the incubatees progressively walk towards and also achieve their goals.

• In line with our proposed scope we seek to
• Increase on the number of businesses in order to defray the costs of incubating each business. (should be done by end of June)
• Establish an efficient structure and programme that would ensure smooth function of the incubator and maximum growth and development of the incubatees.(Should be achieved by the  end of this year)
• In order to develop a sense of responsibility we seek to have the incubatees share in some of the recurrent utility costs.
• Training Plan to be developed by the end of June
• By end of 2nd year should have established networks between small business in rural and urban areas.
• In five years should have established similar incubators in all major cities of Kenya and East Africa as a whole.

Rigorous sensitization of the populace is to be effected in tandem with the recruitment exercise.

• Review our current structure and programme, and advice on the best way to increase efficiency.
• Advice on various ways on how to make the incubator self sustaining plus ways of broadening our business initiative/income generating avenues.
• Advice on how to market the incubator so as to attract quality proposals and resource persons.
• In development of an ideal environment for the success of the businesses under incubation.

Advice on how best to forge partnerships with development organizations plus government arms concerned with establishment of small and medium enterprises.

Currently 4 businesses have already settled in and are up and running. In addition to this, plans are underway to admit 2 new incubatees.

• We look forward to meeting and sharing ideas with an active pr practitioner on various business and pr issues.
• We seek for contacts both local and International with the aim of converting them into clients and even partners (who we can share ideas with) 
• We would appreciate new pr research books, magazines to improve on the knowledge we already have.