Agile Consulting is a consortium of professionals drawn mainly from water, environmental science, environmental economics, agriculture, health, agribusiness, economics, enterprise, program management and social development.

Our expertise is in:

1. Baseline Studies, Monitoring & Evaluation Plans, Mid-Term & End-term Evaluation, Impact and Learning Studies: The firm has proven experience in conducting baseline studies, evaluations (mid, end-term and impact) and research, which require application of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The team has strong skills in study design and application of rigorous evaluation techniques, to provide reliable data; as well as sound knowledge in the development and use of tools and appropriate software to support both approaches. Key of the accomplishments of the firm in this area has been the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for over 15 organizations in Eastern and Western Africa.

2. Organizational Development: Acting alone and through consortiums, the firm has undertaken and facilitated organizational capacity development for a wide range of organizations (e.g. USAID KAVES Institutional Strengthening for 20 producer groups in Tharaka Nithi, Meru, , Kitui, Makueni and Machakos counties; and 11 capacity building partners; as well as Causes, Consequences, Management and Preventive Mechanisms of Institutional Challenges in Member Associations of IPPF Africa Region). The firm has and developed a range of toolkits that are currently in use. Examples of tools widely used include: Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT), Enterprise Development Index, Advocacy Capacity Index and Management Control Assessment Tool (MCAT). The firm employs a range of ‘tailor made’ and thematic training interventions, technical assistance and mentoring.

3. Training & Capacity Needs Assessment, Profiling, SMEs; Enterprise Training and Development: The firm hosts associates and in-house personnel who have worked in the field for over 50 years collectively. They have researched, designed and implemented enterprise training and BDS support to a variety of SMEs in Africa, in various fields ranging from agriculture, health financing, livestock, dairy, staples, horticulture, tourism, non-timber forest products etc. They have links with venture capitalists, financial institutions and markets and have structured commercial deals between the private sector commercial players and SMEs. From a BDS standpoint they believe that interventions must be demand-led and should build on the dynamics of the private sector promises- value for money, sustainability and scale.

4. Trade Facilitation: Has worked with cooperative organizations and producer groups in East Africa on a variety of trade facilitation services – including cross border trade; that include but are not limited to market research, quality control, product development, supply chain management, warehousing, technologies for tracking products and demand. Support to enhancing trade facilitation has also required addressing capacity challenges and improving transparency in regulatory systems, and finding opportunities where both the private and public sectors can contribute skills and resources.

5. Strategic Planning: The firm has over the years developed over 20 strategic plans for various organizations ranging in both public and private sectors. The lead consultant has led planning to appreciate linkages between proposal development, program management, resource mobilization and strategic planning.

6. Research Design, Data Management & Quality Assurance: The firm has capacity to ensure that both secondary and primary source data is handled well at all stages of data collection, entry and analysis. The firm has capacity in conducting orientation trainings on data collection methods used in surveys and assessments, with experience in training teams of survey enumerators and field supervisors – in both pre- testing of instruments and field work; development of field guides on best practices used in field work, so as to improve data quality standards during data collection, while ensuring good management of data in the field For data entry, the firm has proven expertise in ICT and development of databases to provide interface for both quantitative (numerical/ survey) data and qualitative data. For data analysis, the firm has access to the latest software used in performing analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Examples of software frequently used include: Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA and SAS – for quantitative data sets; and MaxQDA, NUDIST or NVIVO9 or 10 for qualitative transcripts.

7. Facilitation of Legislative Processes: The lead consultant – Ben Mwongela, MBA, has played a leading role in advising the Governor and the County Government of Kajiado on key topical areas, like the budget cycle, development of policies and policy briefs for cabinet, intergovernmental relations, PFM, drafting of bills for the county assembly, implications and understanding of chapters 6 and 11 of the Constitution of Kenya and overall micro and macroeconomic affairs.

8. Report Writing: The firm possesses strong writing skills as core requisites in ensuring that all the data analyzed can be well presented and understood by a wide audience. The team has proven expertise in writing reports from baseline surveys, impact surveys, rapid evaluations, needs and risk assessments; as well as knowledge and skills to articulate key results/ findings using appropriate language that is scientific in nature.