BDS Champion in Uganda: Growth of a local BDS operation to Transform 300+ Businesses

Before engaging with AMI in November 2023, Jane Namara was already supporting SMEs and MSMEs across Uganda. However, like many ecosystem actors, her impact was constrained by a lack of structured tools and systems.

Despite strong field experience, she faced three bottlenecks:

1. Inefficient delivery due to manual planning and inconsistent tools

2. Limited success in securing funding due to gaps in proposal structuring

3. Low scalability, restricting her ability to reach more businesses sustainably

This meant that while demand for her support was high, her ability to respond effectively with evidence-backed support,  and  to grow, was limited.

African Management Institute equipped Jane with immediately deployable, research-backed BDS tools. Through AMI’s training and toolkits, Jane strengthened her capabilities in:

• Structured SME diagnostics and advisory frameworks

• Financial planning and cash flow management systems

• Proposal development methodologies

• Quality assured capacity building delivery models

AMI’s approach emphasized practical application through tools for BDS provision, enabling Jane to integrate tools directly into her work from day one.

The Multiplier Effect 

Financial breakthrough: Jane secured four new contracts, including from MTN Foundation and KCB Foundation, institutions that had previously felt inaccessible. In partnership with Movit Products, she has trained 300+ salon and beauty entrepreneurs across Eastern Uganda, in customer care, marketing, and record-keeping skills. She is now also offering financial literacy delivered to boda boda drivers through Pureflow Company. Two sectors transformed through the same standardized approach.Budgeting and planning time reduced significantly, and Jane began applying AMI’s evidence-backed BDS tools with her clients. . She shifted from ad hoc delivery to structured, repeatable training models. Her confidence and capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously increased. 

Jane's increased reach and sustainability are an example of the value of AMI’s GROW indirect approach in scaling evidence-backed BDS support in Africa. Her delivery to clients improved, and her ability to remain operational for the long term increased simultaneously.  

“The work is still demanding, but I no longer feel the burden. The AMI tools have simplified how I plan, budget, and deliver my work. I now approach my work with confidence and structure.” - Jane Namara