What We Do

Services that drive sustainable development across Africa.

Escape Poverty (EP) Africa helps governments, businesses and development partners accelerate sustainable development through practical, evidence-based solutions across Africa — combining advisory, research and implementation across eight integrated service lines: agri-food systems; energy, climate and sustainability; technical, vocational education and training; green business and MSME development; research, monitoring, evaluation and learning; governance and social accountability; sustainable mining; and artificial intelligence and robotics skills development.

01

Agri-Food Systems Advisory

Closing the loop — from waste to value. We champion integrated crop–livestock systems that turn manure, crop residues and food waste into biogas, organic fertiliser and healthier soils — building climate-resilient, zero-waste farming communities across Africa. We strengthen climate-smart cocoa, cashew, rice, poultry, aquaculture and horticulture value chains — raising smallholder yields, food security and market competitiveness. Our integrated advisory spans farmer cooperatives development, investment readiness, business and farm management coaching, market systems development, access to finance, and strategic linkages to input suppliers, off-takers and agribusiness investors, building resilient, commercially viable enterprises that drive inclusive green growth and rural prosperity across Ghana's agricultural landscape.

02

Energy, Climate and Sustainability Advisory

We advise governments, development partners, businesses and communities on practical pathways to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Our services span clean cooking, renewable energy deployment — solar cooling, drying, irrigation and milling — bio-digesters, energy audits, climate risk assessments, GHG accounting and net-zero roadmaps. We help clients align investments with Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions, unlock climate finance, and turn energy access into a productive engine for rural enterprise growth and inclusive green jobs.

03

Technical, Vocational Education and Training Skills

We design and deliver demand-driven Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes that equip youth, women and persons with disabilities with market-relevant skills in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy technologies, clean cookstove production, and inclusive fashion. Our work spans competency-based curriculum development, trainer capacity building, apprenticeship models, and industry partnerships — creating pathways to decent employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship in Ghana's emerging green economy.

04

Green Business, MSMEs Support, Training and Advisory

We support Ghanaian MSMEs to build competitive, climate-smart enterprises through tailored training, business development services and advisory. Our work spans circular economy models, plastics recovery, eco-friendly packaging and green product design — coupled with investment readiness coaching, access to finance facilitation and market linkages. We help entrepreneurs scale profitably, create decent green jobs and contribute to Ghana's transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy.

05

Research, Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

We deliver rigorous, evidence-based research and MEL services tailored to Ghana's development landscape — from baselines, mid-term reviews and impact evaluations to ESG assessments, gender analysis and climate vulnerability studies. Our teams combine field expertise across all 16 regions with robust data systems, participatory learning and adaptive management tools, enabling government, donors, NGOs and private sector partners to make sharper decisions, demonstrate results and scale what works.

06

Governance & Social Accountability

We work with MMDAs, traditional authorities, CSOs and community groups across Ghana to strengthen transparent, citizen-centred local governance. Our support helps assemblies plan, budget and deliver quality services in health, education, security, employment and sanitation, while equipping citizens with practical tools — community scorecards, town hall dialogues, social audits and RTI requests — to track public spending, engage duty-bearers constructively and demand accountability, deepening trust and improving outcomes for underserved districts.

07

Sustainable Mining Advisory

We advise mining companies, MMDAs, host communities and regulators across Ghana's gold, bauxite, manganese and small-scale mining landscape on responsible, ESG-aligned operations. Our services span environmental and social impact assessments, community development agreements, local content and livelihoods planning, land reclamation, mercury-free ASM practices, and alternative green enterprises for mining-affected youth and women — helping operators meet Minerals Commission, EPA and international standards while delivering lasting shared value.

08

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Skills Development

We equip youth, women and persons with disabilities with practical skills in artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, data literacy, machine learning and automation. Through inclusive, hands-on training, mentorship, innovation labs and industry partnerships, we nurture problem-solvers who design and deploy AI and robotics solutions for agriculture, health, energy and enterprise — building Ghana's next generation of digital innovators and unlocking decent, future-ready jobs in Africa's emerging technology economy.

Methodological Framework

The EP Africa five-phase approach to building market-ready MSMEs.

Developed and applied by Escape Poverty Africa, our proprietary methodology moves enterprises from diagnosis to delivery — pairing our organizational capacity assessment, market readiness diagnostics and tailored business development support into one coherent pathway we deploy across every enterprise-strengthening mandate.

  1. Phase 01

    Inception

    Framing & alignment

    • Stakeholder consultations
    • Review of documents
    • Validation of objectives
    • Assessment framework
    • Data collection tools
    • Work plan
  2. Phase 02

    MSME Capacity Assessment

    Organizational capacity

    • Governance & Leadership
    • Strategy
    • Finance
    • HR Management
    • Operations
    • E&S Compliance
    • Occupational Health & Safety
    • Digital Readiness
    • Gender & Inclusion
    • Risk Management
    Methods
    OCAInterviewsFGDsEnterprise VisitsDocument Review
  3. Phase 03

    Market Readiness Diagnostic

    Commercial & compliance fit

    • Business Model
    • Financial Viability
    • Product Quality
    • Production Systems
    • Supply Chain Readiness
    • Investment Readiness
    • Export Potential
    • ESG Compliance
    • Climate Resilience
    • Buyer Requirements
  4. Phase 04

    Business Development Support

    Tailored BDS package

    • Business Planning
    • Investment Readiness
    • Access to Finance
    • Market Linkages
    • Operational Improvement
    • Digital Transformation
    • ESG Integration
    • Supplier Development
    • Mentoring & Coaching
  5. Phase 05

    Reporting

    Deliverables & handover

    • MSME Assessment Reports
    • Market Readiness Reports
    • Capacity Improvement Plans
    • Business Development Plans
    • Final Report
    • Client Presentation
Expected Result

MSMEs grow their revenues. They create decent jobs. They attract new investment. They supply agri-food, clean cooking, fashion and critical minerals value chains. They meet buyer and ESG standards. And they win contracts in high-value regional and global markets.

Figure 1 — Proposed methodological framework for MSME capacity assessments, market readiness diagnostics and business development support.