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For agribusinesses that grow profitably by growing inclusively.
Across Africa, the most resilient agribusinesses are those that grow with farmers, suppliers, communities, women, youth, and market partners. Inclusion is no longer a side initiative. It is a strategic model for stronger supply chains, reliable sourcing, market trust, and long-term commercial success.
The Inclusive Agribusiness Certified (IAC) standard recognizes agribusiness enterprises that have institutionalized inclusive business practices within their operations, sourcing systems, partnerships, and growth strategy.
Developed from field-tested lessons of 2SCALE, Africa’s largest inclusive agribusiness incubator funded by the Dutch government, and advanced through the Institute of Agribusiness Management Nigeria (IAMN).
The Inclusive Agribusiness Certified (IAC) standard is awarded to agribusiness enterprises that demonstrate structured, measurable, and sustained commitment to inclusive business practice. Certification is not based on intention alone. It is earned through systems, policies, commercial behavior, and verifiable outcomes that show inclusion has been embedded into the way the business operates.
Structured sourcing systems that intentionally include smallholder farmers, cooperatives, women & youth-led suppliers, with clear onboarding & long-term sourcing strategies.
Transparent pricing, timely payments, understandable contracts, ethical negotiation, and predictable commercial relationships built on mutual value.
Training, technical guidance, post-harvest support and supplier business development that turns supply chains into long-term commercial assets.
Active participation of women, youth and underrepresented groups across sourcing, training, recruitment and value chain leadership opportunities.
Stable demand, improved market access and resilient value chain relationships that allow suppliers to grow as the enterprise grows.
Inclusion managed as a business discipline — with policies, supplier databases, measurable indicators and leadership accountability.
To earn the IAC designation, organisations must provide evidence that the standards are being practised in real operations. Depending on certification level, evidence may include documentation, interviews, data records, operational review, supplier feedback and independent assessment.
Each standard is scored on a five-level maturity scale based on documented systems, operational implementation,
measurable results, leadership commitment and consistency of practice.
Overall score 60% – 69%
For businesses and organizations that demonstrates foundational inclusive business systems.
Overall score of 70% to 84%
For businesses and organizations that demonstrates strong and consistent inclusive business practice.
Overall score of 85% and above
For businesses and organizations that demonstrates leading inclusive agribusiness systems with measurable excellence.
The organization submits an expression of interest, company profile, and relevant background information on its operations, supply chains, and inclusive business activities
An initial screening is conducted to determine preparedness for certification. This may include a preliminary gap review to identify areas requiring improvement before the full assessment
A comprehensive evaluation is carried out through document review, management interviews, operational checks, scoring against the certification standards, and verification of supporting evidence.
An independent review panel evaluates the assessment findings and confirms whether the organization has met the required standard for certification.
Successful organizations receive the official Inclusive Agribusiness Certified (IAC) certificate and approved rights to use the certification seal in corporate communications, branding, proposals, and approved promotional materials.
Periodic surveillance reviews are conducted to confirm continued compliance, monitor progress, and protect the credibility of the certification.
The IAC certification is valid for two years, subject to successful annual surveillance checks during the certification cycle.This approach balances certification credibility with commercial practicality, while encouraging continuous improvement.
Minor: A limited gap that does not fundamentally undermine compliance. Corrective action must be completed within the approved timeline
Major: A significant gap affecting compliance with one or more core standards. Corrective action and evidence of resolution are required before certification can be granted or maintained
IAC signals that your organisation has moved beyond intention and embedded inclusive business practice into how it grows, sources, partners and creates value.Certification helps organizations strengthen commercial performance while demonstrating responsible leadership across the agribusiness ecosystem
IAC is a mark of enterprise leadership in modern African agribusiness
IAC is designed for organisations seeking to grow competitively while strengthening inclusive and sustainable agribusiness systems.
Commercial farms, agro-processors, exporters, aggregators, input companies, branded food businesses, cooperatives, contract farming operators, and agribusiness SMEs.
NGOs, donor-funded projects, incubators, farmer support institutions, chambers, associations and value chain programmes.
Government agencies, commodity boards, market facilitation institutions and bodies advancing agribusiness competitiveness.
The Inclusive Agribusiness Certified (IAC) standard draws from practical lessons generated through 2SCALE, widely recognized as Africa’s largest inclusive agribusiness incubator funded by the Dutch government.Over more than a decade, 2SCALE supported enterprises, farmers, processors, and market actors across Africa to build commercially viable and inclusive business models that created growth across value chains.
Following the transition of key lessons and market development experience into Nigeria through the Institute of Agribusiness Management Nigeria (IAMN), these field-tested insights have been translated into a structured certification standard for today’s agribusiness enterprises.IAC therefore combines global development insight, African field experience, and practical business discipline into one credible certification pathway
Organizations that are committed to profitable growth, responsible sourcing, stronger supplier relationships,
and inclusive value chain leadership are invited to begin the certification process.
Complete the official IAC Application Form and provide basic information about your organization, operations,
and value chain activities.
