By Napoleon Kajunju, Paulin Njingulula, Bola Amoke Awotide
Inspired by her mother, who built several income-generating activities to support her family and finance Alice’s education, Alice Ayagirwe grew up believing in the power of entrepreneurship to create opportunities. A student at the Evangelical University in Africa in Bukavu, South Kivu, in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she had long dreamed of establishing her own business. However, she relied largely on family support and had limited experience in product development, marketing, customer engagement and business planning.
“I had ideas, but I did not know how to turn them into a viable and sustainable business.” Alice recalls. “I was often hesitant to approach potential customers.”
That began to change in November 2024, when the Beans for Women Empowerment (B4WE) Project gave her the skills and confidence to pursue her entrepreneurial ambitions. Through targeted training, mentorship, business incubation and exposure to market actors across agricultural value chains, Alice gained practical business skills, knowledge and, perhaps most importantly, the confidence to turn her entrepreneurial ambition into a growing enterprise.
Barely two months later, in January 2025, Alice was among the young women entrepreneurs selected to showcase their products, prototypes and business ideas to a visiting representative of the project’s funder, Global Affairs Canada, during a visit to Bukavu to assess development initiatives it supports in South Kivu. Although the conflict that followed disrupted activities across the region, support from B4WE continued, enabling Alice to maintain momentum, refine her business ideas and pursue her entrepreneurial ambitions.
From an idea to a nutrition-focused enterprise
NutriSante bean composite instant flour made by Aliciana Services
One of the most valuable lessons Alice gained through B4WE was the importance of understanding consumer needs and developing products that respond to market demand. With support from the project and its implementation partners, including the Forum for Congolese Women Entrepreneurs (FEFCO), she explored opportunities for adding value to agricultural products, particularly through innovative ways of processing beans into convenient, nutritious food products. This journey led to the establishment of Aliciana Services and the development of instant bean flour – a protein-rich product designed to offer consumers a convenient and nutritious alternative while creating an economic opportunity for Alice.
Rather than producing conventional bean flour, Alice set out to develop something more practical: an instant bean flour that significantly reduces preparation time while retaining the nutritional benefits of beans.
Getting the product right, however, took several attempts. Through customer feedback and market insights, she tested and refined the formulation four times, adjusting it to better reflect consumer preferences and expectations.
Alice with the NutriSante bean composite instant flour
The process marked an important turning point in her entrepreneurial journey. She was no longer simply making a product; she was learning to understand her market, listen to customers, test ideas and use feedback to make informed business decisions. These skills would become essential in building a viable and sustainable enterprise.
Advancing women’s economic empowerment
The transformation in Alice’s journey has gone beyond acquiring technical business skills. Through B4WE, she has developed greater confidence, financial independence and the ability to participate more actively in economic decision-making. Before joining the incubation program, she struggled to promote her products and approach potential customers. Today, she confidently markets her business, showcases her products and engages directly with consumers, suppliers and other market actors.
This growing confidence has translated into tangible business results. Monthly revenue at Aliciana Services has increased from approximately USD 75–100 in 2025 to around USD 400 today. Additionally, production capacity has also grown from just 10–15 kilograms per week to more than 70 kilograms, reflecting the business’s expanding operational capacity and market reach.
The number of customers has increased too, as Aliciana Services now serves at least 50 customers every month, owing to improved marketing, direct sales and customer engagement. The business has also created employment opportunities. From managing production and marketing on her own, today, Alice has five people actively involved in the enterprise, supporting its production, sales and day-to-day operations.
Contributing to nutrition and more inclusive food systems
Alice (wearing a blue striped outfit) during a B4WE-supported business incubation session
The impact of Alice’s business extends beyond income generation and employment creation. Alice also wants her products to make nutritious food more accessible to consumers. Beans are an important source of plant-based protein and essential micronutrients. However, their relatively long preparation time can make them less convenient for consumers with busy schedules. By developing instant bean flour, Alice is addressing this challenge, offering a quicker way to prepare a nutritious food product while creating additional value from beans.
Customer feedback suggests growing interest in the product, particularly among consumers looking for convenient food options. Through direct sales, deliveries and continued product refinement, Aliciana Services is gradually expanding access to instant bean flour while building customer satisfaction and repeat purchases.
The business has progressed from an initial idea to introducing a tested product in the market. Although its contribution to household nutritional outcomes has not yet been directly measured, the enterprise demonstrates how women-led agribusinesses can contribute to more diverse, accessible and nutrition-sensitive food systems.
Alice (third from left standing) during GAC visit in Bukavu
Creating wider economic opportunities
As Aliciana Services grows, so do the opportunities it creates for others. Beyond providing employment, the enterprise is building connections with local suppliers, creating demand for agricultural products and extending the economic benefits of Alice’s entrepreneurial journey into the wider community.
This illustrates the wider economic potential of investing in women-led agribusinesses. Beyond strengthening individual businesses, such investments can stimulate local economic activity, create employment and build stronger connections between agricultural producers, processors and consumers.
Scaling for growth
Alice’s ambitions extend well beyond the current scale of Aliciana Services. She envisions transforming the business into a leading agro-processing enterprise, producing nutritious food products while creating more employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people.
Her immediate priorities include expanding production, improving product quality and reaching new markets across DR Congo. She also hopes to grow the business to create more than ten jobs. Realizing this ambition will require investment in improved processing technologies and equipment, particularly for milling, roasting, drying, blending and packaging. Such investments would improve production efficiency, ensure consistent product quality and enable the enterprise to respond to growing demand.
“I used to work without talking to people about what I was doing. Today, I confidently meet customers, discuss my product with them, and learn from their feedback,” she added.
Alice’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, what stands between a good idea and a thriving business is the opportunity to learn, the right support and the confidence to take that first step. From hesitating to approach potential customers to running an enterprise that now serves at least 50 customers a month and provides employment for five people, she has come a long way. Along the way, she has not only grown her business but also discovered her ability to make decisions, build relationships and turn opportunities into something tangible, thanks to the B4WE Project intervention.
Through Aliciana Services, her ambitions are beginning to reach beyond her own success. Her business is creating opportunities for local suppliers, adding value to agricultural products and making convenient, nutritious food products more accessible. With bigger plans, she hopes to grow the enterprise, reach new markets and create more jobs for women and young people. Her experience shows that when women are equipped with the right skills, opportunities, and support, they can become powerful drivers of economic growth, innovation, and community transformation.