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Book Cover-By Mary Wambui Njeru

Africa Is Not Poor.
It Is Unprocessed.

Rethinking Africa’s development through value addition, rural manufacturing, and cottage industries.

Mary Wambui Njeru

Rural Manufacturing Advocate | Author


Mary Wambui Njeru

Africa is not poor

Mary Wambui Njeru is a rural manufacturing advocate and value addition trainer.Dedicated to helping communities transform raw materials into profitable enterprises.She is the founder of Here and Beyond and the author of Africa Is Not Poor, It Is Unprocessed.Her work focuses on practical systems that help rural communities move from selling raw resources to building sustainable manufacturing enterprises.

SERVICES

Trusted By:
NGOs
County Governments
Universities
Cooperatives
Entrepreneurs
CBOs
NGOs
County Governments
Universities
Cooperatives
Entrepreneurs
CBOs

Training

Training programs

Hands-on training covering: • Value addition
• Cottage industry setup
• Rural manufacturing systems
• Product positioning and market access

Consulting

MAry Consulting

Support for organisations to:• Design rural manufacturing programs
• Establish local processing units
• Develop sustainable value chains

Speaking

engaging women entrepreneurs

Keynotes and seminars on:
• Rural manufacturing as a development model
• Unlocking value from local resources
• Cottage industries and small-scale manufacturing


SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

1-Day Workshop

-Introduction to value addition and cottage industry opportunities.

3-Day Program

-Practical training on rural manufacturing systems.

5-Day Intensive

-Hands-on enterprise development and market access strategies.


The Problem Africa Faces

Across the continent, millions of tons of agricultural and natural resources are exported in raw form.They leave local communities with very little value captured locally.Meanwhile, finished products made from those same resources are imported back at significantly higher prices.This system limits industrial growth and prevents communities from building sustainable local economies.

Insight

• Raw materials are exported with minimal value addition
• Processing and manufacturing happen elsewhere
• Finished products are imported back at higher prices
• Local jobs, skills, and income opportunities are lost

Solution

Local manufacturing and value addition.


Africa Is Not Poor. It Is Unprocessed.

By: Mary Wambui Njeru

This book explores why Africa’s challenge is not a lack of resources but a lack of processing and value addition.Through clear examples and analysis, it shows how local manufacturing and cottage industries can transform rural economies.

by. Mary Wambui Njeru

Let’s Build Rural Manufacturing Systems for Africa

Mary works with organisations ready to unlock value from local resources through training, consulting, and speaking engagements.

Thank You

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© 2026 Mary Njeru.