AMI is pioneering a new approach to skills development – one that actually works. Over 97 percent of AMI users apply what they learn at work, and 86% report improved effectiveness, according to our recent impact survey.

The December 2015 Impact Survey collected data from the 1,500+ managers, entrepreneurs and professionals who have participated in AMI’s structured blended-learning programmes, as well as the larger group of over 10,000 who have taken our courses. Among the former group, 72% reported an improvement in key management skills after engaging with AMI and 85% of entrepreneurs reported an improvement in operating efficiency. 67% said AMI was either much more (35%) or more (32%) helpful than any other training provider they had experienced, while 15% said this was the first time they had accessed formal business training or education. Read the full report below or Click here to download the AMI Impact survey 2015. .

AMI Impact Survey – 2015

The African Management Initiative is a social enterprise delivering Africa’s first scalable solution for skills and talent development, by empowering African managers, entrepreneurs and young professionals through practical and affordable learning tools. This report provides an update on our impact since we launched our blended learning model in mid 2014, providing data both for those engaged in our structured blended learning programmes, as well as data for all participants who have ever signed up for an AMI online course or blended programme. The data is interspersed with stories and testimonials from our clients.

Highlights from participants of AMI’s structured blended learning programmes

• 97% of AMI participants who responded apply what they learn at work
• 86% report improved effectiveness at work
• 72% acquired new skills in key management topics
• 85% of entrepreneurs report an improvement in operating efficiency, 38% increased profit
• 23% report tangible career progress (promotion, new job or salary increase)
• 82% said AMI was either much more helpful (35%), more helpful (32%) or just as helpful (15%) as other training providers they had experienced, even though we are up to 90% cheaper. 15% had never previously accessed business training or education.

Highlights from all participants who have engaged with AMI

• 89% of AMI participants apply what they learn at work
• 73% report improved effectiveness at work
• 64% acquired new skills in key management topics
• 73% of entrepreneurs report an improvement in operating efficiency, 27% increased profit.
• 5% report tangible career progress
• 81% said AMI was either much more helpful (28%), more helpful (35%) or just as helpful (18%) as other training providers they had experienced, even though we are up to 90% cheaper. 14% of respondents had never previously accessed business training or education

Background

AMI has developed a unique blended learning model for African organisations and individuals. We partner with Africa’s top business schools to develop world class content designed specifically for Africa, with a strong focus on leadership capacity and business skills. Our content is delivered at scale through our web and mobile social learning platform, and through in-person blended ‘Learning Lab’ workshops. Courses are combined with innovative coaching and development tools and peer accountability to ensure that managers apply what they learn on the job. And we leverage the power of social networking functionality to make learning fun and engaging. AMI delivers world-class learning and development at 10-20% of the cost of high-quality African business education, hour for hour, creating huge potential for scale.

After initially focusing on serving individuals, we shifted focus for 2015-2016 to:

• Customized employee learning and onboarding programmes for companies
• Customized learning programmes for intermediaries who want to provide skills development opportunities for a specific group of young professionals or entrepreneurs.

We still offer online courses to individuals, but that is a lower priority as we build brand and credibility through partnerships. We will be expanding out work with individuals again from 2017.

 

Our clients currently include fast-growing companies such as MKopa Solar and KAPS Ltd in Kenya, and Off-Grid Electric and Equity for Africa in Tanzania, as well as high-profile intermediaries such as Acumen Fund, Equity Group Foundation, the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) and the Enterprise Development Centre in Lagos.

AMI is working with the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Center in Nairobi to deliver the online component of their core leadership progamme to over 400 young African leaders in 2015-16. The partnership has just been extended after rave reviews from the first two cohorts.

The YALI RLC organisers wanted to provide a high-quality remote learning experience for participants over 8 weeks during the ‘virtual distance learning’ part of the programme, to keep them engaged in learning and connecting with peers.

AMI created a customized ‘Learning Academy’ on its web and mobile learning platform for each YALI cohort. The Academy is more than a learning platform, it is a place for the group to connect, ask questions and support each other after the residential programme had finished. AMI was able to deliver a world-class learning experience to over 400 participants at a fraction of the cost of traditional training providers, while maintaining quality.

• Course completion and success rates were consistently above 75% – extremely high for online courses
• 95% of participants described themselves as competent or expert against core skills addressed in the programme after the engagement, versus just over 55% before the programme.
• 100% said they would ‘definitely’ recommend AMI

“These two courses have been amazing, especially with the tools and deadlines. My biggest challenge had always been time management, but this process and the course quite helped me. I now have fixed reminders in my phone and I get things done. Have fun learning ladies and genthlepeople!” – Gloria Kalabamu, YALI participant.

 “Most companies in Tanzania will greatly benefit from your courses and a lot of team conflicts will be avoided, please target them as well.” Fatouma, a YALI participant.

Our impact

AMI is still refining its impact model, but we are seeing strong signs that our approach delivers tangible results. We know that participants in AMI programmes develop new skills, which they are applying on the job to improve their effectiveness at work. We are also seeing signs that participants are able to convert these new skills into career progress where relevant, and if they are entrepreneurs, into business growth.

It is too early to report hard data from our organizational clients determining whether engaging with AMI around employee onboarding learning is linked to bottom line results for larger businesses. But we have received positive testimonials from companies, as well as renewals and referrals that point to real impact. We will be gathering additional data in this regard during 2016.

In this report, we share the data from a recent survey of participants of our structured blended  learning programmes offered through their company or another organisations. This reflects our current business model, and therefore provides the most accurate picture of our impact in the last 12 months and our expected impact going forward. We received over 200 completed surveys from this group, a response rate of 15%. Interspersed with the data, we have included stories from some of the thousands of managers, entrepreneurs and businesses that have benefited from AMI’s work.

We have also provided data for all participants who have engaged with AMI since mid 2014, including all those who registered for an online course as well as those above who engaged through more structured programmes. We received over 900 completed surveys for this larger group, a 10% response rate.

 

Establishing a ‘Learning Academy’ for 100s of new hires at a fast-growing East African energy company

Off-Grid Electric is a rapidly growing solar-as-a-service company that wanted to establish an in-house ‘Learning Academy’ to on-board hundreds of new entry-level hires, and to build a culture of learning & excellence across the company.

AMI worked with Off-Grid to identify company needs and design a blended learning programme to help staff and new recruits develop the skills required. We conducted intensive training with the client’s in-house facilitators in using the AMI platform, content and approach, then delivered a blended learning programme to over 400 potential new recruits and staff over 12 months, with plans to expand to hundreds more.

A survey of the first 100 participants showed that all participants successfully completed all or part of the AMI Academy programme, over 70% showed significant progress versus a baseline assessment, 98% rated the AMI experience as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ and 98% wanted to learn more with AMI. Off-Grid went on to employ about two thirds of those trained, creating over 250 new jobs during the period of engagement.

 

 

Survey results | Structured programmes

Reach| We have reached over 1,500 individuals through structured blended learning programmes provided to companies and organisations. These vary from employee onboarding and/or learning programmes, to skills development programmes for entrepreneurs and young professionals.

Application|97% of surveyed participants apply what they learn at work.

Performance | 86% reported improved effectiveness at work.

Motivation | 84% reported improved motivation at work

Skills | 72% developed new skills in key management topics

Career progress | 23% reported tangible career progress since engaging with AMI, in the form of improved salary, a promotion or a new job.[1]

[1] This was difficult to measure in this instance since many of the surveyed participants were NOT in fact looking for a new job or career change, since they were engaging through an employee programme

 

Entrepreneurial impact | Among self-described entrepreneurs/business owners, who accounted for 38% of respondents, 85% reported an improvement in operating efficiency since engaging with AMI, 48% acquired new customers 38% increased profit and 33% created new jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to read the AMI Impact survey 2015.