Client: Partners in Food Solutions (PFS)

Programme Year: 2022

Participant Profile: Human capital service providers supporting fresh graduates and emerging leaders

Course: Running Effective Mentoring Programmes (REMP)

Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening food security and economic development across Africa. By leveraging corporate expertise, PFS supports local entrepreneurs and graduates building Africa’s food systems. While their mentoring programme had promise, it was held back by inconsistency, mismatched expectations, and unclear processes.

Mentors and mentees entered the programme without adequate preparation. Dropout rates were high, engagement was low, and programme leaders lacked tools to manage complex dynamics or measure success.

In 2022, PFS partnered with The Human Edge through the Running Effective Mentoring Programmes (REMP) course to transform their mentoring programme into a structured, high-impact leadership development initiative.

Challenges Before REMP

• Lack of Structure No shared framework led to inconsistent delivery, unclear roles and frequent misalignment.
• Inadequate Preparation Onboarding varied across cohorts, leading to confusion and weak relationships.
• Difficulty Navigating Relationship Dynamics Programme leaders didn’t have the tools to support mentors and mentees through common challenges.

What Changed After REMP

• Enhanced Programme Structure Standardised onboarding and clear guidelines created consistency across cohorts and improved overall management.
• Mentoring as a Leadership Culture PFS integrated mentoring more intentionally into professional development—leading to deeper commitment and engagement.
• Stronger Relationships Participants now enter the programme with aligned expectations and confidence, improving outcomes for both mentors and mentees.

Impact

• 40% Improvement in Retention With better structure and clearer expectations, more participants stayed engaged to completion.
• 135+ Mentees Supported Since implementing REMP learnings, over 135 mentees have benefited from clearer goal-setting and stronger support.
• More Empowered Programme Managers REMP equipped PFS leaders with frameworks and strategies to manage mentoring at scale and with confidence.

“The REMP course brought the structure and clarity we needed to enhance our mentoring programme. Our mentors and mentees are now more engaged, and the quality of relationships has significantly improved.”

— Yvonne Akorfa Hormenoo, Human Capital Services Lead, PFS