The Food and Agriculture Organization  (FAO) and the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) have partnered to launch an accelerator programme that will support female entrepreneurs in Africa. The pilot programme will focus on providing mentorship to women entrepreneurs in a bid to address business constraints faced by women.

Accelerator Programme Objective

A team of global experts will provide one-on-one mentoring to a select group of women entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa as part of the Mentorship Programme. The programme is designed to encourage participants-panel interactions for the purposes of learning. It will also provide them with the tools required to scale their enterprises and adapt to the continuously-changing marketplace.

The program’s specific objectives are to give chosen female entrepreneurs:

  1. Access to a one-to-one mentorship/ coaching opportunity.
  2. A selection of accessible alternatives for a sequence of tailored training to improve their hard skills.
  3. Opportunities for peer learning, networking, and knowledge exchange.
  4. Links or access to tools created by the FAO, IAFN, and other organisations.

Programme Components

The following elements will be part of the accelerator mentoring programme:

  • One-on-One Mentoring:  Participants will be matched with a mentor, or expert in their area of need, and will receive expert coaching and consultation for a period of six months.
  • Capacity development and tools – Customized training targeted at improving hard skills: According to her interests, requirements, and priorities, each participant will be required to finish 2 of the required courses. They will also be asked to choose at least 2 of the optional ones. Additionally, participants will have access to a huge selection of tools and knowledge resources.
  • Workshops & Interaction with Global Leaders:  Participants will engage in knowledge-exchange sessions, peer learning, and networking with each other as well as invited experts. This will be done through combined workshop sessions with subject-matter experts, allowing for interactive moments.

The IAFN will also offer advice and special courses on how to secure funding, through the creation of sound business plans and bankable ideas. The selected women entrepreneurs will be able to access recorded workshop sessions via a password-protected dedicated section of the FAO CONNECT Portal. If a person has missed a session or wants to go back to them later, they will be able to do so.

Furthermore, there will be interactive time with business mentors and executives following the end of each class.

Programme Graduation Ceremony

A virtual graduation ceremony, hosted by FAO and IAFN will take place at the end of the programme and participants will get certificates of participation.

Visibility

The selected participants are expected to provide the programme team with short video clips demonstrating their enterprises and their programme participation experiences. The FAO CONNECT Portal will compile and publish these videos.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Sub-Saharan Africa-based women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs)  in the agrifood sector.
  • A panel of experts from the FAO and IAFN as well as the programme mentors will be tasked with selecting participants.
  • Applications will only be received from SMEs with operations in Africa.

Disclaimer: Participation in this programme does not automatically guarantee sales or loans for your business. The programme’s goal is to give you access to knowledge products and tools that will help you scale your business.

50 female entrepreneurs who work in the agri-food industry in Sub-Saharan Africa will be chosen to take part in the program’s inaugural year. The accelerator programme will kickoff in October 2022.

Deadline for Application

August 29, 2022 at 6pm CET

Applicants will be notified by September 30, 2022, as to the success of their submission.

Interested female entrepreneurs should click here to apply.

 

 

 

There is still some time to apply for the La Carica Delle 101 free mentorship programme for African female fashion entrepreneurs