2017 round of Gender in Agribusiness Investments in Africa (GAIA) competition

  • 25th April 2017
  • by secretary
Paepard
3-5 April 2017. ACCRA, Ghana. With support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) project, through the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Initiative launched its 2017 round of Gender in Agribusiness Investments in Africa (GAIA) competition.

The competition entailed a rigorous selection process that saw over 200 applications. The selected 31 winners from 18 countries gathered in Accra to strengthen their business skills and pitch ideas to investors. A group of agribusiness entrepreneurs from across West and North Africa participated in an intensive entrepreneurship program, and then on April 5 these entrepreneurs presented their research and innovations to potential investors. In attendance were USAID/Ghana Mission Director, Andrew Karas and AWARD Director, Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg.

The 2017 round of GAIA competitions was funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of its High Five strategy, which includes Feed Africa, an initiative to transform Africa’s agricultural sector for enhanced and inclusive economic growth.

“GAIA addresses the need for inclusive innovation systems in agricultural research and development by ensuring the visibility, commercialization and scaling up of gender responsive agricultural innovations.” Dr. Basil Jones, AfDB’s Gender Policy and Program Coordinator 

Related:
1 April 2017. Ghana has entered into agreements with two foreign investment companies in the agricultural sector. The two agricultural organizations; African Agribusiness Incubators Network and the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development have signed an MOU to intensify women’s participation in Agriculture in Ghana. According to the two institutions, talks have begun with the Ministries of Trade as well as Employment and Labour Relations to best implement their agenda of including more women in the agricultural sector.


Source: PAEPARD FEED

Share