Do you have a big idea that could transform agriculture and agribusiness in West or North Africa?

Gender Agribusiness Investments for Africa is now accepting applications from institutions and enterprises for the 2017 AWARD AgTech Innovation Challenge for West and North Africa. GAIA has been launched by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) to increase agribusiness investments in technological and business model innovations that help bridge the gender gap in African agriculture and particularly those that enhance the positive participation of African women in agricultural value chains across the continent.

“Women face gender-specific constraints that reduce their productivity and contributions to agricultural research, development, and production. This has negative consequences for their economic empowerment, and the wellbeing of our families, communities, and countries” – Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Fmr Vice President and Special Envoy on Gender, African Development Bank.

The GAIA award ensures visibility, commercialization and scaling up of agricultural research innovations (AgTech) that respond to the particular needs and priorities of women across agricultural value chains, with a particular focus on innovations by African women innovators. 

The top 25 companies will participate in an in-depth boot camp, and then be showcased to investors, incubators, and other support organizations in Accra, Ghana from March 29-31, 2017.

Enterprises from the following countries in West and North Africa are eligible to apply:

- West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
- North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia

Eligibility Criteria:

AWARD GAIA is looking for enterprises that:

1. Serve the agricultural or allied sectors;
2. Demonstrate clear benefits to groups that are often marginalized in agriculture including women smallholder farmers and other women value chain actors
3. Have an innovative technology or business model;
4. Have a clear for-profit business model with high potential for scale;
5. Have some proof of concept on the ground, conducted pilots, and are preferably generating revenues;
6. Are seeking funding to commercialize or scale.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants can apply by submitting the application form.

Deadline: March 9, 2017

Winners will be notified on 13th March 2017

Download the Call for Applications