Deadline: 25 April 2018
Feed the Future is currently accepting applications for its Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs prize to access investment advice, business analysis, and other services to take their agribusinesses to the next level.
This prize will help women take their businesses to the next level by providing winners with acceleration services including investment readiness consulting, investor matchmaking support, and business analysis.
This prize will help woman-led enterprises access capital to scale improved agricultural products and services in smallholder markets. The selected finalists will receive investment readiness consulting services and investor matchmaking support.
Prize Information
Up to two companies will be awarded a package of technical assistance valued at $50,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be a woman-owned or operated (i.e. women in leadership positions including founder, CEO, president, or managing director) commercial enterprise that is selling products or services in smallholder agricultural or livestock markets. Companies must be headquartered in a sub Saharan African country where USAID currently operates (Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Regional, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, East Africa Regional, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sahel Regional, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Southern Africa Regional, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa Regional, Zambia, Zimbabwe).
- Companies should have viable business models and incorporate and ultimately benefit smallholder farmers in at least one the following areas:
- Increased access to agricultural inputs (e.g. seeds, fertilizer, crop protection products, equipment), technology (e.g. information and communication technology, cold chain logistics, mechanization, irrigation), financial and/or risk management services, and/or better agricultural practices.
- Expansion of market access through improved services by offtakers or processors.
- Applicants must demonstrate that the company is in a position to take on external investment and sustainably scale significant development impacts for smallholder farmers, such as productivity increases, increased income, reduction in postharvest losses, and/or expanded market access
- All applicant businesses must be legally recognized entities in the country of operation and able to provide documented proof of legal status. Applicant businesses should have been in operation for more than one year with demonstrated potential for commercial viability and seeking external investment. Businesses currently or previously supported by Partnering for Innovation will not be considered.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted via e-mail at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs Prize.