Apply for 2017 AWARD for Agricultural Technology Innovations

The efficiency of African agriculture is hampered by a persistent gender gap. Gender in Agribusiness Investments for Africa (GAIA) ensures visibility, commercialization, and scaling up of agricultural research innovations (AgTech) with the potential to bridge the gender gap in African agriculture by focusing on agribusinesses that demonstrate clear benefits to groups that are often marginalized in agriculture including women smallholder farmers and other women value chain actors.

GAIA is now accepting applications from institutions and enterprises for the 2017 AWARD AgTech Innovation Challenge for Southern and Central Africa. GAIA was 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.

Do you have a big idea that has been piloted successfully in West or North Africa?

Central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Madagascar

Southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome & Principe, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Eligibility

AWARD GAIA is looking for enterprises that:

  • Serve the agriculture or allied sectors;
  • Demonstrate clear benefits to groups that are often marginalised in agriculture including women smallholder farmers and other women value chain actors;
  • Have an innovative technology or business model;
  • Have a clear for-profit business model with high potential for scale;
  • Have some proof of concept on the ground, conducted pilots and are preferably generating revenues;
  • Are seeking funds to commercialise or scale.

The top 25 companies will participate in an in-depth boot camp and then be showcased to investors, incubators, and other support organisations in Lusaka, Zambia from April 10-12, 2017.  The goal of this challenge is to increase agribusiness investments in technological and business model innovations that have the potential to help close the gender gap in African agriculture. Here is the application procedure:

  • Apply Here
  • For any enquiries, contact: [email protected] or [email protected].
    Submissions will be evaluated on a rolling basis until 16th March 2017.
  • Early submissions are encouraged, and winners will be notified on 20th March 2017.
Image Source: Award Fellowships