GAIA 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.
Do you have a big idea that has been piloted successfully in West or North Africa?
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
We are looking for institutions and business enterprises with innovations spanning the research-to-commercialization continuum, and those addressing business model re-invention.
Innovations should contribute towards transforming agricultural practices for improved incomes and food security for ALL, including women. Successful AgTech innovations should demonstrate a clear focus on bridging the gender gap in African agriculture. They should be scalable across multiple geographies in sub-Saharan Africa.
Eligibility
AWARD GAIA is looking for enterprises that:
- Serve the agricultural or allied sectors;
- Demonstrate clear benefits to groups that are often marginalized 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 funding to commercialize or scale.
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. 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.
To apply, please complete this application form; for any enquiries, contact: Arielle.molino@intellecap.com or D.onyoni@cgiar.org. Submissions will be evaluated on a rolling basis until 9th March 2017. Early submissions are encouraged, and winners will be notified on 13th March 2017