INVEST IN AFRICA AND AFRICAN WOMEN AGRIBUSINESS NETWORK (AWAN AFRIKA) ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE TRADE FOR WOMEN IN AGRIBUSINESS DURING AND POST COVID

Invest in Africa (IIA) entered a partnership with African Women Agribusiness Network (AWAN Afrika) to accelerate trade by enhancing the competitiveness of women in Agribusiness.

The partnership aims at supporting the growth of Women in Agribusiness by:

•  Closing the access to markets gap by creating market linkages and improving value chain integration
• Targeted capacity building to address current skills gaps to increase their chances of success
• Improving access to finance
• Research and advocacy to engage stakeholders and direction action towards supporting Women In Agribusiness

Leveraging on the technologies created, the two partnering organizations will share resources and synergies towards achieving objectives and will extend opportunities across their networks. This partnership marks a new horizon by opening new avenues for cooperation and collaboration in the support to the growth of Women led agribusinesses at a time when Women have taken the hardest hit as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

AWAN Afrika’s goal is to reach 15 Million women and youth in agribusiness throughout the continnet by December 2021 AWAN Afrika will provide a platform for those MSMEs to access information on financial inclusion market access, trade and agritechnology. This partnership is one amonst many that will in collaboration with Invest in Africa, will contribute to achieving that goal.

IIA’s goal is to support African SMEs to win $1bn worth of contracts and create 250,000 jobs by 2025, and together with AWAN-AFRIKA, the partnership will strengthen them to address constraints that hinder women in agribusiness to access new opportunities and markets in trade. This partnership builds on the synergies between the two organizations in working with women in agribusiness to maximize gains across various value chains in key sectors of the economy.

Both organisations strive to create an empowering environment for women through enterprise development and wealth creation to reduce the potential imbalances created by economic expansion. This is in line with the SDG goals 5, 8, and 10 to reduce gender inequality and increase inclusion in the society by supporting the creation of decent work and economic growth, which have been proven drivers of vitality and prosperity.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Beatrice Gakuba, Executive Director African Women Agribusiness Network (AWAN -Afrika), Secretariat said “Through this partnership with IIA, we aim to impact 1 million women and youth SMEs in Kenya and look forward to accelerating the growth and inclusion of women across value chains and supply chains as we address their constraints. Africa is ready for trade with Africa, our network spans across Africa and we welcome collaboration in driving social economic growth.

Commenting on the signing of the partnership, Wangechi Muriuki, the Country Director Invest in Africa-Kenya, said, “Through this partnership with AWAN-Afrika, we hope to build our synergies to support women and ensure that we have a ready pipeline of Women in Agribusiness that will be ready for trade in the wake of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area”.