In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) women engaging in agri-food entrepreneurial activities is highest among all the African regions. African women entrepreneurs, particularly those leading small to medium enterprises (SMEs), are key drivers of development, inclusive growth, and prosperity, but often find themselves in disadvantaged positions with more restricted access to resources and assets, capacity development, financial services, and social protections than male counterparts. In 2022, the FAO and the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) launched a pilot Accelerator Mentorship Programme to support female entrepreneurs in SSA by addressing key challenges and constraints they face in their businesses. The programme began in October of 2022 and included a cohort of 50 female entrepreneurs. Mentors include business leaders and managers, particularly women, in different fields across the agrifood value chain, from FAO and IAFN members. This session will discuss the successes and learnings of the programme and include mentors and mentees perspectives.

This session will highlight a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to accelerate agrifood progress and support female entrepreneurs in SSA. SMEs in SSA make up 90 percent of the private sector and contribute more than 80 percent of jobs in Africa.  With many female-led SMEs in this region and the challenges that they face, it is critical to empower females to address and overcome these challenges to accelerate transformation to a more inclusive food system. The learnings from this programme will help identify best practices and opportunities to advance the programme, and possibly other similar programmes.