AGRA Women Agripreneurs Awards has officially launched the call for applications for the 2025 Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA). This prestigious award recognizes female agripreneurs who demonstrate exceptional innovation and business excellence in agricultural value chains. In addition to celebrating their achievements, the awards offer grants of up to $300,000.
Since 2021, the AGRA Women Agripreneurs Awards have been presented in three categories: Young Female Agripreneur, which honors women under 35 who have shown innovation and leadership in agribusiness; Female Agriculture Tech Innovator, recognizing those driving technological advancements in the sector; and Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise, awarded to female-led businesses that enhance the economic value and appeal of agricultural products. The competition’s overall champion is named the Grand Prize Winner.
Applications will close on 31 May 2025, with the winning agripreneurs being unveiled during the Africa Food Systems Forum to be held in Dakar Senegal this September 2025.
To be eligible, businesses must operate within an agricultural or agribusiness value chain, be legally registered in an African Union country, and be at least 51% owned and managed by women who are citizens of one of the 55 African countries. Registrations are done through the link below: https://waya.awardsplatform.com/
Speaking at the launch, AGRA‘s Director for Gender, Youth, and Inclusiveness, Ms. Nana Amoah said, “We received over 1,500 applications from women across 42 African countries in 2024. As we open the awards again this year, we expect to receive at least 500 applications in each category and continue our efforts to honor the unrelentless efforts, creative ideas, and outstanding leadership by women in the agri-food sector”.
WAYA is an initiative of AGRA’s VALUE4HER, a continental program that is aimed at strengthening women’s agribusiness enterprises and enhancing their voice and advocacy across Africa.
The launch was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Senior representatives from the institutions, including the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Mr Haile Gabriel Abebe, recognized the significance of the occasion in bringing together stakeholders from diverse sectors, including government, civil society, and the private sector, to address gender equality and women’s economic empowerment concerns. They called on collaborative and strategic action from all stakeholders to harness women’s economic potential, drive inclusive growth, and embed sustainability across Africa’s evolving agri-food landscape.
During the launch, participants engaged in interactive masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions that facilitated meaningful exchanges of best practices. They highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for women to fully participate in economic, social, and political spheres and emphasized the need for evidence-based interventions to address gender disparities.
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