Supporting African

Agroecological
Entrepreneurs

Results of Phase One

Joint Action Research Project by
The Agroecology Fund &
Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa

June 17, 2021

Take a moment to think about your
favorite African dish

• How does it smell and taste?

• What are its ingredients?
• Who cooks it?
• What memories does it evoke?
• Why do you love it?

Please share the name of the dish in your

local language in the chat
Purpose

To research and analyze existing African

Agroecological Entrepreneurs (AEEs) and
service providers (e.g. non-profits, public
funds, investors, banks, and technical
assistance entities) to understand their role
and relationship to agroecology movements
and markets.
Questions

What do entrepreneurs need to

create an enabling environment for
agroecology?

What are the required

areas of financial and
non-financial support?
I. Ways Forward
II. Research
III. Findings
 Provide small loans and support
for smallholder famers to produce,
process, and market their
#1 production and to create value-
Territorial added businesses for local
consumption in local & regional
Markets markets.
#2 Promote government school
feeding programs as a
Procurement stronger way to stimulate local
Programs markets, health, biodiversity
and entrepreneurship than
export crops.
 Invest in cooperative
associations of farmers and other
#3 entrepreneurs to scale
Cooperatives aggregation and processing of
food for stable production,
participatory governance, and
profit sharing.
 Convene AEEs with innovative service providers
and donors to:
1) discuss how agroecology and
#4 Convenings entrepreneurship connect,
2) identify strategies to support local food
production and cooperatives,
3) develop new partnerships and ways of
working.
 Organize entrepreneurs to
advocate for the purchase of
#5 agroecological, biodiverse, local
Business food. Buy local, eat local.
Differentiate from climate smart,
Association conservation, or other simplified
approaches.
 Support agroecological
entrepreneurs with business
#6 Accelerator/ assistance, access to finance,
mentors and peer networks to
Incubator grow their businesses.
I. Ways Forward
II. Research
III. Findings
Governance Guiding Group
• Million Belay, AFSA
• Daniel Moss, AEF
• John Wilson, AFSA
• Charles Mulozi Olweny, AFSA
• Jen Astone, Integrated Capital Investing

Advisory Group
• Andrew Bennie, African Centre for Biodiversity, South Africa
• Sharlene Brown, Croatan Institute, United States
• Charles Dhewa, Knowledge Transfer Africa, Zimbabwe
• Frank Eyhorn, Biovision Foundation, Switzerland
• Mamadou Goïta, Institute for Research and Promotion of Alternatives in Development,
Mali
• Rex Raimond, Transformational Investing in Food Systems Initiative, United States
 Researchers

Researchers Co-Leaders
• Charles Mulozi Olweny, AFSA
Consultant Teams
• Kenya Country Study
Gathuru Mburu, lead

& Advisors • Jen Astone, AEF

Wanjiru Kamau

• Zimbabwe Country Study

Team Members Billy Mukamuri, lead
• Abbot Ntwali, AFSA Tarisayi Pedzisa
27 People
• Famara Diédiou, AFSA
12 African • Simon Bukenya, Intern • West Africa Regional Study
Chaka Uzondu, Ghana, lead
countries • Cheikh Mamour Diouf, Intern Korka Sall, Senegal
6 Women Daouda Drabo, Burkina Faso
Mamadou Boukari, Togo

• East Africa Regional Study

Michael Odhiambo, Kenya, lead
Yussuf Nsengiyumva, Rwanda
Elizabeth Kharono, Uganda
Wilbard Mkama Kakene, Tanzania
Data Collected
• Agroecological Entrepreneurs 160-180
• Service Providers 60-70
• Policy Makers 19
• Countries 19
Reports & Data
(AFSA website)
Briefing Papers
Country & Regional Reports
• #1 Enabling Environment for Agroecological Enterprises
in Africa • Kenya Country Report
• #2 Service Providers for African Agripreneurs and • Zimbabwe Country Report
Smallholder Farmers
• #3 The Case for African Agroecopreneurs and Territorial • West Africa Regional Report
Markets • West Africa Policy Brief
• East Africa Regional Report
Case Studies
• Ghana – Songtaar Tietaa Enterprise
• East Africa Policy Brief
• Senegal ­– AJAC / NSS Senegal • Summary Report
• Togo - Experta Togo Agro
• Uganda ­– Busaino Fruits & Herbs Presentations (PowerPoint & Recording)
• Zimbabwe – Urban Farming Association of Zimbabwe • AFSA Markets Conference October 2020
• Rwanda – Kigali Farm Limited (to be confirmed)
• Oxford Real Farming Conference - January 2021
• Tanzania –Guavay Company Limited
I. Ways Forward
II. Research
III. Findings
1. Agroecological
Entrepreneurs are Many &
Diverse
Farmer-growers
Cooperatives
Aggregators & Processors
Urban backyard gardeners
Private companies
NGOs / non-profits
Varied Activities
Production and Aggregation
Processing
Farm Inputs
Farm Infrastructure
Foraging
Cooking
Specialty Foods
Revenue & Years In Business
2. Service Providers include:
investors, accelerators, banks, technical assistance providers,
NGOS….

Challenge - Investors focus on Opportunity - Innovative Service

increasing productivity & income as Providers are funding many
success metrics. businesses under $200,000.

Challenge - Investors do not Opportunity - Innovative Service

differentiate between agribusinesses Providers that are successful work
that are agroecological or not. with multiple partners.
3. Innovator Gap

Lack of finance between $5,000 - $200,000

80% of AAEs self-finance from personal & group savings, 38% grants, 21%
bank loans
Barriers – bank interest rates of 30%, difficult loan requirements, perception of
agriculture & food loans as high-risk
Donors launch pilots but do not support the growth stage of businesses
4. Territorial Markets are Key

AAEs provide fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, meat, eggs and milk through territorial markets

Territorial markets are resilient, local and relationship-based

Territorial markets are an underappreciated source of knowledge and expertise

Territorial markets don't differentiate agroecological production and we lack data on their demand

COVID has refocused attention on these "informal" markets where producers and consumers are
connecting
5. Agroecologial Entrepreneurship is
Multidimensional
Definition
Linkage of sustainable alternatives to
industrial production systems and holistic
land management
AND
Closer connection between growers and
eaters through territorial markets with the
participation of farmers & communities in
systems of governance, fair share of profits
and co-creation of knowledge and benefits.
6. Women and Youth are Central in
Agroecological Enterprises

Women and youth have the most to gain from their success and participate
strongly
Youth are seizing these opportunities and innovating in markets

More intentionality to bringing in women’s & youth voices critical

Proactive measures - quota-based programming, extra support due to caregiving

activities, attention to land tenure issues
7. Unsupportive Policy Environment
Challenges - Organic certification, regulations, business registration, lack of
infrastructure
Challenges - Subsidies for industrial fertilizers, high taxes on imported equipment

Challenges - Corporate support and influence over industrial agriculture & export
policies
Many policies are linked to historical approaches in colonial period focused on exports
and monocropping
Emerging positive policies by governments cited in studies
Thank You to the Funders,
Researchers and Participants

Supporters

In-kind contributions from:

• Agroecological Entrepreneurs
• Service Providers
• Research Consultants