Applications are currently being accepted for the AUDA-NEPAD Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator Program 2027 for African-owned/led Growth-Stage Companies. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About AUDA-NEPAD Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator Program
The Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator (HGSA-A) is a COMESA regional initiative funded by the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by AUDA-NEPAD that supports growth-stage agribusinesses delivering scalable, innovative, and impact-driven solutions across Africa’s agricultural value chain.
Benefits of AUDA-NEPAD Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator Program
- Context-specific Advisory Services: Tailored advisory services designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities in your market and industry sector
- Cross-border Regulatory & Trade Facilitation Under AfCFTA: Navigate African Continental Free Trade Area opportunities with expert guidance on regulations and cross-border trade facilitation
- Investment Readiness & Fundraising Support: Potential for accessing HGSA-A investment funding to support business growth.
- Matching to Strategic Partners: Connect with regional buyers, investors, mentors and other strategic partners to accelerate your business growth
- Post-Acceleration Support : Continued support and guidance even after completing the acceleration program to ensure sustained growth and success
Selected companies receive:
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Context Specific Advisory support
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Access to Regional and Global markets
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Investment Readiness and Capital linkage
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Technical Assistance and Mentorship from sector experts
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Networking opportunities with peers, buyers, and investors
AUDA-NEPAD Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator Program Requirements
- Legally Registered and Operational: Be legally registered and operational in a COMESA member state.
- African-Owned or Led Growth-Stage Company: Be African-owned or led growth-stage company.
- Women-Owned/Led & Youth-Led Preference: Strong preference to women-owned or led enterprises (70%) and youth-owned or led (18-35) enterprises (30%).
- High-Potential Agribusiness Value-Chains: Operate within inclusive high-potential agribusiness value-chains such as high value crops (excluding primary production). This includes sectors such input supply, agro-processing, value addition, commercialisation, import substitution, aggregation, logistics, distribution, market access services, digital agriculture, and climate-smart inputs.
- Proven and Innovative Business Model: Demonstrate a proven and innovative business model, with an annual turnover close to USD 100,000 (this will vary from one country to the other).
- Regional or International Market Access Potential: Demonstrate potential for accessing regional or international markets and clear scalability prospects eg. through established or emerging export linkages, partnerships across the COMESA region, proven demand beyond local markets, a replicable business model adaptable to different contexts, or a clear strategy for regional expansion.
- Audited Financial Accounts and Compliance: Have audited financial accounts for at least the last 3 years and basic compliance structures.
- Inclusive Participation: Prioritize inclusive participation, including the employment or service of youth, women, people with disabilities and refugees, as well as contribute to food security and nutrition goals.
- HGSA-A Development Objectives: Contribute to HGSA-A’s broader development objectives of driving sustainable agribusiness growth that promotes Africa’s stability and prosperity.
- Green Growth Promotion: Actively pursue and promote Green growth (in line with the OECD Green Growth Strategy), applying climate change mitigation or adaptation techniques and sustainable agricultural practices eg. resources-efficient processes, renewable energy products, waste reduction and recycling or sustainable packaging).
Eligible Businesses
The Accelerator supports companies operating across the agricultural value chain involved in:
- Input supply
- Aggregation
- Processing
- Storage
- Logistics
- Distribution
- Market access
- Digital agriculture
- Value addition
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
18 November, 2026
Opportunity Application
View details of
AUDA-NEPAD Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator Program
Apply for AUDA-NEPAD Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator Program
