Empowering Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs: FAO Launches Fourth Edition of the Accelerator Mentorship Program for Women-Led SMEs
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN), officially launched the fourth edition of the Accelerator Mentorship Programme for Women-Led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa during the 2025 FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome. This initiative continues to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and inclusive rural development across the African continent.
Carlos Watson, Chief of the Private Sector Engagement Unit, at the FAO Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU), described the programme as a reflection of FAO’s dedication to creating an enabling environment where women-led enterprises can thrive through innovation and partnership.
The programme’s collaborative approach, supported by IAFN, will run from October 2025 to June 2026. This fourth edition will support 50 women entrepreneurs as mentees from across Africa, providing mentorship, business coaching, and access to FAO’s eLearning Academy. Its blended model promotes knowledge exchange, peer learning, and networking, enabling participants to sustainably expand their enterprises and impact their communities.
Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, emphasized that “When women are supported, they lead transformation,” urging continued efforts to dismantle barriers through gender-responsive financing and digital solutions.
Mentees and mentors of the programme shared inspiring stories of impact. Amie Bangura, CEO and Founder of Mama Afro Ltd in Sierra Leone, shared her journey from Europe back to her home country, where she now cultivates over 500 acres of rice and vegetables and supplies food to 310 schools. “When you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” Bangura said. “This programme gives us the tools, mentorship, and confidence to scale our businesses and transform our communities.”
From Kenya, Faith Mumo, Co-founder and CEO of Iviani Farm, shared how she and her team transformed post-harvest losses into opportunity by using steam-drying technology to process fruits and vegetables. Today, Iviani Farm works with over 10,000 farmers across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, creating rural jobs and export opportunities. “This mentorship is a steppingstone for our next phase of growth,” Mumo said. “It will help us build stronger operational structures and meaningful partnerships.”
Eunice Mwongera, CEO and Founder of Hillside Green, and a mentor in the programme since its inception, reflected on the mutual learning and impact of mentorship: “It’s not just mentees who learn, mentors grow too. Together, we blend experience with innovation, helping each other rise.”
Since its inception, the programme has supported over 150 women entrepreneurs impacting more than 750,000 people across Africa through knowledge exchange, job creation, value addition, and sustainable agri-business innovation.
In closing, Fatouma Seid, Deputy Director of the PSU, celebrated the new cohort and reaffirmed that the initiative’s reach extends far beyond its participants, recognizing the ripple effects of women’s leadership on entire communities across Africa.
With this new edition, FAO and IAFN aim to deepen their collaboration, expand mentorship networks, and accelerate women-led transformation in the agri-food sector.
