A cohort of 50 female entrepreneurs operating in the agrifood sector in the Sub-Saharan Africa region were selected to participate in the first year of the customised programme, which started in October 2022.

Participants were selected from an open call for expression of interest, by a panel of experts from FAO and IAFN, and the programme mentors.

CONNECT Portal will be regularly featuring the stories of the women who took part in the accelerator programme. You can read them here:

• Part I: Emmastella Gakuo, Fatou Manneh, Judith Marera
• Part II: Kudzai Sigauke, Lilian Mpama, Corlia van Dyk
• Part III: Ogola Lois Kange, Oluebube Akah, Rhoda Bianca Mkumbwa
• Part IV: Silahlekelwe Mbofana, Thokozani Chimasula, Maimbolwa Mooto
• Part V: Vera Osei-Bonsu, Célia Chabi, Feddy Tesha, Nishimwe Esther 
• Part VI: Aminata Karankay, Chidinma Ezeh, Janefrances Nkiruka Ighosewe
• Part VII: Dorah Momanyi, Maria Shipapo, Edith Mpoto, Nadia Niwemugeni, Esther Unathi Sihlahla 
• Part VIII: Damilola Adeyemi, Kekeletso Motopi Matli, Konan Jeanne-Armelle, Lea Babite
• Part IX: Lilian Uwintwali, Lynnet Nakidde, Marcelline Koutatouka, Oluyemisi Iranloye
• Part X: Margret Paida Moyo, Pauline Otila, Precious Awesome, Rabecca Atuhaire 
• Part XI: Rahel Heruy, Rose Kennedy, Vanessa Aisha Limann, Yolande Nankeng

List of mentees:

• Adèle Nkagha MBA - Coopérative de production agricoles nno (coopraNNO)
• Aline Gaju - Germin8 Rwanda
• Ama Sangare - ConfiSol
• Aminata Karanka - Sorogbema Agricultural Company
• Célia Chabi - KIEL BIEN-ÊTRE 
• Chidinma Ezeh - FarmCAS
• Corlia van Dyk - Taste Me Curry Fish
• Damilola Adeyemi - D-Olivette Enterprise
• Désirée Nguekadji - Biokadji
• Dorah Kwamboka Momanyi - iPoP Africa
• Edith Mpoto - Nkhotakota Steadfast Cooperations for Youth (NS4Y)
• Emmastella Gakuo - Savanna Circuit 
• Esther Unathi Sihlahla - Pella Food Garden Cooperative
• Fatou Manneh - Jelmah Herbella
• Feddy Tesha - Profate Investments limited 
• Inès Mano - Nessa Bio Cosmétics and Care
• Janefrances Nkiruka Ighosewe - Something Lite Greek Yogurt
• Joy Munthali - Tawonga General Suppliers
• Judith Marera - Lanforce Trading (Pvt) Ltd T/A Lanforce Energy (Pvt) Ltd
• Kekeletso Motopi Matli - Leseli Development Resources Centre
• Konan Jeanne Armelle Manhounou - Biosave-ci
• Kudzai  Sigauke - Janna Fresh Produce
• Lea Babite - LEPAG-Boyoma SARL
• Lilian Mpama - Lilies Innovations
• Lilian Uwintwali - MAHWI TECH
• Lynnet Nakidde - Bioferilizer Centre For Youth Empowermen
• Maimbolwa Mooto - Mooto farms limited
• Maria Shipapo - MIST Agricultural Laboratory (MISTAL)
• Marcelline Koutatouka - Société MkTOT0 Sarl 
• Margret Paida Moyo - Little Blackwood farm
• Nadia Niwemugeni - Cupper Beans Ltd. 
• Nankeng Yolande - Extrait Végétal Sarl 
• Nishimwe Esther - Pristine life Ltd
• Ogola Lois Kange - Smiley'z Mobile Kitchen Limited
• Olapeju Umah - MYFOODANGELS
• Oluebube Akah - Aga's Wholesome Foods Limited  
• Oluwaseun Sangoleye - Baby Grubz
• Oluyemisi Iranloye - Psaltry International Company Ltd.
• Pauline Otila - Apiculture Venture Limited
• Precious Awesome - Awesome God Agro Allied Industries Limited
• Rabecca Atuhaire - Agrisensor technologies
• Rahel Heruy - Damascene Essential Oil Processing PLC  
• Rhoda Mkumbwa - African Women in Fish Trade Network
• Rose Kennedy - EPROKE HOLDINGS
• Silahlekelwe Mbofana - Malila Investments T/A Tarima Vegetables
• Thokozani Chimasula - Tac-Maz Sustainable Ventures
• Vanessa Aisha Limann - Vanelim Enterprise
• Vera Osei-Bonsu - Eat Smart Foods
• ZE épouse Nlate Mengue Pulchérie Marie Charlotte - Emergenceplus

Mentors include successful/high-profile business leaders and managers, particularly women, and a panel of experts in different fields across the agrifood value chain, from FAO and IAFN members. 

List of mentors:

• Adrienne Mollor - Ocean Spray Cooperative in Southeastern Massachusetts 
• Alima Bawah - Cowtribe
• Anne Sarfo - Annes Perfections 
• Ashley Mutiso - Future Africa Forum 
• Bertille Fages – Nuffield International
• Celestine Habiba – Habiba Natural Care
• Césarie Kantarama - INGABO Syndicate Farmers Union 
• Christine Daugherty - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 
• Donna Rosa - Efour Enterprises LLC
• Edith Wheatland - Rockland Farms 
• Eilene Bowland – Leprino Foods
• Eunice Mwongera - Hillside Green
• Hazel Awino - Agri Innovation Hub Kenya 
• Hellen Oyare – Helena Agspace Limited
• Jelica Kujundzic - CAFI - Commodity and Freight Integrators DMCC
• Jenny Du – Apeel Sciences
• Judith Bryans - Dairy UK 
• Julia Friederike Harnal - BASF
• Kantha Shelke - Corvus Blue LLC / Johns Hopkins University 
• Karimi Thuranira – OCP Africa
• Kate Dempsey - Aqua License 
• Langelihle Simela - Absa 
• Lorena Basso - Basso Semillas 
• Lucy Muchoki - Pan African Agribusiness and Agroindustry Consortium (PANACC) 
• Lynda McDonald - TetraLaval International 
• Mamy Ingabire Muziga - Charis Unmanned Aerial Solutions Ltd 
• Margaret Munene - Palmhouse Dairy Limited 
• Martine Koopman - Smart Resultancy 
• Mary Ann Sayoc - East West Seed International 
• Monica Githige - BoP Innovation Centre Limited 
• Onigbanjo Oluwatoyin - Augustsecrets Ltd 
• Patience Koku - Replenish Farms
• Rahmat Eyinfunjowo - Nourishing Africa 
• Rita Odero - GroFin 
• Robynne Anderson – International Agrifood Network (IAFN)
• Ruramiso Mashumba - Mnandi Africa 
• Ruxandra-Valentina Florescu - COFCO International 
• Severine Jeanneau - Corteva
• Sindhu Abbasi – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Sophie Goudard – Emerging ag inc
• Su Kahumbu - iCow 
• Tatiana De Paula Campos - Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters 
• Tenemba Anna Samake – MBC Africa, ShEquity
• Virginie Ducrot - Bayer
• Yaa Kusi Binka - Pepper Delight Ghana