HASTEN: Harnessing SDG-based Agrifood System Transformation through the Empowerment of the Next-Generation of Agrifood Leadership in Africa

Selected enterprises (8–10 per country) will participate in a 5-day in-person incubation workshop, held in each country, designed to strengthen sustainable business practices and support the growth of eco-inclusive and socially driven agripreneurship models. They will receive tailored guidance to develop sustainable business plans and financial strategies, utilizing interactive workbooks and hands-on tools, facilitated by international and national coaches.

The final day of each workshop includes an ecosystem event, where participants will pitch their business models and connect with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and development organizations, opening doors to future collaboration and increased visibility in the startup ecosystem.

In addition, three enterprises per country will be selected for tailored follow-up support focused on scaling their operations and building strategic partnerships.

Applicants need to fully meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the HASTEN business incubation programme:

• The enterprise must be legally registered in compliance with the applicable laws of the country of registration (Lesotho, Rwanda or Sierra Leone) and have been in operation for 1-3 years.
• The enterprise must conform to the definition of micro- small or medium-sized enterprises as defined under the code of their registered country.
• The business model must make a clear and meaningful contribution to the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems.
• The application must be submitted in English, by entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-35.
• Applicants (legal representatives of the enterprises) must not be involved in UN prohibited activities; not have existing defaults on other assistance programmes; not have a direct relative (spouse, child, parent or brother/sister) working at FAO or be a business associates of FAO.
• The enterprise fully complies with the ten principles of the UN Global Compact 

FAO adheres to a set of exclusionary criteria which are applicable to engagements between FAO and the private sector. These criteria refer to business categories and/or practices considered inherently incompatible with values of the UN, its treaties, or other international standards. FAO does not engage, in principle, with entities that:

1. are directly engaged in activities inconsistent with the UN Security Council Sanctions, Resolutions, Conventions (for example, climate, biodiversity, or transnational organized crime, terrorist financing) or other similar measures, including the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards of the International Monetary Fund’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF);
2. are complicit in human rights abuses, tolerate forced or compulsory labour or the use of child labour; 
3. do not align with the UN Global Compact Exclusionary Criteria;  
4. are involved in the production and wholesale distribution of tobacco products, or whose revenues are derived from gambling (except lottery) or pornography; 
5. have systematically failed to demonstrate a commitment to meeting, or failed to meet in practice, the principles of the United Nations, including statements or principles that are consistent with and reflect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Rio Declaration, the International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the United Nations Global Compact, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights or the United Nations’ system-wide zero tolerance policy on all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.
   
   

• Relevance and contribution: The business model should align with principles of sustainable agrifood system transformation and display a clear potential for strengthening national agrifood systems.

• Sustainable impact: The enterprise should explain potential impacts and how it contributes towards sustainable development and integrate and deliver wider tangible social, environmental and economic benefits.

• Local stakeholder cooperation: The programme aims to support enterprises that have a positive impact at the local level. The applications should describe how the activities fit into the local context and sketch engagement with local farmers, producers and consumers.

• Potential for scale up or replication: Applications should show ambitions for continuation after the training, and/or growth of the enterprise or potential for replication elsewhere. Enterprises should have the potential to serve as inspiration to others.

• Suitability to the Incubation programme: It should be clear how the enterprise team's set up, roles and responsibilities as well as past experiences fit the objectives of the programme and why it is interested in mentorship, training and partnership building activities.