Youth-owned agribusinesses in Africa face numerous structural challenges that hinder their growth and resilience. These challenges include limited access to affordable finance, insecure land tenure, and weak market linkages, which often prevent them from scaling beyond subsistence. Climate variability and environmental degradation further increase the risks for young entrepreneurs, many of whom operate on thin margins and lack safety nets.
The CGIAR Scaling for Impact science programme seeks to overcome these barriers by developing and adapting evidence-based innovations. These innovations range from climate-smart agricultural practices and digital advisory tools to inclusive financing models and market-bundling strategies. By integrating science into scaling pathways and co-designing solutions with local partners, the programme helps youth agripreneurs mitigate risks, access growth opportunities, and compete more effectively within sustainable agri-food systems.
As part of its efforts, the programme engaged Africa’s brightest young minds at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Aligned with the theme “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation,” it invited ecosystem disruptors to participate in the ScaleUp Africa: Youth Innovation Challenge. The initiative focused on regional representation, featuring nine youth-led agribusinesses from Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. Participants pitched innovative solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing agri-food challenges, competing for de-risking grants of USD 5,000, USD 3,000, and USD 2,000, alongside six months of technical assistance and exposure to global networks.
The top prize was awarded to Arristine Mendes, Founder and CEO of Shaddaï Aquaculture from Senegal, for her initiative transforming abattoir waste and local inputs into affordable, sustainable fish feed. Her venture plans to expand to poultry and cattle feed, simultaneously addressing hunger and promoting climate-smart farming. The second prize went to Imungana Malikana, Founder and CEO of Cranitech Software Solutions from Zambia, which leverages solar-powered IoT egg incubators and irrigation systems to help farmers access climate financing through digital record-keeping. Third place was claimed by Crescentia Mushobozi, Founder and CEO of MbeguNzuri Biotech Farms from Tanzania, whose high-quality potato seeds are enhancing yields and increasing income for smallholder farmers.
The ScaleUp Africa Youth Innovation Challenge demonstrates that unlocking youth potential requires more than financial incentives; it demands a supportive ecosystem. By combining grants with technical assistance, the initiative strengthens agribusinesses’ capacity to scale, attract capital, and integrate into broader value chains. With millions of young Africans entering the workforce each year, providing the right institutional and investor support can transform youth-led ventures from pilot projects into scalable solutions with global relevance.
Ultimately, the ScaleUp Africa Youth Innovation Challenge is more than a competition—it is a movement highlighting that young Africans are actively shaping the future. The initiative underscores that whether through technology, sustainability, or farming, there is ample space for youth to innovate, lead, and drive meaningful change across the continent.
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