THE 2023 AGRICULTURE GRANT
The Stephen Akintayo Foundation aims at investing in agriculture throughout sub-saharan Africa since global research shows that the best way to tackle poverty is through the growth of the Agricultural sector.
The 2023 Agriculture Grant is aimed at recognizing the extraordinary individuals, groups or institutions whose contribution to African agriculture would model a new epoch of sustainable food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.
It is designed to support small-scale farmers with viable Agri-business with equity-free capital required to scale their businesses. It is an initiative developed and sponsored by the Stephen Akintayo Foundation in partnership with other private and public sectors targeted at small-scale farmers in sub-saharan Africa as part of SAF’s drive to encourage and support farmers in sustainable agriculture.
The $5000 prize encourages Africans who are taking control of the agriculture agenda and changing the reality of farming in Africa from a struggle to a thriving business. It puts a bright spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be reproduced across Africa.
Areas of focus
-Smart farming
-Livestock
-Nutritious food production systems
-Farming as a career
OBJECTIVES OF THE GRANT
To make Agri-business more attractive
Reduce the rate of unemployment
Drive youth engagement in agriculture
Train and empower youths in agro-practices
Put a spotlight on achievements and innovations that can be reproduced across Africa.
OUR TARGETS
Our target is small-scale businesses who jointly account for majority of the food consumed. We find them incredibly important in the battle against hunger and scarcity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
However, we would be relying on various new emerging options for producing and distribution of all kinds of crops and livestock with a suitable sustainability options.
With the right support, we hope that small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa can take advantage of the opportunities provided to make a better living for themselves and their families, while providing their communities with access to good, healthy and affordable food.
We believe that our focus on agriculture will further help us in achieving our overall goal of empowering individuals with greater economic opportunities.
OUR SPECIFIC PLAN
We aim at supporting agricultural growth in different ways including:
Investing in technologies that address the specific needs of small-scale farmers in sub-saharan Africa otherwise called smart farming. Our goal is to support innovations which are geared towards crop and livestock diversity by making sure that innovations produced, such as vaccines, automated soil maps, etc are accessible to as many as need them.
2. Investing in sectors to develop a more effective delivery system for produce. This would be achieved by funding the government to develop and appropriate agricultural development strategies that are realistic. In the private sector, we shall partner with agricultural organizations such as Crop and livestock service providers which help small-holder farmers operate their farms as sustainable businesses.
Investing in developing innovative support mechanisms for small-scale farmers that provide now sustainable options for earning income. Here, our goal is to fund public and private sector initiatives such as groups that help farmers in rural sub-saharan Africa and farmer cooperatives.
ELIGIBILITY
SELECTION CRITERIA
NOMINATION & SELECTION
ELIGIBILITY
The 2023 Agriculture Grant
can be awarded to any individual or identifiable group or established institutions, associations, organizations, or government bodies with a formal and recognized judicial and organizational structure contributing to the overall objectives of the Grant.
The Grant can be awarded to any qualified candidate with business resident in Sub-Saharan Africa.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Grant committee considers the following criteria for the Grant:
Contribution to reducing poverty and hunger and improving food security in measurable terms.
Ability to provide a vital source of income and/or employment in measurable terms
Increased awareness and cooperation among African audiences and organizations.
Proven leadership potential of the individual or organization, particularly the ability to persevere despite significant challenges or risks
Proven tangible results, scalability and value creation derived from candidate’s work either directly or indirectly.
Consideration will be given to circumstances under which the project has been carried out and results achieved.
NOMINATION & SELECTION PROCEDURE
- The procedure for the Agriculture Grant 2023 starts with applications being sent to the Stephen Akintayo Foundation through the website at www.stephenakintayo.com on or before 17th December, 2023.
Applicants are required to feel the necessary application form, complete the assessments and fill the investment questionnaire as provided on the platform.
Applicants will then be required to submit a one minute video pitch via the same platform.
Shortlisted candidates are contacted and required to attend a virtual bootcamp for one month via the Stephen Akintayo University platform. Candidates will be subjected to intense mentorship by experts in the Agricultural sector.
The top 10 businesses from the bootcamp will then pitch before a panel of expert judges and investors. 3 winners are selected for the final stage.
The Winner(s) is selected based on the judge’s discretion
Presentation of Grant
BENEFITS
Winner gets technical support for their businesses
Access to Stephen Akintayo University resources
Participation in other training programs
Winner continues to enjoy exclusive access to expert mentorship, insider opportunities and a robust support network that will open doors.