Enhancing Women’s Access to Finance

This live webinar is a side event of the 21st Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP PP) and the 16th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS), held October 29-31, 2025.

Organizing Partners

The event is co-organized by FAO, ITC, CORAF, Vision Fund International, Pan African Savings and Loans, and the African Management Institute.

Webinar Focus

The session explores promising and scalable approaches to enhance women's access to finance in agrifood systems. This aligns with the CAADP Kampala Agenda for inclusive and transformative growth.

The Challenge

Women represent nearly half of Africa's agrifood workforce but face significant financial barriers. These barriers limit their ability to grow agribusinesses, access new markets, or scale operations.

What the Webinar Covers

The session shares practical lessons, innovative financing models, and policy reforms that can bridge the financing gap and unlock women's entrepreneurial potential.

Participants will gain insights from successful initiatives addressing both demand and supply sides of agricultural finance:

• Investor-readiness programs

• Mentorship and coaching

• Design of inclusive financial products

• Guarantee schemes tailored to women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises

Speakers

• Ron Osman - Director of Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, African Union

• Bethel Terefe - Senior Gender Expert, FAO

• Mumbi Maina - Senior Access to Finance Officer, ITC

• Mariame Maiga - Regional Gender and Social Development Adviser, CORAF

• Karen Chama - Resource Development and Management Director, Vision Fund International

• Sarah Annam - Gender and Inclusion Manager, Pan African Saving and Loans

• Prince Oppong - Senior Programme Manager, African Management Institute

Who Should Attend

• Women entrepreneurs in agrifood systems

• Financial institutions serving agricultural sectors

• Gender and finance specialists

• Development practitioners working on women's economic empowerment

• Policymakers addressing agricultural finance

• Agricultural business support organizations

• Investors interested in women-led agribusinesses

Event Details

• Format: Live webinar

• Context: Side event of 21st CAADP PP and 16th ADFNS

• Focus: Women's access to finance in agrifood systems, innovative financing models, policy reforms

• Organizing Partners: FAO, ITC, CORAF, Vision Fund International, Pan African Savings and Loans, African Management Institute