Investing in Women in Nigeria
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Agribusiness
Investing in Women in Nigeria
Investing in Women in Nigeria (IIW-Nigeria) is a five-year gender transformative and economic inclusion programme implemented by the AECF with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The programme aims to economically empower women in the agricultural sector by investing in businesses and cooperatives operating in various agricultural value chains.
The programme seeks to transform the roles of women operating in various agricultural value chains in Kano State, Nigeria, to increase incomes, improve climate resilience and transform livelihoods. The target will be businesses and cooperatives operating in the agricultural value chains that demonstrate high impact for women.
Programme Objectives
- Improved business performance of climate smart, women owned/led SMEs and Cooperatives and sustainability of investees initiatives
- Increased access to economic opportunities for women in climate-smart agriculture value chains in Kano state.
- Improved enabling environment and reduced systemic gender inequalities that women entrepreneurs and farmers face.
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Programme goal
The programme seeks to transform the role of women in agri-value chains in Kano state, Nigeria, with an aim to increase incomes, improve climate resilience and transform livelihoods. The programme will also provide capacity building and awareness creation around gender policy formulation to address gender barriers.
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Value chains of interest
The programme will be investing in all agricultural value chains that demonstrate high engagement and impact for women.
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Funding opportunities
Funding will be in the form of non-repayable grants and will be disbursed in Canadian dollars. Funding is subject to meeting the matching fund criteria outlined below.
Funding payments will be milestone based, where disbursements will be made based on mutually agreed milestones provided in the contract which must be achieved/delivered before proceeding to the next milestone payment stage. Other conditions on disbursements may be introduced by AECF on an individual application basis prior to contracting.
Qualified businesses will be expected to visit the competition website and submit their concept notes using the dedicated link. Instructions will be provided on the website and the contact numbers/email as well.
Applicants are expected to submit a funding application justifying their requirements for the business and/ or idea to be funded, the funding amount and the project duration.
Funding must be used for a specific project, e.g., introducing new services or products, scaling up an existing enterprise or replication/expanding to a new market. Investees can apply for a range of funding depending on their development stages as follows:
Window 1: Women led/owned SMEs
- Minimum fund award CAN $ 65,000. Maximum fund award CAN $ 1,300,000
- 50% matching funds required (25% in cash and 25% in kind)
- Duration of agreement: 4 years
Window 2: Women groups/Cooperatives
- Minimum fund award CAN $ 10,000. Maximum fund award CAN $ 50,000
- 10% matching contribution in-kind
- Duration of agreement: 2 years
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Programme support mechanisms
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – IIW-Nigeria will deliver non-financial technical assistance on gender equality, human rights advocacy, business and management, climate- smart agriculture training and GAP. In addition, customized technical assistance will be provided through the AECF Advisory Studio and a pool of consultants.
The programme will foster partnership and close coordination with multiple stakeholders. These include: Business Membership Organisations, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs), Financial Institutions (FIs) and Government Ministries including Agriculture, Women Affairs, Commerce, and Cooperative Development, among others.
