WYNA Global Café | 29 September 2026
Youth and women are playing an increasingly important role in building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems. Across Africa, they are developing innovative enterprises, strengthening local food systems, creating employment, and advancing agroecology and organic agriculture.
Yet, many promising initiatives continue to face a major challenge and that is, access to appropriate and affordable finance.
To explore practical solutions to this challenge, the Building Women & Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture (WYNA) Programme will host its fifth Global Café under the theme “Unlocking Investment for Youth and Women-Led Agroecology and Organic Agriculture Initiatives.”
The virtual event will take place on 29 September 2026, bringing together financing actors, youth and women agripreneurs, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss how investment can support the growth and scaling of youth- and women-led initiatives.
The WYNA Programme builds on the experience and knowledge developed through the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA) project. Implemented by GIZ in collaboration with YPARD, PELUM Kenya, and the African Green Store Network (AGSN), the programme promotes collaboration, capacity building, entrepreneurship, and leadership development among youth and women in agroecology and organic agriculture. Through its fellows, interns, and community-driven initiatives, WYNA supports young people and women to develop and implement solutions that contribute to sustainable agrifood systems. These initiatives span a wide range of areas, including agribusinesses, cooperatives, farmer organisations, processing and value addition, sustainable input production, digital solutions, knowledge services, restoration initiatives, and other innovative enterprises.
However, many of these initiatives struggle to access the finance needed to grow. Limited collateral, inadequate financial records, limited investment readiness, perceived risks associated with small and emerging enterprises, and a mismatch between available financing products and the needs of youth- and women-led businesses can all create barriers to investment.
This Global Café will provide a platform to address these challenges while exploring opportunities presented by the growing demand for sustainable food systems, climate-resilient agriculture, organic products, and nature-positive businesses.
The session will bring together financiers, donors, investors, development finance institutions, and other financing actors to share insights into available financing and investment opportunities.
Discussions will focus on:
The Café will also explore a range of financing mechanisms, including grants, loans, impact investment, blended finance, patient capital, guarantees, and technical assistance. Rather than focusing only on the challenges of accessing finance, the session will emphasise practical pathways for unlocking investment, strengthening investment readiness, and connecting promising initiatives with potential financing and partnership opportunities.
Designed as a concise and interactive session, the Global Café will combine short presentations from invited financing and investment actors with guided panel discussions, participant questions, and networking. The session will provide an opportunity for youth and women agripreneurs, civil society organisations, farmer organisations, government representatives, development partners, researchers, and other stakeholders to engage directly with financing actors, share experiences, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of financing options, eligibility requirements, investment criteria, and the practical steps needed to become investment-ready. The Café will also create space to identify opportunities for financing, investment, technical assistance, mentorship, partnerships, and market linkages, while strengthening collaboration among stakeholders working to build a more inclusive financing ecosystem.
Youth- and women-led agroecology and organic agriculture initiatives have the potential to generate significant economic, social, and environmental returns. By supporting these initiatives, investment can contribute to:
The Global Café will therefore serve as an important space for connecting investment opportunities with the people and initiatives working to transform agrifood systems.
Whether you are an agripreneur seeking finance, an investor exploring sustainable opportunities, a development partner supporting youth and women, or a stakeholder interested in inclusive agrifood systems, this session offers an opportunity to learn, connect, and explore practical pathways for collaboration.
Event: Fifth WYNA Global Café
Theme: Unlocking Investment for Youth and Women-Led Agroecology and Organic Agriculture Initiatives
Date: 29 September 2026
Time: 15:00–16:30 EAT
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4SgtXpl_QXq3cGc_qG2ccQ
Partners: PELUM Kenya, AGSN and GIZ
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