Deadline: November 18, 2026
Applications are open for the Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator 2027. The Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator (HGSA-A) is a COMESA regional initiative funded by the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by AUDA-NEPAD that supports growth-stage agribusinesses delivering scalable, innovative, and impact-driven solutions across Africa’s agricultural value chain.
The HGSA-A seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable agribusiness growth by scaling African-owned and -led enterprises addressing food insecurity, climate challenges, and trade barriers. The programme provides tailored support to strengthen investment readiness, enhance fundraising capacity, and expand regional trade under the AfCFTA framework.
Benefits
- Context-specific Advisory Services: Tailored advisory services designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities in your market and industry sector
- Cross-border Regulatory & Trade Facilitation Under AfCFTA: Navigate African Continental Free Trade Area opportunities with expert guidance on regulations and cross-border trade facilitation
- Investment Readiness & Fundraising Support: Potential for accessing HGSA-A investment funding to support business growth.
- Matching to Strategic Partners: Connect with regional buyers, investors, mentors and other strategic partners to accelerate your business growth
- Post-Acceleration Support: Continued support and guidance even after completing the acceleration program to ensure sustained growth and success
Eligibility
- Be legally registered and operational in a COMESA member state.
- Align with the programme’s preference for women-owned or led enterprises (70%) and youth-owned or led (18-35) enterprises (30%).
- Be an African-owned or African-led growth-stage company.
- Demonstrate a proven and innovative business model with an annual turnover close to USD 100,000 (varies by country).
- Operate within inclusive, high-potential agribusiness value chains such as high-value crops (excluding primary production), input supply, agro-processing, value addition, commercialisation, import substitution, aggregation, logistics, distribution, market access services, digital agriculture, and climate-smart inputs.
- Show clear potential to access regional or international markets with strong scalability prospects (e.g., export linkages, COMESA partnerships, replicable models, or regional expansion strategies).
- Maintain audited financial accounts for at least the last 3 years and basic compliance structures.
- Prioritize inclusive participation by engaging youth, women, people with disabilities, and refugees while contributing to food security and nutrition goals.
- Contribute to HGSA-A’s broader development objectives of driving sustainable agribusiness growth that promotes Africa’s stability and prosperity.
- Actively pursue and promote green growth (in line with the OECD Green Growth Strategy) through climate-smart, resource-efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Application
For more information, visit Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator.
