HealthyDiets4Africa Agribusiness Accelerator Program Cohort III for Youth and Women in Kenya

Kenya
Agrifood

Applications are open for Cohort III of the HealthyDiets4Africa Agribusiness Accelerator Program, an initiative designed to support youth and women agripreneurs in Kenya who are developing innovations and enterprises that can transform food systems.

The programme is implemented by Food Security for Peace and Nutrition Africa (FSPN-Africa) under the European Union-funded HealthyDiets4Africa Project. Its core objective is to identify, strengthen, and scale youth- and women-led agribusiness innovations that improve nutrition, sustainability, and resilience in Kenya’s food system.

Participants will receive structured business development support through e-learning, technical training, mentorship, and linkages to partners, experts, and investors. The programme is aimed at innovators and enterprises with promising solutions that need stronger business skills, market traction, and investor readiness.

Applicants in Kenya are eligible, with strong preference given to those operating in Makueni, Nairobi, Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Murang'a Counties.

Country Eligibility

Kenya

Priority Counties

Makueni, Nairobi, Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Murang'a

Eligible Applicants

The programme is open to:

  • Youth innovators and entrepreneurs
  • Women innovators and entrepreneurs
  • Youth- and women-led agribusiness enterprises
  • Individual applicants
  • Teams of up to 10 members

All applicants must have an innovation or enterprise with a presence in Kenya.

Age Eligibility

Applicants and team members must fall within the following age brackets:

  • Youth applicants and team members: 18 to 35 years
  • Women applicants and team members: 35 to 45 years

Organisation / Enterprise Eligibility

To qualify, the innovation or enterprise must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Address a food system challenge in one or more of the specified thematic areas
  • Focus on one or more of the eligible value chains linked to novel and underutilised foods
  • Have an operational presence in Kenya
  • Be in operation for up to 5 years
  • Have at least a minimum viable product or prototype
  • Demonstrate uniqueness, feasibility, and sustainability

Eligible Thematic Areas

Innovations must address at least one of the following:

  • Sustainable Innovations for Crop Production
    Solutions that improve productivity and produce safe foods while managing natural resources such as water and soil
  • Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture
    Solutions that produce healthy food by using small spaces
  • Value Addition and Fortification
    Solutions, techniques, or enterprises that fortify indigenous foods or transform agricultural raw materials into new products
  • Storage and Post-Harvest Handling Innovations
    Innovations that reduce food loss and post-harvest waste
  • Training, Distribution and Aggregation Services

Priority Value Chains

Eligible innovations should focus on novel and underutilised foods, including:

  • Vegetables: mushrooms, African leafy vegetables, pumpkin, pumpkin leaves
  • Cereals: finger millet, pearl millet, sorghum
  • Tubers: cassava, yams, sweet potatoes
  • Legumes: pigeon peas, cowpeas, groundnuts, green grams, beans
  • Fruits: tree tomato, guava, baobab, and other fruits
  • Livestock: indigenous poultry, insects for feed and food

What Participants Will Gain

Selected participants will benefit from:

  • Business development support through training, upscaling, retooling, and mentorship
  • A total award of USD 5,000 for the top 3 high-potential, ready-to-scale innovations
  • Funding linkage support through programme partners and investor networks
  • Market ecosystem exposure through national and international trade fairs, exhibitions, expos, and exchange programmes
  • Access to HealthyDiets4Africa project partners for collaboration and learning opportunities

Application Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Complete the application form
  • Submit details about their innovation or enterprise
  • Upload a 1 to 2 minute video or audio pitch explaining the innovation

Application Format

Applications may be submitted:

  • As an individual, or
  • As a team of up to 10 people

Deadline

22 March 2026 at 11:59 PM

Click HERE to visit the official website,

Closing date
Industry
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
​Other service activities
Website link
https://fspnafrica.org/call-for-agri-innovators-healthydiets4africa-agribusiness-accelerator-program-cohort-iii/