Empowering Youth Start ups and Agri-MSMEs in Africa: KIC announces second stakeholder dialogue

The Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC) and its partners have announced their readiness to host the 2nd edition of the Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference scheduled to take place on August 28 and 29 this year at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

The 2- day conference will be held on the theme “Empowering Youth Startups and Agri-MSMEs in Africa: Addressing Climate Change, Innovative Financing, Market Efficiency, and Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Food Systems”, and is poised to deliver an impactful experience to on collaborative ways of providing inclusive pathways for participation of young people within the agricultural value chain as start-ups, agri-MSMEs and entrepreneurs.

Promising to bring together diverse players in the agricultural sector, AIA features a robust line up of speakers from policy makers, industry, academia and start-up ecosystems.

The interactive panel sessions will inspire thought provoking conversations weaving in and out of sustainable and innovative practices critical for elevating Africa’s agricultural potential with a strong focus on climate resilience, innovative adaptability, and market linkages for promoting sustainable food systems” said Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC.

“The AIA Conference underscores KIC’s commitment to harnessing innovation and collaboration to address the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s agricultural sector. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we aim to inspire actionable solutions and foster a sustainable future for agriculture in Africa,” he added.

Other events happening alongside the AIA Conference include the Deal Room, Exhibition, and a Youth Career Fair. These events will provide a platform for networking, employment engagements and serve as a bridge for potential investors to connect with young Agri-MSMEs. Through the Deal Room, several startups and Agri-MSMEs will get the opportunity to pitch their businesses to potential investors to scale-up and grow.

The exhibition will also serve as a window into the future of agriculture on the Continent showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions designed to enhance efficiency and sustainability within the sector.

The Career Fair is being organised in collaboration with Jobberman Ghana and in partnership with MasterCard Foundation and Agri-Impact Limited to provide employability skills training for young people, as well as link young job seekers to employers within the agriculture and adjacent sectors.

The AIA conference, expected to be attended by over 500 participants, is supported by Kosmos Energy, AGRA, International Trade Centre, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and IDH.

About Kosmos Innovation Center:

The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses with big ideas and want to see their country grow. The KIC was established in Ghana in 2016 with programs focused on inspiring and empowering young entrepreneurs to drive change in their own country. Since its inception, the KIC has focused on innovation in agriculture – the country’s most important sector and largest employer. More than 1300 aspiring entrepreneurs have participated in KIC Ghana programs, resulting in the creation of promising startups that have gone on to secure seed funding, additional business training, and capital investment.

About Agricultural Innovation for Africa Conference: The AIA Conference is an open and interactive 2- day forum that gives key decision-makers, subject matter experts, professionals, industry stakeholders and actors the opportunity to rethink the future of agricultural innovation, youth employment and food security in Africa. The conference aims to be a space for education on the necessary systems to help Africa on the journey to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2.