The AECF

Published purpose

The project seeks to enhance women’s economic empowerment in agriculture value chains in the state of Kano in Nigeria by facilitating access to finance for women-owned enterprises operating in the agriculture value chains. The project also focuses on improving access to business development services to support the growth of agribusinesses, and addressing social norms. This includes providing community-level and locally sensitive gender training, advocacy and awareness campaigns. The project supports micro, start-up, and growth level women-owned or -led businesses through matching funding and technical assistance. It works to reduce systemic gender barriers to women's economic empowerment at the grassroots level. Project activities include: (1) providing catalytic finance to Agricultural-Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (Agri-SMEs) to implement climate-smart and gender-inclusive solutions in key agriculture value chains; (2) providing advisory services to women to improve and scale their businesses; and (3) helping increase women farmers’ access to agricultural assets. The project will also engage community leaders and community-based organizations to reduce systemic gender inequalities and barriers in the sector by becoming champions of gender equality and eliminating sexual abuse and child labour.