LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub is trying to transform the future of agri-business by empowering women-led projects and investments. Through initiatives aimed to support agri-entrepreneurs in Africa and Small Island Developing States, LadyAgri brings together women entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, philanthropists, and donors.

“When you invest in women, you get triple or more of the impact,” Hilary Barry, Secretary General of LadyAgri, tells Food Tank. “When a project is finished, more likely than not, if it’s women driven a project it will still continue even after external funding has come to a close”

Barry founded LadyAgri alongside Aida Axelson Bakri and Ayélé Sikavi Gabiam. Together, they have created a team of 25 individuals from around the world.

LadyAgri is built on three pillars: technical assistance; access to agri-finance; and access to markets, equipment, and technology. By providing technical capacity building, LadyAgri hopes to support women at all phases of their growth cycle. They train women agri-entrepreneurs to source responsibly and sustainably, confront unprecedented challenges such as the climate crisis, boost local production, and meet market demands.

LadyAgri’s finance focused pillar aims to connect women in agri-business to the finance community. Their team works with international financial service providers to bridge public and private investments, while also prioritizing social responsibility and the interests of the agri-businesses.

The final pillar facilitates business-to-business (B2B) partnerships with agri-business buyers and suppliers of agricultural technical equipment. LadyAgri works with private companies wishing to increase their gender-focus and impact, and provides government and public relations support.

Gabiam believes LadyAgri’s three pillars have created an ecosystem of support for women entrepreneurs.

Read the full article about women entrepreneurs in agriculture by Liza Greene at Food Tank.