by Esther Musembi
From innovative energy solutions to effective financing options for farmers and advanced farming practices, young African inventors and entrepreneurs are finding novel ways to take on the continent’s food security challenges, This emerged during a recent award ceremony in Nairobi.
The award, a project of The Pamoja Founders, a regional leadership development initiative of the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), together with the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo, provides catalytic support of $15,000 each to young African enterprises.
According to Roshan Paul, Director of Leadership at IREX, the six awardees who were celebrated at the Nairobi event “exceeded our expectations with their passion, thoughtfulness, and commitment to advancing food security across Africa.”
The ceremony was the culmination of a competitive pitch competition held after a four-day boot camp for Pamoja entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the event, Devendri Adari, the Social Impact & International Lead Sub-Saharan Africa for PepsiCo Foundation, expressed her excitement about partnering with IREX in the inaugural Pamoja Founders Program.
“We saw amazing African entrepreneurs that are pioneering African solutions for our African communities,” said Adari, who was also part of the judging panel.
In an interview with Bird Story Agency, two of the winners, Nathnael Tadasse and Ahmed de Almeida, explained the solutions their respective enterprises offer in the fields of solar energy and agroforestry/farming.
Through his start-ups, CRIMAS, OARZA, and FAE, Almeida helps smallholder farmers by promoting an inclusive business model and capacity building for young entrepreneurs throughout Mozambique.
He employs the trickle-down method, where he trains farmers on merging smart agroforestry practices with farming. These farmers train other farmers, and the cycle continues.
“When I was working as an extension officer in the government, they didn’t have enough resources to implement most of the programs. And I felt like I had a lot of information and expertise to share with farmers, but I couldn’t do it through the government,” he explained.
“I also had colleagues from the universities that didn’t manage to get a job. And then I thought, why not invite them and start a company together?” Almeida explained how his company started. Since then, he’s been able to work with more than 6,500 farmers.
Ethiopia-based Tadasse is the founder and CEO of Senaryo Trading PLC, a startup providing high-quality, cost effective, and environmentally friendly solar solutions in Ethiopia. He aims to combat energy challenges by making solar power accessible and affordable.
“The main reason I got into this program is to learn how to address the solar energy problem. In the long run, if we get into the manufacturing parts, especially the solar panels, we’ll go to another phase. We’ll go to mini-grid. It’s done so that instead of addressing an individual person’s problem, you’ll address society’s problem,” Tadasse explained.
“It’s not just about the money but the capacity building and mindset in terms of investing in your education so you can be able to serve more people,” he added.
“The main lesson is that if you collaborate with other people in your sector and you hear from other people, other countries and other businesses, you get prepared to serve more people in a better way.”
These innovations by the awardees are highly needed on the continent, where up to 282 million people, roughly 20 percent of the population, are undernourished. According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, this figure has increased by 57 million since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2023 World Food Program report showed that Africa is still not on track to achieve food security and nutrition targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Initiatives such as The Pamoja Founders Project promise to help catalyse resilience efforts in this sector, with the initiative providing a comprehensive support system for 12 cohort members, equipping them to further develop innovative and disruptive solutions that address food security.
Beyond the financial rewards offered to the winners, IREX will support the entire cohort for the next three months as they complete the programme. After the project, the Pamoja Founders will join a vibrant, supportive pan-African network of IREX alumni.
In addition to Tadasse and Almeida, the other winners were Dr. Akpem Shadrach, founder of Vet Konect, Nigeria; Juliet Namwanje, founder of Ziimba, Uganda; Brendah Nantongo, founder of Veathari Ventures Limited, Uganda; and Elizabeth Okullow, founder of Agriboom, Kenya.
Young African inventors and entrepreneurs are tackling food security challenges through innovative energy solutions, financing options, and advanced farming practices. During a recent award ceremony in Nairobi, six enterprises were each awarded $15,000 by The Pamoja Founders, an initiative by IREX in collaboration with the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo. These awardees surpassed expectations with their dedication to food security in Africa.
The event, which followed a four-day boot camp and competitive pitch, highlighted efforts such as Ahmed de Almeida's inclusive business model and training programs for farmers in Mozambique, and Nathnael Tadasse's solar energy solutions in Ethiopia. The other winners were Dr. Akpem Shadrach, Juliet Namwanje, Brendah Nantongo, and Elizabeth Okullow, who also contribute to food security across various African regions.
Initiatives like The Pamoja Founders Project are crucial as 282 million Africans remain undernourished, a figure exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program promises to strengthen resilience efforts and support the awardees over the next three months, helping them further develop their solutions and join a supportive pan-African network of IREX alumni.
