In a concerted effort to reshape the landscape of agri-business with a focus on women-led initiatives and investments, the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub is making waves in the world of agriculture. This pioneering organization is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa and Small Island Developing States, uniting a diverse community of women innovators, investors, philanthropists, and donors in their mission.

Hilary Barry, Secretary General of LadyAgri, emphasizes the immense impact of investing in women, stating, “When you invest in women, you get triple or more of the impact.” She notes that projects led by women tend to exhibit remarkable resilience, often continuing to thrive even after external funding concludes.

The brainchild of Hilary Barry, Aida Axelson Bakri, and Ayélé Sikavi Gabiam, LadyAgri has assembled a team of 25 individuals hailing from various corners of the globe. Their organization stands on three fundamental pillars: technical assistance, access to agri-finance, and access to markets, equipment, and technology.

LadyAgri’s commitment to technical capacity building aims to support women throughout all stages of their entrepreneurial journey. They provide training to women agri-entrepreneurs, equipping them to source responsibly and sustainably, address pressing challenges like climate change, boost local production, and meet market demands.

The finance-focused pillar of LadyAgri endeavors to bridge the gap between women in agri-business and the finance community. The organization collaborates with international financial service providers, fostering connections between public and private investments while upholding principles of social responsibility and the interests of agri-businesses.

The third pillar of LadyAgri facilitates business-to-business (B2B) partnerships between agri-business buyers and suppliers of agricultural technical equipment. LadyAgri collaborates with private companies aiming to prioritize gender-focused initiatives and impact. Additionally, they offer government and public relations support.

Ayélé Sikavi Gabiam, Director of Partnerships at LadyAgri, believes that these three pillars together create a robust ecosystem of support for women entrepreneurs. She explains that when they enter a new country, they effectively establish a think tank, engaging with the government, financial institutions, women-led businesses, and research institutes.

LadyAgri’s sphere of influence spans across 17 countries, where they actively manage a multitude of programs, events, and partnerships. According to LadyAgri’s 2022 Annual Report, the organization represents nearly 132,000 employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cooperative members, and women’s economic groups.

While LadyAgri’s statistics and partnerships serve as testaments to their achievements since their inception in 2018, Hilary Barry and Ayélé Sikavi Gabiam take particular pride in the organization’s ability to break down existing barriers and stereotypes in both the business and gender domains. As Barry puts it, “Putting women and agriculture, trade, and investment all in the same sentence… I see that as a success for what we have done in just five years.”