African agribusiness innovators showcase home-grown solutions at FINAS 2026 in Nairobi

The entrepreneurs are participating through the Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator (HGSA-A), a flagship programme of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) funded by the Government of New Zealand through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

The initiative is implemented by E4Impact Africa Foundation and Fie-Consult to help high-potential agribusinesses scale innovative, market-driven solutions across Africa's agricultural value chains.

Their participation aligns with this year's FINAS theme, "Towards a Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa's Food Systems," which focuses on unlocking financing mechanisms to strengthen food systems, expand regional value chains and promote inclusive agricultural growth.

Speaking during an HGSA-A side event at the summit, AUDA-NEPAD Principal Programme Officer and Head of the Industrialisation Unit, George Murumba, said recent global disruptions had underscored both the vulnerability of Africa's food systems and the continent's capacity to develop locally driven solutions.

"The crises of recent years reminded us just how vulnerable Africa can be to external shocks, but they also revealed our greatest strength, our home-grown solutions. By identifying and accelerating scalable local innovations, we are building more resilient food systems, empowering entrepreneurs, and creating sustainable solutions that can withstand future challenges.

"This accelerator is about more than supporting businesses; it's about unlocking Africa's potential to drive its own transformation through innovation, collaboration, and tailored growth support," Murumba said.

Held in Nairobi, FINAS 2026 has brought together government officials, financial institutions, development partners, private sector leaders and innovators to explore strategies for mobilising capital for sustainable agriculture across the continent.

Beyond policy discussions, the summit's exhibition has provided participating enterprises with an opportunity to demonstrate innovations spanning climate-smart agriculture, digital technologies, food processing, value addition, logistics and market access.

Organisers said the engagements are intended to connect entrepreneurs with potential investors and commercial partners while strengthening regional business networks and improving access to new markets.

The accelerator targets agribusinesses with strong growth potential, equipping them with technical support, investment readiness and market linkages needed to expand operations and contribute to Africa's food security and economic development.

Following the FINAS summit, the entrepreneurs will participate in a two-day programme hosted by the African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), where they will focus on peer learning, strategic networking, business development and regional collaboration.

The sessions, which conclude on Friday, are expected to build on relationships established during FINAS 2026 and further strengthen the entrepreneurs' capacity to scale their businesses across African markets.