The Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator (HGSA-A) is a COMESA regional initiative funded by the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by AUDA-NEPAD that supports growth-stage agribusinesses delivering scalable, innovative, and impact-driven solutions across Africa’s agricultural value chain.
The HGSA-A seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable agribusiness growth by scaling African-owned and -led enterprises addressing food insecurity, climate challenges, and trade barriers. The programme provides tailored support to strengthen investment readiness, enhance fundraising capacity, and expand regional trade under the AfCFTA framework.
Are You Eligible?
Join Africa’s premier agribusiness acceleration program. We support established enterprises led by African innovators ready to transform agriculture across the continent.
- ✓Legally Registered and Operational
Be legally registered and operational in a COMESA member state. - ✓African-Owned or Led Growth-Stage Company
Be African-owned or led growth-stage company. - ✓Women-Owned/Led & Youth-Led Preference
Strong preference to women-owned or led enterprises (70%) and youth-owned or led (18-35) enterprises (30%). - ✓High-Potential Agribusiness Value-Chains
Operate within inclusive high-potential agribusiness value-chains such as high value crops (excluding primary production). This includes sectors such input supply, agro-processing, value addition, commercialisation, import substitution, aggregation, logistics, distribution, market access services, digital agriculture, and climate-smart inputs. - ✓Proven and Innovative Business Model
Demonstrate a proven and innovative business model, with an annual turnover close to USD 100,000 (this will vary from one country to the other). - ✓Regional or International Market Access Potential
Demonstrate potential for accessing regional or international markets and clear scalability prospects eg. through established or emerging export linkages, partnerships across the COMESA region, proven demand beyond local markets, a replicable business model adaptable to different contexts, or a clear strategy for regional expansion. - ✓Audited Financial Accounts and Compliance
Have audited financial accounts for at least the last 3 years and basic compliance structures. - ✓Inclusive Participation
Prioritize inclusive participation, including the employment or service of youth, women, people with disabilities and refugees, as well as contribute to food security and nutrition goals. - ✓HGSA-A Development Objectives
Contribute to HGSA-A’s broader development objectives of driving sustainable agribusiness growth that promotes Africa’s stability and prosperity. - ✓Green Growth Promotion
Actively pursue and promote Green growth (in line with the OECD Green Growth Strategy), applying climate change mitigation or adaptation techniques and sustainable agricultural practices eg. resources-efficient processes, renewable energy products, waste reduction and recycling or sustainable packaging).
Applications Close December 14, 2025