GrowHer Agribusiness Accelerator Programme (GIZ)

Women running agricultural enterprises across Africa continue to face a stubborn funding and skills gap, even though they form the backbone of the continent’s food systems. The GrowHer Agribusiness Accelerator Programme, delivered with support from Germany’s development agency GIZ, is designed to close that gap by giving women-led agribusinesses structured business acceleration support, expert mentorship, and a direct line to investors and partners who can help their ventures scale.

For Nigerian women building businesses anywhere along the agricultural value chain, from smallholder crop production to agro-processing and agritech, this accelerator offers a rare combination of hands-on capacity building and a pathway toward serious growth capital. Below is a full breakdown of what the programme entails and how to apply.

About the Programme

The GrowHer Agribusiness Accelerator Programme was created to help close the persistent gender gap in Africa’s agricultural sector by equipping women entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and confidence needed to grow sustainable businesses. It is implemented with backing from GIZ and other development partners committed to inclusive economic growth in agriculture.

The accelerator runs as a structured cycle lasting approximately six to nine months, combining virtual learning with possible in-person engagements depending on the cohort and location. Selected participants work through a curriculum covering business strengthening, financial management, market access, and investment readiness, all delivered alongside personalised mentorship from experienced professionals in the agribusiness and enterprise development space.

The programme welcomes women entrepreneurs at different stages of business maturity, from early-stage founders testing their model to growth-stage operators looking to scale existing operations. This makes it accessible to a wide range of Nigerian agripreneurs, whether you are running a small poultry farm, an agro-processing unit, or an agritech startup.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant must be a woman-led agribusiness or a female entrepreneur working within the agricultural value chain
• Business must be operating in one of the eligible sectors, including crop production, livestock and poultry farming, agro-processing, agritech, food value addition, agricultural logistics, distribution, agricultural services, or climate-smart farming
• Open to early-stage and growth-stage enterprises seeking to strengthen and expand operations
• Applicant should be able to demonstrate a genuine business need for acceleration support, whether in operations, market access, or investment readiness
• Nigerian women agripreneurs are eligible to apply, alongside applicants from other African countries covered by the programme
• Willingness to commit time and participate actively throughout the multi-month accelerator cycle

What You’ll Get

• Tailored business acceleration and growth support built around each participant’s specific business challenges
• Structured entrepreneurship training covering financial management, operations, and market strategy
• One-on-one mentorship from experienced industry experts and agribusiness professionals
• Access to investor networks, potential partnerships, and funding opportunities
• Peer learning and networking with a community of other women leaders in agribusiness
• Exposure to ecosystem players who can support long-term business growth
• A certificate of completion recognising participation in the accelerator

Key Details at a Glance

Organizer: GrowHer, with support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and partner organisations
Eligible Applicants: Women-led agribusinesses and female entrepreneurs across the agricultural value chain, including those in Nigeria
Programme Duration: Approximately 6 to 9 months, delivered virtually with possible physical engagements
Funding: No fixed cash grant amount specified; the programme focuses on acceleration support, mentorship, and access to investor and funding networks
Application Status: Currently open; interested applicants should apply promptly, as accelerator cohorts typically close once slots are filled

How to Apply

Interested women agripreneurs, including applicants based in Nigeria, can apply by completing the official application form with accurate details about their business, the challenges they face, and their growth objectives. Applications are submitted through the official GIZ-hosted portal at https://kobo-ee.giz.de/x/ZiICHpy2.

Before applying, gather details about your business registration status, the sector you operate in, your growth challenges, and your objectives for the accelerator, as these are typically required to complete the form. Given that accelerator programmes of this kind often receive applications on a rolling basis until slots fill up, women agripreneurs interested in participating should apply as early as possible.

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