Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator 2027

Overview

The Home-Grown Solutions Agribusiness Accelerator 2027 is a regional initiative of COMESA, funded by the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by AUDA-NEPAD. The programme aims to support growth-stage agribusinesses that deliver scalable, innovative, and impact-driven solutions across the agricultural value chain in Africa.

The initiative promotes inclusive and sustainable agribusiness growth by scaling enterprises that are African-owned and led, and that address food insecurity, climate challenges, and trade barriers. It provides structured assistance to strengthen investment readiness, enhance fundraising capacity, and expand regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

Who can apply

Applicants must be growth-stage companies that are African-owned or led, and legally registered and operational in a COMESA member state. The programme has a preference for enterprises that are women-owned or led, accounting for 70 percent, and youth-owned or led between the ages of 18 and 35, accounting for 30 percent.

Participating businesses must operate within inclusive, high-potential agribusiness value chains such as high-value crops excluding primary production, input supply, agro-processing, value addition, commercialisation, import substitution, aggregation, logistics, distribution, market access services, digital agriculture, and climate-smart inputs. Companies must demonstrate a proven and innovative business model with an annual turnover close to USD 100,000, which can vary by country, and must maintain audited financial accounts for at least the last three years along with basic compliance structures.

Applicants need to show clear potential for regional or international market access and strong scalability prospects through export linkages, COMESA partnerships, replicable models, or regional expansion strategies. Enterprises are also expected to prioritize inclusive participation by engaging youth, women, people with disabilities, and refugees, contribute to food security and nutrition goals, support the broader development objectives of driving sustainable agribusiness growth for Africa's stability and prosperity, and actively pursue green growth through climate-smart, resource-efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices.

What you get

Participants receive context-specific advisory services tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities within their market and industry sector. The programme provides cross-border regulatory and trade facilitation guidance to help enterprises navigate the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Selected businesses gain investment readiness and fundraising support, with the potential to access investment funding from the initiative. The programme also facilitates connections to strategic partners, including regional buyers, investors, and mentors, and offers post-acceleration support to ensure sustained growth and success following completion of the programme.

Key dates

The application deadline is November 18, 2026.