GREEN ENTERPRISES - The businesses driving landscape restoration under AFR100
Through the Land Accelerator Africa program, global institutions have united to offer training and mentorship, enhancing companies’ expertise in business management, communication, and investment read
LILONGWE, Malawi (Planet Defence) - As Africa emerges as a pivotal market for international trade and investment in the upcoming decades, the looming threats of deforestation and climate change pose significant risks to food security, water access, and socio-economic progress across the continent. If the current trajectory persists, land degradation could render more than half of Africa’s existing farmland unusable by the year 2050.
African-led businesses advocating for nature-based solutions to combat these challenges hold the potential for profound positive impacts on people, the environment, and the climate. Investing in these visionary entrepreneurs is pivotal for steering us towards a more sustainable future, aligning with AFR100’s objective of restoring 100 million hectares of land across the continent by 2030.
Through the Land Accelerator Africa program, global institutions have united to offer training and mentorship, enhancing companies’ expertise in business management, communication, and investment readiness.
The 2023 cohort comprises 103 locally led, market-oriented green businesses spanning 26 African countries. Among them, the top 16 were selected for specialized mentorship and participation in the Land Accelerator Africa Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi, from October 16th to 20th, 2023.
This marks the fifth cohort of the Land Accelerator Africa program, which, since its inception in 2018, has amalgamated efforts from AUDA-NEPAD, Fledge, and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The program receives funding from GIZ/BMU, Mitsubishi Corporation, and SIDA, aiming to equip entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to establish economically viable enterprises that attract investors and drive restoration efforts.
The top 16 companies from the 2023 cohort hail from 12 African countries and encompass diverse business niches, ranging from cosmetic products to organic fertilizers. Notably, these figures reflect the broadening landscape of both business and restoration: 56% of these enterprises are founded by women, and 53% are led by young entrepreneurs.
With a current tally of 293 graduates across all cohorts, these entrepreneurs have collectively restored approximately 260,000 hectares of land in Africa, engaging nearly 449,000 smallholder farmers throughout the continent.
During the event, Joseph Kanyangalazi, Deputy Director of the Land Resources Conservation Department, noted the evident commitment of the participating entrepreneurs towards ecosystem restoration through the products showcased.
“I have witnessed the products displayed by the participating entrepreneurs. These value chains actively support ecosystem restoration and align with our aspiration to restore 4.5 million hectares in Malawi,” remarked Kanyangalazi to the attendees.
Encouraging entrepreneurs from Ntcheu, Zomba, Machinga, and Neno districts to remain vigilant for forthcoming opportunities, Kanyangalazi emphasized these developments within the framework of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
As the guest of honor, Inkosi Ya Makosi Ngwenyama Gomani V from Ntcheu, voiced a stark reality, highlighting that environmental degradation often stems from communities striving for sustenance and livelihoods.
“When we strategize restoration initiatives for entrepreneurs, it's crucial to contemplate the integration of grassroots populations into economic empowerment,” shared Inkosi Ya Makosi Ngwenyama Gomani V.
The Land Accelerator stands as a rigorously selective training program and a curated network for entrepreneurs dedicated to rejuvenating degraded forests and farmland, playing a pivotal role in Africa’s burgeoning forest and landscape restoration (FLR) movement.