LANDSCAPES - African entrepreneurs sharpened at Lilongwe's land accelerator platform
Land Accelerator Africa offers entrepreneurs mentorship, networking opportunities, training to build up storytelling and pitching skills towards the restoration of 100m hectares on the continent
LILONGWE, Malawi (Planet Defence) - Restoration entrepreneurs across Africa that met from 16th through 20thOctober, 2023 in Lilongwe as part of the Land Accelerator Africa impact days had a thorough rigorous business mentorship, pitch practice and training sessions aimed at sharpening their skills towards broad based ecosystem crusade.
Land Accelerator Africa programme supports AFR100 Initiative’s goal of restoring 100 million hectares of land come 2030. It provides entrepreneurs across Africa with mentorship and networking opportunities, technical training and workshops to build up their storytelling and pitching skills.
Speaking during the wrap up ceremony on 20th October, 2023 at Sunbird Capital in Lilongwe.
Joseph Kanyangalazi, Deputy Director of Land Resources Conservation Department observed that having seen products displayed by the various entrepreneurs. It was obvious that those engaged in the initiatives would definitely not get involved in environmental degradation.
“I have seen the products displayed at the back by the participating entrepreneurs. Those value chain supports ecosystem restoration and are inline with the 4.5 million hectares that we intend to restore as Malawi,” Kanyangalazi told the participants.
Kanyangalazi then urged entrepreneurs from Ntcheu, Zomba, Machinga and Neno districts to be on the lookout for another call soon. All this is happening within the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
In his turn Inkosi Ya Makosi Ngwenyama Gomani V from Ntcheu shared the hard truth saying a lot of environmental degradation is coming because communities want to fend themselves to bring food on the table.
When we are planning this initiatives on restoration for entrepreneurs. It is also imperative that we think on how we can include grassroots populations as part of economic empowerment.
“Without that there will continue to be disputes, encroachment and all that and land degradation will be unabated,” Inkosi Gomani gave the advice during the event.
According to the Ngoni King, it is important for project implementers to delve deep and understand the community and the culture where they are operating.
Inkosi Gomani V further praised restoration entrepreneurs for some of the products they displayed adding the packaging and value addition was good and t worth the export market.
In her remarks after the event Amanda Gant, Senior Manager, Land Accelerator, Global Restoration Initiative was quick to say the event was a clear example of partnerships to encourage the growth of sustainable businesses.
Companies that participated are starting impacts on livelihoods and the environment that will last generations.
“I've seen that many Malawian companies are taking the opportunities from the contacts made at the demo day to partner and bring new technologies to greater geographical locations within Malawi,” she said adding that “Inkosi Gomani also showed a great interest in many of the business models presented here, and how they could be expanded across the districts and communities across Malawi and beyond,” explained Gant in a separate interview.”
Spencer Ngoma, Land Restoration Associate thanked all local partners that witnessed the event including government representatives.
He also thanked TetraTech's Modern Cooking and Healthy Forests program a long-time partner to the movement and instrumental in identifying Malawian entrepreneurs, having already supported them with training for many years, and coordinating site visits for the entire group.
The Land Accelerator Africa Impact Days offered an opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs in-person and to learn from both leading entrepreneurs and trainers.
The partner institutions in this green initiative include the World Resources Institute, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Fledge and Barka Fund.