Access to finance for agro-industrialisation in Africa
How can finance accelerate agro-industrial transformation in Africa? As African countries advance the implementation of the Kampala Declaration and its CAADP Strategy and Action Plan, improving the performance and competitiveness of agro-processing enterprises has become a key priority for driving value addition, creating jobs and strengthening regional trade.
A new study from AUDA-NEPAD and the GIZ Agribusiness Facility for Africa shows the many agro-processors continue to operate below installed capacity. The reasons for reduced capacity utilisation are numerous - inconsistent raw material supply, technology gaps, supply chain disruptions, inadequate infrastructure, weak operational systems, efficiency losses, and persistent financing constraints. However, this highlights that capacity utilization is not a narrow technical issue but a multidimensional challenge for enterprises.
Focusing on this challenge, this webinar will help agribusinesses understand how to convert financial resources into improved capacity utilization, higher operational efficiency, and integration within the CAADP Kampala objectives on value addition, trade, and investment. The report results will be presented followed by a discussion among an expert panel and an open Q&A with the audience.
Speakers and panelists
This Expert Talk is jointly organized by AUDA-NEPAD, AfriCatalyst, DnS Consulting, the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate, the Zero Hunger Coalition as well as the Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF) project, co-financed by the European Union under the Samoa Agreement with OACPS and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Interpretation will be available in French and English.
Expert talk series
This webinar is part of a series that explores access to finance for agrifood business. An earlier webinar explored the financial constraints that these businesses face and options for sustainable funding and institutional engagement. It can be viewed here.
