20 - 22 October 2023. Brussels. 7th African Diaspora Agrofood Forum
The theme of this 7th edition was
entrepreneurship".
The African Diaspora Agrofood Forum is an international forum, dedicated to the promotion of agrofood entrepreneurship in Africa and its diaspora. This is a multi-stakeholder event that offers a platform for beneficial discussions and networking between entrepreneurs, policymakers, industry experts, NGOs, investors and government officials
Participants at the forum explored during 3 days food trends, exciting culinary discoveries and inspirational entrepreneurial experiences.
The discussions held at the forum further reinforced the need for a multistakeholder input in the agrofood sector, thus opening up opportunities for the African Diaspora entrepreneurs active in the sector. Moreover investing in the agrofood sector, not only boosts food security but can also help drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote inclusive development in different countries. These keypoints were also noted in the contributions of the panelists from FAO, IOM, ENABEL and others.
The forum also highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environments for African diaspora entrepreneurs, to grant them access to financial support
for their businesses. By having access to funds,more entrepreneurs will be empowered to scale their operations, thereby contributing to the growth of the agricultural sector.
Participants at the ADAF23 also recognized the importance of having access to local, regional, and international markets for African produce. Creating these avenues for profitable trade can enormously boost the income of entrepreneurs. if the major challenges creating barriers to market entry are removed, it will pave the way for sustainable growth and economic empowerment.
The insights, commitments, and collaborative spirit showed during the forum, provided a solid
foundation to build future partnerships.
A full report of the event will be published soon
The forum also highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environments for African diaspora entrepreneurs, to grant them access to financial support
Participants at the ADAF23 also recognized the importance of having access to local, regional, and international markets for African produce. Creating these avenues for profitable trade can enormously boost the income of entrepreneurs. if the major challenges creating barriers to market entry are removed, it will pave the way for sustainable growth and economic empowerment.
The insights, commitments, and collaborative spirit showed during the forum, provided a solid
A full report of the event will be published soon
20/10 Diaspora engagement in policymaking for for entrepreneurship and development
- Moderator : Ms Bwalya Nwali, Advisor Diaspora Engagement and Human Development
- Representative, Embassy of South Africa to Belgium,
- Mr Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium,
- Ms Marise Habib, Chief of Mission, International Organization of Migration (IOM) for Belgium and Luxembourg
- Mr Sven Huyssen , Director of Operations ENABEL
- Mr Kwaku Boamah, President Sankaa vzw Belgium and Coliso Ghana
20/10 Presentation of the 2023 Compendium of African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs
20/10 Harnessing African Diaspora Contributions for Impactful Growth In AgrofoodEntrepreneurship
- Moderator: Ms Cherine Layachi, Campaigner, Diaspora Projects Soliris Brussels
- Mr Alpha Diallo, Founder Africapaid and Welli Farms Senegal
- Ms Agatha Nsimiire, Founder Econgranja Uganda
- Ms Vanessa Ngoga, Founder Cabou Burundi
- Ms Virna Rakotonirina, Founder Nature Madagascar
- Mr Maranatha Nduaya, Founder Kipeps Belgium
- Ms Solange Domaye, CEO Symfonio.bio Netherlands
20/10 African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- presented by Mr Bjorn Macauter, General Manager Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs
- The Award was reached out to Mr Alpha Diallo, Founder Africapaid and Welli Farms SenegalAfrica Paid is an investment consulting and business development company based in Dakar, Senegal. The heart of Africapaid is to present to foreign companies and investors who want to export to emerging markets, the best business opportunities in Africa and mainly in Senegal. Today, it handles numerous project development files for companies, the State and local authorities who often contact us to find financial and technical partners. In Europe, Africa Paid is very well established at all levels of business and is accredited by the European Union as a public affairs firm.
20/10 Breaking Barriers; Re-Evaluating Funding Opportunities And Strategies For African Diaspora Owned Businesses
- Moderator: Mr Francois Stepman, Senior Knowledge Management Expert
- Ms Stella Opoku-Owusu, Executive Director, AFFORD UK
- Ms Fridah Ntarangwi, Co-founder and Managing Director ZidiCircle Netherlands
- Mr Arturo Biglia, Intervention Officer- Entrepreneurial mobility ENABEL
The panel and audience discussed following statements:
Statement 1: It's unfair that most Agri SME funding opportunities for African entrepreneurs are not targeting the diaspora entrepreneursStatement 2: CAADP is ending 2025. Post Malabo should mobilise national agricultural budgets for supporting diaspora initiatives
AFFORD UK
AFFORD is a UK registered charity evolving further into a social enterprise to drive the entrepreneurial agenda and capacity of the African Diaspora. For over 15 years, AFFORD has put the issue of migration and development on the policy agenda. It has developed an unrivaled knowledge and expertise on issues impacting on the African diaspora such as remittances, brain drain, skills transfers, circular migration, etc AFFORD has a proven track record in working with the African diaspora and harnessing the Diaspora's expertise in policy debates, lobbying, field projects, capacity building activities as well as consultancy services.
This project aimed to offer cost-effective alternatives for remittances and opportunities for investment of savings by tracking diaspora remittance flows from Belgium intoMorocco, Senegal, and the DRC, creating awareness among remit senders and receivers on these corridors on remittance options, and offering opportunities for diaspora in these corridors to convert some of the remittances into investments through the Venture backers programme that trains aspiring diaspora angel investors on angel investing.
Zidicircle trained diaspora from Morocco, Senegal, and the DRC living in Belgium
These projects aim to support entrepreneurial ecosystems in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Belgium by fostering the creation of partnerships that benefit businesses in the three countries. To achieve this, PEM aims to help entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized businesses from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire during business trips to Belgium and put them in touch with the Belgian economic actors.
The PEM projects are funded by the European Union and ibz, and are implemented by Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency.
20/10 A Place On The Top Shelf; Marketing African Food Products In Europe
- Moderator: Ms Rhoda Yeboah, Account Manager & Event Host
- Ms Orfirah Hogeman-Helstone, Founder, Route To Bloom Netherlands
- Ms Liesbeth Van Meulder, Advisor Private Sector, Rikolto Belgium
- Mr Koen Van Troos, Fairtrade Belgium
21/10 Diaspora Agro-food Forum & Exhibition
- by Mr Ralph Genetzke, Director ICMPD
22/10 Diversity on a plate' in celebration of the International Year of Millets
Millet is a healthy, indigenous grain that is a staple in many African countries. During the program there was an information session by FAO and then a co-creation of recipes by Chefs and cooks of different origins
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