Meet the 9 Women Entrepreneurs Who Showcased Green Solutions

Friday 11/09/2026

What happens when women entrepreneurs from across Africa come together to share their ideas, products and solutions?

At the 10th Africa Agri Expo (AAE 2026) in Dar es Salaam, nine women entrepreneurs supported through the IYBA WE4A programme had the opportunity to do exactly that. Coming from Cameroon, Togo, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the entrepreneurs brought with them businesses working on very different challenges — from connecting farmers to markets and processing local crops to developing sustainable agricultural inputs and turning organic waste into new products.

For two days, they met potential customers and partners, exchanged ideas with other businesses and shared their experiences of building and growing businesses in Africa's agricultural sector.
Different businesses, a shared vision
The entrepreneurs' businesses may be different, but they have something important in common: they are finding new ways to turn local resources and ideas into opportunities.

From Cameroon, Nicoline Ashinyi Ateghang of Zaya-Green Foods LTD showcased food flours and fresh-frozen products made from locally sourced crops.
In Togo, Akossiwa Akpénè Agbomla of IEIALEL SARL presented pre-cooked sauces and fermented flours, showing how local agricultural products can be transformed into convenient, value-added foods.
Specklah Newa of Speck Holdings, from Malawi, represented an agribusiness working across the agricultural value chain.

From Mozambique, Isabel Jaime Maite of Estante do Tempero showcased organic spices, sauces and piri-piri products made from locally sourced raw materials. Kenya was represented by two entrepreneurs. Maureen Obiero of Tawi Fresh showcased a B2B digital marketplace that connects smallholder farmers with institutional buyers, while Elizabeth Mukami Kairu of Golden Star Farming Ltd presented irrigation systems and farming solutions designed to support smallholder farmers.

From Uganda, Carol Mumba of Akari Natural Spices & Herbs brought a range of ground spices, herbal teas and blends, demonstrating the potential of locally produced agricultural products.The two Tanzanian entrepreneurs highlighted particularly innovative approaches to sustainability. Ivone Urio of Hyalosustainers Company is working on hyaluronic acid and biofertilisers made from organic waste, while Stella Paul Kileo of Seamoss from

Zanzibar, by Care Cove showcased sea moss gel and capsules produced in Zanzibar and sold to markets beyond the island.

More than a trade show
For the entrepreneurs, AAE 2026 was about more than displaying products.
It was a chance to meet people, tell their business stories, understand new markets and explore potential partnerships.
Events like these can make a real difference for growing businesses. A conversation at a trade fair can lead to a new customer, a distribution partner, an investor or simply an idea that helps an entrepreneur see their business differently. The participation of the nine women also highlighted the growing role of women entrepreneurs in Africa's agri-food sector. Their businesses are creating opportunities not only in farming, but also in agro-processing, digital agriculture, agricultural services, sustainable inputs and circular economy solutions.
Supporting women to grow their businesses

The entrepreneurs' participation at Africa Agri Expo was supported through the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA WE4A) programme. IYBA WE4A works with women-led businesses across Africa, helping them strengthen their businesses, build networks, access markets and finance, and gain the knowledge and skills they need to grow. IYBA WE4A is co-financed by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
For these nine entrepreneurs, AAE 2026 was another step in their business journeys — an opportunity to put their solutions in front of new audiences and explore where their businesses can go next.

Their stories are a reminder that some of Africa's most promising solutions are already being built by entrepreneurs who understand the challenges around them and are creating businesses to address them.
From local crops to digital platforms, from organic waste to sustainable farming solutions, these women are showing what is possible when innovation meets opportunity.