Women in Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa Alliance (WASAA) WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

WASAA  An Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs across the entire agricultural value chain with a focus on wealth creation and economic independence for women and youth through a strong and reliable partnership network.  WASAA is working with Men, but on an advisory role, each Country has leading entrepreneurs and professional experts mentoring and advising women on viable business opportunity WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

Why WASAA  Organization that wants to identify existing gaps in Women in Agribusiness i.e farmers, traders, agro-dealers,  Mission to identify gaps and obstacles find solutions for those gaps WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

WASAA Country Chapter  WASAA was formally registered in May 2010  Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Swaziland, South Africa, Angola, Burundi, Mozambique WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

WASAA Immediate Focus Areas  Farming / Production  Trading Opportunities within the Regional and amongst the network members  Agro-dealership development  Strengthen coordination within our WASAA members WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

Way Forward  Regional Trade Information Hubs  Value Chain Approach Partnership  Farmers Participation in Networking Platforms  Networking platforms for exchanging experience, expertise, and skills  Mentorship Programs  Commodity Structured financing WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

What Makes WASAA Different  Platform for wealth creation through skills transfer and experience  Mentorship and one-on-one business development  Market identification and Linkage  Identification of demands for Certified seeds  Identify and security certified seeds for production  Training members on Agro-dealership  Identification of training needs for our members WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

What Makes WASAA Different  Working with existing organization to identify trading opportunities from their existing gaps  WASAA identifies suitable and designs unique packages of products, and services such as WASAA Order Financing to best meet the needs of Women in Agribusiness within those organizations  Empowered women to trade in regional trade which in the past they have shyed from because of large volumes, and fear of monopoly by large international traders WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

Challenges  Lack of Information on regional trade, markets, and production deficit and surpluses.  WASAA solution to this is WASAA Regional Information Hubs  Lack of certified seed for seed multiplication (production). WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

Way Forward  Creation of Information Hubs for dissemination of Information, seeds, Focal Point for dialog, knowledge management center for agribusiness, business analysis.  Platform for advocate and Women are demand their right to trade  Partnership in the development of WASAA strategic 5 year strategic plan, and Training in Leadership and Governance for WASAA Leadership WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

Way Forward cont…  Leadership and coaching partnership between WASAA Women Entrepreneurs and other Women in the emerging Markets (Asia) and developed countries (EU, Americas)  Development of Database that is showing Women in Agribusiness Skill Sets and Expertise which can be tapped into to meet the needs of other members, while providing an opportunity for women to increase their income as Consultants, Experts and Facilitators  An Award or Recognition mechanism of recognizing women who are making a big difference in Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa. WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa

Thank You WASAA Women In Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa