AGRA Announces Top 15 Finalists and Judging Panel for the 2024 VALUE4HER WomenAgripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA)

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has today announced the Top 15 finalists for the 2024 VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA).

This year’s selection, drawn from 1,535 applications across 44 African nations, showcases the continent’s top women excelling in agribusiness. The finalists have been drawn from Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.   

 “Women represent 50% of the agricultural labor force in Africa where they are responsible for 70% of production, yet they are still underrepresented as agribusiness leaders in the continent. WAYA aims to be one if the initiatives bridging this gap by incentivizing and recognizing these women as the drivers of inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa”, says AGRA’s Director for Gender, Youth & Inclusiveness, Ms. Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah. 

 This year’s ultimate category winners will each receive a cash prize of $25,000, with the grand prize winner walking away with $40,000. Notably, the 2024 awards have seen a rise in the number of countries represented, increasing from 42 last year to 44 this year, and applicants increasing from 1,430 to 1,535.

The winners will be announced at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali Rwanda, which will be held from 2nd to 6th September 2024.

AGRA has convened a distinguished panel of independent judges committed to women’s economic empowerment to assess and select the final awardees.

This year’s judging panel includes Delphine Traore, AGRA Board Member and CEO of General Insurance, Sanlam Allianz, Jen Ramnath, Chief Digital and Information Officer for the Mastercard Foundation, Mary Boote, Vice Chair of the International Agri-food Network and CEO Global Farmer Network, Judy Matu, the National Executive Chairlady for the Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya and

Oluyemisi Iranloye, CEO/Founder, Psaltry International & Psaltry Foundation and the WAYA 2022 Grand Prize Winner. Oluyemisi is the first WAYA winner to make a judging debut, emphasizing AGRA’s efforts to continue growing and recognizing the winning alumni.

 “Our role as judges is not just to evaluate the achievements of these outstanding women, but to amplify their voices and highlight their contributions to sustainable agribusinesses and economic growth across Africa,” says jury member Judy Matu. 

 This year’s WAYA features five distinct categories, reflecting diversity and promoting the variety of talents among women agripreneurs in the continent.

The categories are: Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star), Women Empowerment Champion, Resilient and Inspirational Leader, Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise and Female AgTech Innovator.   

 This year’s top 15 finalists, listed by category and in alphabetical order, are: 

 Outstanding Value-adding Enterprises  

Affiong Williams -, Nigeria 

Bassono Kabore Windlasida Florence -, Burkina Faso  

Caroline Wanjiru Mambo -, Kenya 

 Female Ag Tech Innovators 

Anaporka Adazabra -, Ghana  

Aisha Raheem -, Nigeria 

Boitumelo Bethesda Frazie -, South Africa 

 Young Female Agripreneurs (Rising Stars) 

Jovia Kisakye – Uganda  

Ogbon Eyitayo Azaratou – Benin  

Tonthoza Uganja -– Malawi 

 Women Empowerment Champion 

Christine Ager – Kenya  

Fannie Gondwe – Malawi  

Judith Endelesi Karia – Tanzania  

 Resilient and Inspirational Leader 

Daniella Ushindi Virivuswagha – DR Congo  

Konlan Lydia Madintin – Ghana 

Sandra Letio – Uganda  

 These women have distinguished themselves through their leadership, innovation, ambition, and commitment to community development and social impact. Their business ideas were sparked by existing social and environmental challenges within the agriculture and agrifood sectors in their countries, which they felt compelled to address. 

  “I am deeply honored to be selected as one of the top 15 finalists for the WAYA awards. This recognition is significant not just for me, but also for the farmers I work with. WAYA celebrates innovation and excellence, and being part of such a prestigious group is both humbling and inspiring. This acknowledgment reaffirms our commitment to pushing boundaries and making a meaningful impact in our communities,” says Judith Karia, WAYA finalist in the Women Empowerment Champion category.