In a significant initiative aimed at enhancing food security and promoting entrepreneurship across West and East Africa, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), a leading impact investment group, has launched the I&P Accélération FARM program. This program is backed by a substantial commitment of €4 million (approximately $4.3 million) from Proparco, the private sector financing arm of the French Development Agency (AFD). It is designed to provide essential financial and technical support to agricultural startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in six French-speaking countries: Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, and Kenya.
Announced on March 18, 2025, the five-year program comes at a crucial time as the continent faces the challenges posed by climate change, supply chain disruptions, and the pressing need to bolster local food production. The I&P Accélération FARM program aims to tackle these issues head-on by empowering innovative businesses within the agricultural value chain, particularly those operating in rural areas.
The initiative is structured around two complementary pillars. The first pillar offers financial support through repayable advances ranging from €10,000 to €100,000 per company. These seed funds are intended to help selected startups and SMEs scale their operations, adopt innovative technologies, and ultimately enhance food security in their respective countries. The program features a flexible 36-month repayment period, allowing businesses the time needed to grow and stabilize.
The second pillar focuses on providing comprehensive technical support. This includes leveraging internal expertise from the consortium teams managing the program, as well as engaging external consultants who specialize in critical areas such as accounting, marketing, legal frameworks, technological advancements, and climate change adaptation strategies. This holistic approach recognizes that financial investment alone is often insufficient for sustainable growth; access to tailored expertise is equally essential.
I&P Accélération FARM is part of a broader initiative known as the “Mission for Food and Agricultural Resilience” (FARM), launched in 2022 by French President Emmanuel Macron in collaboration with the European Union, the G7, and the African Union. This larger mission was developed in response to the global food crisis, particularly affecting the most vulnerable nations. The involvement of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Treasury Department further highlights the strategic importance of this program.
The implementation of I&P Accélération FARM will be deeply embedded in local ecosystems. I&P plans to leverage its network of sponsored and partner management companies already operating in the target countries, including Teranga Capital in Senegal, Gola Capital in Guinea, Fako Capital in Cameroon, Inua Capital in Uganda, and Comoé Capital in Côte d’Ivoire. These local entities bring invaluable on-the-ground knowledge and established relationships, ensuring that the program is effectively tailored to the specific needs and contexts of each nation.
By focusing on both financial and technical assistance, I&P Accélération FARM aims to nurture a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs capable of driving innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening local food systems. The initiative’s emphasis on rural entrepreneurship is particularly noteworthy, as it seeks to unlock the potential of agricultural communities and reduce reliance on external food sources.
The selection process for participating startups and SMEs is expected to be rigorous, concentrating on businesses with clear potential for growth, innovation, and positive social and environmental impact. Areas of focus may include precision agriculture, sustainable farming practices, technologies for reducing post-harvest losses, value addition processes, and solutions for improving market access.
While the $4.3 million investment marks a significant advancement, the scale of the challenge in achieving food security across the African continent remains substantial. Nevertheless, initiatives like I&P Accélération FARM are crucial in building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, one enterprise at a time. By providing the necessary capital and expertise, this program has the potential to drive meaningful change, fostering a new era of agricultural innovation and contributing significantly to the long-term food security of West and East Africa. The success of these initial investments will likely be closely monitored, potentially paving the way for further collaborations and increased funding in this vital sector.
