As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape economies, ensuring that women entrepreneurs—particularly in the Global South, can access, adopt, and shape these technologies is both an equity imperative and an economic opportunity. Addressing gender gaps in AI is critical not only to prevent the deepening of inequalities, but also to unlock the full potential of women-led businesses as drivers of innovation, growth, and resilience in an increasingly digital economy.

This webinar will bring together women entrepreneurs, practitioners, and experts to explore how AI can be leveraged by and for women entrepreneurs. Through shared experiences and practical insights, the discussion will highlight how women are already using AI in their businesses, the challenges they face, and the types of support, partnerships, and policies needed to foster more inclusive AI adoption.

Registration: https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q4vyUApSSJSwLXyQ2RumbA#/registration 

Find more information: https://agrinnovators.org/innovation-session/south-south-empowering-and-growing-women-led-business-session-n8/ 

Women are the backbone of global food systems, driving production, processing, and trade — yet their contributions often go undervalued. The FAO’s 2026 campaign shines a spotlight on women farmers, advocating for equal access to land, finance, technology, and leadership opportunities.

Why Agrifood Entrepreneurs Should Care

• Unlock new partnerships and funding for gender-inclusive innovation

• Access under-leveraged markets led by women

• Boost sustainability and impact through gender equality in your business

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dyfOrWrcoA&list=PLzp5NgJ2-dK66Ukl65E6et5peEW2adbo4&index=7 (English)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Iz0rgs1_A&list=PLzp5NgJ2-dK66Ukl65E6et5peEW2adbo4&index=5 (Français)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0osxEWCymc&list=PLzp5NgJ2-dK66Ukl65E6et5peEW2adbo4&index=6 (Español)

How can your agrifood project support women farmers? Tell us in the comments!

Women play a critical yet under-recognized role in blue and green economies, contributing significantly to agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and nature-based enterprises. Although they make up a large share of the workforce in these sectors, they face persistent barriers such as limited access to land, finance, markets, and decision-making, while also bearing disproportionate climate impacts. Despite these challenges, women are key drivers of resilience, innovation, and environmental stewardship, and greater recognition and inclusion are essential for achieving climate-resilient and equitable growth.

This session will spotlight women-led enterprises as drivers of innovation and resilience in blue and green economies, moving beyond policy discussions to highlight practical business models. Through South–South exchange, it will:

• demonstrate how women entrepreneurs turn climate and sustainability challenges into viable, resilient, and market-oriented opportunities,

• showcase tools and models that help women overcome barriers to finance, markets, and recognition across value chains, and

• highlight how policies, partnerships, and support ecosystems can enable the scaling and replication of women-led innovations in the blue and green economies.

Registration: https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z1CCJZ9yQhKzexYS3dddEw#/registration 

Programme: https://agrinnovators.org/innovation-session/south-south-empowering-and-growing-women-led-business-session-n7/ 

The Pan-African Farmers Organisation is launching Phase 2 of the EYPA Mentorship Programme for young women farmers looking to strengthen their agricultural businesses.

Programme offers:
• Mentorship from experienced agricultural professionals
• Training in farm management, market access, and business planning
• Access to a network of women farmers across Africa
• Support and resources to grow agricultural enterprises
• Networking with industry experts and peers

Eligibility:
Young women (18–45) engaged in agriculture and committed to developing their enterprise, learning from mentors, and supporting food security and economic empowerment in their communities.

Apply:
ENG: https://surl.li/dklsgz 
FR: https://shkd.us/pGjfjAuI

Deadline: 20 February 2026

GO TO THE SURVEY (FRENCH)  

We warmly thank you for your contribution by answering the questions before the 7th of January 2026.

🚀 What it offers

A hands-on curriculum combining:

• Data literacy for climate action

• No-code tools (Google Sheets, Web GIS, Teachable Machine, Custom GPTs)

• Ethical, gender-responsive AI practices

• Project management & green entrepreneurship

• Skills to design, validate and pitch climate-impact projects or business models

Ideal if you’re building or exploring climate-tech, civic-tech, sustainability solutions, or purpose-driven ventures.

👥 Who it’s for

Young people 15–34 in the Asia–Pacific region:

• Aspiring entrepreneurs, activists, students, early-career professionals

• Strong encouragement for young women, gender-diverse youth, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous youth

• No coding or AI background needed

🧭 Flexible learning pathways

Choose one or mix several:

1. Ultimate Green-Skilled Young Professional (3 months)
   Master data, AI, project design & green entrepreneurship.
   Outcome: Full project proposal or business plan.

2. Green Data Analyst (1.5 months)
   Learn climate data collection, analysis & visualization.
   Outcome: Dashboard + advocacy brief.

3. Green AI Analyst (2 months)
   Apply no-code AI for forecasting, biodiversity & risk reduction.
   Outcome: AI-powered climate adaptation solution.

4. Green Entrepreneur (2 months)
   Turn your idea into a viable green business model.
   Outcome: Business model + 3-slide pitch deck.

📅 Programme details

• Jan–Mar 2026

• ~3 hrs/week + project work

• English-language delivery

📝 How to apply

• Deadline: 16 December 2025

• Application form: Application Form for the EmPower Academy 

Women-led MSMEs represent about 35% of MSMEs in developing markets and are vital for economic growth, yet they face slower expansion due to limited access to finance, institutional barriers, and concentration in low-growth sectors. Despite global progress in financial inclusion, women remain less likely than men to engage with financial institutions, with a persistent 9-point gender gap in account ownership. Their businesses are often smaller, more informal, and clustered in consumer-oriented or “women’s” sectors, reflecting social norms, limited collateral, and heavy household responsibilities. Expanding women’s access to finance and integrating them into formal financial networks could significantly boost productivity and growth, and empower women in all areas.

Participants will gain firsthand perspectives by directly hearing from experienced entrepreneurs and experts in the field of access to finance. They will discover practical insights into innovative financial solutions, learn strategies to overcome common barriers, and explore networks that can help them secure capital, grow their businesses, and strengthen their leadership skills. 

More information can be found on this page of Agrinnovators (programme, biodata, etc): https://agrinnovators.org/innovation-session/south-south-empowering-and-growing-women-led-business-session-n5/ 

Registration link: https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4HA-OExSSGqesTEBeLUFtw#/registration 

In 2016, my brother and I founded Cacao Mae with a simple but ambitious dream: to create authentic, additive-free cocoa products that reflect the true quality of Dominican cacao. Today, our products are sold locally and abroad, from the U.S. to Europe, but for me, the real success lies in making sure small producers and women in agriculture grow with us.

That’s why I work closely with women like Yluminada Ortega, a cocoa producer with whom I share knowledge and build opportunities. Partnerships like this go beyond business, they prove that women can lead change in agriculture, opening doors for others along the way.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do. At Cacao Mae, we’ve embraced solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and recyclable packaging. I believe entrepreneurship should create value not only for us, but for our communities and the planet.

For me, empowerment means showing that women can lead businesses, shape global value chains, and stay rooted in our local identity. My journey is proof that when we lift each other up, we can build something that lasts.

More information: https://agrinnovators.org/business-profile/cacao-mae/