Post-COVID-19: Resilience building and new opportunities for Caribbean businesses A session organised by IICA and COLEAD
Caribbean Agrifood Business Session n°1
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Innovations Session N°19
Program Links
19/06/2024
Online agrifood marketplaces: presence of African entrepreneurs and smallholders
Online agrifood marketplaces offer great opportunities to increase the online presence of African entrepreneurs and smallholders. This is the topic of the session n°19 organised by the PAFO and COLEAD.
To seize opportunies offered by online agrifood marketplaces, greater efforts are needed to help reduce inequalities in e-trade readiness and across the value chain. For African entrepreneurs to harness the benefits of the digital economy, Governments need to prioritize national digital readiness so that more local businesses can become producers in the digital economy. Building an enabling e-commerce ecosystem requires changes in public policy and business practices to improve the digital and trading infrastructure, facilitate digital payments and establish appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks for online transactions and security. Countries also need better capabilities to capture and harness data, and stronger regulatory frameworks for creating and capturing value in the digital economy, a report says (United Nations. COVID-19 and E-commerce: a global review. 2021. World Bank. The Measurement and Analysis of E-Commerce: Frameworks for Improving Data Availability. Michael J. Ferrantino and Emine Elcin Koten. The World Bank December 2019.).
Governments should encourage e-commerce usage by establishing supportive business laws to protect e-commerce transactions, regulating the Internet to make it a trustworthy business platform.
In addition to causing disruptions to large e-commerce platforms, the COVID-19 crisis also opened opportunities for new and niche platforms employing innovative business models and catering to segments traditionally excluded from large e-commerce platforms. Improving internet access in rural areas, developing more inclusive marketplaces that cater to women and various locations, and fostering an environment that promotes innovation and competition are needed (AgFunder. Africa AgriFoodTech Investment Report. 2022.).
Session Categories
Networking
Join our Agrinnovators community forum to discuss and explore how to encourage innovations across agricultural value chains to transform food systems in Africa, promote sustainable agriculture, and leverage investment. Share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on innovative solutions for a greener future
Isolina Boto
Head of Networks and Alliances, COLEAD
Isolina has more than 25 years of experience in agricultural development. She started her career with the European Commission and has also worked with various ACP embassies and NGOs in areas related to food security, rural development and trade. Before joining COLEAD, she was the Manager of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) Brussels Office (2004-2020).
Ebube Akah
Founder and CEO, Aga’s Wholesome Foods Limited
Ebube Akah is the founder and CEO of Aga’s Wholesome Foods Limited, an agro-processing company that manufactures natural beverage powders and seasoning powders from nutrient dense crops grown in Africa. Ebube previously worked as an audit consultant and manager at KPMG.
Modou NS Njie
Founder and CEO, Farm Fresh
As the founder and CEO of Farm Fresh, a pioneering agribusiness in The Gambia since 2014, Njie has significantly impacted the local agricultural landscape. His company focuses on producing and distributing fresh, organic products, promoting sustainable farming practices, and improving food security in the region.
Moses Owiny
Sector Expert Digitalisation, Enabel Uganda
Moses Owiny serves as Sector Expert Digitalisation with the Belgian development agency (Enabel) in Kampala, Uganda. Prior to this role, he served as Technical Advisor, Rural Development, and later as Advisor, Digitalisation with GIZ Uganda (the German Development Cooperation).
Dr. Babafemi Oyewole
CEO, PAFO
Dr. Babafemi Oyewole, the CEO of Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO). Prior to his appointment at PAFO, he was the CEO of the African Agribusiness Alliance; former CEO of African Cashew Alliance; former Executive Director/CEO of African Energy Investment Corporation (AEICORP); Deputy Secretary General of the West African Bankers Association (WABA); General Manager, Banque Internationale du Benin, and Senior Economist with the Bank of Industry, Nigeria.
Abel Sileshi
Marketing Officer, HellooMarket
Born in Ethiopia, background in marketing management and design. Abel started working in HellooMarket as a marketing officer, content creator, graphics designer, social media manager and videographer for the past 4 years working in the e-commerce sector. HellooMarket is an online shopping platform which offers a variety of products which can be easily searched and bought.
Yvette Uwimpaye
Founder and CEO, Murukali
Yvette Uwimpaye is the Founder and CEO of Murukali, Rwanda’s first online grocery store that was created in 2015 and later evolved to be a marketplace. Murukali’s philosophy is to help clients get shopping services easily, and affordably. Yvette is also a Board Member to Rwanda ICT Chamber, an arm of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) of Rwanda.
Additional Resources
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