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Entrepreneurship Award

The Forum was also the occasion for the well-established EMRC Entrepreneurship Award, which spotlighted innovative entrepreneurial projects based in Africa.

Marie-Claire Matamba, from Agrimat Gabon, inspired the panel with her tenacity to expand and grow her agricultural project,was awarded the project a US$5000 cash prize sponsored by EMRC.

Agrimat Gabon is a small agribusiness venture, growing bananas on a 2ha small holding and cocoa on another 3ha plot and also purchases cassava tubers and other local vegetables from local farmers.

The aim is that by 2016, the holding is expanded by another 5ha for bananas, as well as the establishment of a cassava plantation over a 10ha plot.

Marie-Claire Matamba

Agrimat (Gabon)

AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2013

"I would say so much has changed. The Project Incubator Award created a momentum that I never foresaw. In the space of one year I have:I received the full support of the Government and I am now used as an example championed by various Ministries to promote agriculture and SMEs throughout the country.

I have media companies coming regularly to interview me and film my various farming activities which in turn have given me free publicity. Some of these interviews have also been shown in other African countries, once again giving me market visibility beyond Gabon.

Most importantly, with the money I have increased my overall production and been recognised at the national and regional level."

Previous Awards

Standing out from within the crowded private sector, they have demonstrated excellence in business. Through social impact and sustainability they represent a truly innovative African private sector.

EMRC-Rabobank Project Incubator Award 2012

Lovin Kobusingye

Kati Farms (Uganda)

"I would first of all encourage anyone who has something in line of business to participate in the EMRC-Rabobank Project Incubator Award competition. This is because in this competition there is a levelled playground for everyone, the judges are free and fair and you get what you deserve."

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AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2012

Anastácio Roque Gonçalves

CESACOPA (Angola)

“It is a great honour to be nominated as the winner! Presenting my organisation and the vision I have for it to grow to the entire AFIF 2012 audience was exciting; and winning it was really an honour for me and for all the people that take part in this great project in Angola. It was a day I will not forget and I thank EMRC and its partners HIVOS/VC4Africa for this amazing opportunity,”

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EMRC-Rabobank Project Incubator Award 2011

Everlyne Cherobon

EMEDEN (Kenya)

"Indeed, winning the prize was a defining moment for me and my business. It is difficult to put in words, exactly how I felt when my project emerged the winner. It sounded surreal like it was about someone else. It was only the following day that I truly believed my project had won. Winning this prize, means for me a vote of confidence on what I hope to do with smallholder farmers in the drylands of Kenya. It means there is business sense in working with smallholder farmers in Africa. It means a lot of attention needs to be focused on them."

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We seek to empower the spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa

  • Facilitate access to finance
  • Connect businesses horizontally and vertically
  • Create an exchange of know-how
  • Engage the relevant Public-Private dialogue
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