Gender makes Business Sense +: Driving Inclusivity and Innovation in Agribusiness

Accra, Ghana: Picture a world where women in agribusiness are unstoppable, boldly transforming the landscape with their ideas, resilience, and vision. In pursuit of this inspiring vision the Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF) and MOVE-ComCcashew organized an intensive Training of Trainers (ToT) for 25 women agripreneurs on Gender makes Business Sense Plus (GmBS+). This transformative ToT took place from August 19 - 28, 2024, in Accra, Ghana.

Over the course of two weeks, participants were equipped with gender-inclusive strategies designed to drive innovation, enhance profitability, and amplify social impact within their respective agribusiness value chains.

Facilitated by two seasoned Master Trainers, Madam Florence Tieko Vanderpuje and Mr. Albert Kwaw Eliason, the workshop featured extensive hands-on exercises that allowed participants to put gender-inclusive concepts into practice. Key topics included inclusive leadership, the power of diversity in driving business innovation, and gender-sensitive practices in agribusiness.

Interactive sessions, enriched with simulations and case studies, created a vibrant space for participants to share insights from their own business experiences. This peer-to-peer learning approach deepened discussions on the role of gender inclusivity in agribusiness, offering practical solutions tailored to the African agricultural landscape.

The workshop brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) and the Women in Agricultural Development Directorate (WIAD) of Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture. This multi-stakeholder engagement emphasized the importance of collaboration in fostering gender equity across all sectors of agriculture.

At the end of the workshop, participants had not only gained a deeper understanding of gender dynamics for business profitability but also earned certification as Trainers of GmBS+.