Kenya Youth and Women Agri-Innovators: Apply to HealthyDiets4Africa Accelerator Cohort III

Youth and women agri-innovators in Kenya have a key chance to join the HealthyDiets4Africa Agribusiness Accelerator Program Cohort III. This program calls for applications from those with ideas to change food systems. The deadline is March 22, 2026. It targets teams in counties like Makueni, Nairobi, Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Murang’a. Top innovators can win up to $5,000 in awards plus training to grow their work.

The European Union funds the HealthyDiets4Africa Project. Food Security for Peace and Nutrition Africa runs it. The program helps youth and women lead changes in Kenya’s food systems. It offers e-learning, training, mentorship, and links to partners. These steps build skills for agri-nutrition ideas to grow and reach investors.

Participants gain real support to scale their work. Here are the main benefits:

• Business development through training, upscaling, retooling, and mentorship.
• $5,000 award for the top three high-potential innovations ready to scale.
• Help to find funding from partners and investors.
• Exposure at national and international trade fairs, exhibitions, and exchange programs.
• Access to HealthyDiets4Africa project partners for learning and teamwork.

To qualify, innovations must meet clear rules. They need to fix food system issues in key areas. The program favors ideas tied to underused foods. Enterprises must operate in Kenya, especially preferred counties. They should be new, up to five years old, with a working product or prototype that stands out for its fit and long-term promise.

Here are the main eligibility points:

• Tackle themes like sustainable crop production, urban and peri-urban farming, value addition and fortification, storage and post-harvest handling, or training and distribution services.
• Focus on value chains such as vegetables like mushrooms or African leafy greens, cereals like finger millet or sorghum, tubers like cassava, legumes like pigeon peas, fruits like baobab, or livestock like indigenous poultry.
• Operate in Kenya, with priority for Makueni, Nairobi, Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Murang’a counties.
• Run for up to five years, with a minimum viable product or prototype.
• Show uniqueness, strong planning, and ability to last.

Teams or solo applicants must fit age rules. You can apply alone or with a group of up to ten people. All must match these groups:

• Youth: ages 18 to 35.
• Women: ages 35 to 45.

Apply by March 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Reviews happen on a rolling basis, so early submissions get first look.

Deadline: March 22, 2026, 11:59 PM
Submit your application here
Learn more on the official site

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

Youth aged 18-35 and women aged 35-45 leading teams or solo enterprises in Kenya, especially in counties like Makueni and Nairobi, with innovations up to five years old.

What benefits does the program offer?

Participants get business training, mentorship, up to $5,000 awards for top ideas, investor connections, and exposure at trade fairs.

What themes and value chains are prioritized?

Ideas should address sustainable farming, value addition, storage, or distribution, focusing on foods like African leafy greens, sorghum, cassava, or indigenous poultry.

When is the application deadline?

Applications close on March 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM, with rolling reviews favoring early submissions.