HASTEN Accelerator

HASTEN: Harnessing SDG-based Agrifood System Transformation through the Empowerment of the Next-Generation of Agrifood Leadership in Africa

The FAO HASTEN project supports agrifood MSMEs and startups in Lesotho, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, particularly those led by youth and women, by promoting green, eco-inclusive, and social business practices that contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) acceleration. By addressing both enterprise-level capacity and broader ecosystem constraints, the project fosters a new generation of agrifood leaders equipped to drive sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient growth across Africa.

Scaling-up eco-inclusive, social agripreneurship

The project activities include a comprehensive mapping and analysis of the agrifood MSME and startup support ecosystem in each country with a specific focus on green, eco-inclusive, and social enterprises led by youth and women. Through the development of practical diagnostic tools and in-depth reports, the project identifies ecosystem gaps, investment bottlenecks, and innovation opportunities, generating concrete recommendations to enable transformative change.

Building on this, adelphi experts designed and implemented a structured business incubation programme supporting 30 high-potential SMEs. The programme combines intensive in-country workshops with tailored one-on-one mentoring, equipping entrepreneurs with the skills, strategies, and partnerships needed to build resilient business models, scale their operations, and access new markets and financing opportunities.

In parallel, adelphi supported the organization of national multi-stakeholder workshops that bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, ecosystem enablers, and financiers. By presenting ecosystem findings, facilitating dialogue, and enabling enterprise pitching sessions, the project strengthens coordination, mobilizes investment, and enhances collaboration across the agrifood sector.

Empowering youth to lead solutions

Through its integrated ecosystem strengthening, enterprise acceleration, and stakeholder engagement approach, HASTEN empowers young and female entrepreneurs to lead sustainable agrifood transformation in their countries. The project not only strengthens individual enterprises but also improves the enabling environment for eco-inclusive innovation, contributing to long-term economic resilience, job creation, climate adaptation, and inclusive SDG achievement.