“At AWAN Afrika, we strongly believe that our AI-powered digital platform will not only revolutionize agribusiness but also will be an equalizer tool for technology transformation of the Africa food system driven by women and youth agripreneurs.”Beatrice Gakuba
Founder and Executive Director, African Women Agribusiness Network
[A3.5] AWAN Afrika will continue to promote digital literacy and access to digital agricultural tools for women, ensuring they benefit from technology-driven advancements in agrifood systems using its AI-powered digital platform.
Over the past three years, AWAN Afrika has managed to train 1 000 women agripreneurs in digital literacy, boosting access to digital tools, solutions and connectivity and improving their ability to compete in modern agrifood markets.
In 2025, AWAN Afrika will expand its digital literacy initiatives, reaching a projected 5 000 beneficiaries. It will also scale up the reach of AWAN Afrika’s AI-powered agribusiness platform, increasing the number of women agripreneurs benefiting from the platform’s services and resources.
Digital technology is profoundly transforming agrifood systems, enhancing productivity, market access, food traceability and resilience to climate shocks. From AI-driven farming solutions to mobile-based financial services, digital innovations are revolutionizing how food is produced, traded and consumed.
However, women in agrifood systems often experience a digital divide, lacking access to digital tools, connectivity and training, which limits their ability to compete, scale businesses, and benefit from modern agricultural advancements. Structural barriers that affect women in agribusiness widen this digital divide. Limited digital literacy, lower access and ownership of mobile phones, restricted financial access, and in some areas, sociocultural norms prevent many women (aged over 50 years) from leveraging existing technologies. Without targeted action, this divide will reinforce existing gender inequalities in income, productivity and food security.
The African Women Agribusiness Network (AWAN Afrika) has long been invested in leveraging technology to close the digital gap for women in agriculture. Through its AI-powered digital platform, the organization equips women entrepreneurs, cooperatives and agribusiness leaders with region-specific farming knowledge, market intelligence, financial literacy resources, and digital agricultural tools. AWAN Afrika emphasizes financial inclusion, market access, and trade facilitation, ensuring that women are equipped with the knowledge, tools and business skills necessary for growth.
By joining the CGE initiative, AWAN Afrika aligns its efforts with a broader movement to promote gender equality in agrifood systems. Its commitment to bridging the digital divide for women ensures that they benefit from technology-driven advancements, leading to increased productivity, economic empowerment, and sustainable development in agriculture.
By expanding its investment in digital literacy and bridging the technology gap, AWAN Afrika is ensuring that women can fully participate in and benefit from the digital economy, positioning them as key actors in modern, resilient, and technology-driven agrifood value chains.
Required citation:
FAO. 2025. Commit to Grow Equality: investing in the future of women in agrifood systems – Progress report 2025. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4123en
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