Southern and Central Africa’s regional agricultural productivity and food security is facing increasing pressures due to unpredictable weather patterns and increasingly frequent severe weather events. With the livelihoods of 60% of the population in the region tied to agriculture, smallholder farmers – particularly women – and other end-users need innovative solutions that will mitigate the effects. 

Meet the Southern and Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub (S/CA RIH) which will support water- and/or energy-efficient innovations through grants, technical assistance, and investment facilitation. By helping the innovations expand their reach, the S/CA RIH impacts smallholder farmers and their livelihoods, food security, gender equality, climate resilience, and has a positive impact on all living things. 

The S/CA RIH also partners with local organizations and investors to increase private sector investment, advocate for improved water-energy-food policies and regulations, and open dialogue and communication between the usually separate water, energy, and food sectors. 

On January 27th, the team at the Southern and Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub will share their work, explore potential partnerships, and describe the path ahead for 2022 with an official launch.

It is an exciting time for the hub as we evaluate over 150 applications received during the first regional Call for Innovations. It doesn’t matter if you’re a farmer, enterprise, investor, business service provider, government agency, NGO, or research institution, there’s an opportunity for you within the WE4F Southern and Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub! 

• For enterprises, nonprofits, and others interested in applying to the next CFI: learn more about the hub and our plans for 2022. 
• For investors considering the Expression of Interest: this is the perfect opportunity to hear from the hub team and learn more about the value you’ll gain from working with us and WE4F innovators.
• For potential partners: see where our interests align and explore potential connections.

Based in Pretoria, South Africa, the Southern and Central Africa RIH supports innovators in the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Central Africa Republic, Chad, DRC, Chad, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.