Call for Participants: Empowering Women in Agrifood Programme in Southern Countries

Empowering Women in Agrifood programme aims to provide comprehensive support to women in their early-stage entrepreneurial path in discovering their potential, providing them with appropriate knowledge and access to a wide network of contacts so that they can successfully set up and develop a sustainable business in the agrifood industry.

During the programme EWA participants take part in dedicated trainings, workshops and events, while developing ideas under the individual supervision of a professional female or male Mentor.

What are the benefits?

• EWA supports women primarily in business, but it can also have a significant impact on personal development. Throughout the duration of the programme, participants work with a dedicated female or male mentor, receive the opportunity to participate in trainings tailored to their needs and in additional activities, local and international events. It is also an invaluable opportunity to establish new contacts. Participation in the programme is completely free of charge, Mentees receive additional financial support of up to 1,000 EUR gross per person during the programme, and after local pitching events they can receive a final grants of up to 10,000 EUR for further development of their ideas.

What ideas are they looking for?

• EWA programme supports ideas directly related to innovative activities and solutions for the agri-food sector that respond to the challenges currently faced by local markets.
• In their assumptions, business ideas should also refer to at least one of the missions that the EIT Food organisation is guided by.

How programme will be delivered?

• EWA programme will run in local languages for a period of 6 months up to 10 women per country. The proper organisation and conduct of all mandatory activities will be supervised by local subcontractors who will also ensure comfort and full support for programme participants.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any person who identifies as a woman over the age of 18 can fill out an online application for the programme. There is no upper age limit. The programme is dedicated to both women who have only a business idea and women who are already running a business, but it should be at a very early stage of development.
• In the case of running a business, the date of its legal registration should not exceed three years, and in the case of previously received funding, it may not exceed EUR 30,000.
• Based on:
  • Identification as a woman.
  • Be a resident of, and in case of start-up representatives, having a company registered in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye and Ukraine, (with excellent or native proficiency of local language)
  • With a business idea or an operating company in the agrifood sector. In case of a business already established, it is only eligible for early stage (less or equal of 3 years since the official registration)
  • Interest and preliminary commitment to attend programme activities, trainings, and events.

For more information, visit EIT Food.