Apply for Land Accelerator in Africa

In 2018, World Resources Institute (WRI) and Fledge launched the Land Accelerator Africa to support the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). This continent-wide program is implemented in close collaboration with the AFR100 secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD and Barka.

To support the AFR100 Initiative’s goal of restoring 100 million hectares of land by 2030, the Land Accelerator provides entrepreneurs who restore land across Africa with mentorship and networking opportunities, technical training and workshops to build up their storytelling and pitching skills.

This year, the Land Accelerator in Africa will offer two simultaneous programs: the continental Land Accelerator Africa and the Land Accelerator Landscapes.

The Land Accelerator team will select 100 companies to join the Land Accelerator Africa and an additional 260 businesses to join the Landscapes program. Those applying from the three landscapes may be sorted into either program depending on their eligibility. All companies will start with the same 12-week virtual training program, with further in-person training opportunities available for selected cohort members.

Why Participate?

• Accepted cohort participants will receive access to:
  • 3 months of weekly live virtual trainings
  • Templates to create content to help your business thrive
  • Weekly training sessions with investment and restoration business experts who will lend their expertise to discuss how to integrate new concepts and tools into your business strategy.
  • Networking with an innovative cohort of entrepreneurs working to further the land restoration movement across Africa
  • Opportunity to earn the title “Restoration Champion” and a certificate upon completion of the program
  • Opportunity to receive an innovation grant upon completion of Land Accelerator program requirements. Grant availability and amount will be announced to the accepted cohort upon finalization of funding procedures for the 2024 cohort year
• By the end of the program, entrepreneurs will receive training and tools needed to complete:
  • A compelling one-minute pitch to hook investors, customers, and potential partners
  • A 10-12 slide pitch deck targeted towards investors
  • An environmental indicator measurement, management, and marketing plan
  • A 3-5-year financial model to visualize growth projections and to identify capital needs
  • A gender analysis to further equity within your company and community
  • A business website and video
  • Increased confidence in your business’s mission and operations
• Additionally, Land Accelerator Africa participants will have the opportunity to apply for the Land Accelerator Africa Phase 2, which will select 15 top companies to receive additional opportunities for mentorship and investment readiness including:
  • A 90-minute group mentorship session with members of the Land Accelerator mentor network who will provide tailored feedback and suggestions to further develop your business.
  • An investment coaching meeting with a Land Accelerator organizer to develop your investment and innovation grant plan.
  • An invitation to attend the in-person Land Accelerator Africa Workshop and Demo Day. The Land Accelerator Africa workshop will occur in Accra, Ghana in October 2024.
  • An opportunity to receive grant funding or an investment from the Land Accelerator and TerraFund, depending on the availability of funds.

Land Accelerator Landscapes – Which Regions are Eligible?

To be eligible for Land Accelerator Landscapes programs, your company must operate in

• Kenya’s Greater Rift Valley
• The Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda
• The Ghana Cocoa Belt

AFR100 Initiative Countries

• Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Burundi, Namibia, Cameroon, Niger, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho, Togo, Liberia, Uganda, Madagascar, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe.

Criteria

Companies applying to the Land Accelerator should meet these 5 criteria:

• Operates in an AFR100 initiative country
• Is locally-led
  • Locally led restoration engages local communities as stakeholders in the process from design to decision making and implementation. Local staff are included in the organization’s leadership.
  • Companies with a model that ensure smallholders can participate in the value chain, employ people locally, and can show concrete benefits for local communities are prioritized.
  • Companies that specifically employ and empower women and youth are especially welcome to apply.
• Is market-based, receiving money for providing goods or services
  • Most participants in the Land Accelerator are for-profit, registered businesses.
  • Farmer cooperatives and forestry associations that sell products and/or services are eligible.
  • Non-profits that sell products or services to clients are eligible.
  • Organizations that rely solely on grants or philanthropy are not eligible.
  • Consortium projects or joint projects are not eligible. This is an opportunity for sole entities to develop their leadership and strategy.
  • Universities, research organizations, government agencies and intergovernmental organizations are not eligible.
• Is operational and is looking to scale
  • Companies that are already operational, selling products or services with experience restoring land are eligible and prioritized.
  • Companies that are looking to expand or diversify operations to include land restoration products or services may be eligible.
  • Companies that are at an idea or pre-revenue stage are generally not eligible, but especially novel, promising ideas have been accepted. This program focuses on scaling and investment readiness, which is applicable to growing, operational companies.
• Has a business model that contributes to land restoration
  • Restoration with practices that fall within sustainable agriculture, reforestation and agroforestry are eligible.
  • Any businesses with activities that convert, destroy, or further degrade natural ecosystems are not eligible.

For more information, visit WRI.