Welcome to the official website for
African Women to Agribusiness Network in East Africa (AWAN-EA)

Drive through the countryside in East Africa, past rows of corn, cabbage and coffee, and it’s plain to see that agriculture plays a vital role in the livelihoods of its people. Volumes of publications verify the importance of farming to Africa’s economic andnutritional development. What may be surprising is that women are the leading actors in this field—contributing 60 to 80 percent of the labor for production, processing and marketing. Yet, without adequate access to or control of productive resources, women reap the least in economic benefits.If Africa is to pull itself out of poverty, reduce hunger and realize meaningful economic growth, governments and development partners must provide the impetus for accelerating improvements in agricultural production and trade.

That means urgent support for women’s small- and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises—the heart of this sector.AWAN-EA provides practical tools for women in East Africa to enhance the quality, quantity and profitability of their products in regional and international markets.

Through our network of country chapters, AWAN-EA supports women as they fully develop their business potential. To help these entrepreneurs prosper in an ever-changing, ever-demanding global economy, AWAN-EA has developed an ambitious plan of action, to be implemented, and will require the assistance of private-sector, civil society, governmental and development partners. By pooling our financial, intellectual and organizational resources, we can unleash the capacity of African women in agribusiness. We invite you to join us in bolstering their efforts to create jobs, build incomes and improve lives.

Cecilia Cege
Chairperson, Regional Board of Directors

Please click on the links below to download some of our publications:

AWAN-EA Strategic plan 2005-2010

AWAN-EA Brochure

AWAN-EA Annual Report