Women in agribusiness across Africa continue to face entrenched systemic barriers. Although they make up over 60% of the continent’s agricultural workforce, women receive less than 10% of available credit and control less than 20% of agricultural land (FAO, 2011). These figures highlight a persistent gap in access to resources, opportunities, and support.
To help close this gap, the Graça Machel Trust partnered with the 2025 BRICS+ Agriculture Investment and Trade Summit—a high-impact platform to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and reshape global agricultural trade. Held from March 27 to 29, 2025 at the Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa, the summit brought together government officials, investors, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders from BRICS+ countries and beyond.
Through the Fair For All project and in partnership with Oxfam South Africa, the Trust supported 14 South African women agripreneurs to attend and exhibit their businesses at the Summit. These entrepreneurs also participated in pitch sessions and cross-border mentorship panels, building meaningful networks with potential investors and collaborators. Some secured investment leads, and mentorship offers, while others began deal discussions with international stakeholders.
One of the standout moments came from entrepreneur Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines, who attracted interest from two Indian investors keen to explore opportunities with her Cape Town-based wine business. Her pitch at the BRICS PowerPitch session demonstrated the direct impact of targeted support for women-led ventures on global business expansion.
During the summit’s opening plenary, GMT’s Director of Programmes, Shiphra Chisha, emphasised the urgent need to address women’s structural challenges in agriculture. “In certain parts of our country, women still face significant barriers such as access to land,” she said. Chisha called for dismantling outdated norms and advancing strategic solutions to elevate women-led agribusinesses through market access, cross-border partnerships, and sustainable economic growth.
In echoing her message, GMT’s Policy and Advocacy Consultant, Cleopatra Ngulube, joined the Expanding Global Trade panel to discuss the real-world obstacles African entrepreneurs face in accessing regional and global markets. Drawing from her expertise in trade facilitation, she stressed the importance of aligning regulatory standards and simplifying Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures within BRICS to unlock Africa’s full trade potential. She shared an example: “South Africa has faced repeated challenges exporting citrus to China. Despite the demand, strict cold treatment protocols and complex transport processes often cause delays—sometimes leading to spoiled shipments and losses for exporters.” She added: “When regulations are more complex than the trade itself, we’re not protecting markets—we’re paralysing them. Alignment isn’t optional; it’s the gateway to inclusive growth.”
The women entrepreneurs reflected on their experience: “We will put to good use all that we have learned and experienced in the last three days. It was a great networking opportunity—we made lots of contacts.” Their feedback underscores the value of giving women the right platforms to engage, learn, and lead.
The Graça Machel Trust remains optimistic in its mission to advance women entrepreneurs and to champion inclusive, sustainable growth through advocacy, improved market access, and gender-lens investment. For these women agripreneurs, the BRICS+ Agriculture Investment and Trade Summit was a launchpad for new partnerships, investment opportunities, and a future where women lead Africa’s agricultural transformation.
Lehlogonolo Ratlabyana, Programme Officer at GMT highlighted a critical insight from her summit experience: “It provided an excellent platform for entrepreneurs from various BRICS countries to showcase their businesses and products. However, it became clear that entrepreneurs urgently need enhanced coaching and mentorship to effectively pitch to investors. I call on investors and relevant stakeholders to intentionally deepen their engagement with entrepreneurs, fully understand their value propositions, and consciously commit to supporting local businesses.” She added: “True investment means buying local, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to significantly increase their turnover, secure market presence, and become prominent industry players.”
Local excellence on display: Women agripreneurs showcased wines, organic farm produces from raw honey, jams, herbs, chillie sauces and spices, and herbal medicines at BRICS+ Summit
Voices from the Summit
Watch some of the entrepreneurs as they reflected on their experience and impact of the project and being at the summit. They shared how the BRICS+ Summit and the Graça Machel Trust created a space for networking, potential investments and opened doors for more opportunities. Follow the links to watch:
- Verdra Brown, Founder of Last Lap Fresh Produce & Agroprocessing in East London
- Kwanele Nyawo, Founder of Khulu Fine Wines in Cape Town
- Elizabeth Peterson, Founder of Libby’s Pride Wines in Muizenberg, Cape Town
- Tandi Hopa, Founder of Riverbend Farming in East London
- Lungisa Nokwelo, Founder of Cberkie Projects and Innovations in Mthatha, Eastern Cape
- Pumeza Maseti, Fonder of Sinemihlali in East London
- Sibongile Cele, Founder of Mcebo Unlimited Wealth (Pty) Ltd in Johannesburg
- Refiloe Molefe, Founder of Fountains of Youth Entrepreneurs Projects in Johannesburg
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The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.