FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme for Youth-Led Enterprise

The HASTEN Business Incubation Programme is now open for youth-led enterprises in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. This unique initiative supports the next generation of food systems entrepreneurs and enterprises committed to building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.

🌍 About the Programme

HASTEN—Harnessing SDG-based Agrifood System Transformation through the Empowerment of the Next Generation of Agrifood Leadership in Africa—is an FAO project under the Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC). Operating in Lesotho, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, the programme aims to:

• Promote capacity development in transdisciplinary systems thinking for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) interlinkages.
• Foster multistakeholder collaboration by strengthening public-private-academic partnerships for inclusive governance.
• Support agripreneurship and youth empowerment by scaling eco-inclusive business models that contribute to the SDGs and generate employment.

The programme focuses on youth- and women-led, eco-inclusive, and green startups, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that contribute to making agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

The initiative is implemented by the FAO Office of Sustainable Development Goals, with technical support from SEED.

🎁 Benefits

Participants in the FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme will receive the following benefits:

• 5-Day In-Person Incubation Workshop:

  • Strengthen sustainable business practices.
  • Develop sustainable business plans and financial strategies.
  • Utilize interactive workbooks and hands-on tools, facilitated by international and national coaches.

• Ecosystem Event:

  • Pitch business models to stakeholders from public and private sectors, academia, and development organizations.
  • Gain visibility and open doors to future collaborations.

• Tailored Follow-Up Support:

  • Three enterprises per country will receive customized support to scale operations and build strategic partnerships.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

The programme specifically targets SMEs and startups that meet the following criteria:

• Legally registered in Lesotho, Rwanda, or Sierra Leone.
• Operational for 1–3 years.
• Led by entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35.
• Demonstrate a clear contribution to sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
• Fully comply with FAO integrity standards and are not involved in any UN-prohibited or unethical practices.

Priority Areas

The programme is especially looking for:

• Resilience-Boosting Startups:
  Enhance the resilience of agrifood systems to climate change and other systemic shocks through sustainable agricultural practices and climate-smart innovations.

• Safe and Nutritious Food Enterprises:
  Produce or enhance access to healthy, nutritious, safe, and affordable food. Support food quality and safety standards while increasing public awareness around nutrition and healthy diet choices.

• Inclusive Business Models:
  Promote value chain and livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers, women, and youth.

📅 Application Date and Process

1. Read Full Details: Review eligibility, exclusion, and selection criteria on the HASTEN webpage.
2. Submit Application: Fill out the application form by 27 June 2025.
3. Shortlisting: Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited to present their business virtually before final selections are made.
4. Workshops: Incubation workshops will be held in each country from September – October 2025, with follow-up support for selected enterprises taking place in October – November 2025.

📌 Key Dates

• Date Published: 9 June 2025
• Application Deadline: 27 June 2025
• Workshops: September – October 2025
• Follow-Up Support: October – November 2025

🌟 Sponsor

The programme is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

For more details, visit the FAO-HASTEN Business Incubation Programme webpage.

Apply now via the application form.

• Selected enterprises (8–10 per country) will participate in a 5-day, in-person incubation workshop, designed to strengthen sustainable business practices and support the growth of eco-inclusive and socially driven agripreneurship models. They will receive tailored guidance to develop sustainable business plans and financial strategies, utilizing interactive workbooks and hands-on tools, facilitated by international and national coaches.
• The final day of each workshop includes an ecosystem event, where participants will pitch their business models and connect with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and development organizations, opening doors to future collaboration and increased visibility in the startup ecosystem.
• In addition, three enterprises per country will be selected for tailored follow-up support focused on scaling their operations and building strategic partnerships.