SWFF Program & Innovator News
 Sep 11, 2019
SkyFox To Raise Capital Through IPO

SkyFox Ltd. , a small capital markets initiative, sells Ghana ian farmers shares in fish production cooperatives to aid in increasing farm yields through nutrient irrigation and in feeding the population.
 
Now the company is stepping up its game with plans in the next few months to hold an initial public offering on the Ghana stock exchange in hopes of generating $25 million in revenue.
 
Oliver Ujah, deputy CEO of the West African company, discussed SkyFox's ambition plans recently at a Global Entrepreneurship Summit in The Hague. He was confident of its success.
 
"The Ghana alternative exchange is for small- to medium-scale companies," said Ujah, who has a doctorate in agriculture. "The requirements are not as strict, and it gives us time and knowledge to move forward." 
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  • Water Governance Institute Presents Aquaponics Awards. Water Governance Institute held Uganda's first-ever aquaponics awards ceremony, recognizing 140 of farmers from six districts. Farmers were selected not only for best practices, but also for the efforts to train and mentor fellow farmers. The event also brought together stakeholders including Green Heat Uganda, Care and Assistance for Forced Migrants, Kamuli Fish Farmers Cooperative, and Kamuli District Local Government. Read the full story.
     
  • University of Malawi Publishes Paper on Water Purification. Dr. Placid Mpeketula and fellow educators at University of Malawi have been published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering for their development of alternative approaches to treating munipal wastewater. In particular, the team investigated the use of Morginga oleifera seed powder as an alternative to conventional water treatment methods that are often unaffordable in developing countries. Read the Abstact.
Opportunities
  • Feed the Future & Agrilinks Webiner: Strengthening Private Sector Extension and Advisory Services. On Wednesday, September 11th, Feed the Future Developing Local Extension Capacity (DLEC) Project will present results of a portfolio review exploring recent experience and potential for expanding private sector agricultural extension and advisory services to improve knowledge and information support for the agricultural sector. The review included literature relevant to private sector extension and the extension activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 28 countries. The webinar speakers will give recommendations for expanding private sector agricultural extension and advisory services through future USAID projects and other investments. The webinar will also cover two cases of private sector extension, one in Senegal and one in Uganda. There will be time for questions and answers. To register for this online event, click here.
     
  • Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award. The Swiss Re Foundation is sponsoring its 2020 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award. This global competition awards approximately $700,000 to entrepreneurial initiatives that adopt innovative approaches to building resilient societies. In 2020, the focus is Climate Smart Agriculture, including crop and livestock production as well as aquaculture. Swiss Re Foundation is looking for organizations that provide tools, technologies and approaches enabling smallholder and/or medium scale farmers in low-income communities to carry out environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. For more information and an application, click here. The online questionnaire to submit your organization for consider is due on September 16th.
     
  • The Million Lives Club Connects Innovators and Investors. The Million Lives Club celebrates innovators and social entrepreneurs who are reaching new horizons of impact and improving the lives of those living on less than $5 a day. Entrepreneurs and innovators looking to engage with global investors and partners should submit an application to The Million Lives Club, an initiative recognizing and raising the awareness of innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations who have already scaled to serve at least 1,000,000 clients or improved the lives of smaller remote populations within target communities. Find out eligibility requirements and how you can engage with global investors and partners by visiting, millionlivesclub.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
     
  • TechnoServe Stakeholders Forum: Innovation and Disruption in the Micro Retail Sector in Kenya. ANDE East Africa (Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs) and TechnoServe are holding a stakeholder workshop on September 19th at they Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum aims to bring together diverse stakeholders to discuss the role of technology in catalyzing growth in the sector, opportunities, and challenges of technology and sustainable finance innovation. To learn more and register click here.
1001 Words

Storing rainwater underground for usage in lean periods.

An smallholder farmer in India enjoys access to water for both crop survival and supplementing household water needs. Smallholders are urgently in need of a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable irrigation solution since they cannot afford to pay for a tube well for water. Bhungroo handmade pipes provide food security and income growth where Indian farmers are vulnerable to extreme weather and lack of irrigation facilities.