LEAP Africa, a pioneering social innovators programme based in Nigeria, was honoured at the Krutham Africa Impact Investment Awards. These awards, organisers say, are a testament to their unwavering commitment to empowering young changemakers and driving impactful solutions within the agricultural sector.
In a continent where agricultural challenges are both complex and urgent, LEAP Africa’s efforts stand out as a beacon of hope. With a focus on education, agriculture and food security, renewable energy and sustainable environments, and technology-driven solutions, it equips young innovators with the tools they need to create lasting, impactful change.
The Krutham Africa Impact Investment Awards, formerly known as Intellidex, serve as a prestigious platform to honour the impactful investments and contributions of individuals and organizations across Africa. This year’s inclusion on agriculture is particularly apt, given the sector’s pivotal role in the continent’s sustainable development.
Dr Graunt Kruger, managing director of Krutham, said, “Our award recipients are opening doors to a new dimension of capital accessibility, emphasising the critical role of the investment community in driving impact investments. Collaboration among investors, government bodies, civil society, and the media is essential.”
In addition to recognising excellence, the awards also aim to foster networks among impact investors and increase knowledge of the sector and its possibilities.
One of the judges of the awards, Sophie Omar from the Impact Investing Institute, believes that highlighting the important and trailblazing work that is being done at every level of the investment chain, from emerging impact ventures to innovations in financial instruments, is essential. “By showcasing the range of opportunities across the African continent, the awards play a key role in growing the impact investing field,” she says.
The Krutham Africa Impact Investment Awards also aim to encourage impact investors to forge networks and to increase knowledge of the sector and its possibilities.
“Our award winners prove that there are very good impact investment activities in Africa but many of the organisations in this space have limited connections to others like them. We want to help create connections. Knowledge is also limited, except among experienced practitioners. We want to encourage the sharing and spreading of knowledge so that the sector can grow and prosper,” says Kruger.
Judge Sylvain Merlen from the Egypt Impact Task Force says the “quality of participants in all categories, and richness of judges’ debates, are testimony to the balanced development of the impact investment and impact management ecosystem in Africa, an indispensable component to financing the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Leila Akahloun, senior advisor to Graça Machel Trust and board member of Impact Investing SA, added: “The Krutham Africa Impact Investment Awards are providing important recognition and visibility to the rapidly evolving impact investment landscape in Africa. I am particularly pleased to see a number of high impact funds and social enterprises nurturing the growth of women entrepreneurs.”
Nominations were judged by 14 experts drawn from across Africa.
READ NEXT: Greenpeace Africa: Renewable energy for agricultural resilience
