A Malawian seed producer Dr. Grace Malindi is a grant recipient of the US Department of State (DOS) and United States African Development Foundation (USADF) totaling $100,000.
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This was disclosed during the visit of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee when she traveled with a delegation of American companies to Dakar, Senegal from November 4 – 6 to promote economic growth through increased trade and investment with the US.
According to a press release from African Affairs in Washington D.C., Malindi, 67 is part of four more grant recipients in addition to the finalists for six new grants.
During a visit to Soxna Cosmetics in Thies, Senegal, the Assistant Secretary presented a $99,500 business grant to Seynabou Fall, the Senegalese founder of the hair and skincare line Soxna Cosmetics.
The grant will be used by Soxna Cosmetics to improve production capacity, to increase employment and expand into new markets.
The delegation also toured Soxna Cosmetic’s current product manufacturing facility and met with the company’s staff and other female entrepreneurs to discuss the projected impact of the grant on the community and their livelihoods.
African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP)’s business grants are highly competitive, with USADF receiving over 1,000 grant applications from across Africa and conducting multiple reviews before selecting the five grantees and six finalists.
Established in 2014 by two women, Malindi’s company Mgom’mera Seed Investments, is dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture seed systems and has persistently focused on promoting drought tolerant and nutrient dense certified seed varieties for smallholder farmers, agro-processors, cooperatives, government programs and non-government programs.
“AWEP provides access to funding and capacity-building resources to African women-owned businesses to strengthen the growth and profitability of their businesses and to facilitate their participation in international trade. The DOS partnered with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) in 2022 to administer the grants.
“In addition to Soxna Cosmetics, DOS and USADF are proud to announce four more grant recipients in addition to the finalists for six new grants, totaling more than $1 million dollars. One Grant Finalist is from Malawi” reads the statement.
Malindi’s background in extension was valuable in understanding their market
She has a Ph.D. in Human and Community Development with a double minor in Gender and International Development and Agriculture Extension and Advisory from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the U.S.
USADF President and CEO Travis Adkins stated that the grants are aimed at empowering African women entrepreneurs.
“These grants reflect the powerful collaboration between USADF and the U.S. Department of State to empower African women entrepreneurs. By providing essential funding and resources to leaders like Seynabou, we are committed to fostering economic growth and strengthening the resilience of communities across Africa”.
