Heifer International organized the 5th ^edition of its regional finals. This initiative, in which the Heifer International Foundation invests, aims to implement a decentralized approach that seeks to promote agricultural innovation led by young people, while also taking into account the agro-ecological, economic, and social realities of each region.

 

The Ayute Africa competition is an initiative of Heifer International that encourages innovators to develop agricultural solutions for smallholder farmers. It highlights and supports high-impact entrepreneurial initiatives to strengthen agriculture and food systems.

 

For Abdoulaye Ndiaye, head of the monitoring/evaluation program at Heifer International, "the goal is to strengthen the territorial anchoring of the program by highlighting the agricultural innovations that young people are creating, respectively at the level of each of their areas of residence or activity."

 

According to the program's leaders, the organization of the regional finals marks a significant milestone in the entire project. Beyond the selection process, which will take place at the most local level, these finals represent a strategic tool for territorial mobilization, advocacy, and, above all, for legitimizing Agritech in service of smallholder farmers and the national ecosystem.

 

Designed to reflect the agricultural realities and other potentialities of each region, these finals cover both the themes and areas of interest as defined according to the needs or future programs presented by the region (youth innovation, levers for the development of strong agricultural cooperatives and job creators) among other selected examples.

 

In Kaolack, the panelists will use the finals to explore themes such as technological challenges and innovations, solutions for sustainable impact, and other topics chosen by the jury. Specifically in Kaolack, the debate focused primarily on the theme: "Agricultural productivity, services for producers, and appropriate mechanization."

 

It should be noted that this competition will attract 300 applications. Following the initial rounds, the three (3) best from each zone will be brought together in Thiès for boot camps and further training. The startups eliminated from this shortlist will compete in the national final in Dakar for a chance to win the 8 million FCFA prize awarded to the first-place winner of the "Ayute Africa Challenge 2026," and the additional 8 million FCFA to be distributed to the second and third-place winners.