I&P Accélération

Richland Foods Limited is a Ugandan agro-processing company producing value-added meat products under the YoNyama brand. Founded in 2020 by Diana Nabukenya Muwonge and Racheal Nanyunja, the company was created to improve access to quality meats as the two started hosting cook-outs during covid lockdown and struggled to get access to quality meat. The business combines meat processing, butchery sales and quick-service food outlets, serving household consumers and institutional buyers through B2C and B2B channels. 

The entrepreneur 

Diana Nabukenya Muwonge is the founder and CEO of Richland Foods and owns 90% of the company. She is an experienced sales and marketing professional with over 10 years of senior management experience across FMCG, e-commerce and brand-building roles in African markets. Before Richland Foods, Diana worked with Unilever, SolarNow and Copia Global and currently serves as a board director of CIC Insurance Company. She works full-time in the business and leads strategy, brand development and operations. 

Partnership with I&P and Inua Capital 

Richland Foods is supported by I&P FARM, a €4 million program aimed at financing and supporting startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the agricultural value chain. The program is backed by Proparco and is implemented and managed by Inua Capital in Uganda and Kenya. 

This partnership will enable the startup to: 

• Finance cold room storage to reduce product losses and improve cold-chain controls 
• Provide working capital to service new markets and increase production reliability 
• Improve packaging and support progress towards UNBS certification 
• Increase sales and marketing efforts in B2B markets 

Founded in Niger in 2021, SCOOPS FASAM Terre Verte is a pioneering cooperative in the production and distribution of organic inputs (seeds, natural fertilizers, and bioprotectants). Under the leadership of its founder, agricultural engineer Djibo Almoustapha Boubacar, a recognized expert in agroecology, the company is taking a strategic step forward with the development of a 4-hectare semi-industrial farm. This integrated complex, equipped with modern production and training facilities, aims to make the cooperative self-sufficient and consolidate its role as a key player in sustainable food sovereignty in Niger. In a consolidation phase, the cooperative aims to scale up through the development of an integrated semi-industrial farm. This strategic project includes the production of vegetable seeds, the manufacture of biofertilizers, as well as the optimization of storage and commercial logistics 

The entrepreneur

Boubacar Djibo is the Executive Director of SCOOPS FASAM Terre Verte, an organization to which he devotes his full attention. An expert in agroecology and bio-intensive techniques, he combines entrepreneurial drive with strong management skills. 

His career has been marked by deep immersion across three continents (Africa, Europe, Asia), enabling him to develop a global vision of food sovereignty that is closely aligned with the needs of small-scale producers. This international experience now fuels his specialized operational expertise in the production of organic inputs (seeds, bioprotectants, bokashi). 

Recognized for his ability to bring together and build networks of farmers, he also serves as a consultant for the ICAF Climate Cluster. His total commitment and rigorous management of agricultural projects make him the driving force behind SCOOPS FASAM Terre Verte’s scaling up toward a sustainable semi-industrial model 

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi S.A

I&P is partnering with the FASAM TERRE VERTE Cooperative through a strategic investment aimed at:

• A repayable loan of 40,000,000 CFA francs, disbursed in three installments contingent upon performance KPIs; 
• Providing technical support to structure financial management, establish financial reporting, and professionalize the cooperative’s accounting procedures; 
• Supporting FASAM’s growth to increase its impact on food sovereignty; 
• Financing the modernization of its production facilities. 

Main Impacts

• Strong potential for climate adaptation: In the face of extreme weather events (drought, flooding, heat, erosion) that threaten crop yields and food security in Niger, the company provides smart and resilient agricultural solutions to sustainably strengthen production systems.
• Strengthening climate resilience: use of adapted local varieties, agroforestry, and agroecological practices to better cope with droughts and Sahelian conditions.
• Sustainable management of natural resources: drip irrigation, mulching, and cover crops to conserve water and preserve soil quality.
• Reducing the carbon footprint: using solar energy and reducing chemical fertilizers to limit GHG emissions, particularly those linked to nitrogen compounds (nitrites) from fertilizers. FASAM also contributes to GHG mitigation by composting organic residues.

IOT POWERPAY AFRICA LIMITED is a Kenyan company founded in 2018 by Joyce Kibe and Geoffrey Kimiti. The company specializes in clean electric cooking (e-Cooking) solutions. It designs and distributes interoperable IoT devices integrated into electric cooking appliances, as well as a SaaS platform that enables remote monitoring and management of these devices.

This technology facilitates the implementation of pay-as-you-go payment models and incorporates an automated data collection and management solution (dMRV), enabling certification and the generation of carbon credits as part of projects to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with clean cooking.

PowerPay’s customer base consists primarily of households, B2B partners, equipment distributors, organizations, and carbon project developers. The company’s solutions and equipment are primarily distributed in Kenya, with a gradual expansion into Uganda and Madagascar.  

The company is recognized for its capacity for innovation and its strong growth potential. Notably, it won the Digital Energy Challenge in 2022 and 2025. 

Entrepreneurs 

The founders of IOT POWERPAY AFRICA LIMITED bring a wealth of complementary experience in the fields of renewable energy, investment, and business management. Joyce Kibe, founder and CEO, has over twelve years of experience in investment management and seven years in off-grid rural electrification. She held senior positions in the real estate and energy sectors in Kenya before founding PowerPay in 2018. Geoffrey Kimiti, co-founder and Executive Chairman, has over seventeen years of experience in the development and management of off-grid rural electrification projects in Africa. A specialist in business development, project structuring, and partnerships, he has worked with several international renewable energy companies and led large-scale projects.  

Partnership with I&P and Gaia Impact 

IOT POWERPAY AFRICA LIMITED is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a €4.8 million program aimed at financing and supporting a dozen startups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa that offer digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU. In Côte d’Ivoire, the program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the startup to:  

• Purchase electronic components and device inventory; 
• Strengthen the team by recruiting key personnel and paying salaries; 
• Acquire industrial equipment to automate the IoT device assembly line; 
• Launch marketing campaigns to educate the market; 
• Structure the company as a regional holding company. 

ACELEAFRICA is a Kenyan company founded in 2021 that specializes in the design, assembly, and reconditioning of batteries. The company develops modular, scalable, and connected energy storage solutions tailored to the needs of households, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mini-grids, and electric mobility operators.

The company offers new, locally assembled batteries, second-life batteries derived from reconditioned cells, as well as innovative battery diagnostic, maintenance, and reuse services.

AceleAfrica’s client base consists primarily of B2B players operating in the sectors of electric mobility, decentralized solar energy, mini-grids, and productive energy uses.

The Entrepreneur

Joseph Mungai, founder and CEO of AceleAfrica, is a Kenyan entrepreneur with over fifteen years of professional experience in the energy, finance, and development sectors. He holds a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Planning and Project Management from the University of Nairobi. He held several management positions before joining Aceleron Energy in 2018.

At Aceleron Energy, he held the positions of Country Manager for Kenya and then Head of Africa Operations, overseeing the company’s regional operations on the African continent. Joseph Mungai took over the operations of the Kenyan subsidiary, which he restructured and expanded under the AceleAfrica brand. 

Partnership with I&P and Gaia Impact 

ACELEAFRICA is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a €4.8 million program aimed at financing and supporting a dozen startups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa that offer digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU. In Côte d’Ivoire, the program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the startup to:  

• Set up a new battery assembly line and acquire advanced testing and diagnostic equipment; 
• Obtain insurance for the assembly line and equipment; 
• Modernize the digital platform for battery monitoring, diagnostics, and traceability; 
• Strengthen working capital to secure the supply of components and support the growth in orders; 
• Certify products according to regional and international standards (KEBS, CE, and UN38.3); 
• Recruit and train new technicians, engineers, and sales representatives to increase the company’s operational capacity; 
• Expand business development. 

CAFREX is an Ivorian company founded in 2022 by Mr. Bouaké SANGARÉ. It specializes in the production and sale of locally grown rice in Côte d’Ivoire. The company primarily offers polished rice, packaged in bulk bags for wholesale, as well as in retail sizes sold at its retail location.

In addition to its processing operations, CAFREX also provides mechanized services to rice producers, including mechanized agricultural services designed to improve the productivity of rice farms. CAFREX’s customer base consists, on the one hand, of wholesalers involved in the distribution of milled rice in local and urban markets, and, on the other hand, of agricultural cooperatives and individual producers who benefit from mechanized services. Distribution takes place primarily from the production facility as well as through a retail outlet located in Abidjan, in the Cocody Angré district. 

The Entrepreneur

Mr. Bouaké Sangaré is an agricultural engineer specializing in crop production. He graduated from the Private Institute of Tropical Agriculture (INPRAT) in Adzopé, where he earned an Associate’s degree in tropical agronomy (2013) and later a bachelor’s degree in engineering (2019), after earning a Series D high school diploma from Lycée Antoine Gauzé in Daloa. He has over ten years of experience in the agricultural sector, having started as an intern at SODEFOR (2014) and then at the Société Agro Piscicole de la Mé (2015), before managing the agro-pastoral farm of the Comptoir Ivoirien des Produits Tropicaux (CIPAX) between 2015 and 2017. He then served as Production Manager at GANLOGIS (2018–2019), followed by Technical Director at Africa Agreco from 2019 to 2022. Since 2022, he has been the manager of the Compagnie Africaine d’Expertise Agricole (CAFREX). Thanks to this varied and progressive career path, Mr. Sangaré possesses solid expertise in agricultural management, crop production, and technical support for farms. 

Partnership with I&P and Proparco 

CAFREX is supported by I&P Accélération FARM, a €4 million program backed by Proparco and designed to finance some 20 SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa operating across the entire agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, this program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance:  

• The purchase of raw materials (paddy); 
• The acquisition of a truck. 

BALIF SARL is an Ivorian company founded in 2019, specialized in cassava processing. It operates a production unit located in Abengourou, in the locality of Yakassé Feyassé. 

The company was created with the aim of adding value to local agricultural products while generating value in rural areas. Its core activities include the production and marketing of attiéké garba and cassava paste, mainly targeting small retailers (garbadromes), wholesalers, as well as a limited number of individual customers. 

The entrepreneur 

Xavier Patrick BALIFI, 41, an Ivorian national, is the founder of BALIF SARL. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance and has over 15 years of experience in climate project management, green finance, and sustainable agriculture across Africa. 

He has held several positions of responsibility, particularly in the steering and coordination of projects in these fields. Driven by the ambition to empower rural communities and contribute to the fight against hunger, he founded BALIF SARL in 2019. 

Partnership with I&P and Proparco 

BALIF SARL benefits from the support of I&P Accélération FARM, a €4 million program backed by Proparco and designed to finance around twenty SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa operating across the agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, the program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance: 

• The purchase of a grating mill; 
• The acquisition of a collection truck; 
• The purchase of a hydraulic press; 
• The purchase of a defibering machine; 
• Expansion works for the production unit. 

BIOANI is an Ivorian company founded in 2022, specialized in the valorization of organic waste and the local production of biological fertilizers. Its solution is based on the breeding of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae to transform organic waste into a high-performance natural fertilizer called Vitalisol. This fertilizer helps reduce the use of imported chemical fertilizers and strengthens soil fertility. In doing so, BIOANI contributes to the decarbonization of agricultural production and the local valorization of organic waste. 

As part of its development, BIOANI joined the CATAL1.5°T program, benefiting from seed funding aimed at industrializing its production. This support includes working capital financing to ensure operational continuity during scale-up, strengthening logistics through the purchase of vehicles for sourcing and delivery, and structuring accounting and ESG management. In the long term, the company aims to become a key player in sustainable fertilization in Côte d’Ivoire by increasing its production capacity and contributing to the climate resilience of the agricultural sector. 

The entrepreneur 

Thibault GUILLE holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Management from McGill University in Montreal and a Master of Science in Management from Università Bocconi in Milan. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BIOANI. 

His professional background includes several roles in finance and strategy. He worked as a Credit Risk Analyst at Bpifrance in 2016, then as a Strategy Consultant at 180 Degrees Consulting from 2016 to 2017. In 2018, he served as a Corporate Strategy Analyst at Orano, followed by a role as Consultant at Kea & Partners in 2019. He was also a Finance and Operations Analyst at Quicksign between 2019 and 2020. From 2020 to 2022, Thibault GUILLE worked as an Investment Officer at Proparco in Abidjan, where he contributed to the appraisal and monitoring of investments in West Africa, developing strong knowledge of African SMEs and environmentally focused projects. 

Partnership with I&P and Comoé Capital 

I&P has committed alongside BIOANI under the CATAL1.5°T program, implemented in Côte d’Ivoire by Comoé Capital, through: 

• Repayable financing of FCFA 68,211,000, disbursed in three tranches subject to performance KPIs; 
• The provision of technical assistance in financial and organizational management; 
• Strengthening reporting and financial structuring; 
• Strategic support to facilitate the company’s scale-up. 

Key impacts 

• Climate: valorization of 6,892 tons of waste and sales of Vitalisol fertilizer, contributing to a reduction of up to −19,174 tCO2e in 2026; 
• Social: creation and formalization of 54 jobs by 2030; 
• Agriculture: sustainable improvement in productivity and resilience of agricultural operations in the face of climate change. 

STM is a Cameroonian company founded in 2016, specialized in the semi-industrial processing of cassava into industrial-grade starch. Based in Cameroon, the company aims to become a leading local producer of starch to meet the needs of agri-food industries and cardboard manufacturers, both nationally and across the CEMAC region. STM currently processes cassava into dry starch and sediment starch and has a strong local footprint, with direct impact on more than one hundred smallholder farmers. 

The Entrepreneurs 

STM was founded in 2016 by three active shareholders: 

• MAPO KAM TCHOUPE Chiara Lucia, Founder and General Manager, holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management. Passionate about agriculture since her studies, she developed the STM project during university before receiving technical training in Nigeria. She is recognized for her leadership, active listening skills, and resilience. 
• Alex Pascal Tajo, Head of the Agricultural Department, is an agricultural engineer specialized in rural engineering. He provides technical expertise on the cassava value chain (high-yield varieties, tuber quality testing) and oversees supply management as well as equipment maintenance. 
• Aurélio Tchoupe, Member of the Management Committee, is a trained nurse with international experience. He is responsible for strategic and business development, including market monitoring and defining growth priorities. 

Partnership with I&P 

STM is supported by the I&P Acceleration FARM program. This partnership aims to strengthen the company across several key areas: 

• Quality and productivity improvement: through the acquisition of new equipment (industrial drying systems, borehole for clean water supply) and the implementation of a QHSE quality plan 
• Capacity building: via technical assistance missions in accounting, cash flow management, and production 
• Legal structuring and governance: including plans to transition to a new legal status to facilitate future fundraising 
• Social and environmental impact: by formalizing relationships with smallholder farmers and creating approximately nine new jobs 

SONAGOO is a company specializing in the processing of agricultural products and the sale of small processing equipment. It also provides training for young people who want to discover or start a business in this sector. The company is led by Ngoné DIA, a young entrepreneur passionate about adding value to agricultural products. 

The entrepreneur 

SONAGOO is led by Ngoné DIA, an entrepreneur specialized in agro-food processing. Passionate about adding value to agricultural products from a young age, Ngoné chose agro-processing as a profession, which she learned from her mother. She has strengthened her skills through several technical training programs and obtained, in 2022, a certification in fruit and vegetable preservation and processing techniques from CEFAS in Dakar, as well as a certificate in fruit and vegetable processing from JEUF ZONE. Between 2023 and 2025, she continued to build her capabilities through short training courses conducted in collaboration with producer EIGs (Economic Interest Groups) specializing in agricultural product processing. 

Thanks to her experience, she has developed skills in project management and product innovation, thereby contributing to the promotion of local products, the reduction of post-harvest losses, and the promotion of “Made in Senegal.” 

Partnership with I&P 

SONAGOO is supported by I&P Acceleration FARM. This partnership will enable the company to: 

• Increase its production capacity by strengthening its production equipment; 
• Create direct and indirect jobs locally, contributing to the region’s economic development; 
• Further structure its administrative function and strengthen its financial and commercial management capacities, in order to support the company’s growth and improve the quality of its internal management. 

SHIFT CLIMAT (trade name: FILTRE PLANTE) is a Senegalese company founded in 2022, specializing in wastewater treatment through Nature-based Solutions (NbS). It designs and builds ecological infrastructure such as planted filters, planted sludge drying beds, lagoon systems, and vegetated swales. Its innovative approach is based on adapting existing technologies to the specific climatic and environmental conditions of Africa, ensuring positive environmental impact while offering a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. 

The Entrepreneur 

Michael ORANGE, a French national, is a professional trained in management and technology. He has built strong experience in business development and corporate management within multinational companies such as Microsoft, Acronis, and Atos, where he held strategic regional roles, leading expansion and digital transformation projects. 

An entrepreneur at heart, he founded Restotimes, an online ordering platform, as well as MaxiCheque, a French digital gift voucher service, both of which he successfully sold. 

Driven since childhood by environmental and sanitation issues—an interest passed on by his father, a hydrogeologist—Michael permanently settled in Senegal in 2022. He leads Filtre Plante, where he leverages his expertise in management, innovation, and strategy to structure and scale the company. A self-taught, passionate, and visionary entrepreneur, he continuously deepens his knowledge, notably by attending specialized trade fairs on water management to learn from sector experts. 

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Gestion 

I&P has partnered with SHIFT CLIMAT to: 

• Finance the acquisition of a backhoe loader, various equipment, and the development of an IoT solution to meet growing demand and improve service quality; 
• Strengthen administrative and financial functions and support the company’s growth. 

Key Impacts 

• Filtre Plante’s activities are expected to reduce 339 tons of CO₂eq in 2025. By 2030, this reduction could reach 2,246 tons of CO₂eq. 
• The company anticipates workforce growth, increasing from 11 formal employees in 2025 to 17 in 2030, reflecting both its growth trajectory and its contribution to local job creation. 
• Filtre Plante’s revenues are expected to grow by approximately 274% between 2025 and 2030, highlighting the strong potential of the planted filter solution.