AGENDA

October 20, 2021
12:00pm CDT - 1:00pm CDT (Des Moines, USA)

LadyAgri’s gender-smart investment approach demonstrates how increasing women’s equitable access to resources leads to more sustainable food systems. We will hear directly from African entrepreneurs and cooperative leaders explaining their own gender-responsive business models, the viability of their businesses, and how they overcame COVID-19 market disruptions.

Taryn Barclay Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement, Cargill Taryn Barclay has over 20 years of corporate experience and has been with Cargill since 2007. Taryn works to advance Cargill’s food security, nutrition and sustainability strategies and partners with Cargill businesses on stakeholder engagement, NGO partnership development, issues management, communications and employee engagement. Prior to Cargill, Taryn was appointed IPC... [ View ]

Hilary Barry Founder and Secretary General, LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub Hilary Barry is founder and Secretary General of the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub. She is Irish. Since her first experience in Ghana in 1993, she has dedicated her career to the design and implementation of social impact programs across Africa, Caribbean and Pacific states. She holds an MsC in Cooperatives,... [ View ]

Jessica Espinoza Vice President, Private Equity & Venture Capital, DEG/KfW Jessica Espinoza is Vice President for Private Equity & Venture Capital Investments at DEG, the German Development Finance Institution (KfW Group) and the Chair of the 2X Challenge, a global initiative that has mobilized over $11 billion of gender lens investments since its launch at the G7 Summit in 2018.... [ View ]

Josephine George Francis President, Farmers Union Network of Liberia Currently serving as the Chief Executive officer of Arjay Farms, a commercial farm located in rural Montserrado County Liberia. Additionally, serves as President of the Farmers Union Network of Liberia and First Vice President of ROPPA .Farmers Union Network of Liberia which was established in 2008 with a membership of... [ View ]

Ayélé Gabiam Co-Founder & Director of Partnerships, LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub Ayélé Sikavi GABIAM is of Togolese origin and co-founder of Lady Agri Impact Investment Hub. Ayélé holds a Degree in Communications and Public Relations from the Free University of Brussels (ULB) and speaks French, English and Ewe-Mina. Being part of the African diaspora, Ayélé is aware of the challenges faced by... [ View ]

Gilbert Houngbo President, International Fund for Agricultural Development Gilbert F. Houngbo became the sixth President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 1 April 2017. He was reappointed for a second term in February 2021. This year IFAD aims to increase the incomes of 20 million poor small-scale food producers, 50 per cent of whom are... [ View ]

Leonard Mizzi Head of Unit, European Commission, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development Dr. Leonard Mizzi is Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate-General (DG) for International Cooperation and Development - Rural development, food security and nutrition, since 1st of January 2017. Since October 2020 he is in charge of Sustainble Food Systems and Fisheries. Prior to this post he was Head of... [ View ]