Women for Zero Hunger 2026: Meet the Finalists

Aug. 04, 2026

2026 Women For Zero Hunger by Stop Hunger - Program Finalists

Empowering women is one of the most powerful ways to fight food insecurity and build more resilient communities. Launched in 2023 by Stop Hunger and Women In Africa Philanthropy, Women for Zero Hunger identifies and supports African NGOs that place women and young people at the heart of food security, economic empowerment and sustainable development. In 2026, three inspiring organizations have been selected as finalists. Over the next six months, they will receive tailored funding and one-to-one mentorship to strengthen their model, scale their impact and help build a future free from hunger.

Centre for Women and Food Security — Ghana

The Centre for Women and Food Security supports rural women through climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, agribusiness development and access to markets. In Ghana, women play an essential role in agricultural production, yet many still face limited access to land, finance, markets and decision-making spaces. Climate change adds another layer of vulnerability, reducing productivity and income stability for women farmers and agri-food processors.

CeWaFS-Ghana works to address the root causes of food insecurity by strengthening women-led agribusiness initiatives and cooperatives. Through training, financial literacy, leadership development, demonstration farms and ongoing mentoring, the organization helps women increase productivity, build stable income-generating activities and improve household food security over the long term.

The Emmanuel Ivorgba Center — Nigeria

The Emmanuel Ivorgba Center works across West Africa to break the cycle of poverty, inequality and food insecurity by empowering women, young girls and marginalized communities. Its approach combines vocational skills training, women’s empowerment workshops, sustainable agriculture, education support, community engagement and partnership development to create pathways toward economic independence.

The organization supports women with low or irregular income, including widows, women heads of household, internally displaced women, women with disabilities and women living in rural or crisis-affected areas. Through skills training, mentoring, access to microfinance, peer support and community-based initiatives, beneficiaries are supported to build income-generating activities, strengthen their confidence and contribute to more resilient families and communities.

Women’s Investment Club Côte d’Ivoire

The Women’s Investment Club Côte d’Ivoire supports women entrepreneurs, particularly those active in agricultural and agri-food value chains, by improving access to finance, markets and strategic partnerships. In Côte d’Ivoire, women play a key role in food production and transformation, but their businesses often remain underfunded, insufficiently structured and less connected to market opportunities.

Through WIC Capital, WIC Académie and WIC FinLab, the organization combines investment, business structuring, capacity building and innovative financial mechanisms adapted to women-led enterprises. By strengthening governance, financial management, investment readiness and market access, WIC helps women entrepreneurs grow more resilient businesses, create local jobs and contribute to stronger food systems.