Women For Zero Hunger Program
Each year, we open a call for applications, receiving over 600 submissions from organizations across the continent. Seven pre-finalists are selected to present their initiatives to a distinguished jury made up of representatives from Sodexo, Pluxee and key ecosystem partners. From these, three outstanding finalists are chosen to receive six months of personalized mentoring, workshop training and dedicated funding to support the development of their initiatives. One overall winner is invited to Paris for our annual Stop Hunger Dinner, where they have the opportunity to present their NGO on an international stage and benefit from crowdfunding support during the event. Since its launch, the program has continued to grow, supporting women-led initiatives that place food security, economic empowerment and community resilience at the heart of their work. Each edition brings forward new solutions led by local changemakers, helping strengthen the role of women in building more sustainable and hunger-free communities.Previous Finalists
Dorothy Kamasa
2026 Finalist, the Centre for Women and Food Security (CeWaFS-Ghana) supports rural women through climate-smart agriculture, agroecology and the development of agribusiness activities. Through training, financial education, mentoring and stronger cooperatives, the organisation helps women increase productivity, build sustainable incomes and strengthen household food security.
Dr. Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba
2026 Finalist, The Emmanuel Ivorgba Center supports women, girls and marginalised communities across West Africa in addressing poverty and food insecurity. Through vocational training, mentoring, microfinance and sustainable agriculture, the organisation helps vulnerable women develop income-generating activities and strengthen their economic independence.
Nanna Sylla-Coulibaly
2026 Finalist, Women’s Investment Club Côte d’Ivoire supports women entrepreneurs, particularly in agriculture and agribusiness, by improving access to finance, markets and strategic partnerships. Through investment solutions, training and business support, the organisation helps women build more resilient enterprises while contributing to job creation and stronger local food systems.
Viddah Owino
2025 finalist, AFRI-CORE drives transformative change in Kenya by tackling food insecurity, economic exclusion, and climate vulnerability. Through its Green Horizons initiative, the organization integrates bio gas, sustainable farming, and microfinance to boost food security, create income opportunities for women, and reduce indoor pollution. This holistic model strengthens economic independence, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods for the most vulnerable communities.
Jessica Renelde Gyebre
2025 finalist, the Association des ambassadrices de l'energie empowers women through renewable energy. Through its LIGHT’HER project, it equips internally displaced women with solar tools to strengthen their income-generating activities and improve their families’ safety. It also trains young girls as future energy ambassadors, enabling them to design innovative projects that promote access to clean and sustainable energy in their communities.
Myriam Chimène Magni
2025 finalist, HURAC works in Cameroon to strengthen food security and empower internally displaced women who are highly vulnerable to hunger and gender inequality. The organization combines modern agricultural training, microfinance, storage infrastructure, and nutrition programs to boost productivity, reduce malnutrition, and promote economic independence. By actively involving women in decision-making and community life, HURAC fosters lasting impact and an intergenerational dynamic of change.
Sharon Monethi
(South Africa) 2024 winner, Woman of Age Foundation offers a sustainable solution to food security challenges with the Hydro Coop easily assembled, modular system which can raise 1500 broiler chickens and produce 3600 vegetable plants annually. The project supports women and youth with entrepreneurship and job creation in farming, maintenance, sales, and management, strengthening local economies and improving livelihoods.
Sonia Paiya
(Eswatini) 2024 finalist, Woman Farmer Foundation empowers, equips, promotes and advances the interests of Swazi women in the agricultural sector from subsistence level to commercial, especially women in rural areas, subsequently increasing food security and mitigating the issues of poverty and hunger in the country.
Purity Christine
Kenya, 2024 finalist, MamaPesa, is a tech-enabled project that uses AI to offer female farmers financial literacy training, savings options, access to farm inputs, equipment, and financing to carry out their agricultural activities.
Lilian Nakigiozi
2023 Winner, Women Smiles Uganda, builds adaptable vertical farms and trains women in sustainable urban farming to end hunger and poverty for poor households.
Madjalia Seynou
2023 finalist, FarmSahel creates food security and breaks the cycle of poverty for rural women of Burkina Faso, unlocking the potential of Sahel communities to achieve economic freedom through sustainable permaculture.
Conrad Mandsager
2023 finalist, ChildVoice provides enhanced agriculture and business training, plus supplemental food relief to adolescent girls in refugee communities in Uganda & Nigeria.
Thank you
This program has helped us become visible to the right connections and networks, which in turn has enabled us to grow as an organization and extend our reach to other marginalized communities.
Conversation with a mentor
Francois Blanckaert, SVP Supply Managemnt, Sodexo
WFZH Program Mentors
Our mentors, experts from Sodexo and Pluxee, provide personalized support to each finalist over six months. Through strategic guidance and practical advice, they help strengthen the impact and sustainability of the women-led initiatives selected for the program.