Gillian Goddard (Trinidad & Tobago), co-founder of the Alliance of Rural Communities
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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An activist, systems thinker, and organic food pioneer, Gillian has spent over three decades cultivating not just crops, but community. As co-founder of the Alliance of Rural Communities, she has turned her passion for food justice into a bold movement spanning the Caribbean, Africa, and North America, with a single vision: to restore power, pride, and prosperity to rural communities. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Gillian left for the United States at 17, where she built on her gardening experiences… +Participatory development of the COLEAD 2030 strategy: initial results and trends from the public consultation launched in June
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
The consultation process, which officially began in June 2025, aimes to contribute to the development of the COLEAD 2030 strategy. Close to 300 contributions have been registered so far. These responses come from members, technical and financial partners, and the COLEAD team. This wide-ranging survey reveals some valuable initial findings, which we share with you here. Please note that there is still time to respond to the questionnaire (and at 2030@colead.link) as the consultation closes at the end of July.… +COLEAD Board and General Assembly: 2024 annual report approved, on course for 2030!
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
On 25 June, COLEAD held its Board of Directors and General Assembly in a hybrid format, bringing together almost 200 members who joined the event online through national members’ meetings. Around twenty countries were represented. This level of participation highlights the network’s increasing vitality and the value placed on direct dialogue between members, teams, and partners. During the meeting, members approved the 2024 annual report and financial accounts. The meeting also provided an opportunity to review progress towards the five… +A new version of Agrinnovators.org is now available, providing a global hub for entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
COLEAD is pleased to announce the new version of Agrinnovators.org. This new version has been developed as part of the FFM+ programme, in collaboration with PAFO, the OECD, IICA, PFO and UN Women. While the platform was previously focused mainly on African entrepreneurs, it is now open to all regions of the world, strengthening our commitment to South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing. Agrinnovators.org is a dynamic platform that connects entrepreneurs, companies, and experts to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions… +‘Voices from the Earth’: the latest news on the global poetry and song contest dedicated to women farmers this year
- 15/07/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
To celebrate the United Nations’ International Year of Women and Girls in Agriculture in 2026, COLEAD has launched ‘Voices from the Earth’, a global poetry and song contest that highlights the vital contribution of women farmers to food security and sustainable development. The theme for 2025/26 is ‘Women farmers are cultivating sustainable futures’, reflecting the priorities of the United Nations and COLEAD’s mission. Latest news: Djaïli Amadou Amal, a Cameroonian writer and patron of the first edition of the competition,… +Join the COLEAD 2030 movement. Your voice matters! 👉 2030@colead.link
- 06/05/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
For over 50 years, COLEAD has been working to strengthen sustainable, inclusive and competitive agricultural systems. In 2025, we open a new chapter in our collective history: the development of our COLEAD 2030 strategy. This process will not take place in isolation. On the contrary, it is based on a strong conviction: COLEAD’s future and the future impact of its action will be built with those who bring it to life – team, members, partners, partner-beneficiaries, institutions, practitioners, donors, experts,… +Rachel Renie, an inspirational figure from Trinidad and Tobago who combines entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact
- 06/05/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Rachel Renie is a visionary entrepreneur and a leading force in Trinidad and Tobago’s agri-food sector. As the co-founder and Managing Director of D’Market Movers Ltd, Rachel has redefined how food is sourced, sold, and consumed in the Caribbean. Her bold vision, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, has not only transformed food distribution in her country but also laid the foundation for empowering women and local communities through innovation and sustainable practices. D’Market Movers: bridging farmers and families In 2009,… +Empowering women-led businesses – Spotlight on marketing and branding. Insights from three women entrepreneurs from Nigeria, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago
- 06/05/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of UN Women and COLEAD’s South-South Series – Empowering and Growing Women-led Businesses – a special session on effective marketing and branding strategies was held on 9 April 2025. This series of virtual meetings aims to strengthen women’s entrepreneurial capacities through experience sharing, skills development, market access and networking. Inspiring entrepreneurs and tangible experiences Three businesswomen – from Nigeria, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago – shared their innovative approaches to building strong brands, using digital tools and… +Caribbean Agrifood Business – Spotlight on session #16 of the IICA COLEAD series: cross-border value chains
- 08/04/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
A strategic collaboration for Caribbean agriculture Since June 2021, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and COLEAD have joined forces through the FFM+ programme in the Caribbean Agrifood Business Series. This initiative highlights the innovations and successes of farmer-led agribusinesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Caribbean region. The series is driven by a common vision: to build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive Caribbean agricultural sector. It promotes business models that are economically viable, environmentally… +Access to finance: How to find and identify the right funding source for your agri-project
- 08/04/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
(The recording and supporting materials are available here: COLEAD Access to Finance webinars) As part of its structured investment-oriented support, COLEAD’s Access to Finance Department held, as part of the FFM+ programme, a webinar on 25 February entitled “ Selecting the right funding options for your agri-project“. This session is the third in a four-part webinar series designed to build the capacity of project leaders to identify, select and approach the most appropriate sources of funding for their activities. Profile… +