​Danish-Zimbabwean Business Delegation Strengthens Ties Ahead of Africa–Nordic Summit​

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​CISU and A2i – A Partnership with Potential

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​CSRD, ESG... what does it actually mean for your business?​

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​Danish-Zimbabwean Business Delegation Strengthens Ties Ahead of Africa–Nordic Summit​

We are happy to look back on a successful delegation trip to Zimbabwe in the beginning of October. The week combined strong business engagement, new partnerships, and a renewed commitment to sustainable collaboration between Denmark and Southern Africa.

Organized in partnership with the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Afrika Consultancy and supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation brought together Danish companies from the energy, agriculture, and food systems sectors. The goal was to explore opportunities for green growth and investment in one of Africa’s most promising markets.

“It was a really good trip. The first day was already well set up with a good conference at the hotel, where 60-70 representatives from potential buyers and authorities such as the government were invited. There was a joint program from 10 am to 2 pm and then individual meetings until 6 pm. The next two days, individual meetings were planned with companies that were interesting to each of us. I went to visit five companies, including Four Season Spices. It was really good. Overall, it was exciting to be in a new country and experience the many positive opportunities in Zimbabwe,” says Henrik Wollesen, CEO of Engsko Milling Systems.

Enormous potential

“The delegation trip to Zimbabwe was a great success—not least because the country holds enormous potential with its fertile agricultural land,” Jeppe Søndergaard Pedersen, International Chief Advisor at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, adds. He continues:

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“The participating companies are already exploring and initiating projects with potential Zimbabwean partners. I have no doubt that Zimbabwe will become an increasingly interesting market for the Danish agriculture and food cluster in the years to come.”

A productive week in Harare

The week began in Harare with a vibrant welcome reception hosted by the Ministries of Energy, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs in Zimbabwe, alongside the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). Both Danish and Zimbabwean companies shared insights and explored opportunities for collaboration in areas such as sustainable food production, renewable energy, and digital solutions for agriculture.

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Danish know-how can make a tangible difference

As the delegation concluded, new partnerships and follow-up activities were already taking shape. The visit highlighted Zimbabwe’s strong political will to attract investment and improve efficiency in agriculture, aquaculture, and food processing — sectors where Danish know-how can make a tangible difference.

Access2innovation thanks all participating companies and partners for their engagement and looks forward to seeing the ideas and collaborations from Harare and Victoria Falls grow into long-term, sustainable impact.

Next stop Kenya

The next delegation trip, which will take place in Kenya in November, already counts eight Danish participants.

​Click to read more about the delegation.​

More to come:

In the next A2i News, you’ll meet Michael Bjørn, Regional Sales Manager Africa, Cimbria. He is one of the participants who is already turning the trip’s insights into business opportunities.

​Click to sign up for A2i News.

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Meet a member of A2i:

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​CISU and Access2innovation – A Partnership with Potential

For several years, the Danish NGO platform CISU – Civil Society in Development – has been a member of Access2innovation (A2i). The membership is mutual.

Both organizations recognize that we can support each other in areas where approaches and competences complement one another.

“We joined A2i to give our member organizations access to the things Access2innovation is good at,” explains Head of Capacity Development Nicolai Houe from CISU. He continues:

“Many of A2i's members are companies active in East Africa, where many of CISU's members also are working through local partners. CISU's focus is civil society strengthening. But we also work with economic development. In some cases it will make sense to facilitate access to A2I when interventions need a stronger focus on business development.”

A fertile ground

CISU’s members are civil society organizations working to strengthen civil society so that local organizations can improve conditions for people in vulnerable contexts. A2i gathers private sector actors, research institutions, and NGOs with a strong focus on business-driven development. This overlap provides fertile ground for collaboration.

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“We don’t have companies as members. Our members are civil society organizations, and they focus on strengthening organizations and improving people’s lives,” Nicolai Houe stresses. “So, when it comes to the private sector, you can supplement us—not in terms of buying goods, but by supporting market-oriented activities in partnership with communities.”

An example: Coffee farmers

One concrete example could be coffee farmers organized in cooperatives. CISU helps them strengthen their rights, organize collectively, and achieve better prices together than they could individually.

“The next step could be to start adding value to the beans, maybe with an investor and A2i involved, while ownership remains in the community,” says Nicolai Houe. “That’s an example of where we may add value by coordinating.”

At the same time, CISU acknowledges that collaboration still has untapped potential.

“We need to find methods where your private-sector perspective can add to our activities. The potential for us working together is interesting. Thomas Augustinus from A2i was at CISU in the spring and gave a really good presentation. This was a good inspiration for our members. They are the ones who must carry it forward.”

Commercial interests can lift people

Nicolai Houe is happy that commercial thinking doesn’t pose a barrier for NGOs:

“It may have been so in the past, but not anymore. As long as it is based on people’s own needs and rights, commercial interests can support distributed growth that lifts people in vulnerable positions.”

​Click to read the full article.

​Tips on doing business in Africa​

Free Virtual A2i Talks with experts available on our website.

You are always welcome to stream our videos with talks on doing business in Africa. They are all free.

​Click here to stream more than 35 other A2i Talks about doing business in East Africa.​

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​CSR, CSRD, ESG... what does it actually mean for your (Danish) business?​

Do you need a clear overview of the new sustainability requirements? Join the webinar 'Onboarding ESG in Value Chains - How to Get Started' on November 18th from 9:00-10:00 am from our member, Etisk Handel (in Danish.)

Here you will be presented with methods to meet the legal requirements and concrete examples of some of the most pressing social and environmental risks in trade in global value chains. It's free and open to everyone.

​Click here to register.

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