Signed on 7 August, the agreement will establish a framework for collaboration in South Africa and across the African region, covering agricultural finance, market access, logistics, enterprise development and skills transfer.
One of the partnership's priorities is developing more accessible financing solutions for smallholder farmers and emerging agribusinesses.
The partners will explore blended finance models, public-private partnerships and institutional funding to mobilise investment capital for agricultural businesses.
The MoU also aims to help community-based producers and cooperatives enter mainstream supply chains by supporting product aggregation, certification and quality assurance required to meet retail and export standards.
The partners will collaborate on cost-effective logistics, warehousing and cold-chain solutions to improve farm-to-market delivery, while exploring co-investment opportunities in logistics infrastructure in rural and agricultural hubs.
The partnership will also support enterprise and supplier development programmes targeting women, young people and rural agricultural entrepreneurs.
These initiatives are expected to include technical training, business mentorship and skills transfer in agribusiness management and innovation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NWU chancellor and founder and group chairperson of Community Investment Holdings (CIH), Dr Anna Mokgokong, said universities should play an active role in the communities they serve.
Mokgokong said she viewed her role as chancellor as extending beyond ceremonial duties, using her experience to strengthen NWU's impact and contribute to development in North West and beyond.
Reflecting on the partnership, she stressed that its success would ultimately be measured by implementation.
“These signatures and documents must not gather dust,” she said.
Phenyo Mogamisi, CEO of CIH Venture Capital, said the collaboration was driven by a need to better align funding, research and commercialisation to strengthen food security and economic participation.
“We recognised a need to unlock funding and commercialisation in agriculture to advance food security in North West and Gauteng. Through this partnership, the university will lead research, skills development and quality assurance, while NWU Enterprise will drive project preparation, management and market access.
"CIH will support the partnership by mobilising private sector funding, strengthening logistics, agro-processing capacity and ensuring agricultural products reach the market.”
Duncan Raftesath, CEO of NWU Enterprises, said the partnership would help apply academic expertise to practical challenges.
“Through NWU Enterprise, we will bring research, training, consulting and project management together to deliver practical solutions that create value for industry and society.”
NWU principal and vice-chancellor Prof Bismark Tyobeka said the partnership could create opportunities for students, researchers and academic staff by linking teaching and research with practical industry engagement.
“Our farms will become laboratories where students gain practical experience while contributing to agricultural innovation. Undergraduate students will develop hands-on skills, while postgraduate researchers will explore ways to improve crop resilience, increase yields and advance smart, water-efficient farming.
"At the same time, these opportunities will empower students to become entrepreneurs, support emerging farmers and contribute to the growth of rural communities.”
The partnership is also expected to extend beyond agriculture into areas including water and sanitation, energy, healthcare, housing, digitisation, logistics, mining, engineering and tourism, as well as other sectors linked to poverty alleviation and economic participation.
Industry and government representatives present at the signing included Sanlam, Absa, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency and Gauteng Enterprise Propeller.
