The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator is calling all agripreneurs in Southern Africa and EastAfrica to scale their climate-smart innovations and combat food insecurity. This is your chance to make an impact on agriculture, and here’s everything you need to know:
Key Information:
- Deadline: January 8, 2024
- Apply: CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator
Accelerator Highlights: Tailor-made support and access to finance for scaling climate-smart innovations. Priority Themes for 2024: Mechanization and Irrigation, Conservation Agriculture, Nutrition-sensitive Climate Smart Agriculture, Agricultural Risk Management (ARM).
About the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator: Are you an agribusiness with a climate-smart innovation? The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator is your gateway to receiving tailored support and finance access to scale innovations. The program focuses on making agribusinesses more commercially viable, environmentally conscious, and sustainable.
Collaboration with Agroecology Initiative: For the 2024 cohort, CFSA collaborates with the Agroecology Initiative to promote sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. This partnership emphasizes agroecology principles, ensuring sustainable and equitable production and consumption.
Target Sectors / SDGs:
- SDG 1 – No Poverty
- SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
- SDG 3 – Good Health
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- SDG 8 and 10 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
- SDG 17 – Ecosystem Partnerships
Priority Innovation Themes:
- Mechanization and Irrigation
- Conservation Agriculture
- Nutrition-sensitive Climate Smart Agriculture
- Agricultural Risk Management (ARM)
Business Stages:
- Early Stage: Start-ups establishing business models.
- Growth Stage: Companies with sustainable business models and positive cash flow.
What Participants Receive:
- CSA Technical Assistance
- Impact Measurement and Management (IMM)
- Investment Readiness
- De-risking Grant
- Access to a network of investors for follow-on funding.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Officially registered and compliant with regulatory authorities.
- For-profit companies demonstrating commercial viability.
- Operating in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
Timeline:
- Application Period: November 27, 2023, to January 8, 2024
- Selection Period: January 15 to February 16, 2023
- Kick-off Event: March 25 to 27, 2024
- Technical Assistance: April 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024
- Pitch Day and Grant Recipients Announcement: October 2024
Organizations:
- CGIAR
- Ukama Ustawi
- Agroecology Initiative
- IFDC-2SCALE
Seize this agrifood opportunity to transform agriculture in Southern and East Africa. Apply now and be part of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator 2024! APPLY NOW!