The Agribusiness Challenge Fund

The Agribusiness Challenge Fund was a rolling call for proposals open from 18 March 2024 to 22 November 2024, with three application harvest periods. The challenge is open to SME applications from any country as long as the projects meet the eligibility criteria and are being implemented in at least one of the 20 focus countries the Fund.

Support from the Fund in this challenge will include grants ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000, disbursed over a three-year period, based on the applicant's development stage, scalability, and business model, in accordance with agreed periodic milestone targets. The funding structure will be determined on a case-by-case basis after evaluating proposals and organizations. Additional support to successful applicants will include tailored technical assistance in alignment with the Fund objectives over the three-year period.

CATEGORIES OF INTEREST IN THE AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE 

• Primary production
• Processing and aggregation
• Trading and market linkages

CATEGORIES OF INTEREST WITHIN THE AGRICULTURE VALUE CHAIN 

The Fund is broadly interested in any agribusiness opportunity that is capable of work creation opportunities at scale for young women and men with limited financial means, including refugees and those living with disabilities. Those SMEs that are working in these or other parts of the agriculture value chain are encouraged to apply. Women-led SMEs were also encouraged to apply:

Applicants were requested to also state and describe if they had integrated climate impact or digital aspects to their projects.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE: 

To be eligible to apply, an SME needed to:

• Be involved in the challenge sector of focus i.e. agriculture.
• Be an existing for-profit Small or Medium-sized Enterprise. Women-led SMEs are encouraged to apply.
• Be implementing business in at least one of the 20 focus countries in Africa.
• Be requesting for grant funding ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000, disbursed over a three-year period, based on applicants’ development stage, scalability, and business model. Additional tailored technical assistance will be provided to successful applicants. 
• Be providing matching contribution of at least 30% of the total project cost.
• Have innovative, practical, and scalable businesses that aim to create work opportunities for young women and men with limited financial means, including refugees and those living with disabilities.
• Adhere to fundamental human rights, labour standards, and environmental management laws, both nationally and internationally, including seed laws/policy.
• Refrain from any involvement in acts of terrorism or support for terrorist activities.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE

Applications in the Agribusiness Challenge Fund are being selected based on the following criteria:

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE AGRINUSINESS CHALLENGE

Below are key dates for the Agribusiness Challenge Fund.