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 was open to applicants from any country as long as the projects met the eligibility criteria and were being implemented in at least one of the 20 focus countries.

Support from the Fund in this challenge includes 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 was broadly interested in any agribusiness opportunity that was capable of work creation opportunities at scale for young women and men with limited financial means, including refugees and those living with disabilities. Applicants that were working in these or other parts of the agriculture value chain were encouraged to apply. Women-led applicants were also encouraged to apply.

Forestry
Fishing
Horticulture
Plant Breeding
Agro input supplies
Cash crop - cocoa
Cash crop - cotton
Cash crop - coffee

Cash crop - tea
Fruits and vegetables
Livestock - dairy
Livestock - beef
Livestock - goats
Livestock - pig
Poultry
Solar powered agriculture tools
Early warning systems
Climate resilient crop varieties

Food storage and preservation
Farmer training on adaptation techniques
Crop insurance services
Smart irrigation systems
Drip irrigation
Soil moisture sensors
Organic fertilizers
Bioenergy production and fossil fuels
Solar powered agricultural tools
Capacity building

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE:

To be eligible to apply, an applicant 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 applicants were also 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:

Project description and objective

Alignment with Fund for Resilience and Prosperity priorities

Project impact

Financing plan/Matching funds

Team structure

Additionality

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE

Below were key dates for the Agribusiness Challenge Fund.

Agribusiness Challenge Fund periods

Dates

Agribusiness Challenge Fund launch:

The rolling call for proposals launched on this date.

18/03/2024

Harvest 1:

The first collection of submitted applications for assessment occurred on this date, approximately 12 weeks after the opening date of the challenge.

07/06/2024

Harvest 2:

The second collection of submitted applications for assessment occurred on this date, approximately 12 weeks after the first harvest.

30/08/2024

Harvest 3:

The third collection of submitted applications for assessment occurred on this date, approximately 12 weeks after the second harvest.

22/11/2024

Agribusiness Challenge closing date

22/11/2024