Call for Proposals: Climate Innovations and Green Agricultural Entrepreneurship in West Africa
Deadline: 15-Jan-23
Within the context of the NEXUS project, the Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (IFDD), a subsidiary body of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), in partnership with the OIF Representation for West Africa (REPAO), and with the support of the Government of Quebec, is launching a call for proposals on Climate Innovations and Green Agricultural Entrepreneurship in West Africa.
The objective of the NEXUS project is to promote innovations and good agricultural practices in the management and sustainable use of natural resources (water, energy, biodiversity) to support, by 2027, the food security of more than 20 French-speaking countries, through a regional approach in several phases.
Each proposal should contribute to one of the following two activities of the NEXUS project:
The establishment of a cascade financing mechanism and support for the deployment of at least 10 integrated, transformative climate and agricultural innovations, adapted to regional conditions and accessible to vulnerable populations to increase the impact of the response to climate change;
The establishment of a training mechanism and cascade financing of at least 10 projects for young entrepreneurs in green agriculture contributing to the development of agro-ecosystems, improving integrated climate-economic opportunities and supporting sustainable agricultural value chains.
Funding Information
The call for proposals, with a total budget of 400,000 euros, will provide four grants of between 75,000 and 100,000 euros to eligible non-profit organizations established in West Africa, each to implement a project lasting 24 months.
Eligible Countries
The countries covered by the call for proposals are: Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications must be submitted by a single entity meeting the following general eligibility criteria:
Be a legal person (entity with legal personality) based and active in one of the following countries: Benin, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Senegal or Togo.
Be active in one of the following areas.
Lot 1: in the field of R&I – academic and research institutions/organisations, companies born out of academic research, education and vocational training (VET) providers, organizations representing local communities, agencies and associations working to gender equality in research and innovation, national science, technology and innovation agencies, innovation support organizations (technology hubs, innovation laboratories and technology transfer offices ), incubators and other similar organizations with specific experience in the priority areas targeted by this call.
Lot 2: in the field of vocational training, sustainable agriculture or business support – government organisations, academic institutions/ organisations, vocational education and training (VET) providers, organizations representing local communities, agencies and associations working for equality between women and men in organizations, entrepreneurship support organizations (technology hubs, innovation labs and technology transfer offices), incubators, accelerators and other similar organizations with specific experience in the priority areas targeted by this call.
Be non-profit or recognized as being of public utility.
Formal existence: Be legally established since at least 2018 (4 years) in one of the countries concerned by the appeal, have documents attesting to this and provide a list of the main services or activities carried out over the last four years, indicating the annual budget, the periods and the direct and indirect beneficiaries.
Previous funding: Indicate at least one grant of a minimum amount of €30,000 managed or implemented by your organization during the period 2018-2022 specifying your role, total budgets and sources of grants.
For Lot 1 : this will be a research or innovation grant (community development project type grants are not accepted).
For Lot 2 : this will be a grant related to the support or financing of entrepreneurial projects or sustainable agriculture.
Technical capacity: Proof of the skills necessary to carry out the proposed project (CVs of the members of the dedicated project team responsible for the activities financed, publications, innovations and any relevant evidence to be attached to the application).
Management autonomy: Being directly responsible for the preparation and management of funded activities.
For more information, visit https://oacps-ri.eu/en/news/call-for-proposals-climate-innovations-and-green-agricultural-entrepreneurship-in-west-africa/