Deadline: January 8, 2024
Are you an agribusiness with a climate-smart innovation that tackles food insecurity and increases resilience in the East and Southern Africa region? Apply to the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator 2024 to receive tailor-made support as well as access to finance to bring your innovations to scale.
The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA) program is a science-driven accelerator designed to support agribusinesses scale climate-smart innovations that address pressing challenges in East and Southern Africa food systems. By combining investment readiness with tailored science-based technical assistance, CFSA provides agribusinesses with the necessary tools and knowledge to become more commercially viable, environmentally conscious, and sustainable.
For the 2024 cohort, the CFSA will be partnering with the Agroecology Initiative to support agribusinesses in embracing sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. This collaboration aims to integrate principles of agroecology, which involves the science, practices and innovations applied to transition food systems towards more sustainable and equitable production and consumption. Agroecology places emphasis on improving resource efficiency, strengthening resilience, and securing social equity and responsibility. For example, business models that encourage equal participation of women and men in decision-making and leadership, recycling organic matter to improve sustainable production, etc.
Target Sectors/SDGs
- SDG 1 – No poverty through promotion of economic activities.
- SDG 2 – Zero Hunger attributed to adoption of climate-smart agriculture.
- SDG 3 – Good Health attributed to mixed maize farming (aquaculture, livestock, legumes, and other crops).
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality through support of women entrepreneurs and farmers in supply chain.
- SDG 8 and 10 – Decent work and economic growth, including for youth.
- SDG 13 – Climate Action through promotion of climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming.
- SDG 17 – Ecosystem partnerships to develop the goals.
Benefits
- CSA Technical Assistance: through this program each agribusiness will collaborate with CGIAR scientists and experts to receive coordinated and specialized evidence-based technical support that encourages adoption and strengthens their CSA practices, addresses concrete ecosystem challenges, and improves their bankability. Agribusinesses may also have access to research and data.
- Impact Measurement and Management (IMM): Agribusiness teams will receive training on how to effectively measure and manage impact on climate-smart agriculture and agroecology, use their data to improve business performance, identify areas where value can be created and achieve their desired result in contributing towards positive environmental and social impact. This training will be provided by CGIAR network of scientists and experts.
- Investment Readiness: Each agribusiness will collaborate with a CGIAR partner and its network to receive investment readiness and business development support to help secure financing from the private sector.
- De-risking Grant: Upon successful completion of the accelerator program and Pitch Day, the winning pitches will receive de-risking grants of USD $20,000, USD $18,000, and USD $12,000, respectively, based on their scaling plans.
- Access to the network of investors to attract follow-on funding in grants, debt, and equity according to funding needs.
Eligibility
- The business should be officially registered and compliant with regulatory authorities. Provide the following:
- A Certificate of Incorporation for a Limited Company or Partnership Deed for a Partnership Business.
- 2 years audited accounts for growth stage companies OR 2-year management accounts for early-stage companies.
- At least 2 contact details of the company’s references.
- Team composition.
- Curriculum Vitae for management team.
- Tax Compliance certificate OR official documentation for tax exemption.
- A clear inclusive strategy for smallholder farmers, women, and youth within the business model in at least one of the following dimensions: ownership, management team, workforce and policies, supply chain and customers.
- Applicants must be a for-profit company and demonstrate commercial viability and either be profitable or on the path to profitability. NGOs, corporate companies, and consultants will not be considered.
- Operating in the following countries: Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
Application
- Application period dates: November 27, 2023 and deadline January 8, 2024.
- Selection period: January 15 to February 16, 2023.
- Kick-off event: March 25-27, 2024.
- Technical assistance: April 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
- Pitch Day and announcement of grant recipients: October 2024.
For more information, visit CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator.
