2nd Call for Proposals – Accelerating inclusive green growth through agri-based digital innovation in West Africa (AGriDI)

Deadline: 31st May 2023

Background

The ‘Accelerating inclusive green growth through agri-based digital innovation in West Africa (AGriDI)’ intervention supports innovations to address key challenges related to climate change, sustainable use, and management of biodiversity as well as responsible production and consumption among farming communities in West Africa. It is funded through the ACP Innovation Fund of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS),0000 financed by the European Union (EU), and implemented by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), under its Regional Coordination Unit of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF), in partnership with the University of Abomey Calavi, (Benin), and Agropolis Foundation (France) and Gearbox Pan African Network (Kenya).

AGriDI aims at strengthening innovation systems and fostering adoption of agri-based digital technologies in West Africa. Digital technologies offer potential to make it easier and more efficient for farmers and small business owners, especially women and youth, to produce (thanks to access of information and technologies) and market their goods and services, leading to greater profits. AGriDI will increase identification, adaptation, and use of agri-based digital technologies by farmers, SMEs especially women and youth to enhance agricultural production and marketing though strengthened linkages between research communities, industry, and policy actors, and improved policy environment.

AGriDI will contribute to the implementation of ECOWAS and national policies and strategies related to Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) and ICT, as well as the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024. Outputs support the roll–out of the Africa Continental Free Trade area.

Desired outcomes

AGriDI has three main objectives to achieve:

(i) Increased uptake of agri-based digital technologies by farmers and SMEs, especially women and youth in West Africa

(ii) Strengthened linkages between research communities, industry, and policy actors in digital innovations in the region

(iii) A strengthened policy environment for scaling agri-business digital innovations in the region.

Nature of grants

As in the first call for proposals (launch: 21 April 2021, close: 30 June 2021), the second call for proposals of AGriDI will provide competitive grants to enhance the capacities of key stakeholders in diverse areas of digital technologies and agro-ecological systems, and strengthen synergies with the private sector, civil society, and other community-based organisations. The grants support the development of tangible digital solutions that address real challenges for farmers and agribusinesses, especially among women and youth, thereby increasing opportunities for jobs and income in the region.

Target groups

The target groups for this call are:

i) scientists and researchers in universities and research institutes

ii) agri-business owners and proprietors of legally incorporated small and medium enterprises

iii) innovators in tech hubs, innovation labs, and university technology transfer offices

iv) policy makers in national government ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for creating enabling policy environment to promote digital innovations, including those responsible for rural development, gender and social inclusion

v) farmers in legally registered groups and cooperatives based in the eligible countries.

The call encourages participation of women and youth, organizations and individuals (scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, policy actors, among others) from organisations in other parts of Africa and globally may also participate in the call. However, they can ONLY participate as ‘collaborators’ in a project. A collaborator brings a specific skill or expertise to implement specific activities in a project. Collaborators should be described in the proposal, and their role and contribution to the project should be clearly articulated.

Target groups

The total envelope for this call is up to EUR 663,809.72. Up to a maximum of three (3) to four (4) grants depending on categories are foreseen. Each grant is implemented for a period of up to 15 months from the time it is awarded