Digital Inclusion & Co-Creation in Agroecology

19 February 2025.Webinar on Digital Inclusion & Co-Creation in Agroecology

This event, organized by the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), in collaboration with the Agricultural Transitions Inclusive Digital Tools (ATDT) project offered practical tools, networking opportunities, and actionable insights for professionals at the intersection of digital agriculture and agroecology.

Key Themes:

• Knowledge Co-Creation – Participatory digital tools for collaboration.
• Social Inclusion – Ensuring equitable access for marginalized groups.
• Barriers & Opportunities – Tackling challenges like digital literacy and connectivity.

Digital Ecosystems for sustainable digitalisation of farming

6 February 2025. How can we ensure that digital innovation in agriculture goes beyond isolated tools to create a system that truly empowers farmers and rural communities? The digital transition in agriculture requires more than technology; it demands a digital ecosystem – a space where data, tools, and expertise seamlessly come together to drive sustainable digitalisation of farming.

Based on the findings from CODECS report Analysis of Digital Ecosystems (2024), this event explored how effective digital ecosystems can facilitate this digital transition, creating an environment that fosters resilience and productivity in agriculture. In the CODECS project, digital ecosystems are defined as integrated systems combining digital, socio-economic, organisational, and physical elements, all working to support digital adoption and utilisation in agriculture. It discussed the role digital ecosystems play in structured data sharing, seamless access to digital tools, and improving resource availability for farmers and rural stakeholders.

Additionally, by examining examples of digital ecosystems across CODECS Living Labs, this webinar offered insights into the diverse configurations and impacts of digital ecosystems. 

Presentations:

• Policy pathways for inclusive digital access in agriculture – Doris Marquardt, Directorate General for Communications Network, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT)
• Digital Ecosystems: definitions and frameworks – Cynthia Giagnocavo, University of Almeria
• Living Labs case studies: real-world applications of Digital EcosystemsCzech Living Lab – Automation of Orchard Management: Vojtech Novak
• (CSITA)
• Macedonia Living Lab – RAMAS: Mario Petkovski (AgFutura Technologies)

Pathways to African Food SecurityChallenges, Threats and Opportunities towards 2050

Michiel de Haas, Ken E. Giller (2025). Pathways to African Food Security. Challenges, Threats and Opportunities towards 2050

This book examines Africa’s current food system and future challenges for food security over the next 25 years.

Africa is on the rise and by 2050, the continent will be home to a quarter of the world’s population. The analysis presented in this book clearly shows that the African food system needs to transform at a much faster pace to ensure that the people it serves are food secure. This book begins with four contrasting case studies that focus on country-specific challenges in Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal and Zimbabwe. This is followed by 15 thematic chapters organised in three sections on challenges, threats and opportunities. Individual chapters address a wide range of topics including climate change, water security, farm sizes, crop yields, conservation trade-offs, food prices, trade, conflict and structural change. The book concludes by discussing key pathways to improve Africa's food system and food security for the decades ahead.

This book is essential reading for students, scholars and practitioners who work on global food security, sustainable food systems, food, health and nutrition and African development.

International Research Consortium (IRC) for Soil Carbon

20 February 2025. Webinar titled "Strengthening Collaboration on Soil Carbon: Roles and Opportunities for the Africa Chapter of the International Research Consortium (IRC-SC)" 

• Oluwole Fatunbi, highlighted the critical need for effective soil carbon management in Africa. 
• Keynote speaker Aggrey Agumya emphasized the importance of building scientific capacity and collaboration to enhance climate resilience and food security. 
• Mathieu Nogues introduced the Sol Carbon International Research Consortium, inviting participants to contribute on an international level. 
• Dr. Joseph Kube addressed the current state of soil carbon research in Africa, discussing challenges and the potential for significant carbon storage. 

An interactive Q&A session followed, where participants explored various aspects of soil carbon management, including policy implications. The meeting then focused on organizing the African chapter of the IRC, stressing youth involvement and forming partnerships.

• Current challenges in soil carbon research in Africa include limited long-term studies, fragmented data, and inconsistent monitoring methods that hinder effective carbon management strategies.
• Opportunities lie in leveraging climate finance and carbon markets to support community-led projects focused on soil carbon enhancement and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and local communities is essential to develop innovative solutions and promote knowledge sharing for effective soil carbon management across the continent.

The potential for soil carbon storage in Africa despite land degradation.

• Soil carbon storage in Africa has significant potential due to the following factors:
• Africa possesses vast areas of degraded land that can be restored through improved land management practices, allowing for increased soil carbon sequestration.
• Research indicates that Africa could potentially store 30-40% of the global soil carbon, highlighting the continent's crucial role in climate change mitigation.
• Agroecological practices, such as agroforestry and conservation agriculture, can enhance soil health and organic carbon levels, providing a pathway to improve food security while combating land degradation.
• Soil carbon storage in Africa has significant potential due to the following factors:
• Africa possesses approximately 30-40% of the global potential for soil carbon storage, despite the challenges of land degradation.
• Innovative agricultural practices, such as agroforestry and conservation agriculture, have demonstrated the ability to enhance soil carbon levels and improve soil health.
• Restoration initiatives, like the Sahel regreening project, highlight the capacity for large-scale restoration efforts to boost carbon sequestration and combat climate change impacts.

Need for integrated approaches to enhance soil carbon and agricultural productivity.

• Integrated approaches that combine organic and inorganic fertilizers can optimize nutrient availability and enhance soil health, leading to improved agricultural productivity.
• Utilizing agroecological practices, such as agroforestry and conservation agriculture, can significantly increase soil carbon sequestration while maintaining or boosting crop yields.
• Collaboration among researchers, farmers, and policymakers is essential to develop and implement effective strategies for soil carbon management that address local conditions and challenges.

Background:

The idea to create a Soil Carbon IRC emerged during the CIRCASA project (2017-2021) together with more than 100 stakeholders and 500 scientists from around the world. It was then reinforced by the launch of the ORCaSa project in September 2022. 

Taking things a step further, the Soil Carbon IRC expands its scope to cover all soils (including forests, pastures, wetlands, and urban areas…). Aided by Impact4Soil, an online platform for collecting and sharing knowledge on soil carbon, the IRC, and its partners and regional nodes aim to provide better access to research, methods and practices related to soil carbon.

Related:

9-10 May 2024. East Africa Carbon Markets Forum, a premier event bringing together key stakeholders in the region's carbon markets.

4-6 June 2024. ORCaSa's partners organised a webinar to present Impact4Soil, the online soil carbon knowledge platform they have designed. Impact4Soil aimed at a range of professionals and experts from the research community, but also the private sector, NGOs, policy-makers, and anyone with an interest in the health of our soils.

Soil is a global subject of study, and Impact4Soil enables synergies and collaborations by bringing together researchers, farmers, foresters, spatial planners, land managers. Stated simply, the platform covers any type of soil category, from every possible angle.

For the research community, Impact4Soil offers seamless access to soil carbon-related data and meta-analysis, scientific publications, but also best practices and trends.

Thanks to its comprehensive and integrated design, Impact4Soil allows users to:

• Compare results with the existing literature
• Discover new insights to complement their work
• Boost visibility of research partnerships, activities, and outputs

Roots and Plates : A Story Of Afro Food In Belgium

17 February 2025. Under the direction of Will Anderson and with the sound recording of Mila Jones, Roger  Dushime - Brussels-based social media and culinary content creator dedicated to promoting Afro-descendant cuisines - met around twenty personalities from the Afro Food scene in French-speaking Belgium. Each of them shares their vision and story on the history and evolution of this cuisine. 

The film offers an original approach to Afro-Belgian identities, exploring the theme of Afro-food and encouraging the public to discover or rediscover these flavors.

The idea came to him from his personal experience. Since childhood, he has been passionate about African cuisine. Very quickly, he launched himself on social networks, particularly Instagram, where he made many videos with the help of his friend Will Anderson, a videographer. But he felt that his filming lacked context and that it was too individual. Hence his desire to go further by making a film integrating different participants. In the documentary, the camera follows Roger Dushime who goes to meet several interlocutors (some of whom are behind the stoves) as passionate as he is about African cuisine (afro-food).

Blindly

It was somewhat by chance that Roger Dushime and his childhood friend (Will Anderson) responded to a call for projects "A Nous l'Histoire" initiated by the FPS Justice. The documentary benefited from the support of other organizations (Africalia, A nous l'histoire, Cassonade, etc.). Once selected, they began producing the report. The collaboration is based on mutual trust, allowing everyone to contribute to the project. “Will brings a unique perspective, an aesthetic, and I bring my passion and knowledge for African food,” says the author of “Roots and Plates: A Story Of Afro Food In Belgium.”

The duo is accompanied on their journey by Mila Jones, a sound engineer. "The process was long to arrive at the final result," confides Roger Dushime. Without any expertise in production, the two friends went into it blindly. The author explains that each step had its share of adventures. Moreover, they were joined by the sound engineer, Mila Jones, who helped them in the production of the documentary and for the recording in general.

The selection of speakers and filming locations was not an easy task. Indeed, the selection was made through his acquaintances. He had identified several people in his network. The rest were recommendations that were made to him. "It was 50/50," he continues.

Picture: Dr Sarah O Neill of Diaspofood research project ULB, Maureen Duru of the Foodbridge and Francois Stepman of GFAiR, at the premiere of the documentary Roots and Plates.

Filming in Belgium and Africa

"We had to juggle everyone's schedules. As a result, some interview appointments fell through during the filming period from April to November 2024. The interviews were conducted in Belgium (Brussels, Liège, Huy, Tervuren, Namur, Louvain-la-Neuve, Vlezenbeek) and in Africa (Cotonou in Benin)."

Beyond the discovery of African cuisines, Roger Dushime also wants to show beauty and love through his film. There is in particular the beauty of the filming locations. According to its author, the documentary tells a certain aesthetic of French-speaking Belgium. Then, there is the love for an African culture and cuisine. During the documentary of more than 40 minutes, the three directors share a passion, encounters and slices of life. "Roots and Plates: A story of afro food in Belgium" is part of the 2015-2024 Decade for People of African Descent proclaimed by the UN.

And after?

After the preview on Monday, February 17 in Brussels, nothing has yet been planned for the rest of the documentary's broadcast. Roger Dushime is first waiting for feedback before planning anything. "We go by gut feeling," he smiles.

He mentions several alternatives, including collaborations with associations for broadcasting to their audiences, putting it online on a streaming platform or even broadcasting in a cinema in Liège. He is also open to broadcasting it on TV if someone comes knocking on the door. "After the broadcast, in the six months that follow, we will try to broadcast it as much as possible," concludes the author of "Roots and Plates: A Story Of Afro Food In Belgium."

Measuring advances in regenerative agriculture in agri-food supply chains

The lack of clear and unified global definitions for regenerative agriculture remains a significant challenge. While regulatory efforts are underway in the US and Europe to define regenerative agriculture, there is ongoing debate around its relationship with organic agriculture. 

The SAI framework provides a common starting point.

Farmer adoption, mindset and education

The transition to regenerative agricultural practices can be challenging for farmers, often involving short-term yield reductions that need careful management. Key strategies to support farmers during this transition include the following.

• Providing financial incentives or access to credit can help farmers manage the initial costs and yield drops associated with adopting regenerative practices.
• Developing insurance options to cover potential yield losses in the early years can provide a safety net for farmers, encouraging them to make the transition.
• Leveraging government initiatives, such as climate-smart agriculture programmes, can offer essential funding and resources to support farmers.
• Encouraging collaboration across the supply chain can distribute the costs and risks of transition. Industry players can work together to support farmers financially and logistically.
• Transitioning can be particularly challenging for smallholder farmers, for whom yield losses would be catastrophic. It is crucial to develop equitable support mechanisms that ensure fairness and inclusion, providing targeted assistance to these farmers.

Engaging farmers effectively requires a focus on practical, tangible benefits and actionable practices rather than inundating them with broader global climate change discussions. Educational efforts should have a number of characteristics.  

• Resonate with farmers' business mindset: It is important to present regenerative agricultural practices in a way that aligns with farmers' business goals, demonstrating tangible benefits and practical applications.
• Include context-specific education: Education should be tailored to the local context, addressing specific practices and impacts relevant to the farmers' region. This approach ensures that the information is relevant and immediately applicable.

 

Equity and scalability

• Ensuring equitable access to regenerative agriculture programmes and incentives across different farm sizes, cooperatives and regions was identified as a challenge.
• Scaling regenerative agriculture practices quickly while maintaining equity and transparency isa concern, particularly for larger cooperatives with diverse customer bases.

Consumer perception and pricing

• Improving consumer awareness and knowledge about regenerative agriculture practices and their benefits was deemed crucial. There is a well-recognised “say-do” gap between consumer interest in sustainability and their actual purchasing behaviour. This is complicated by the proliferation of sustainability claims and labels on products. Educating consumers on the true benefits and value of regenerative agriculture, including the environmental and social costs that are not currently reflected in pricing, is important.
• Concerns were raised about potential price premiums for regenerative agriculture products and whether consumers would be willing to pay more. Some participants reasoned that the price difference should be minimal, making it more acceptable to consumers, while others cited examples of significant premiums for organic products.
• The impact of external factors, such as inflation and economic crises, on consumer willingness to pay for sustainable products was also discussed as a potential barrier.
• Integrating regenerative agriculture claims into the overall brand and value proposition, beyond just on-pack messaging, is key. 
• Collaborating with retailers to tell the story of regenerative agriculture more effectively in-store is also crucial. Collaboration between industry, retailers and consumers is needed to shift mindsets and establish regenerative agriculture as the new normal, rather than a premium or niche offering.

 

Aligning priorities - carbon, biodiversity and beyond

• Concern was raised about over-emphasising carbon metrics and carbon market mechanisms  at the expense of other important impacts such as on water, soil and biodiversity. This narrow focus could lead to farming systems focused on carbon but disconnected from other critical environmental and social factors.
• The arable farming sector may find it easier to balance these various priorities compared to livestock/dairy sectors, as the linkages between practices and outcomes are more direct.
• A more holistic, systems-level approach is needed to define future farming systems and ensure alignment across the different impact areas. 

The right to food, finance and national action plans

Human Rights Council (2025) The right to food, finance and national action plans : report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri. 22 pp.

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, provides a way to develop national right-to-food action plans within existing budgets that can transform food systems and progressively realize the right to food. 

In the light of the global debt crisis, high inflation and high food prices, many countries are faced with the impossible choice of either feeding people or servicing debt. Using public funds to ensure that people have access to adequate food can cause a Government to fall into arrears, worsening financial shocks; servicing debt instead leads to more hunger and malnutrition. 

This means that the current international system of finance resolutely impedes the ability of Governments to meet their obligations with regard to the right to food. In the report, the Special Rapporteur suggests how significant improvements in food systems – and the conditions for transformation – could be achieved by redesigning public budgets.

CGIAR launches regional scaling hub in Kenya to expand agricultural innovation

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is establishing a new Regional Scaling Hub in Kenya to advance agricultural solutions across East and Southern Africa. The hub is expected to support the transformation of food, land, and water systems by ensuring that scientific innovations reach farmers and other users. According to CGIAR, the initiative is designed to strengthen collaboration and improve the adoption of research-driven solutions developed in partnership with organizations across Africa. 

 The hub aims to enhance knowledge-sharing and innovation by bringing together various stakeholders in the agricultural sector. These include smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives, government agencies, financial institutions, research organizations, universities, civil society groups, private sector players, and youth agricultural influencers. By facilitating connections among these groups, CGIAR hopes to create an ecosystem where innovations can be effectively adapted and scaled across different agricultural landscapes.

Part of CGIAR’s 2025-2030 Global Portfolio

The Scaling Hub is integrated into CGIAR’s broader research agenda for the next five years, which focuses on delivering long-term agricultural solutions worldwide. As part of the Scaling for Impact Program, the initiative is expected to provide access to agricultural innovations for over 62 million people, including marginalized and underrepresented communities.

By 2030, CGIAR estimates that 250,000 jobs will be created or improved, and around 480,000 people—half of them women—will gain access to better nutrition. This Regional Scaling Hub will serve as a physical workspace where experts from various disciplines can collaborate on strategies for expanding agricultural innovations.

UK to establish agritech hub in Oyo, Nigeria

10 February 2025. UK to establish agritech hub in Oyo.  The Oyo State Government is set to benefit from a partnership with the United Kingdom Agritech Centre to enhance agriculture and livestock production through science and other technology-based solutions.

The Centre is also set to establish an Agritech Hub within one of the state’s Agribusiness Industrial Hubs, which will help revolutionise agriculture and provide practitioners with resources and opportunities for technological innovations in farming practices.

The UK has a new major project that is a tripartite relationship between Brazil, the UK, and Nigeria. It is called the Agritech. The UK Agritech Centre, as an organisation, comprises 300 members from the private sector and academia, and they bring to Nigeria science and technology-based solutions. https://ukagritechcentre.com/event/uk-brazil-building-collaboration-in-agri-tech-workshop/ 

Funding Forgotten Foods (2)

11 - 14 February 2025. Ibadan, Nigeria. The Global Forum for Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAiR) organised a second proposal write shop to target funding opportunities on Forgotten Foods. This follows a first proposal write shop in Winneba (Ghana) in January. 

The main aim of this meeting was to apply for

• 
  The INCiTiS-FOOD Open Call for Local Innovation Hubs Deadline: March 20th, 2025
  The INCiTiS-FOOD Open Call aims to attract Local Innovation Hubs (LIHs), small consortia that must comprise a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 legal entities, such as NGOs, cooperatives, and educational institutions. These consortia will co-create and implement innovative solutions tailored to sustainable and circular food systems, fostering collaboration and addressing local food system challenges.
  A webinar for Q&A will be held on 5th March
  
  
• 
  The One planet call for proposals: Mobilizing Children and Youth in the One Planet Network to
  Support Implementation of the Global Strategy on Sustainable Consumption and Production
  Sustainable Food systems Project proposals should drive meaningful change and support the achievement of the following impacts: - Knowledge and Advocacy: (1) Promote the uptake of SFS Programme Knowledge Hub resources and tools among global and national stakeholders. (2) Represent the
  Youth Voice in the shaping of the emerging OPN flagship initiative on leveraging sustainable public procurement to advance sustainable food systems, with a current focus on school meals. (3) Act as a multiplier by supporting the SFS Programme through communication activities (social media). Deadline: March 3rd, 2025
• Third UK Research Grant Competition: Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC)- Theme 1: Using biodiversity to improve the climate resilience of agricultural, food and bioeconomy value chains. The Concept Note application window will close on March 16th.

Extract of the program:

10/02 Concept note of the proposal

K-TOMFonio-Project. Ponic Technologies for Developing Human and Poultry Diets from Fonio Seeds and King Tuber Oyster Mushroom

The project shall demonstrate innovative ponic technologies for producing human and poultry diets from forgotten crops such as fonio and KOM at urban and peri-urban environments in Nigeria. The technologies are cost-effective and shall utilize minimal space and time to produce highly nutritious diets in the study environments. The project shall create potential income channels for urban and peri-urban farmers, new research skills for the participating researchers and introduce highly nutritious human and poultry diets to end users.

11/02 Panel discussion: Forgotten foods and the research - private sector nexus

Objective:

1. 
   Share examples on how the private sector can take up research outcomes related to Forgotten Foods
2. Research priorities
3. How to link up with the private finance sector
4. Public funding opportunities

Online Speakers: (International Nutrition and Food experts)

1. 
   Dr. Habiba Wassef (MD), ANS (African Nutrition Society) Living Legend of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences ; Health and Nutrition Policy in Sustainable Development ; Chair, National Nutrition Sciences Committee Egypt 
2. Robert Fungo, President, The Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS), School of Food Technology, Nutrition & Bio-Engineering, Makerere University Kampala, Uganda
3. Dr. Stella Iwuagwu 
4. Owole Fatunbi - Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa: FARA Forgotten Foods Dgroups / Community of Practice
5. Babafemi Oyewole - CEO Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO) Kigali, Rwanda

Picture: Emily offering Bambara groundnut crackers produced by the food processing lab of IITA

The GFAiR-Ibadan Hybrid Meeting on "Forgotten Foods and the Research-Private Sector Nexus" brought together experts to discuss the role of forgotten foods in food security, nutrition, and commercialization. Dr. Habiba Hassan-Wassef emphasized the importance of tailoring approaches to different ecological zones and integrating forgotten foods into modern food systems, while Robert Fungo highlighted the private sector's role in adding value through research, market assessment, and processing innovations. Dr. Stella Iwuagwu discussed the "food as medicine" concept, urban farming challenges, and the need for local food production. The meeting addressed marketing, innovation, policy advocacy, and private sector engagement to increase the visibility, production, and commercial viability of forgotten foods. Action points included social media awareness campaigns, farmer-led enterprises, policy engagement, and financial initiatives to promote forgotten foods across Africa sustainably.

Download the summary (7 pp.) 

12/02 I-Youth agribusiness

• Presentation (on site) by Noel Mulinganya, IITA Program Manager - Youth Program/Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).

The IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) presentation highlights initiatives aimed at engaging African youth in modern, sustainable, and profitable agribusiness to address unemployment, improve livelihoods, and enhance food security. The IYA model provides institutional support, technical assistance, and access to economic opportunities within agricultural value chains. Key projects include Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth), ENABLE-TAAT, and the Start Them Early Program (STEP), which focuses on training young people in agribusiness and technological advancements. The Agribusiness Park initiative fosters startup growth by creating supportive ecosystems for agripreneurs, with established ventures in aquaculture, horticulture, and livestock production. Over the past decade, IYA has trained 44,872 direct participants, created 85,616 jobs, and supported 12,410 youth-led agribusiness startups. The STEP program integrates agricultural education into schools, ensuring sustainability through teacher training and community engagement. The presentation underscores the need for innovative financing, institutional mindset shifts, and multi-dimensional job creation to sustain youth involvement in agribusiness.

12/02 Urban agriculture: business for young entrepreneurs? 

• 
  Presentation  (on site) by Angel Adelaja, CEO, Fresh Direct, Nigeria
   
  

  The FreshDirect Urban Agriculture presentation introduces an innovative approach to urban farming through container farms, utilizing hydroponics and vertical farming to grow fresh, organic produce closer to urban markets. By integrating technology, sustainability, and efficiency, the model reduces land and water use while addressing food security challenges, post-harvest losses, and food import dependency. The initiative promotes synergy between urban, peri-urban, and rural agriculture, emphasizing productivity, sustainability, and economic impact. FreshDirect aims to empower youth, particularly women, through hands-on training and job creation, making agribusiness more accessible. Their growth strategy includes expanding container farms, establishing a retail and training hub, and integrating digital solutions like an interactive farm management app for growers and investors. To scale, they propose policy advocacy, incentives, coordination, and aggregation centers, ensuring long-term urban farming sustainability.

(below: 10 April 2018. CTA Brussels Development Briefing no. 50 on “Growing food in the cities: Successes and new opportunities”. This Briefing was organised by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with the European Commission / DEVCO, the ACP Secretariat, and CONCORD.)

13/02 The new Odisha Government scheme on neglected crops and forgotten foods.

• By Dinesh Balam, Program Officer - Policy Advocacy and Coordination - Revitalizing Rainfed Agriculture Network. WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities Network) is the anchoring secretariat of CoFTI (the Coalition of food systems transformation in India initiative). 
  
  

  The WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities Network) presentation outlines its initiatives in natural farming, millet promotion, seed systems, and rural development to support sustainable agriculture in Odisha, India. The Odisha Millets Mission focuses on conserving and promoting millet landraces, increasing millet consumption, and integrating them into public food programs like the PDS and mid-day meals. WASSAN has conducted large-scale participatory varietal trials, leading to the formal release of traditional millet varieties. The organization also documents and revives forgotten foods and indigenous crops, mapping traditional food cultures and engaging communities in conservation efforts through seed banks and custodian farmers. Their value-chain approach includes post-harvest processing, branding, marketing, and policy advocacy to create economic opportunities for farmers. Collaborations with government bodies, research institutions, and international partners support their mission, ensuring that indigenous food systems are preserved and leveraged for food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods.

Download the summary (5 pp.)

13/02 Community of Practice on Africa Forgotten and Underutilized Food Commodities

• 
  By Wole FATUNBI, Lead Specialist: Innovation Systems and Partnerships - Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
  
  The Africa Community of Practice (CoP) on Forgotten Foods, led by FARA, aims to reintegrate neglected and underutilized food commodities into Africa’s mainstream food systems to address food and nutritional insecurity. The initiative focuses on research, knowledge sharing, technology development, policy advocacy, and investment mobilization. With over 7,000 edible crop species underutilized, the CoP seeks to promote biodiversity, enhance food resilience, and improve market access for forgotten foods. Key strategies include awareness campaigns, participatory plant breeding, conservation of genetic resources, strengthening seed systems, and fostering private sector engagement. The CoP also prioritizes youth and women’s involvement, regional partnerships, and financial mechanisms to scale forgotten food initiatives. Through collaboration with research institutions, policymakers, and agribusiness stakeholders, the initiative aims to create a sustainable, inclusive, and nutrition-secure African food system.

14/02 Guided tour Genetic Resources Center, IITA, Ibadan

The Genetic Resources Center (GRC) at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria, is dedicated to the conservation and utilization of Africa's rich plant genetic diversity. 

• The GRC maintains an extensive genebank that holds germplasm of major African food crops, including underutilized indigenous species often termed "forgotten foods." 
• These indigenous crops, such as various orphan legumes, are preserved to ensure their availability for research, breeding, and cultivation, thereby supporting food security and agricultural sustainability across the continent. 
• 
  Recognizing the potential of these neglected crops, IITA's GRC has undertaken research to explore their nutritional benefits, adaptability, and role in diversifying food systems. A recent study highlighted the significance of indigenous African orphan legumes, emphasizing their potential to enhance food and nutrition security, promote crop diversification, and bolster climate resilience. 
• By focusing on these underutilized species, the GRC aims to reintroduce them into mainstream agriculture, offering farmers alternative crops that are well-suited to local environments and resilient to changing climatic conditions.

Resources:

FAO (2024) Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa: A companion publication for Integrating Africa’s forgotten foods for better nutrition 120 pp.

• Indigenous communities across Africa have used several locally adapted crops for millennia, mainly for nutrition, medicinal and ornamental purposes. 
• Unfortunately, many of these crops have been progressively substituted with imported genotypes favoured by industrial agriculture. Pervasive monoculture of the exotic crops and increasingly standardised diets have partly contributed to the utter denigration of the indigenous crops, earning them the appellation of "forgotten crops.”

GFAiR policy brief: The Role of Private Sector Investment in Scaling Agricultural Innovations: Focus on Nutrition and Forgotten Foods (4pp.) 

• This is an extract of a forthcoming GFAiR Insights - 40 pp.
• GFAiR is currently finalising a GFAiR Insights publication (40 pp.) on the need for agricultural research to reach out to the private (finance) sector. 
• The full report includes the example of The INCITIS-FOOD consortium. 
• The INCITIS research project and consortium funded by DG RTD exceptionally involves a financial partner to upscale innovation. The African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA) is a leading pan-african network of financial and non-financial institutions involved in promoting access to rural and agricultural finance in Africa. 
• The INCITIS-FOOD Project is working on improving innovative circular food system in 6 countries across 3 African regions: East (Kenya), West (Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) and Central (Cameroun and Gabon). 
• The objective of the eight living labs in six African countries is to map the landscape of food providers, manufacturers, marketers, and consumers and to help identify bottlenecks and challenges that can be addressed by the living labs.

Deffor, E. (2024) Value Chain Analysis for Selected Indigenous Vegetables in Ghana. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture

• The FAO Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) framework guided this value chain analysis. The elements of the framework provide a market-oriented and systems-based approach for measuring, analyzing, and improving the performance of food value chains (FVCs) in ways that help ensure their economic and environmental sustainability.
• Cocoyam Leaf (Kontomire), Turkey Berry (Kwahu Nsusua), Okra and Garden Eggs

Related event

11-13 February 2025. Lusaka, Zambia. Academic symposium and workshop ‘Traditional foods for the future’ 

2-14 February 2025. Postgraduate course: Traditional foods for the future. Local traditional foods to promote food and nutrition security: transdisciplinary approaches to advance Sustainable Development Goals

Many local traditional foods exist that are part of local culture and tradition. They are usually well suited to local agronomic practices and informal value chains and, have great potential to promote nutrition and livelihoods. However, due to specific characteristics of each of these foods and the focus on globally available alternatives, local traditional foods have been understudied. This has hampered their use to promote nutrition and livelihoods within the local context of many LMIC.

To promote traditional foods, a symposium is specifically focusing on local traditional (fermented) foods in Southern Africa. 

This symposium covers six topics and their interrelationships:

1. Food fermentation: processing and product functionality
2. Microbial ecology of the environment and fermented foods
3. Food environment, diets and health
4. Personal entrepreneurial context
5. Value chains and institutions
6. Consumer needs and preference

FAO Policy and research roundtable dialogue on integrated climate-nutrition action

5 February 2025. Climate Change and Nutrition. FAO Policy and research roundtable dialogue on integrated climate-nutrition action.

View the webcast

This roundtable event, organized by FAO and the Government of France, facilitated knowledge exchange between researchers and policymakers to outline critical data and evidence needs for science-driven policy, action, and investment in Climate Change and Nutrition.

During the event, policy options on climate and nutrition backed by the current knowledge base and data, metrics, and evidence on integrated climate-nutrition action were presented. The dialogue will focus on context-specific policy needs and knowledge gaps to guide future research agendas and policy action. 

This roundtable event, supported by the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the Standing Together for Nutrition (ST4N)/ Micronutrient Forum and the SickKids Hospital/ Aga Khan University, is an important milestone in the build-up to the Paris 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. The outcomes will also inform and stimulate further dialogue, contributing to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes and the 30th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP30).

Objectives

• To present the latest data, metrics, and evidence on the impact of integrated climate-nutrition action;
• To foster dialogue between Permanent Representations to FAO and Rome-based Agencies and research institutions and academics on data and evidence on integrated climate-nutrition initiatives to inform national policy;
• To promote knowledge exchange and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders working in the fields of climate change and nutrition;
• To outline key policy and research priorities to advance climate and nutrition integrated action.

List of speakers

• Ms Nancy Aburto, Deputy Director, ESN, FAO 
• Ms Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO
• H. E. Krisztina Bende, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Switzerland
  
  
• 
  Dr Juan Lucas Restrepo, Global Director of Partnerships and Advocacy, CGIAR, Director General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) See webcast @ 41:50 The latest data, metrics and evidence on the impact of integrated climate and nutrition action
  
  
• Prof. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert Harding Inaugural Chair, Global Child Health & Policy at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and Founding Director, Institute for Global Health & Development, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
• Mr Bruno Brasil, Director of Sustainable Production and Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Brazil (COP30 Presidency)  
• H.E. Carla Barroso Carneiro, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Federative Republic of Brazil
• H.E. Luke Daunivalu, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Fiji to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva  
• Mr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)  
• H.E. Céline Jurgensen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Rome
• Ms Afshan Khan, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement
• Dr Amos Laar, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, University of Ghana
• Ms Piedad Martin, Deputy Director, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), FAO 
• H.E. Thesele John 'Maseribane, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Lesotho
• Ms Lynnette Neufeld, Director, Food and Nutrition Division (ESN), FAO  
• Ms Beatrice Ekesa Onyango, Head of Nutrition, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Dr Saskia Osendarp, Executive Director, Micronutrient Forum  
• Atty. Asis G. Perez, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations, Department of Agriculture, Philippines  
• H.E. Brieuc Pont, Special Envoy for Nutrition, Secretary General of the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, France  
• H. E. Bassam Essam Rady Abdelhamid Rady, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Growth component analysis for experimental research on vegetable crop physiology

3 - 4 February 2025. Nairobi. Growth component analysis for experimental research on vegetable crop physiology

 INCiTiS-FOOD partner, University of Bologna,organised an insightful workshop on Growth Component Analysis for Experimental Research in Nairobi

• Giuseppina Pennisi
• John Wesonga
• Francesco Orsini

How Business Can Support Sustainable Development

Homi Kharas, Koji Makino, John W. McArthur, and Jane Nelson (2025) For the World’s Profit. How Business Can Support Sustainable Development 278 pp.

This book argues that the world is at a key juncture for considering how the targeted pursuit of business profits can better add up to the world’s profit, broadly defined.

The edited volume brings together a remarkable array of distinguished corporate, investor, government, academic, and nonprofit perspectives to reflect on the issues. The authors tackle such questions as how businesses can work more effectively with governments, financial institutions, and civil society to mitigate their own enterprise risk alongside risks to people and planet; how private resources, innovation, and networks can be mobilized to create value in solving major social and environmental challenges; and what types of accountability structures are needed to set boundaries, provide oversight, and create positive incentives for business performance.

Their perspectives offer insights into how sustainability can be introduced into business practices, finance and policymaking in a way that expands market opportunities and accelerates progress toward global sustainable development.

Related: Profit and purpose: Aligning business for a sustainable future

10 January 2025. The Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings launched the book’s publication with an overview and panel discussion of key themes. 

• The event discussed actionable strategies for aligning business goals with global priorities, notably the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting landscape of sustainability standards and policies. 
• It shared insights on how business leaders, financial actors, policymakers, and regulators can contribute to an ecosystem where the targeted pursuit of business profits can better add up to the world’s profit, broadly defined.

 

Food as medicine report

Platkin, C., Cather, A., Butz, L., Garcia, I., Gallanter, M., Leung, MM., (2022) Food As Medicine: Overview and Report: How Food and Diet Impact the Treatment of Disease and Disease Management. Center for Food As Medicine and Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center; March 30, 2022, available at foodmedcenter.org and nycfoodpolicy.org. 169 pp.

There is overwhelming evidence demonstrating the impact of food and diet on health, specifically among food-related diseases. Whether or not a poor diet can cause damage to the body should no longer be debated, as evidence supports the potential causal relationships between dietary factors and diet-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. While diet has the potential to cause disease, it is also capable of building, maintaining, and restoring health. The report, written in conjunction with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, aims to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and the use of food as medicine in the prevention and treatment of disease.

This comprehensive narrative review and report is divided into five parts, including: 

1. background information on the history of using food to treat disease, 
2. modern challenges to widespread use and acceptance of food as medicine practices, 
3. current evidence about contemporary food as medicine practices (such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and functional foods), 
4. literature review of food as treatment for specific disease states, and 
5. recommendations to stakeholders (including policymakers, health care professionals, and academics) to contribute to a healthier, more equitable health care system.

Download the report HERE >>

Third School Meal Programs Around the World Report

Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF). (2024) School Meal Programs Around the World: Results from the 2024 Global Survey of School Meal Programs, 121 pp.

The third round of the Global Survey of School Meal Programs © was conducted by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) in 2024, gathering information on the school year beginning in 2022. The survey saw participation from 142 countries and collected detailed data on 207 large-scale school meal programs. Survey results are presented in the School Meal Programs Around the World report and summarized in the Survey Highlights.

4 February 2025. Third School Meal Programs Around the World Report

School meal programs are an effective way to boost children’s nutrition and wellbeing, including physiological development and academic performance. These programs can also play an important role in food systems transformation by ensuring access to healthy diets, supporting equitable livelihoods, and contributing to environmental sustainability. However, data on large-scale school meal programs have historically been fragmented and inconsistent, despite the global prevalence of these programs and evidence of their positive impact. 

The Global Survey of School Meal Programs © seeks to address this gap, collecting the most comprehensive data to date on national and large-scale school feeding programs, with information on 167 countries. It provides comprehensive global data on school meal coverage, financing, food baskets, laws and policies, home-grown school feeding, and more, thus serving as a foundation for monitoring global progress over time.

Introductory Remarks

• Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI
• Mary Muinde, Chief of Staff to the First Lady of Kenya
• Fabio Veras Soares, Researcher, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Development, Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPCid/IPEA), Government of Brazil
• Neo Sediti, Director, National School Nutrition Programme, Government of the Republic of South Africa
• Dana Thomas, Managing Director, Food is Medicine, The Rockefeller Foundation

Overview of Survey Results

• Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)
• Liliane Bigayimpunzi, Survey Coordinator for Africa, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)
• Ayala Wineman, Research and Survey Specialist, Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF)

Panel: Putting the Survey Results into Use- Policy, Research, Advocacy, Implementation and the Business Perspective 

• Marie Tamagnan, Senior Operations Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
• Mduduzi Mbuya, Director, Knowledge Leadership, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
• Beatrice Wamey, President, Nascent Solutions
• Mia Blakstad, Social Protection Specialist, The World Bank
• Carmen Burbano, Director of School Meals and Social Protection, UN World Food Program (WFP) and Director of the School Meals Coalition Secretariat

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

• Recording of the Official Launch Event
• Infographics
• Survey Highlights
• Country Reports
• Interactive Dashboard
• Access the Data
• Joint Press Release with The Rockefeller Foundation

Related:

28 January 2025. School meals in the 21st century – emerging evidence and future directions

Co-organized by IFPRI and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) research consortium

AR4D Funding Opportunities for Africa - February 2025

Agriculture Fisheries Forestry

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development

Women in Agricultural Sciences

2025-02-12

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) announces the AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Science. The call targets young women in science under 35 years of age from Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Malawi. Selected candidates will participate in a nine-month capacity building program. The call for applications closes on 12 February 2025.

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare Student Scholarship

2025-02-28

Animal Welfare Student Scholarships enable students to develop their interests in animal welfare science. Students are encouraged to carry out their own projects (whether research or educational) with the aim of contributing to our growing knowledge of how best to assess, or improve, the welfare of animals (for example, farm animals, animals in zoos, pets, or wild animals). Projects may be carried out anywhere in the world. Applications are welcome from undergraduate or MSc students. Support is provided for up to 8 weeks up to a maximum of £2,800. The closing date for applications is 28 February 2025.

Biodiversity Conservation Wildlife

Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Capacity Enhancement Support Program 2025

2025-02-04

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) welcomes proposals for funding under the 2025 Capacity Enhancement Support Program, which seeks to enhance the long-term capacity of GBIF participants through collaborative projects. The program provides co-funding to current GBIF participants. The maximum funding request is €20 thousand per project. Concept notes must be submitted by 04 February 2025.

Earth Journalism Network

Media Grants Marine Conservation

2025-02-07

The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) offers media grants to support in-depth and enterprise reporting projects, initiatives to train journalists and other activities designed to increase media coverage and the capacity of journalists to report on 30x30 marine conservation targets. Newsrooms and media organizations in coastal countries are eligible to apply. EJN anticipates supporting two organizations with grants of US$10 thousand each. The application deadline is 07 February 2025.

Morris Animal Foundation

Veterinary Student Scholar Program

2025-02-12

The Morris Animal Foundation supports research on animal health and welfare, including wildlife/exotics. The Foundation provides veterinary students with the opportunity to become involved in mentored research that advances the health and/or welfare of companion animals and wildlife exotics. The Veterinary Student Scholars program awards stipends up to US$5 thousand to veterinary students. The program is open to currently enrolled veterinary students from all around the world. Applications are due 12 February 2025.

United Nations University

MSc in Sustainability Science 2025

2025-02-12

The UNU's Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) offers an MSc degree program to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science. UNU-IAS seeks to incorporate perspectives on global change, specifically those related to climate change and biodiversity. The Japan Foundation offers the UNU Scholarship to outstanding applicants from developing countries who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance. The deadline to apply for the MSc program is 12 February 2025.

IUCN

Nature-and-Climate-positive Projects

2025-02-13

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) announces the Innovative Climate with-Biodiversity Positive Program. IUCN seeks Nature-and-Climate-positive projects with on-the-ground restoration activities, including community development and activities. The Facility provides grants ranging from € 750 thousand to € 1.5 million. Applications are accepted from a wide range of organizations involved in the design, development, and implementation of high-quality, scalable nature-based projects for carbon markets, such as NGOs; Indigenous Peoples, and Local Community organisations; forestry and agricultural companies; cooperatives; and others with the relevant expertise. The deadline for Concept Note submission is 13 February 2025.

Leakey Foundation

Fellowships for Paleoanthropology and Primatology Students

2025-02-15

The Leakey Foundation makes the Franklin Mosher Baldwin Memorial Fellowships to help students from developing countries get advanced education and training in paleoanthropology and primatology. Applicants should already be enrolled or provisionally accepted in a graduate program related to human origins and evolution. A fellowship provides for two years of support. The maximum award is US$15 thousand per year. The program has an annual deadline for new applications, and a different application process and deadline to apply for second-year renewals. The deadline for new applicants is 15 February 2025. (Note: The deadline for returning applicants is 01 March.)

Wildlife Acoustics

Bio-Acoustics Product Grants

2025-02-15

Wildlife Acoustics aims to advance animal biology research, habitat monitoring and environmental conservation through bio-acoustics recording technology. The Wildlife Acoustics Scientific Product Grant Program offers US$4 thousand of product-in-kind grants to biologists, researchers, conservationists, and students who work for charitable, educational, and other tax-exempt organizations. There are no geographical limitations. Applications are evaluated quarterly with deadlines on 15 February, 15 May, 15 August, and 15 November 2025.

United Nations University

PhD in Sustainability Science 2025

2025-02-19

The UNU's Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) offers a three-year PhD program to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science. The program seeks to incorporate perspectives on global change, specifically those related to climate change and biodiversity. The Japan Foundation offers the UNU Scholarship to outstanding applicants from developing countries who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance. The deadline for applications is 19 February 2025.

Seabird Group

Small Grants

2025-02-28

The Seabird Group supports research, survey, and conservation of seabirds. It awards small grants each year, with priority to Seabird Group members working on Atlantic seabirds. The maximum grant is usually £250 per project. Applications should be submitted by 31 October and 28 February each year.

Action for Nature

International Young Eco-Hero Awards 2025

2025-02-28

This program honors the work of young people between the ages of 8 and 16 who have completed successful projects in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research, and protection of the natural world. The selected individuals are awarded a cash prize (US$500) and certificate, as well as public recognition. The annual competition is open internationally. The application deadline is 28 February 2025.

Crosscutting

Wageningen University

Africa Scholarship Program

2025-02-01

The Africa Scholarship Program (ASP) offers students from Africa the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree at Wageningen University and to support capacity building in Africa. Students receive travel, living allowance, tuition fee coverage, visa costs, and costs for health insurance. Applicants have to be citizens of an African country and have applied for one of the master’s programs of Wageningen University & Research before the given deadline. The application deadline is 01 February 2025.

Harvard University

Award for Student Research on Asian Tropical Forest Biology

2025-02-01

The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University sponsors the Ashton Award for Student Research to support graduate and advanced undergraduate students working on Asian tropical forest biology. Applications are accepted from advanced undergraduates and graduate students worldwide. Awards are up to US$4 thousand to support research expenses. The application deadline is 01 February 2025.

Swiss National Science Foundation

Postdoc Mobility

2025-02-01

Postdoc researchers who wish to pursue an academic career in Switzerland are invited to apply to the Postdoc.Mobility fellowships. The research stay enables researchers to acquire more in-depth knowledge, increases their scientific independence, and enhances their research profile. The fellowships include a grant for subsistence costs, a flat rate for travel expenses, and a possible contribution to research and conference costs. The funding period is 24 months. Foreign nationals are eligible if they have at least 2 years of research activity at a Swiss research institution. The application deadlines are 01 February and 02 August 2025.

University of Antwerp

Masters Program in Development Studies

2025-02-01

The University of Antwerp's Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB) offers three specializations for one-year master's programs in development studies. Topics include poverty, climate change, conflict, good governance, sustainable development, and others. The Institute of Development Policy awards scholarships to students from many countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America for studies at Belgian universities that include Antwerp's IOB. Candidates applying for an ICP Connect scholarship have to submit their application by 01 February 2025.

Aga Khan Foundation

International Scholarships

2025-02-01

The Aga Khan Foundation supports programs in rural development, broadly defined, in several developing countries. It provides scholarships and loans for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from the developing world, with priority for master’s studies. The Foundation also considers applications for PhD programs in certain circumstances. Applications are invited from the following nationalities: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. Please note that half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, which must be reimbursed. The application deadline is 01 February 2025, but earlier in some countries (please check the dates carefully).

European Commission Erasmus Mundus

International Masters Degree in Environment 2025-2027

2025-02-04

MESPOM is a two-year Erasmus Mundus master's course in environmental sciences, policy, and management operated by four European and two North American universities. MESPOM invites applications from all countries. MESPOM aims to prepare students for identifying and implementing solutions to complex environmental sustainability challenges, especially in an international context. Graduates receive MSc degrees from the Central European University, Lund University, and the University of Manchester. The program offers several forms of financial assistance, including tuition fee waivers and living stipends. Candidates applying for financial aid should submit their applications before 04 February 2025.

iF International Forum Design GmbH

Student Design Award

2025-02-05

The iF Student Design Award recognizes students and their future-oriented concepts that aim to solve a global development challenge. The best concepts earn a share of €50 thousand. All winners will be honored with a two-day event in Istanbul. Students and recent graduates of all design-related courses and programs are welcome to register their concepts. The registration deadline for participation is 05 February 2025.

National Geographic Society

Slingshot Challenge

2025-02-07

The National Geographic Society seeks applications for its Slingshot Challenge. The challenge invites 13–18-year-olds to submit a 1-minute video describing their idea for solving environmental issues. Video submissions must be in English or Spanish. Subtitles are not required but are allowed. National Geographic will select a small number of submissions to receive up to US$10 thousand in funding. Submissions are due by 07 February 2025.

Acumen

East Africa Fellowship

2025-02-07

The Acumen East Africa Fellows Program is a 6-month program comprising 5 seminars that gives individuals from East Africa the training they need to accelerate their social impact and leadership potential. Eligible countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan & Ethiopia. Past fellows have included several in smallholder agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, fair trade, and other areas. Acumen covers all program expenses related to travel and accommodations, but it does not offer scholarships, stipends, or other funding. The application deadline is 07 February 2025.

Planet Forward

Story Award

2025-02-10

The Planet Forward Storyfest Awards invites students to submit stories that inspire, motivate, and drive change. Planet Forward seeks stories surrounding the people, ideas, and innovations moving the world toward a greener future. The grand prize is a travel to the Galápagos Islands. Entries will be accepted until 10 February 2025.

University of Pennsylvania

Workshop for Social Entrepreneurs

2025-02-10

The Global Social Impact House (GSIH) is a seven-day residential program in Costa Rica (June 2025) that provides social entrepreneurs with the training they need to advance their ventures. Workshops are customized to the needs of fellows. The Center for Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania will provide scholarships, which include accommodation and food. However, fellows are responsible for covering travel and visa-related expenses. The application deadline is 10 February 2025.

World Academy of Sciences

TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarship

2025-02-15

In collaboration with UNESCO, the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) sponsors a PhD Scholarship for up to 40 students/scholars from developing countries to study in China for up to 4 years. TWAS will provide travel support and a monthly allowance to cover accommodation and living expenses. Applicants must be residents and nationals of a developing country (except China). The call for applications is open until 15 February 2025.

Embassy of Japan

Grants for Grassroots Projects in Uganda

2025-02-15

The Embassy of Japan in Uganda provides financial assistance to non-profit, development-oriented organizations in support of community development projects in Uganda. Any projects geared towards grassroots assistance are eligible for financing, including water and sanitation, disaster relief, and agricultural development. The grant amount per project is generally under 10 million yen (approx. US$100 thousand). Potential recipients are international or local NGOs, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and local governments. The Embassy receives concept papers anytime throughout the year, but the selection process is conducted twice a year with deadlines on 15 February and 31 July.

Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study

Fellowships for Early-Career African Researchers

2025-02-15

The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) offers the Iso Lomso Fellowships to early-career African researchers in any discipline. The program provides a three-year attachment to STIAS in addition to the possibility of a residency at a sister institute for advanced study in North America, Europe, or elsewhere. Other benefits include support for attending international conferences or workshops and support to the fellow's home institution for lecturer replacement. The program is aimed at African scholars who have obtained a doctoral degree within the preceding eight years, and who hold an academic position at a university or research institution anywhere in Africa. The application deadline is 15 February 2025.

Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen

Networking Civil Societies

2025-02-16

The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) promotes tandem cooperation between civil society organizations from Germany and partner countries (listed in the announcement). CCP Synergy is aimed at employees from two organizations who are planning a joint initiative. The purpose of such a collaboration could be, for example, the planning and implementation of joint events, fact-finding missions, research, or artistic undertakings in the fields of sustainable development or climate justice. CCP Synergy supports both cooperating organizations with a total of €4,500. The call for applications is open until 16 February 2025.

German Government

International Climate Initiative: Thematic Selection

2025-02-18

The International Climate Initiative (IKI) funds climate projects that address pressing challenges in the areas of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. The funding amount provided by the German Government ranges from €5 million to €20 million per project. Applicants for funding must apply as a consortium. Nonprofit organizations, enterprises, universities, and research institutions as well as international intergovernmental organizations are eligible. The selection procedure is done in two stages. In the first stage, interested implementing organizations submit a project outline. Project outlines must be submitted by 18 February 2025.

Bayer Foundations

Women Empowerment Award

2025-02-18

The Bayer Foundation Women Empowerment Award (WEA) recognizes women pioneering in health, nutrition, and related climate-smart solutions. Fifteen female entrepreneurs will get the chance to join the 6-month Accelerator Program and receive €25 thousand in support of their business. To qualify, applicants must center their solutions around health or food security related challenges. The award seeks to support women entrepreneurs driving impactful solutions in the Asia Pacific region, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. The application deadline is 18 February 2025.

Ghent University

Special Research Fund

2025-02-19

Ghent University grants PhD “sandwich” scholarships to promising PhD students from Global South countries who wish to carry out half of their PhD research at Ghent University. The candidate must have full-time funding for the other 24 months of research to be carried out in the South. Research proposals must be jointly submitted by a candidate, a supervisor at Ghent University, and a supervisor at the partner university. The deadline for scholarship applications is 19 February 2025.

Turkish Government

Tükiye Scholarships 2025

2025-02-20

The Turkish Government offers scholarships to international students. The government-funded scholarship program is awarded to students who pursue full-time or short-term programs at universities in Turkey. Fields of study include Agriculture, Natural and Applied Sciences, amongst many others. Applications are open from students from all around the world. Türkiye Scholarships Burslari provides financial support and university placements to its awardees. The application deadline is 20 February 2025.

Kellogg School of Management

Sustainable Investing Challenge

2025-02-23

The Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge invites teams of graduate students from around the world to develop and pitch creative financial approaches and solutions to tackle pressing social and environmental challenges. Graduate students from around the world are invited to participate. The overall winning team receives US$10 thousand and the runner-up receives US$5 thousand. Teams must register in advance to request a mentor that gives them feedback on their proposal prior to submission. The deadline for submission of project ideas is 23 February 2025.

Ashoka

Supporting Small Business Ecosystems

2025-02-26

The Power of Local Challenge by Ashoka and Prudential supports initiatives that strengthen small business ecosystems in Latin America and East Africa. Eleven winners will receive up to US$60 thousand in prizes for projects enhancing collaboration, mentorship, and access to capital. Eligibility extends to small businesses and entrepreneurs from Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Applications close on 26 February 2025.

Swedish Institute

Scholarships for Global Professionals

2025-02-26

The Swedish Institute (SI) provides fully-funded international scholarships for master’s studies in Sweden. The scholarship for global professionals aims to develop future global leaders who will contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contribute to positive and sustainable development in their home countries. The scholarship is intended for full-time one-year or two-year master’s programs. SI fully covers tuition fees and makes regular payments of SEK12 thousand to cover living expenses throughout the scholarship. The application portal will close on 26 February 2025.

Scientific Exploration Society

Explorer Awards 2025

2025-02-26

The Scientific Exploration Society (SES) awards "pioneers with purpose" who combine innovative field expeditions with important research contributions, including in subject areas related to the environment and conservation. The awards are intended to provide a financial contribution to the overall cost of the fieldwork phase of scientific exploration. Grants range from US$4 thousand to US$7 thousand. For 2025, SES announces six award categories. The application deadline for a simple online application (stage 1) is 26 February 2025.

O’Shaughnessy Ventures

Research, Innovation, and Creativity Grants

2025-02-28

The O’Shaughnessy Fellowships offer US$100 thousand equity-free grants to individuals worldwide pursuing research, creative projects, or innovation. Fellows receive mentorship and support from OSV’s network of experts, founders, and investors. Applicants must demonstrate initiative, resourcefulness, and strong proof of work. Additional US$10 thousand grants are available to select applicants based on the Fellowship application. Awards are open to individuals aged 18+ globally. The early application deadline is 28 February, and the extended deadline is 30 April.

World Bank

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

2025-02-28

The JJ/WBGSP Scholarship Program provides scholarships to professionals from developing countries who are applying to a master's degree program in a development-related topic. Applicants must first apply for admission to one or more of the Partner Master’s Degree Programs to be eligible for a scholarship. Scholarship recipients receive travel allowance; tuition for the graduate program; basic medical insurance; and a monthly subsistence allowance to cover all living expenses (accommodations, food, etc., including books). The call has to applications windows, with deadlines on 28 February 2025 (Window #1) and 23 May 2025 (Window #2).

Tony Elumelu Foundation

Entrepreneurship Program for Africans 2025

2025-02-28

The Tony Elumelu Foundation fosters and supports start-up enterprises in Africa. The TEF Entrepreneurship Program provides mentoring, training, forums, seed capital, and alumni support to individuals in Africa proposing new business ideas or early-stage companies in sectors that include agriculture, among others. Participants receive up to US$5 thousand in seed capital. The program is open to citizens and legal residents ages 18 and older in any African country. The next application deadline (English, French, Portuguese) is 28 February 2025.