Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Thursday, September 5, 2019

AR4D Funding Opportunities - September 2019

A G R I C U L T U R AL 
Research
  
The Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) in partnership with the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) seeks projects & businesses offering energy efficient cooling solutions, to provide them with comprehensive services which, depending on their needs and maturity, may include business coaching, investment facilitation, tipping point technical assistance, invitations to investment forum pitch competitions and participation in investor roadshows.
PFAN’s goal is to bring projects to investment ready status and then facilitate investor introductions, providing advisory services for both equity and debt financing.
PFAN has worked with hundreds of projects around the world; 112 of these have successfully raised over USD 1.4 billion in investment.
PFAN will select applications not only from businesses in developing countries that deliver greenhouse gas reductions by moving towards lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and improving energy efficiency of air-conditioning and refrigeration, but also from businesses working with other cooling solutions such as building design, shading, cool roofs, cold storage, cold chain technologies and super-efficient fans etc.

Global Agriculture and Food Security Program — Strengthen Agriculture in low-income Countries
GAFSP announces its next call for proposals in the Public Sector Window for programs and projects that strengthen agriculture and lessen food insecurity in low-income countries. GAFSP intends to fund 4-6 proposals for a total of at least US$100 million. Applications (English and French) are limited to 24 countries in fragile and conflict-affected situations: Africa, Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, and South Asia. For the first time, GAFSP is providing technical assistance for proposal preparation. Application for proposal preparation assistance have to be submitted by 15 April 2019. The closing date for full applications is 10 September 2019.


The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) Steering Committee is currently accepting proposals for grant funding for new projects under the Public Sector Window. The GAFSP Steering Committee expects to allocate a total of US$100 million to the four to seven highest-ranked proposals. The full announcement is available in English and French. This Special Call for Proposals is limited to countries in fragile and conflict-affected situations that are also IDA-only and not in non-accrual status in an effort to address the underfunding of such countries to date. Proposals must be submitted electronically by 11:59pm, September 10, 2019


The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is implementing a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project entitled “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission in Industrial Sector through Pelletization Technology in Lao PDR” in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology Lao PDR. The goal of the project is to promote the production and usage of industrial grade solid bio-fuel (pellets) for replacing coal and wood.
The project intends to reduce coal and unsustainably harvested fuelwood consumption and promote waste-to-energy methods. The project also aims to contribute to the sustainable energy practices in Lao, to enhance national energy security, to promote job creation and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as avoid deforestation.
The selected bidder will be responsible for designing an efficient and effective system, produce a prototype, demonstrate at site and monitor the results over at least 1 month.
Deadline extended. Interested parties, that satisfy the above requirements, should submit their proposals by 20 September 2019.


Applicants from government institutions, civil society, communities, indigenous groups and private sector organizations in Uganda are invited to submit proposals to the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme.
In 2003, the European Union adopted the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan , whose ultimate goal is to encourage sustainable management of forests. The FLEGT Action Plan focuses on governance reforms and capacity building to ensure that timber exported to the European Union (EU) comes only from legal sources.
The FAO-EU FLEGT Programme is a five-year demand-driven programme launched in 2015 that supports stakeholders to put elements of the FLEGT Action Plan into practice. Uganda is one of the eligible country entitled to benefit from Programme support. The Programme intervention in the country is governed by a nationally-developed theory of change.
The priority areas for this Call for Proposals are taken from the nationally-developed theory of change (pre-requisites) and were approved in June 2019 by the Uganda Technical Committee, composed of members from the Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment (Forestry Sector Support Department and National Forestry Authority), European Union Delegation and FAO. This call for proposals will address those priorities. Deadline: 13 October 2019

The CFC calls for proposals that advance commodity development in its member countries. Funding is targeted mainly to for-profit organizations and social enterprises for production, value chains, and marketing across a wide group of commodities (agricultural crops, tree crops, timber, bamboo and rattan, minerals, and others). This 15th call for proposals has a deadline on 15 October 2019.

Agribusiness

The Work4Progress challenge seeks projects that generate new employment opportunities for women and young adults in India, Mozambique and Peru. Projects should focus on technologies to promote entrepreneurship among young women (India), agri-technologies to improve crops (Mozambique), agri-technologies to improve irrigation (Peru). Universities, companies, and non-profit organisations are eligible to apply. The deadline to submit a solution application is 02 September 2019.

The Business Partnership Facility awards subsidies to support and develop private sector involvement in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries. The projects submitted under this call must contribute to achieving at least one clearly identified SDG. Funding of up to €200 thousand is available. Partnerships must comprise of actors from the private sector, civil society, academia and/or the public sector, with least one organisation from the for-profit private sector. The application deadline is 09 September 2019.

The program VALUE4HER seeks to increase incomes and employment for women in agribusinesses. This grant scheme is aimed at enabling women’s agribusinesses to try out new ideas and to spur innovations within women-owned agri-businesses. The maximum available grant per agribusiness is €9 thousand. The grant covers up to a maximum of 90% of the total project budget. The applicant has to contribute the remaining 10% either in cash or in-kind. Eligibility extends to African woman-led agribusinesses. Deadline for receipt of applications is 15 September 2019. 

The Invest2Impact Competition seeks to support 100 women-led businesses in East Africa with funding, mentoring and networking opportunities. The competition will award US$20 thousand to a business that is working to address climate change and promote a green economy, among three other categories. The competition is open to women entrepreneurs and small and medium-size women-led businesses from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda. Applications have to be submitted by 20 September 2019.

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) sponsors a competition for young African entrepreneurs (< 35 years) to showcase their business innovations in agribusiness. Although the focus of the competition is agribusiness, business innovations in other themes (e.g., natural resources, meteorology, urbanization, green economy, etc.) will also be considered. Competition will provide seed funding to young entrepreneurs with creative and innovative business ideas. The competition is open to applicants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Submissions are invited in English or French before 30 September 2019.

BBSRC seeks collaborative research projects involving collaborative research with at least one company and one research-base partner through the ‘Stand-alone’ LINK scheme. Case Studies from the LINKS scheme include the themes of agriculture, sustainable energy and climate change. Applicants from industry and academia can request a maximum of £1 million per project. Projects must be based in the UK, however, where a suitable company cannot be found in the UK, an overseas company may be used. Applications must be submitted by 02 October 2019. 

Dining for Women makes grants to non-profit organizations that support women and girls living in extreme poverty in developing countries. Thematic areas include access to clean water and sanitation, food security, and education, among other themes. Applicants may request between US$35 thousand to US$50 thousand. Eligibility extends to US 5.01(c)3 corporations or international organisations with a fiscal sponsor which is a US 5.01(c)3 corporation. Dining for Women has two annual grant cycles. The submission deadlines for 2019 are 24 April and 24 October 2019.

The Rescued Tools Foundation (Stichting Gered Gereedschap) collects and refurbishes discarded tools and small items of equipment in the Netherlands for the benefit of recipients in Sub-Saharan Africa. The priority countries are Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania and Ghana. The Foundation favors projects that offer opportunities for women, marginalized groups, co-operatives, and ecological awareness and environmental protection. Organizations that meet the Foundation’s criteria for assistance can fill out an application form. 

Misereor is the international development agency of the Catholic Church in Germany. Its mission is to fight hunger, disease, poverty, and other forms of human suffering in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Issues and themes include climate change and justice; food security and agriculture; access to land; energy for the poor; and extractive industries. Misereor posts guidelines in multiple languages regarding how to request funding support. Applications can be sent at any time.

Bio-diversity, Environment, Climate change

Collaborate Pacific aims to support effective governance, leadership, regional cooperation, and sustainable development in the Pacific. The fund supports small scale activities in the thematic priority areas: Agriculture, Climate Change, Oceans and Fisheries, Renewable Energy, and many other development priorities. Funding can cover travel (including transport, accommodation, and meals) and event costs (including hosting costs). Pacific Island citizens, NGOs, government agencies, and civil society are encouraged to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The Development Related Infrastructure Investment Vehicle (DRIVE) is a program of Dutch support for infrastructural projects in the areas of water; climate; food security; and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The program offers funding support to entrepreneurs worldwide for construction projects in the eligible DRIVE subject areas and countries. Funding ranges from €5 million to €60 million. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis.

The European Commission seeks to support sustainable agricultural development and contribute to the improvement of the food security and the resilience to climatic hazards of rural households in Madagascar. Any grant application under this call must fall between the minimum and maximum amounts of €700 thousand and €3.28 million. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations established in the European Union, or in one of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States, or in one of the least developed countries. Deadline for submission of concept notes is 11 September 2019.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) seeks to increase smallholder farmer productivity and income through access to improved seeds and improved PPP in Central Africa. IFAD will provide a three-year grant for the total amount of up to US$3 million. The project is expected to enhance reliable access of smallholder farmers to quality cassava planting material and maize seed of at affordable prices. The deadline for submitting applications is 18 September 2019.

The Hilden Charitable Trust makes grants in the UK and developing countries in defined thematic areas. Projects in developing countries focus on community development, education, and health. (Note: Projects related to food security, community water supply, local energy, etc., may be relevant.) HiIden particularly welcomes projects addressing the needs and potential of girls and women. Hilden will consider funding for charitable organizations based in any developing country, that have been active for at least five years, and that meet its criteria on financial income. Hilden only accepts applications from UK charities for overseas projects. Projects may be for more than one year. Average grants are £5 thousand. Applications can be submitted anytime but the closing date for the next meeting is 19 September 2019.

UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) invites applications for its PhD research internships program in Helsinki, Finland. Preference is for applicants who live or work in developing countries, and who are in the later stages of their PhD. Program themes in WIDER include the economics of energy, climate change, food security, and others. UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant and a monthly stipend of €1,600 during the period of the fellowship. The application deadlines are 31 March and 30 September each year.

In partnership with Microsoft, the National Geographic Society seeks proposals from around the world that focus on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to better monitor and manage Earth’s natural systems for a more sustainable future. The grants will support the creation and deployment of open source trained models and algorithms in the focus core areas of climate change, agriculture, and water. Proposals may request US$5 thousand to US$100 thousand. The deadline for this RFP is 09 October 2019.

BBSRC accepts applications for strategic training awards of up to 12 months in duration to support research capability addressing current global challenges. The purpose of this call is to build a portfolio of sustainable training resources in research priority areas, focusing on sustainable development in developing countries. Focus areas include sustainable energy; clean air, water and sanitation; resilience to long-term environmental change; sustainable marine resources and agriculture, among others. A total of up to £500 thousand is available to support the training activities. GCRF-STARS applications should be co-created and delivered through training partnerships between the UK partner and organisations from developing countries. Applications must be submitted by 16 October 2019. 

The First Solar Corporate Charitable Fund seeks to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Priority areas are “green” education; access to clean energy and water in underserved areas; and the development of innovative and sustainable technologies. In support of these objectives, the Fund donates solar modules and systems. Applications may also include a request for a grant (US$10 thousand to US$15 thousand) to help with project support. The next deadlines for proposals are 01 May, 01 August and 01 November. 

UN Women offers free online courses across many subject areas through the global online platform for training for gender equality. Courses include the  ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Gender Equality’ which is directed to government representatives and public servants, officials from the UN System and other international organizations, Civil Society Organizations representatives, academics and general public. Many of the courses are free to take part. Deadline for the Sustainable Development and Gender Equality course is 31 December 2019.

Fellowships/scholarships/grants

Living Lakes is a global network of partnership organizations to protect lakes, wetlands, and other freshwater sources and their catchment areas. The network takes an ecosystems approach to include biodiversity conservation and support for local livelihoods, e.g., in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, etc. Living Lakes does not make project grants, but it offers network assistance to members. Members are able to include their projects and proposals in the Living Lakes portfolio for the attention of potential donors and sponsors. Members may also apply for assistance to participate in the meetings, workshops, and conferences of Living Lakes — and to seek other forms of networking and training support. Applications can be submitted at any time.

RUFORUM’s program for Graduate Training Assistantships (GTA) grants support for 325 PhD training opportunities during the next four years. The GTA aims to improve the quality of higher education and increase the pool of PhD academic staff in RUFORUM’s member universities by facilitating cross-university PhD studies and teaching. Applicants need to be nominated for PhD training by his/her university. RUFORUM Secretariat assists in facilitating placement of the nominated staff to universities with the appropriate fields of the required training. The GTA accepts rolling applications (no deadline).

The International Foundation makes grants in subject areas that include agriculture, water and sanitation, environment, and several others. Grants are to nonprofit tax-exempt charitable organizations in the USA. Most grant recipients are small and medium NGOs in the USA engaged in international development assistance. Grants are up to US$25 thousand for projects of one year. There are no calendar deadlines for applications.

The Foundation Fiat Panis supports master and doctoral theses during their fieldwork. The main objective of this grant is to promote research projects which are likely to contribute to an improvement in the nutritional situation of people in developing countries. Applications for research support can be submitted by professors, directors, and doctoral supervisors. This program is ongoing and informal. There is no formal calendar deadline.

The Nippon Foundation makes its overseas grants to nonprofit organizations based outside of Japan. This refers to local, regional, and international NGOs and other nonprofit organizations, including educational and research institutions. Past projects and education/training include examples in small-scale agriculture and natural resources. There is no minimum or maximum grant size. There is no application deadline.

Esri is an international supplier of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, web GIS, and geodatabase management applications. Esri offers free or discounted GIS software, hardware, data, training, and services to support groups and individuals working for social and environmental benefit. Esri’s Conservation Grant Program makes GIS grants to non-profit organizations, programs, and individuals active in public service and nature conservation in any country. There are no grant cycles or deadlines.


Are you a scientist or engineer? Do you want to learn first-hand about policymaking? To contribute your knowledge and analytical skills for better government services? Then apply now for AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships!
Science & Technology Policy Fellows serve yearlong assignments in the federal government and represent a broad range of backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages.
Specific to international development, there are multiple Science & Technology Policy Fellows serving in USAID to support digital development programs. USAID Fellows can also stay on as Fellows for an additional two more years.


With a proposed budget of 100 billion euro from 2021 to 2027, the Horizon Europe framework programme represents the largest collaborative multinational research and innovation investment in Europe and is open to participants worldwide.
The European Parliament and the Council, the co-legislators have provisionally agreed on the Horizon Europe legislative package. Based on the agreement, a Strategic Plan will put forward the targeted impacts for the investment in research and innovation and the priorities for the first four years of implementation of Horizon Europe.
We invite you to contribute to co-designing and help shaping the future research and innovation investment by responding to this questionnaire. It takes approximately 20 minutes to respond. The results will inform the work on the first Strategic Plan of Horizon Europe. You can further engage by participating in the European Research and Innovation Days on 24-25-26 September 2019 in Brussels.

It is recommended that prior to responding to the questions, you read the attached document: Orientations towards the first Strategic Plan implementing the research and innovation framework programme Horizon Europe. 

The DAAD offers scholarships to qualified individuals from eligible developing countries for post-graduate studies at German universities in development-related subjects. The program (EPOS) is open to individuals who completed their previous academic degrees no longer than six years previously; who have at least two years of professional experience; and who are nationals of countries receiving official development assistance (DAC list of the OECD). The available courses range across water resources; renewable energy; land management and tenure; agricultural sciences; forest sciences; ecology; nature conservation; environmental governance; and many others. Most scholarship deadlines for the 2020-2021 intake fall between August 2019 through December 2019, varying by courses (check carefully).

The flagship Master in Food Systems programme is EIT Food's unique offering to develop top talent for the food sector. The programme is based on a combination of essential skills to become effective innovators and entrepreneurs in the food sector along with key technical skills that are tailored to the individual career pathway for each student. The approach of the programme is unique in how students can select study pathways from a wide range of profiles at different European Universities to suit their career ambitions. The programme will start in September 2019.

The Netherlands Organization for Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) calls for joint proposals for Orange Knowledge institutional collaboration projects. The program aims to strengthen professionals and organisations from developing countries through education and training. The maximum available funding for this call falls between the amounts of €1.1 million and €2.2 million. Programs include subjects in food security and water resource management. Application deadlines vary by country (please check carefully), with remaining deadlines in July and September 2019.


The Nordic Climate Facility (NCF) is a challenge fund set up in 2009 to finance early stage climate change projects in developing countries. NCF aims to build a portfolio of innovative business concepts which have been tested, proved viable and are ready to be scaled-up and replicated.
NCF is financed and managed by the Nordic Development Fund (NDF). The first four calls for proposals of NCF were administered by NEFCO. We are currently accepting applications. Apply before 5 September 2019.

The Australian Aid: Friendship Grants program supports organisations from across Australia and provides funding for aid activities in the Indo-Pacific. Eligible Australian community organisations are encouraged to apply for funding of AU$30 thousand to AU$60 thousand in three annual grant rounds. The program funds development activities that strengthen an overseas community’s capacity or socio-economic situation and improve the lives of poor and vulnerable people. Past winners include projects in rural agriculture and forestry, as well as various humanitarian issues. The deadline for project submission is 10 September 2019.

In Europe’s research program Horizon 2020, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships provide opportunities to acquire and transfer new knowledge and to work on research in a European context or outside Europe. The scheme particularly supports the return and re-integration of researchers from outside Europe who have previously worked there. It also develops or helps to re-start the careers of individual researchers that show great potential, considering their experience. Applicants in the EU; their overseas territories; countries associated to Horizon 2020; and most developing countries are eligible for consideration. The closing date for applications is 11 September 2019.

The University of Essex invites applications from African students who self fund their postgraduate studies. The university offers a scholarship of £4 thousand to African students that will be paid as a discount on the tuition fee. Available courses include biological sciences, marine biology, and biochemistry, among many others. Applicants that meet all the eligibility criteria and firmly accept the offer of their place by 13 September 2019 will automatically be awarded this scholarship (please read the instructions carefully). 

The Fulbright Scholar Program invites applications from U.S. scholars for research, teaching, and creative arts in an international context. Eligibility criteria include U.S. citizenship and a PhD or equivalent professional degree. The available openings include several in the developing world in subjects related to agriculture, environmental and biological sciences, geography, and others. The deadline for applications is 16 September 2019.

BBSRC and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) announce a joint call to address challenges related to the sustainable enhancement of agriculture (including crops and livestock) and aquaculture (including finfish and shellfish) in low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia and South-Eastern Asia regions. BBSRC and NERC have allocated a maximum of up to £3.4 million, to fund multidisciplinary research projects of up to 24 months in duration. Proposals must be led by a principal investigator in the UK. The application deadline is 18 September 2019.

The Hilden Charitable Trust makes grants in the UK and developing countries in defined thematic areas. Projects in developing countries focus on community development, education, and health. (Note: Projects related to food security, community water supply, local energy, etc., may be relevant.) HiIden particularly welcomes projects addressing the needs and potential of girls and women. Hilden will consider funding for charitable organizations based in any developing country, that have been active for at least five years, and that meet its criteria on financial income. Hilden only accepts applications from UK charities for overseas projects. Projects may be for more than one year. Average grants are £5 thousand. Applications can be submitted anytime but the closing date for the next meeting is 19 September 2019.

CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change (CCAFS) low emissions agriculture flagship and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). The program aims to build the capability of early career agricultural students in developing countries to conduct applied research on climate change mitigation in agriculture. CLIFF invites applications from PhD students from developing countries for short-term (4-6 month) scientific training and research stays at CGIAR research centers or affiliated research institutions. The focus of the research is greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration associated with climate change mitigation in agriculture in developing countries. Grants are between US$10 and US$12 thousand. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2019.

IDEX invites applications worldwide for its Fellowship Program 2020. The Fellowships build the capacity of young professionals for social enterprise in areas such as agriculture, education, clean energy, sanitation, healthcare, livelihoods, and impact investing. The program provides six months of leadership training in enterprise development, including field placements at social enterprises in India. Candidates should be 21 to 35 years old, with a minimum of one to three years of professional work experience. IDEX offers a limited number of full and partial scholarships to select candidates. The application deadline is 30 September 2019.

Online Turf offers £500 for full time education of an agricultural or horticultural subject field. Eligibility extends to students enrolled full time in an agricultural or horticultural course in university or college. The scholarship is not restricted to any nationality, but applicants must study and reside in the U.K. The submission deadline is 30 September 2019.

The Global Foodtech Accelerator 2019 is open for applications. The Program seeks 10 startups with innovative solutions and international partners to improve agrifood and retail sectors. Selected projects will receive an economic contribution of €20 thousand, office space, mentorship and networking opportunities. Eligibility extends to Italian and foreign companies and individuals. The application deadline is 30 September 2019.

The Women for Africa Foundation has launched the 5th Edition of its “Science by Women” program. The program aims to promote African women’s leadership in scientific research and technology transfer, and to foster the capacity of the research centres in their home countries. Thematic areas include agriculture and food security; water; energy and climate change; and several others. Each of ten Spanish Centres of Excellence will host one senior woman researcher for a six-month fellowship. Eligibility to apply extends to women who are nationals of any African country, and who have a PhD, with at least three years of post-doctoral experience. The application deadline is 30 September 2019.

The New Voices Fellowship is a year-long program that provides intensive media and advocacy training for top development professionals in the developing world. The Aspen Institute aims to select 25 Fellows who will write opinion articles, participate in interviews with local and international media, and speak at international conferences. Subject areas of interest include food security, climate change, and other themes. Applications are welcome from all developing countries. The program provides funds to participate in media-related activities and conferences. We could not find an official deadline for applications. Application deadlines for past calls have been scheduled around mid-October.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the SDG Partnership facility (SDGP), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aim to help achieve the following sustainable development goals in developing countries. Focus areas under this call include promoting economic growth in the agricultural and fisheries sector through sustainable and climate-resilient food production systems, among others. Applicants can apply for a subsidy of min. €500 thousand and max. €3 million per project. The main applicant has to be a Dutch organization but local partnerships with NGOs, companies, or government agencies are required to be eligible. The deadline for concept notes is 01 October 2019.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program supports non-degree academic study and related professional experiences in the U.S. for experienced professionals from countries that are undergoing development or political transition. Fellows are hosted at universities in the USA. Program fields include agriculture and rural development; natural resources, environmental policy, and climate change; and many others. Applications are made through the U.S. Embassies or Binational Fulbright Commissions in eligible countries, with varying deadlines. The embassies and commissions submit their nominations before 01 October to the Institute of International Education office in Washington, DC.

Grinnell College invites nominations for the 2020 Grinnell Prize. The Grinnell Prize of US$100 thousand will be awarded to individuals who show creativity, commitment, and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change. Past nominations have spanned a diversity of social issues related to agriculture and hunger relief, conservation and environment, and many other thematic areas. Nominees may be nationals of any country who have earned a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) between 2003 and 2019. The closing date for nominations is 07 October 2019.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation financially supports the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship position in the African Development Bank. The Fellowship allows talented individuals to increase and enhance their professional capacity, with the intention of contributing to the governance and development of their countries. The priority for the 2020 selection of the Mo Ibrahim Fellow includes energy (“lighting up and powering Africa”); agriculture (“feeding Africa”); and others. The Fellowship is for young professionals, mid-career, and/or new executives who are nationals of an African country, residing anywhere in the world. The application deadline is 14 October 2019.

GlobalGiving is an online platform to raise funds for grassroots projects worldwide across many sectors and themes – including in agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources. GlobalGiving announces a new Accelerator program that will offer virtual training in online fundraising and participation in a two-week crowdfunding campaign. The program is open to nonprofit organizations anywhere in the world. Organizations that successfully complete the GlobalGiving Accelerator by raising at least US$5 thousand total from a minimum 40 different donors will earn permanent membership with GlobalGiving, in addition to publicity and bonus prizes. The next application deadline is 18 October 2019.

The Earth Institute at Columbia University invites applications for 2-year postdoctoral fellowships that contribute to understanding critical scientific and social issues in global sustainable development. Specific areas of research include food security, energy systems, climate change, poverty reduction, disease, and environmental degradation. The multi-disciplinary program is open to U.S. and non-U.S. citizens who received their doctoral degrees within five years of beginning their appointments. The deadline for applications is 30 October 2019.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships aim to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Thematic areas for post-graduate scientific research include Agriculture, Biodiversity and Sustainability, and Poverty Reduction, among others. Eligibility extends to young researchers from all around the world who have completed a master’s degree or PhD. Application deadlines vary by country (please check carefully). Prepare your application by 01 November 2019.

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) invites individuals dedicated to a career in international development to submit an application. Fellows receive training and support CRS’ work in various sectors such as agriculture/livelihoods, health, water and sanitation, emergency response, or micro-financing. CRS offers 20-30 fellowships each year. Each fellow is placed in one of CRS’ overseas country programs for a 12-month fellowship. The application will be open through 01 November 2019.

ETH Zurich makes competitive grants in two programs sponsored by its World Food System Center. They are: (i) Sustainability in Food Value Chains (Cooperative Research Program); and (ii) Organic Production Systems for Food Security (Mercator Research Program). Principal Investigators must be current members of the World Food System Center. Co-applicants can be from other research institutions in Switzerland or other countries. The deadline for proposals is 01 November 2019.

The Chevening Scholarships provide full or partial funding for full-time courses at postgraduate level, normally a one-year master’s degree, in any subject at any UK university. Chevening Scholars come from 150 countries, excluding the USA and the EU. Applicants complete the application forms for their chosen universities. The available courses include subjects such as agriculture, conservation, climate change, and others. The current application closes 05 November 2019. 

The Scottish Government’s International Development Small Grants Programme provides project funding in support of the government’s International Development Policy. Applications for grants are invited from incorporated not-for-profit organisations which have a presence in Scotland and an annual turnover of less than £250 thousand. Project grants should focus on any of Malawi, Rwanda, or Zambia in themes of food security; renewable energy; climate change; water; and others. Grants for capacity building and feasibility studies will be accepted in relation to any country designated as medium/low on the UN’s Human Development Index — but with priority for Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia. Awards are a maximum of £15 thousand for one-year feasibility studies and capacity building initiatives. The application deadline is 08 November 2019.

UK Aid Match supports collaborations between charities, the British public and the UK government. UK Aid Match welcomes applications for funding from charities and non-profit organisations in support of projects aimed at the poorest people in developing countries. For every £1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal, the UK government will provide equal match funding, up to £2 million. Only UK based charities are eligible to apply but projects have to be implemented in low-income development countries. The deadline for submissions is 12 November 2019.

The RGS-IBG makes grants for geographical research, fieldwork, and teaching that include several awards with deadlines in November. The application deadline is 10 November for the Journey of a Lifetime Award. The deadline is 23 November for the Ralph Brown Expedition Award; Thesiger-Oman International Research Fellowships; Walters Kundert Fellowship; Dudley Stamp Memorial Award; Rob Potter Award; Postgraduate Research Awards; and Geographical Club Award. The deadline is 30 November for the Neville Shulman Challenge Award.

DAAD co-fund research grants for qualified applicants from Brazil. The aim of the programme is to s to promote research projects within the context of doctoral studies. The programme accepts doctoral candidates at universities in Brazil, who have been awarded a domestic scholarship from CAPES (Co-funder). Subject areas include natural sciences and agriculture. The domestic doctoral scholarships will be paid by CAPES during the research stay in Germany, and DAAD will co-fund a monthly payment of €650, health, accident and personal liability insurance cover, and travel allowance. The application deadline is 02 December 2019.

Mobility grants allow researchers and students to build personal contacts and relationships for collaborations between institutions. Mobility grants can be awarded to young scientists who hold a Bachelor or Master’s degree and with not more than 6 years of professional research experience. Activities may include field work and/or an internship in relation to the applicant’s research project. The call is open for activities in all scientific disciplines and fields of research. Priority countries under this call are: Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. Mobility visit should have a minimum duration of 4 weeks and not exceed CHF 5 thousand. Applications will be accepted until 31 December 2019. 

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) makes seed grants to support income-generating projects led by women. RSWR’s current priorities are grassroots organizations selected states and districts of India; Quaker groups in Kenya and Sierra Leone. Projects include many in the production and sale of fruits and vegetables; meat and milk; grain crops; fish; fuelwood; and other enterprises associated with small-scale agriculture and rural livelihoods. RSWR provides micro-credits of up to US$5,500 for one year projects. The next application deadline is 31 December 2019. 

The Nestlé Foundation supports research in human nutrition in low-income and lower middle-income countries. In relation to agriculture, the Foundation will consider research on food policy, food production, and food technology if the intervention has high potential for improved nutritional status and public health. The Foundation offers training grants, pilot grants, and full project grants. Priority is for proposals submitted by researchers in developing countries, or jointly with partners in developed countries. A Letter of Intent (LOI) can be submitted at any time of the year. The deadlines for full grant applications are 10 January and 10 May 2020.


Humboldt Foundation is seeking applications from Young Climate Experts for its International Climate Protection Fellowship.
With the International Climate Protection Fellowships, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables prospective leaders in academia and industry to implement a research based proposal in the field of climate protection or climate-related resource conservation during a one-year stay in Germany.
Up to 20 International Climate Protection Fellowships are granted annually, funded under the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety’s (BMU) International Climate Initiative. The fellowships target prospective leaders from non European transition and developing countries. Deadline: 1 March 2020


The MAN Impact Accelerator seeks social entrepreneurs from Europe, South Africa, and Brazil to tackle social and environmental challenges through innovative solutions in the transport and logistics industry. Social businesses and startups in the key areas agriculture, data analytics (including environmental data), sensors, among others, are invited to apply. The program provides indirect grants and support of up to US$50 thousand (no equity or cash) for each startup. This also includes free access to coaches and mentors as well as to software and data perks. The application deadline is 01 October 2020.

AWARDS and O T H E R

Obada-Prize is an international award, endowed by the Natural Sciences Publishing. Initiated as a recognition of his excellence Professor Abdel-Shafy Obada. The Obada-Prize recognizes and encourages innovative and interdisciplinary research that cuts across traditional boundaries and paradigms.

Four years ago, the Paris agreement was adopted with an important preamble that makes specific references to i.a. human rights and gender equality. Yet today, even after the adoption of a gender action plan at COP23, many decision makers still do not understand how adopting a rights based and gender-responsive approach can lead to more ambitious and effective climate policies. That is why we want to showcase the Gender Just Climate Solutions at the upcoming climate negotiations. WECF and the Women and Gender Constituency are launching today, July 5th 2019, the fifth edition of the Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards, that will honour at COP25 the fundamental contribution of women in the fight against climate change. These awards are made to inspire political decision makers and funders to develop a more inclusive, fair and effective climate strategies. 
APPLY now, and you will have a chance to present your initiative during COP25 in Santiago de Chile.
Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes, their reduced access to financial resources and labour markets, prevent them from actively contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making and implementation. The Gender Action Plan that was adopted by the countries at COP23 aims at addressing those gaps, and the recent climate negotiations conducted in Bonn last June, provided an opportunity to prepare for a renewed and more ambitious Gender Action Plan for COP25. The Women and Gender Constituency wants more commitments for climate finance and technology transfer that actively address persisting gender inequalities, for example in the energy and transport sectors. We want strengthened capacity building at all levels, and stronger support to ensure the meaningful participation of local women in climate policy processes. 
The deadline for entries is Monday, September 09th 2019, 5pmEST. 

Hello Tomorrow — Global Startup Challenge (6th edition)
The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge seeks startup from all around the world that use advanced technology to answer a societal or industrial challenge. The challenge includes one category for startups that focus on energy, food, agriculture & environment, among 10 others. The grand prize is €100 thousand for the best early-stage startup. The best early-stage startup in each category will win €10 thousand. The application process closes on 13 September 2019.

The Swiss Re Foundation accepts applications for the 2020 Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award. The Award recognizes entrepreneurial initiatives that take innovative approaches to building resilient societies and realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 2020 award will focus on innovative solutions for climate-smart agriculture, including crop and livestock production as well as aquaculture. The total prize money of US$700 thousand is divided among three winners. Applicants for the award should ideally operate in low-income communities. Applications have to be submitted by 16 September 2019.

The Canadian International Development Research Center (IDRC) makes research awards to citizens and permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries. The award provides for a one-year paid program of research in addition to hands-on experience in research management, grant administration, and the use of knowledge from an international perspective. Program areas include food systems; climate change; and several others. Applicants should be enrolled, or have previously completed, their masters or doctoral degrees at recognized universities. IDRC identifies countries not eligible for awards, as well as countries requiring prior approval. The deadline for applications (English, French) is 18 September 2019. 

Natural health food producer Rapunzel Naturkost and IFOAM – Organics International, the international umbrella organization for organic agriculture, invite nominations for the ‘ONE WORLD AWARD 2020’ (OWA). The award recognizes innovative ideas, projects and people in three areas of sustainability, including conservation of nature and biodiversity, organic farming, contributions to stop climate change (energy conservation or use of renewable energy), and waste management. The winner will receive €45 thousand in prize money. Nominations can be submitted either by individuals or by organizations. Nominations will be accepted until 30 September 2019. 

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a consortium of 114 Universities in 38 African Countries, is pleased to announce the 2019 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition (RUYAEC). The overall purpose of the RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition (RUYAEC) is to catalyse entrepreneurship through promotion of business innovation and provision of seed funding to young entrepreneurs with creative and innovative business ideas among African youth. RUYAEC, through an online application, invites young African entrepreneurs and incubates below 35 years of age to compete for 20 awards that show case their innovations, enterprises, business concepts and propositions. The areas of focus are Food and agribusiness, Incubations, ICTs, Health, Engineering, Natural resources, and Meteorology
This third round of the RUFORUM Young Innovators Competition is targeted for West African (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo) countries. The winners will be awarded during the RUFORUM Annual General meeting convening scheduled to take place from 2-6 December, 2019 at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.
The deadline to submit for the 2019 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition is Monday 30th September 2019 at 17:00 Hours (GMT+3).

The Carmignac Photojournalism Award aims to support a journalistic and photographic project which shows the human, social and ecological challenges the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces today. The contest is open to photojournalism projects that explore humanitarian issues, human-wildlife conflicts, the exploitation of natural resources (including mining, freshwater, deforestation), and other conflicts relevant to the DR Congo. The winner will receive a €50 thousand grant to carry out a 6-month field report. Submissions will be received until 16 October 2019.

The Society of Chemical Industry awards travel bursaries to young PhD students. There are various schemes available, some related to agriculture and life sciences.  Applicants will have preference if they wish to travel outside their country of residence, especially if they wish to work in a laboratory abroad. Next deadline cycle for the AJ Banks Award (Food science), and the Messel Award (Chemical science including all life sciences) is 31 October 2019.

The Mahathir Science Award recognizes scientists, institutions or organisations worldwide who have made contributions and innovations towards solving problems in the tropics through science and technology. This award accepts nominations in the following fields: Tropical Agriculture; Tropical Architecture and Engineering; Tropical Medicine; and Tropical Natural Resources. The winner receives US$100 thousand, a gold medal and a certificate. The nomination for the award closes on 31 October 2019.

The African Union (AU) honors outstanding African scientists through the Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards. The awards program is implemented at national level for young researchers; regional level for women scientists; and continental level open to all scientists. The current announcement calls for submissions at the African continental level to recognize outstanding science, for which it awards a prize of US$100 thousand. In addition, the AU makes regional awards of US$20 thousand to female scientists. The closing date for submissions is 10 November 2019.

The iF Social Impact Prize aims to publish and support design projects that contribute to solving urgent challenges and help to improve living conditions in the developing world. Solutions should already be established and help to solve well known issues in any category of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The best projects will share a cash prize of €50 thousand in total. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations, companies and foundations. There is no deadline and projects can be submitted on a continuous basis. The winners will be decided after 05 June and 20 November each year.

Nominations are open for the 2019 Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) International Prize. The Subject of the 2019 Prince Talal International Prize is “Ensure access to water and sanitation for all”. Projects should highlight best practices which aim to improve the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged with particular emphasis on women and children. (Note: This may include one or more categories of the Terra Viva Grants Directory.) The winners receive between US$400 thousand and US$100 thousand (depending on their category). Eligibility extends to UN Development Agencies, NGOs, government ministries, public institutions, social business enterprises and individuals. There are no geographical restrictions. Nominations are accepted until 30 November 2019.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (AR4D) - September - December 2019


6 September 2019. Accra, Ghana.  Project workshop on the Impact of meat and milk product exports on developing countries (IMMPEX)

11 September 2019. Brussels, Belgium. Brussels Briefing 57: Investing in smallholder agriculture for food security and nutrition

11-13 September 2019. Nairobi City, Kenya. ARGUS ADDED VALUE FERTILIZERS AFRICA 2019

16-17 September 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT PHYSIOLOGY PATHOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

16-17 September 2019. Sydney, Australia. 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2019

16-17 September 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 3RD EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE

16 September - 25 November 2019.  Bari, Italy. Training. Innovation and youth entrepreneurship In the Mediterranean agro-food sector

17– 18 September 2019. Pretoria (Tshwane),  South Africa. TSHWANE TRADE AND INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2019 (TTIS 2019)

17– 20 September 2019. Durban, South Africa. Urban Agri Summit 2019 

17– 20 September 2019. 2nd All Africa postharvest congress and exhibition - African Union

18 September 2019. The Hague, Netherlands. . Seminar “Technologies and systemic changes: The way towards SDG2 in Dutch agriculture”

18-20 September 2019. Kassel, Germany. TROPENTAG

18-20 September 2019CONGRESS AND EXPO ON FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION AND HEALTH

19-20 September 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Strike Two Summit: Consumer Trust

19-21 September 2019. London, United Kingdom. 4TH EDITION OF GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT SCIENCE AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

19-21 September 2019. London, United Kingdom. 2ND EDITION OF EURO-GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

19-22 September 2019. St. Petersburg, Russia. Annual Meeting of the European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction

21-23 September 2019 . New York, USA. UN Climate Action Summit 2019

23 September 2019. Wageningen, Netherlands. Start international course: Organised farmers as partners in agribusiness

26 September 2019. Wageningen, Netherlands. WUR Business Day 2019

29 September - 5 October 2019Curitiba, Brazil. XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019"Forest Research and Cooperation for Sustainable Development"

3-5 October 2019. Mombasa, Kenya. 8th African Grain Trade Summit 

7-9 October 2019. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. African Climate Risks Conference 2019.

8-10 October 2019 . Bali, Indonesia. Climate-smart agriculture 2019

14-15 October 2019. Abu Dhabi, UAE. Food Chemistry and Food Microbiology



16-18 October 2019. Des Moines, USA. 2019 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium

20-24 October 2019.  Cairo, Egypt. 2nd Cairo Water Week


23-25 October 2019. Meknes, Morocco. Joint meeting of the FAO-CIHEAM network on sheep and goats

29-30 October 2019. Cape Town. The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) will celebrate its 5th year anniversary in 2019


5-6 November 2019. Rotterdam, Netherlands. International Living Wage and Living Income Conference

10-14 November 2019. Hyderabad, India. International Plant Protection Congress 2019

17-20 November 2019. St Louis, USA. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting

18-19 November 2019. Johannesburg, South Africa. 9th International Conference on Environment and Climate

18-19 November 2019. Gaborone. VizAfrica 2019 Data Visualization Symposium


27-28 November. Dubai. Farmers’ Conference (MTFC): ‘’The 2019 edition of the conference is set to introduce Agro-trade and networking conference to connect Africa and the Middle East’’  


2-13 December 2019. Santiago, Chile. Santiago Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 25)

4-6 December 2019. Hammamet, Tunisia. Improving water productivity in agriculture


19-21 February 2020. Cape Town, South Africa. The 11th annual Argus Africa Fertilizer conference 


23-27 March 2020. Bangkok, Thailand. Micronutrient Forum 5th Global Conference 2020




AGRF 2019. A vet and a forest engineer wins prestigious Africa Food Prize

4 September 2019. AGRF 2019. Naluyima, a trained veterinary doctor and Senegalese forestry engineer Baba Dioum, are the joint winners of the 2019 Africa Food Prize, a US $100,000 award celebrating Africans who are taking control of the continent’s agricultural agenda. The duo were officially awarded at a gala dinner on Wednesday 4 September.

Dr. Naluyima was recognized for her role in promoting innovative and sustainable growth in Africa´s agriculture. Through her one-acre farm, on which practices integrated farming, Naluyima has trained thousands of Ugandans to maximize yields from compact pieces of land. Dr. Emma Naluyima’s farm in Entebbe, a 51-minute drive from the Ugandan capital Kampala, is about to receive more visitors than it already does. The science that Naluyima speaks about is integrated farming, a system combining cultivation methods with natural and chemical pest control.
“I have divided the farm into quarters with pigs, cows and fish taking a piece each as matoke and vegetables occupy the last one. But the thing that has distinguished me from the average farmer in my country is that I have been advantaged to implement scientific strategies that optimally use the land. From the pigs, I collect manure that I use to fertilize the matoke and vegetable patches. I also use vermiculture on some of the pig and cow dung to create organic pesticides for my crops and to grow maggots that I feed my fish on. This is in addition to generating biogas from the same waste. Young people in Uganda can initially only access small pieces of land, typically quarter-acre parcels, but I show them that they can still practice productive farming,” 
So successful is her enterprise that she rarely has the need to buy food and she generates $100,000 from the sale of surplus produce. Her farm is always open to visitors – up to 10,000 per year – most of whom are youth and women, and who she graciously equips with the knowledge needed to set up working models of their own.

Co-award winner Baba Dioum has built a name for himself around markets and trade in agricultural commodities. His work has contributed to policy developments promoting cross-border agricultural trade in West Africa. To help consolidate West Africa´s position in this market, he created a regional network of mango exporters and developed a successful regional brand. He has also engaged in the production of vegetables and potato for export.
“Starting in 1964, I learnt through forestry and civic education that the achievement of short term needs can also be used to meet long-term perspectives. Later, my quest for regional integration made me an important pillar in the continent’s policy environment."
Recognizing Dioum’s and Naluyima’s achievements, Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee hailed the duo as champions of African agriculture.
"The two have shown that agriculture in Africa can be the means to changing livelihoods, both at the practical and policy levels. We celebrate them and we hope they will continue to serve as an inspiration to the continent,” said Obasanjo.


The Africa Food Prize puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent to create a new era of food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.

Previous AFP laureates include the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), chosen in 2018 for their leadership in innovating agricultural research and technologies that have improved food security, nutrition, and incomes for millions of people across Africa, and joint 2017 winners, Kenyan professor Ruth Oniang’o and Malian Mme Maïmouna Sidibe Coulibaly.

AGRF 2019. Launch of the Africa agriculture trade monitor report

4 September 2019. Policy Symposium- Key Food Trade Policy and Regulatory Reforms that Encourage Evidence gathering and Sharing between Actors.

The session  exploring current initiatives including tools and mechanisms that are assisting countries in establishing functional systems that assist Governments in improving policy predictability and making informed and transparent policy decisions.

MODERATOR: Dr. Fadel Ndiame, Senior Advisor to the President, AGRA

SEQUENCE 1: Report Launch and Framing Remarks

  • Mr. Holger Kray, Head, Africa Agriculture Policy Unit, World Bank 
  • Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Africa Director, IFPRI 
  • Prof. Thomas Jayne, Co-Director, AAP, and Director, ReNAPRI 
  • Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister

SEQUENCE 2: Keynote Remarks Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Executive Chairman, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

SEQUENCE 3: High Level Panel Discussion on Options for Better Regional Food Trade

  • Hon. Alan Kyeremateng, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ghana 
  • Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA 
  • H.E. Mr Sindiso Ngwenya, Former Secretary General, COMESA 
  • Mr. Harry Hagan, Senior Economic Adviser, Africa Division, DFID 
  • Mr. Mahesh Patel, Chairman, Export Trading Group 
  • Mr. Ken Ukaoha, Esq. Secretariat President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) 
  • Mr. Daniel Moore, Director, West Africa Regional Mission, USAID SEQUENCE 4: Closing Remarks and Moving to Action Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, Deputy Secretary General, EAC



This  Africa agriculture trade monitor report presents an examination of the recent trends, current status, and future outlook of African agricultural trade in global and regional markets.

Chapter 1 Introduction [Download]
Chapter 2 Africa’s global trade patterns [Download]
Chapter 3 Regional trade patterns across Africa [Download]
Chapter 4 Competitiveness of African agricultural exports [Download]
Chapter 5 Determinants of African agricultural exports [Download]
Chapter 6 Major developments affecting Africa’s trade performance: A summary of key literature [Download]
Chapter 7 The West African trade outlook: Business-as-usual compared with alternative options [Download]
Chapter 8 Summary and conclusions [Download]

AGRF 2019. Launch of the Digitalization of African Agriculture Report - 2018/2019

3 - 6 September 2019The African Green Revolution Forum 2019.

Plenary – Leveraging Digitalization for Sustainable Food Systems

The Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) on Tuesday launched the Digitalisation of African Agriculture Report for 2018-2019 in Accra.

The report, which was authored by Mr. Michael Hailu, Director-CTA, and Mr. Michael Tsan of Dalberg, advocates the digital agricultural transformation that can feed Africa.
  • Digitalisation for agriculture (D4Ag) could be a game changer in supporting and accelerating agricultural transformation across the continent. It indicated that the D4Ag addresses a wide scope of factors and conditions affecting farms, farmers and the agri-food sector as a whole.
  • The volume of data – and the supporting layer of new digital agricultural solutions – is growing exponentially at the same time as quality of that data is rapidly evolving.
  • D4Ag has the potential to not only support agricultural transformation but to do so sustainably and inclusively.
  • An inclusive, digitally-enabled agricultural transformation could help achieve meaningful livelihood improvements for Africa’s 250 million smallholder farmers and pastoralists – adding that it could drive greater engagement in agriculture from women and young people and support employment opportunities along the agricultural value chain; and it could help build resilience to climate change.
  • For the first time, it is possible to precisely capture data from individual farms and fields and combine them in macro-level data sets, and utilise those sets in increasingly cost-effective ways.
  • Mr. Michael Hailu, President, CTA
  • Mr. Michael Tsan, Partner, Dalberg
  • Dr. Nick Austin, Director, Agricultural Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, Eastern Africa Farmers Federation
  • Ms. Amrote Abdella, Regional Director, Microsoft 4Afrika
  • Ms. Su Kahumbu, Founder, iCow
  • Mr. Jerome Barbaron, AME Territory Head, Syngenta
Videos

Advancing Digital Strategies at Country Level




AGRF 2019. Official release of the the Scaling Up Sourcebook


5 September 2019. 3 - 6 September 2019. The African Green Revolution Forum 2019.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with Purdue University have launched a sourcebook on scaling up agricultural innovations, summarizing key insights, tools, examples, and references on designing for scale, assessing scalability, financing the scaling process, and the effective use of partnerships to support scaling.
This sourcebook, distilling the incredible expertise, groundbreaking innovations, and examples of successful scale on display at Purdue University in September 2018, will surely serve as a valuable guide for those driven by the imperative to revolutionize African agriculture. AfDB has launched a $1 billion initiative called “Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation” (TAAT)—in collaboration with our partners at the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and others. The Scale Up Sourcebook is set to accelerate initiatives that in turn scale up agricultural innovations such as TAAT and many more. Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President AfDB
"Most organizations live in a donor project world where accountability is complex and where reward for a good project is another project. As a result, we get smaller projects chasing large-scale transformations. Delivery at scale is not a gigantic project or a series of projects. We need to plan for millions, not thousands; for uncontrolled, not controlled, settings; for generations, not for five years; and for addressing, not working around, political and market realities”. Larry Cooley, the co-author of the Scale Up Sourcebook
Scaling Models for Agricultural Transformation
This session at the AGRF was an opportunity to officially release the Scaling Up Sourcebookwhich collects the key lessons, best practices, outstanding challenges and the way forward.
  • Mrs. Jennifer Blanke, Vice-President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank
  • Mr. Gerald Shively, Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in Agriculture, Purdue University
  • Mr. Larry Cooley, President Emeritus of Management Systems International, and Curator of Global Community of Practice on Scaling Up Development Outcomes
  • H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania
  • Amb. Ertharin Cousin, Distinguished Fellow, Global Agriculture, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
  • Dr. Julie Howard, Adviser (Non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Dr. Simeon Ehui, Regional Director, Sustainable Development for Africa, World Bank
  • Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, Director General, IITA
  • Mr. Khalid Bomba, CEO, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation
  • Mr. Stefan Schmitz, Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
  • Hon. Moulaye Ahmed Boubacar, Minister of Agriculture, Mali
Advancing the Continental Agenda – Partners Commitments
  • H.E. Ban Ki Moon, Co-Chair, Global Commission on Adaptation
  • Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank
  • Dr. Elwyn Grainger-Jones, Executive Director, CGIAR System Organization
  • Mrs. Reeta Roy, President, Mastercard Foundation
  • Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director General, FAO
  • Dr. Gilbert Houngbo, President, IFAD
Related PAEPARD blog post
The Scale Up Sourcebook is informed and inspired by the September 2018 conference, Innovations in Agriculture: Scaling Up to Reach Millions, organized by Purdue University, in partnership with the African Development Bank.

The Sourcebook consolidates, extends, and disseminates some of the scaling insights presented at the Purdue conference. It is intended as an easy-to-use guidebook targeted to a broad and diverse audience of stakeholders associated with scaling agricultural technologies and innovations to meet the needs of the world’s poor. 

The Sourcebook has following chapters: 
  1. designing with scale in mind; 
  2. assessing scalability; 
  3. using commercial markets to drive scaling; 
  4. financing the transition to scale; 
  5. creating an enabling environment for scale; 
  6. tailoring metrics, monitoring, and evaluation to support sustainable outcomes at scale; 
  7. and the critical role of intermediary and donor organizations. 
The Sourcebook provides guidance, tips, and examples, along with links and references to additional resources on scale up.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

2019 AFRICAN AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT (AASR)

3 - 6 September 2019. The African Green Revolution Forum 2019.

3 -September 2019. Launch of the 2019 AFRICAN AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT (AASR) – The Role of Private Sector in Ag.

This year’s report focuses on the role of private sector in agriculture transformation.
Specifically, the report highlights the trends and progress, as well as challenges and constraints of private sector firms in the upstream and midstream/downstream off-farm components of the agri-food system.


SEQUENCE 1: AASR Report Overview and Key Findings 
  • Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA AASR Findings 
  • AASR Findings – Dr. Tom Reardon, Professor of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, MSU
SEQUENCE 2: Moderated Panel Discussion – How We Move Forward on Key Recommendations 
  • Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food & Agriculture, Ghana 
  • Dr. Abebe HaileGabriel, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, FAO 
  • Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, Partner & Co-Founder, Sahel Capital 
  • Mr. Robert Coleman, Managind Director, Dangote Rice Ltd. 
  • Ms. Lucy Muchoki, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
SEQUENCE 3: New Commitments to Unlock the Role of Private Sector in Agriculture Farm Fit Fund 
  • Ms. Maura Barry, Sr. Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Food Security, USAID 
  • Mr. Joost Oorthuizen, CEO, IDH Mr. Christian Byron, Vice-President Supply Chain and Plantations, Unilever 
  • Mr. Jaidev Shroff, Global CEO, UPL 
  • Dr. Roy Steiner, Senior Vice President, Rockefeller Foundation
2019 AFRICAN AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT (AASR)
Large African enterprises play a relatively minor role in directly supporting small-scale farmers in Africa. The report says, for example, only about five percent of rural farmers are directly linked to large firms through contract farming.
  • Nonetheless, with proper support, large African businesses, including supermarkets and large processors (which now comprise 10-to-20 percent of the agri-food economy), present a huge opportunity as they are likely to play an expanding role in how farmers access credit, markets and will ultimately impact employment and rural incomes.
  • Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) serve as the biggest market for African farmers on the African continent.
  • The private sector’s role in the agri-food supply chains has undergone a revolution 
  • Most policy makers in Africa have failed to recognize the important roles of the private sector in the chain although it has bridged gaps that previously separated most small-scale farmers from commercial markets.

“SMEs are the biggest investors in building markets for farmers in Africa today, and will likely remain so for the next 10-to-20 years. They are not a ‘missing middle,’ as is thought, but the ‘hidden middle,’ ready for support and investment to thrive further. Today, we bring them out into the light,” Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA
In terms of the actual value, AASR finds that 
  • traders, truckers and processors constitute about 40 percent of the total gross value of the agri-food system in the region – this is the same as the share coming from farms. Retailers constitute the remaining 20 percent.
  • Changing conditions have set the stage for the growth of these SMEs. Among these changes are: increases in farm productivity that make more raw material available; initial government investments in infrastructure such as roads; rapid and massive urbanization; diet change with rising demand for processed food; and rising investments by the entrepreneurs themselves.
  • Compared to SMEs, and counter to common belief, the report shows that large enterprises play a relatively minor role in directly supporting small-scale farmers. For example, only about five percent of rural farmers are directly linked to large firms through contract farming. 
  • Nonetheless, with proper support, large African businesses, including supermarkets and large processors (which now comprise 10-to-20 percent of the agri-food economy), present a huge opportunity as they are likely to play an expanding role in how farmers access credit, markets and will ultimately impact employment and rural incomes,” it stated.
The report identifies other pivotal changes in African rural economies. It notes that although 70-80 percent of people in rural Africa work on their own farms, this work is often part-time, and comprises only 40 percent of total labor time in rural areas.

Meanwhile, it added, 60 percent of rural labor time is spent off the farm, and about 40 percent of this non-farm labor time is in agri-food system work such as wholesale, logistics, processing and retail (through both self-employment and wage labor). SMEs are the key employers in this sector, intertwined with rural family farmers. This interdependence makes their survival and growth even more crucial, with women and youth particularly benefiting.

Video: