Deadline: May 31, 2023.

The ‘Accelerating inclusive green growth through agri-based digital innovation in West Africa (AGriDI)’ intervention supports innovations to address key challenges related to climate change, sustainable use, and management of biodiversity as well as responsible production and consumption among farming communities in West Africa.

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

AGriDI has three main objectives to achieve:

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

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

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

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The target groups for this call are:

i) scientists and researchers in universities and research institutes

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

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

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

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

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

GRANT

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

OFFICIAL LINK