Now Accepting Entries: The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator Program 2023 for climate innovators

The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator aims to support agribusinesses in scaling their climate-smart innovations. These innovations are aimed at agrifood actors to solve pressing problems in the value chains and contribute to stronger and more sustainable food systems.

Target sectors:

• SDG 8 and 10: The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator builds and sustains the foundations for economic growth in the agriculture and food sectors
• SDG 17: Partnerships supported by the Programme
• SDG 2 and 3:integrate a food and nutrition security agenda with direct outreach to consumers
• SDG 1 and 5: laying the foundations for viable local economies and equitable agrifood value chains
• SDG 5 and SDG 8: promote job creation, skilled and decent work, and inclusive (women and youth) economic growth
• SDG 13: The Programme provides SMEs with access to science-based research and innovation which enhances their capacities to make smallholder farmers, local communities, and partners resilient to the effects of climate change

Objectives

The overall objective of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator Program is to: 

• Scale climate-smart food system innovations through strategic support of commercially viable and inclusive climate-smart agribusinesses
• Develop a pipeline of inclusive climate-smart agribusinesses in East and Southern Africa
• Support inclusive climate-smart agribusinesses through a 6-month programme that provides investment readiness and business development, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and impact measurement and management (IMM) technical assistance, coaching and mentoring.
• Access to finance through de-risking grants to scale CSA innovations and business models and matchmaking with private investors for follow-on capital.

Requirements

• CGIAR is looking for user-centric innovation cases that will lead to broad and positive impacts in food security through the increase in productivity, climate change resilience and adaptation and mitigation of the negative effects on agriculture. 
• The business should be officially registered and compliant with regulatory authorities. Please provide the following:
  • A Certificate of Incorporation for a Limited Company or Partnership Deed for a Partnership Business.
  • 2 years audited accounts.
  • Contact details of company’s references.
  • Team composition.
  • Curriculum Vitae for management team.
  • Tax Compliance Certificate.
• A clear inclusive strategy for smallholder farmers, women, and youth within the business model in at least one of the following dimensions: ownership, management team, workforce and policies, supply chain and customers.
• Applicants must be a for-profit company and demonstrate commercial viability and either be profitable or on the path to profitability. NGOs, corporate companies, and consultants will not be considered.
• Operating in the following countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.

Benefits

• Provision of Climate-smart agriculture Technical Assistance: through this programme each agribusiness will collaborate with CGIAR scientists and experts to receive coordinated and specialised evidence-based TA support that encourages adoption and strengthens their CSA practices, addresses concrete ecosystem challenges, and improves their bankability. Agribusinesses will also have access to research and data. 
• Provision of Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) Technical Assistance: Agribusiness teams selected to this Programme will receive training on how to effectively measure and manage impact, use their data to improve business performance, identify areas where value can be created and achieve their desired result in contributing towards positive environmental and social impact. This training will be provided by CGIAR network of scientists and experts.  
• Provision of Investment Readiness Technical Assistance: Each agribusiness in this programme will collaborate with IFDC-2SCALE and its network to receive investment readiness and business development support to help secure financing from the private sector. 
• De-risking Grant: Following the conclusion of the accelerator program and Pitch Day, four companies will receive USD 20,000 each according to their business scaling plans.
• Access to investors and corporate partners to attract follow-on funding and potential business opportunities.

Timeline:

• Application period dates; start 23rd November 2022 and deadline 22nd December 2022
• First shortlist announcement – 13 January 2022
• Second shortlist announcement – 27 January 2023
• Final shortlist announcement of cohort -– 10 February 2023 
• 6-month technical assistance – 1 March 2023 – 31 August 2023
• Pitch Day and announcement of grant recipients – 15 October 2023

For More Information: Visit the Official Webpage of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator. Application Deadline: December 22, 2022