Opportunities

Requests for
Concept Notes

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Ref #TitleDetailsPosted DateDeadlineStatus
(ASTYE) Uganda program, 2026 - 2030REQUEST FOR CONCEPT NOTES (RFCN) Implementation of The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program, 2026 – 2030The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program is a transformative initiative designed to create dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers[1] in Uganda’s agrifood ecosystem. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program contributes to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, and food and nutrition security.May 21, 2026June 13, 2026 11:59 pm Closed View
—REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS TO STRENGTHEN INCLUSIVE AGRICULTURE MARKET SYSTEMS, TRADE AND FINANCE IN KENYAConcept note to strengthen inclusive agriculture market systems, trade and finance in KenyaMarch 06, 2026April 3, 2026 12:00 am Closed View
—REQUEST FOR CONCEPT NOTES (RFCN)YEFFA: This is a call for submission of grant concept notes from interested and qualified organizations operating in the agricultural value chain for projects that contribute to the achievement of AGRA’s stated intended outcomes. Priority will be given to concept notes that demonstrate Youth, Gender & Inclusiveness.February 18, 2026February 27, 2026 12:00 am Closed View
—REQUEST FOR CONCEPT NOTES (RFCN)- EthiopiaYEFFA: This is a call for submission of grant concept notes from interested and qualified organizations operating in the agricultural value chain for projects that contribute to the achievement of AGRA’s stated intended outcomes. Priority will be given to concept notes that demonstrate Youth, Gender & InclusivenessDecember 17, 2025January 16, 2026 12:00 am Closed View
—RE-GAIN :Déployer des solutions pour réduire les pertes alimentaires en Afrique grâce aux céréales complètes pour améliorer la nutrition et diminuer le gaspillage.Cet appel cible des interventions qui promeuvent la transformation des céréales complètes et le renforcement des marchés institutionnels pour les aliments/farines à base de céréales complètes, en tant que solution de réduction des pertes alimentaires, tout en contribuant à améliorer la nutrition et les revenus dans les communautés ciblées. Pays ciblé : Burkina FasoNovember 18, 2025November 30, 2025 12:00 am Closed View
—REQUEST FOR CONCEPT NOTES (RFCN)RE-GAIN: Scaling Solutions for Reducing Food Loss in Africa – Wholegrain for Nutrition & Food Loss ReductionSeptember 01, 2025September 19, 2025 12:00 am Closed View
—REQUEST FOR CONCEPT NOTES (RFCN)Enhancing the Resilience of farmers and SMEs through increased productivity, market linkages, and strengthened state and federal government capability.July 18, 2025July 31, 2025 12:00 am Closed View
—Implementation of Youth Entrepreneurship (YEFFA) Program in RwandaThis is a call for concept notes for projects addressing Youth Entrepreneurship For the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA), Business Line: (IMT): Inclusive Markets and Trade, Business Line: SS: Seed Systems, Business Line: SF: Sustainable Farming, Business Line: Cross-Cutting Theme – YE: Youth EmpowermentJune 01, 2025June 26, 2025 12:00 am Closed
—RFCN: Creating work opportunities for youth by advancing sustainable agricultural productivity and diversification through inclusive markets and tradeIssue date 25/10/2023 Title Request for concept note submission – Creating work opportunities for youth by advancing sustainable agricultural productivity and diversification through inclusive markets and trade Issuing organization Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Head office: West End Towers, 4th Floor. Kanjata Road, off Muthangari Drive, Off Waiyaki Way P.O. Box 66773 Westlands, 00800 Nairobi, Kenya Submission of questions & Concept Note application We only accept online submission at AGRA’s online portal AMIS. https://agra.synisys.com/portfolio/requests Deadline for Receipt of Questions By Friday November 3, 2023 Deadline for Responding to the questions (for AGRA) By Monday November 06, 2023 Deadline for Receipt of Concept note Applications Friday, November 10, 2023, before 11:59 pm, Southern Africa Time (CAT). Malawi AGRA Strategy AGRAs investments in Malawi will catalyze the growth of inclusive food systems and agricultural transformation across Malawi as the basis for creating work opportunities for young people, especially women. AGRA in Malawi will use a market system approach to deliver transformational systems change that enhances the capacity of youth micro-entrepreneurs, and the productivity and resilience of youth farmers through farming as a business. AGRA will also support the government to create an enabling environment that enhances Food systems transformation. Scope of work: A: The Young Farmer Mobilization and Organization Our youth work opportunities program envisions a brighter future for Malawi’s youth by offering a holistic approach to empowerment, skill development, and employment creation. We recognize that youth empowerment is not a one-size-fits-all strategy; it requires a multi-staged, dynamic, and inclusive strategy. Identification, Screening, and Registration – This phase involves a comprehensive process of identifying youth especially young women. The selection process should be inclusive and sensitive to the unique circumstances of youth. The partner will employ an approved methodology to ensure that the right youth are selected and registered into the program. This methodology should be efficient, transparent, and accountable. It should include mechanisms for verifying the eligibility criteria and conducting thorough background checks to minimize dropout rates once resources are allocated. Inspiration, Empowerment, and Basic Entrepreneurship Training – The partner’s role in this stage is to inspire and empower the registered youth. This involves providing basic life skills and entrepreneurship training to help youth discover their areas of interest and build their confidence. The training should motivate and instill a sense of self-worth, encouraging beneficiaries to explore various opportunities. Eligibility Criteria for young farmer mobilization: Experience: The partner institution should have a proven history of working with youth, implementing programs that promote their well-being, education, and economic empowerment. They should be able to provide documentation of past projects, highlighting their impact on youth development. Capacity: The partner should possess the necessary infrastructure, technology, and logistical support to efficiently execute the program. This includes well-equipped training facilities, qualified trainers, and a strong project management framework. Relevant Experience: The partner’s previous experience should include successful implementation of programs targeting vulnerable and marginalized youth. Experience in areas such as education, vocational training, mentorship, or job placement for youth will be highly advantageous. Commitment to Inclusivity: The partner should demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity by having policies and practices in place to ensure equal opportunities for all eligible beneficiaries, regardless of gender, disability, or refugee status. They should actively seek to break down barriers and address the unique challenges faced by these groups. Transparency and Accountability: The partner should commit to full transparency in all processes, from beneficiary selection to program execution. They should be prepared to provide regular reports, undergo external evaluations, and maintain open channels of communication with AGRA Malawi to ensure program goals are met. Local Knowledge: An understanding of the local context, including cultural and economic dynamics in Malawi, is essential. Experience in working with Malawian youth, along with knowledge of the specific challenges and opportunities within the region, will contribute to program success.October 30, 2023November 3, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—RFCN: Build capacity of Cross Border Trader Associations and promote utilization of trade facilitation tools by women and youth in trade in Eastern and Southern AfricaAGRA Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we are working to sustainably grow Africa’s food systems. AGRA strengthens seed systems, develops and promotes sustainable farming practices, helps unlock trade and markets, and supports governments who lead their countries’ development. We work with farmers to adapt to climate change, increase soil health, and protect the environment. AGRA believes deeply in the urgency of reducing the inequality that women face in agriculture, and to unlocking the power and innovation of youth. More information: https://agra.kihingu.com/September 13, 2023September 28, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—RFCN: Trade Expansion support grants to SMEs engaged in regional food trade led by women and youth in Western, Eastern and Southern AfricaAGRA Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we are working to sustainably grow Africa’s food systems. AGRA strengthens seed systems, develops and promotes sustainable farming practices, helps unlock trade and markets, and supports governments who lead their countries’ development. We work with farmers to adapt to climate change, increase soil health, and protect the environment. AGRA believes deeply in the urgency of reducing the inequality that women face in agriculture, and to unlocking the power and innovation of youth. More information: https://agra.kihingu.com/September 13, 2023September 28, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Increasing Productivity and Resilience of Ethiopian Farmers through Facilitating Sustainable Food System TransformationFounded in 2006, AGRA, is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. In Ethiopia AGRA aims to increase productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers through reversing recurrent climate shocks paying particular focus on key strategic crops and government flagship priority commodities. Based on series of stakeholder consultations, document review and gap analysis, AGRA has identified the key challenges of the agricultural sector in Ethiopia which include; (i) poor productive of major crops as result of recurrent drought, soil fertility decline and limited access to critical inputs and technologies; (ii) lack of resilience of smallholder farmers leading to food insecurity, malnutrition and, (iii) Poor enabling environment for effective and efficient functioning of agri-food system and limited execution capacity of institutions to implement sectoral policies and regulations. Hence, the AGRA country strategy goals focus on transforming Ethiopia’s food system to enhance food security and resilience of smallholder farmers under changing climate & other extreme events. To reach this goal, AGRA aims to achieve three strategic objectives. They are increasing the productivity of smallholders, strengthening the resilience of smallholders, and enhancing the capacity of agriculture sector institutions at the national and sub-national level. The focus of AGRA’s new investment in Ethiopia will tilt towards providing catalytic funding of solutions to address the challenges in areas where there are no active partners supporting the interventions identified.August 02, 2023September 15, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Implementation of Rwanda AGRA Country Strategy 2023-2027Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we are working to sustainably grow Africa’s food systems. In Rwanda, AGRA will focus on supporting SMEs that are small, informal, and underfinanced, with a special focus on youth and women led SMEs during the current strategy period with interventions that cut through four business lines and three cross-cutting areas. AGRA selected four complementary and integrated business lines: the seed systems, sustainable farming, inclusive markets & trade (IMT), and policy & state capability (PSC). Besides the four business lines, AGRA and its partners selected three cross-cutting areas (a) inclusivity (enabling women and youth to contribute to agriculture for their economic empowerment) (b) climate change adaptation (equipping farmers and strengthening food systems to absorb and recover from shocks, and (c) nutrition (improving nutrition outcomes by diversifying crops and ensuring food availability). The primary business line for Rwanda for the 2023-2030 strategy is inclusive markets and trade (IMT) while being complemented by other business lines to support the country in building inclusive and competitive markets through value addition and trade. The Rwanda AGRA Country Strategy 2023-2027 will also focus on creating employment opportunities for youth and women in the agricultural value chain. More youths are entering Rwanda’s labor market to compete for the limited employment opportunities. Today, 60% of the employed youth are in the agricultural sector. By transforming the agricultural sector, and growing private sector companies, more job, work and entrepreneurship opportunities emerge for young people to gain meaningful (self) employment. As such, AGRA Rwanda is seeking to create 132,000 fulfilling and dignifying jobs for youth and women through investment and strengthening of work pathways that benefit them.August 02, 2023August 30, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): AGRA-PIATA Ghana Strategy 3.0Background Agriculture continues to play an essential role in the provision of food security, supply of raw materials for industry, creation of employment, generation of foreign exchange earnings, and contribution to national GDP. There is a strong government commitment to agricultural-led economic development demonstrated by well-structured policies and investment plans (NAIPS); which have translated into strong sector growth, moving from 2.3% in 2015 to an impressive 7% in 2020. Yet, Ghana does not seem to be optimizing the progress made in its inclusive agricultural transformation journey, failing in its potential to adequately link production to processing and markets, and drive the integration with other sectors. Productivity remains low while fragmented high-cost crop production is unable to support a strong processing sub-sector. Founded in 2006, AGRA is a farmer-centered, Africa-led, and partnerships-driven institution that is transforming Africa’s smallholder farming from a solitary struggle to survive to business that thrive . AGRA has been working with actors in the Ghanaian public and private sectors to build and strengthen core agricultural systems (seed, soil health, markets, agricultural finance, extension, and input distribution systems) investing over US$60million since 2007. From 2017 to 2021, AGRA worked with private sector operators and the Ministry of Agriculture to integrate these systems through agribusiness consortia and flagships that provided a suite of services to 2 million smallholder farmers.August 02, 2023August 23, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Promotion of income generation, resilience, and employment opportunities for youth and women through small-scale processing units; poultry farming, and small ruminants; school feeding programsBackground Founded in 2006, AGRA is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. As the sector that employs most of Africa’s people, all of them small-scale farmers, AGRA recognizes that developing smallholder agriculture into a productive, efficient, and sustainable system is essential to ensuring food security, lifting millions out of poverty, and driving equitable growth across the continent. AGRA is rolling out a new 5-year strategy to catalyze the Food System-led Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 28 million farmers across 11 countries in West, East and Southern Africa. The new Strategic Plan sets out to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholders are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food in an equitable and inclusive manner. There is increasing acknowledgement that gender inequality and social exclusion of women, youth and rural poor continue to impede Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (IAT). State of the art evidence shows that agricultural development interventions can only be effective if they are intentional in their approaches towards gender equality and social inclusion (Quisumbing et al., 2020; Nyasimi and Huyer, 2017; Doss, 2016). Another critical component in inclusive agricultural transformation is participation by youth, a population which is rapidly growing and is expected to double to 830 million by 2050. A total of 12 million youth enters the employment market each year but only 25% are absorbed into formal jobs leaving large numbers either unemployed or underemployed (AfDB, 2016). AGRA’s approach to the youth is anchored on its inclusive agriculture transformation goal, driving broad-based agricultural transformation that will make agriculture more productive and profitable, thereby creating on-farm and off-farm opportunities. To attain the levels of scale and reach necessary to create fundamental change in youth employment in Africa, it is critical to come up with scalable solutions that reach a substantial proportion of youth – the resilience, and agriculture productivity present an opportunity in this regard. Building on the gains AGRA has achieved over the past decade and a half and leveraging the learnings from our recent Impact Evaluation, AGRA intends to make focused and catalytic investments that contribute to inclusive agriculture and food systems transformation. AGRA’s 2030 Strategic framework directly draws on and contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development and is anchored in unlocking systemic barriers and building resilience and capabilities to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems on the African continent. To achieve its vision, mission and strategic objectives, AGRA will build on key assets, models and key lessons accruing from past strategic investments to deliver the following core objectives: Enhanced farmer resilience.  Greater food security and nutrition. Increased (and more stable) production and yields.  Increased farmer surplus, sales, and profits.  Dignified, fulfilling agricultural work for youth.  Increased revenues for women/youth-led SMEs and women/youth entrepreneurs. To achieve the vision, mission, and objectives of the new Strategic Plan, AGRA has prioritized and organized its work around four interlinked business lines to catalyze agricultural transformation which include 1) Policy and State Capability; 2) Seed Systems. 3) Inclusive Markets and Trade; and 4) Sustainable Farming. The new strategy has also prioritized cross-cutting areas which are critical to ensuring that agricultural transformation is inclusive and reflective of broad food system needs (Youth Empowerment, Gender Inclusivity, Climate’ Nutrition). Intentional inclusivity is one of the cross-cutting areas which seeks to eliminate barriers to participation of women and youth for them to contribute to, and benefit from agricultural transformation.August 09, 2023August 21, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Promote the mechanization for farm level Agriservices and downstream agro-processing to stimulate work opportunities for young people through distribution of machineryBackground Founded in 2006, AGRA is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. As the sector that employs most of Africa’s people, all of them small-scale farmers, AGRA recognizes that developing smallholder agriculture into a productive, efficient, and sustainable system is essential to ensuring food security, lifting millions out of poverty, and driving equitable growth across the continent. AGRA is rolling out a new 5-year strategy to catalyze the Food System-led Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 28 million farmers across 11 countries in West, East and Southern Africa. The new Strategic Plan sets out to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholders are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food in an equitable and inclusive manner. There is increasing acknowledgement that gender inequality and social exclusion of women, youth and rural poor continue to impede Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (IAT). State of the art evidence shows that agricultural development interventions can only be effective if they are intentional in their approaches towards gender equality and social inclusion (Quisumbing et al., 2020; Nyasimi and Huyer, 2017; Doss, 2016). Another critical component in inclusive agricultural transformation is participation by youth, a population which is rapidly growing and is expected to double to 830 million by 2050. A total of 12 million youth enters the employment market each year but only 25% are absorbed into formal jobs leaving large numbers either unemployed or underemployed (AfDB, 2016). AGRA’s approach to the youth is anchored on its inclusive agriculture transformation goal, driving broad-based agricultural transformation that will make agriculture more productive and profitable, thereby creating on-farm and off-farm opportunities. To attain the levels of scale and reach necessary to create fundamental change in youth employment in Africa, it is critical to come up with scalable solutions that reach a substantial proportion of youth – the resilience, and agriculture productivity present an opportunity in this regard. Building on the gains AGRA has achieved over the past decade and a half and leveraging the learnings from our recent Impact Evaluation, AGRA intends to make focused and catalytic investments that contribute to inclusive agriculture and food systems transformation. AGRA’s 2030 Strategic framework directly draws on and contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development and is anchored in unlocking systemic barriers and building resilience and capabilities to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems on the African continent. To achieve its vision, mission and strategic objectives, AGRA will build on key assets, models and key lessons accruing from past strategic investments to deliver the following core objectives: Enhanced farmer resilience. Greater food security and nutrition. Increased (and more stable) production and yields. Increased farmer surplus, sales, and profits. Dignified, fulfilling agricultural work for youth.  Increased revenues for women/youth-led SMEs and women/youth entrepreneurs. To achieve the vision, mission, and objectives of the new Strategic Plan, AGRA has prioritized and organized its work around four interlinked business lines to catalyze agricultural transformation which include 1) Policy and State Capability; 2) Seed Systems. 3) Inclusive Markets and Trade; and 4) Sustainable Farming. The new strategy has also prioritized cross-cutting areas which are critical to ensuring that agricultural transformation is inclusive and reflective of broad food system needs (Youth Empowerment, Gender Inclusivity, Climate’ Nutrition). Intentional inclusivity is one of the cross-cutting areas which seeks to eliminate barriers to participation of women and youth for them to contribute to, and benefit from agricultural transformation.August 09, 2023August 21, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Development, and promotion of Climate adaptation technologiesBackground Founded in 2006, AGRA is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. As the sector that employs most of Africa’s people, all of them small-scale farmers, AGRA recognizes that developing smallholder agriculture into a productive, efficient, and sustainable system is essential to ensuring food security, lifting millions out of poverty, and driving equitable growth across the continent. AGRA is rolling out a new 5-year strategy to catalyze the Food System-led Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 28 million farmers across 11 countries in West, East and Southern Africa. The new Strategic Plan sets out to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholders are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food in an equitable and inclusive manner. There is increasing acknowledgement that gender inequality and social exclusion of women, youth and rural poor continue to impede Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (IAT). State of the art evidence shows that agricultural development interventions can only be effective if they are intentional in their approaches towards gender equality and social inclusion (Quisumbing et al., 2020; Nyasimi and Huyer, 2017; Doss, 2016). Another critical component in inclusive agricultural transformation is participation by youth, a population which is rapidly growing and is expected to double to 830 million by 2050. A total of 12 million youth enters the employment market each year but only 25% are absorbed into formal jobs leaving large numbers either unemployed or underemployed (AfDB, 2016). AGRA’s approach to the youth is anchored on its inclusive agriculture transformation goal, driving broad-based agricultural transformation that will make agriculture more productive and profitable, thereby creating on-farm and off-farm opportunities. To attain the levels of scale and reach necessary to create fundamental change in youth employment in Africa, it is critical to come up with scalable solutions that reach a substantial proportion of youth – the resilience, and agriculture productivity present an opportunity in this regard. Building on the gains AGRA has achieved over the past decade and a half and leveraging the learnings from our recent Impact Evaluation, AGRA intends to make focused and catalytic investments that contribute to inclusive agriculture and food systems transformation. AGRA’s 2030 Strategic framework directly draws on and contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development and is anchored in unlocking systemic barriers and building resilience and capabilities to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems on the African continent. To achieve its vision, mission and strategic objectives, AGRA will build on key assets, models and key lessons accruing from past strategic investments to deliver the following core objectives: Enhanced farmer resilience. Greater food security and nutrition. Increased (and more stable) production and yields. Increased farmer surplus, sales, and profits. Dignified, fulfilling agricultural work for youth. Increased revenues for women/youth-led SMEs and women/youth entrepreneurs. To achieve the vision, mission, and objectives of the new Strategic Plan, AGRA has prioritized and organized its work around four interlinked business lines to catalyze agricultural transformation which include 1) Policy and State Capability; 2) Seed Systems. 3) Inclusive Markets and Trade; and 4) Sustainable Farming. The new strategy has also prioritized cross-cutting areas which are critical to ensuring that agricultural transformation is inclusive and reflective of broad food system needs (Youth Empowerment, Gender Inclusivity, Climate’ Nutrition). Intentional inclusivity is one of the cross-cutting areas which seeks to eliminate barriers to participation of women and youth for them to contribute to, and benefit from agricultural transformation.August 09, 2023August 21, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Catalyzing and Sustaining Agricultural Transformation in MALAWI2. BACKGROUND AGRA Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we are working to sustainably grow Africa’s food systems. AGRA strengthens seed systems, develops and promotes sustainable farming practices, helps unlock trade and markets, and supports governments who lead their countries’ development. We work with farmers to adapt to climate change, increase soil health, and protect the environment. AGRA believes deeply in the urgency of reducing the inequality that women face in agriculture, and to unlocking the power and innovation of youth. Country/Region or Unit Strategy of AGRA AGRA Strategy 3.0: AGRA Malawi’s strategy 3.0 (2023 – 2027) entry point is “Advancing sustainable productivity and diversification through Inclusive Markets and Trade” with the goal: “To catalyze an inclusive agri-food system of Malawi through a competitive market and trade system that drives farmer productivity, resilience and dignified and fulfilling work opportunities particularly for youth/women and vulnerable people. AGRA Malawi strategy 3.0 interventions focus is around Inclusive Markets and Trade (IMT), sustainable farming (SF), policy and state capability (PSC), Seed systems, and on cross-cutting issues of Climate Change and adaption, nutrition, and inclusivity of Women & Youth/Young women and men. The Malawi strategy aims at strengthening the ecosystem that enables growth of local and regional markets which in turn cause an increase in sustainable productivity of smallholder farmers. This will in turn generate dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young women and men, through meaningful engagement in agribusinesses and high potential agriculture value-chains including incubation of new agri-business and digital technology start-ups for agri-food systems transformation. The strategy will achieve the stated goal by intentionally addressing agriculture system blockages preventing growth of the sector. To do this, the Malawi strategy will use a market system approach to deliver transformational systems change that enhances the capacity of youth micro-entrepreneurs, and the productivity and resilience of young farmers through farming as a business (FAAB). To accelerate productivity gains, and build resilience. It will also support the government to create an enabling environment for dignified and fulfilling work opportunities and strengthening platforms for effective youth participation and inclusive decision making in policy processes and innovative solutions while incorporating the voice of young men and women operating agribusinesses. Outcomes: The country program strategy will focus on three outcome areas with Inclusive Finance as a cross cutting theme as follows: a). Outcome 1: Expanding and diversifying inclusive markets and trade for youth and women run MSMEs b). Outcome 2: Improving sustainable access to inputs (High quality climate resilient and nutrient dense seeds/crop varieties and fertilizer) for increased agricultural productivity for young farmers, particularly young women. c). Outcome 3: Improving coordination and policy for youth engagement (Strengthened formal and informal gender and youth support institutions d). Outcome 4: Support an enabling environment and inclusive environment that promotes job creation for vulnerable groups, especially youth and women As part of the design process, the Malawi country teams conducted extensive stakeholder consultations, including with representatives of the young women and young men who will be the target group of the Malawi program strategy. The youth consulted validated the constraints identified earlier when designing the Ministry of Agriculture Youth and Women in Agriculture flagship as well as the AGRA-MCF Partnership initiative. They provided additional information on the issues they considered most important to address. Key challenges faced by young men and women agri-food entrepreneurs – Partners perspectives. • Lack of awareness amongst youth of viable opportunities in agriculture, • Lack of entrepreneurial skills to build agribusiness enterprises, • Limited access to land, • Limited access to affordable finance, • Limited access to seeds, sustainable markets, including the market information needed to exploit market opportunities.July 28, 2023August 18, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Building capacities of smallholders’ farmer in climate-vulnerable communities of Northeastern UgandaAGRA’s strategy for Uganda Considering that Uganda is a perennial surplus food producer with potential to meet deficits of neighbouring countries and beyond, AGRA’s entry point, therefore, is to build inclusive and competitive markets through value addition and trade. This is pretty much in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan III (2020/21 – 2024/25) which focusses on Agro-industrialization and value addition for job creation while also emphasizing increased production and productivity through agro-input usage and mechanization. Considering the increasing effects of climate change in Uganda, AGRA is cognizant of their potential negative impacts which can impede attainment of the desired transformation. As such, AGRA is hugely intentional in building the resilience of smallholder farmers to withstand such challenges. Some of the efforts being considered include introduction of mechanization and irrigation in production systems while also harnessing digital and financial services to enable farmers access such technologies. Other proposed interventions incluAugust 01, 2023August 15, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Develop, Strengthen and Promote Innovative Agricultural Financial and Non-financial Systems for Agrodealership, Inputs Acquisition and DistributionKey expected results include those under the business lines below for which the applicant will also be contributing to: 1.3.1 Inclusive Markets, and Trade • Expanded market access, investment, and capacity for inclusive market actors (IMT 2.0) • Increased use of BDS, finance, and market data by inclusive market actors and farmers, esp. women and youth (IMT 2.1) • Prioritized predictable and inclusive trade/finance policies, passed and implemented (IMT 2.2) This will also include: 1.3.2 cross-cutting themes 1.3.2.1 Youth Empowerment: • Diversified and increased work opportunities (on-farm, wage, etc.) for young men and women (YE 3.0). • Increased youth uptake of training, finance and new technologies (YE 2.0). • Strengthened delivery of SME supports, job supports and last mile services to youth (YE 2.1). 1.3.2.2 Gender Inclusivity: • Increased revenues for women-led SMEs. • Increased employment for women. In the Strategy 3.0, AGRA seeks to increase productivity of major targeted commodities (maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cowpea, groundnut, horticulture, and poultry) by 35%, enhance resilience of 1.2 million Smallholder Farmers in Sikasso, Koulikoro, Segou, Kaye, and Mopti regions, and improve their livelihood SHFs while promoting dignified and fulfilling job creation. The Key expected results from the interventions are linked to the following grant applications.August 02, 2023August 14, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Competitiveness and Bankability of Youth and Women SMEs in Seed Systems in MaliKey expected results include those under the business lines below for which the applicant will also be contributing to: 1.3.1 Seed Systems • Increased farmer adoption of nutrient-dense and climate-smart varieties, esp. among women/youth (SS 2.0) • Scale-up of production, certification and extension models linked to quality varieties, esp. for women/youth (SS 2.1) • Prioritized inclusive policies, regulations, standards, and certifications passed and implemented (SS 2.2) This business line will also include: 1.3.2 Inclusive Markets, and Trade • Expanded market access, investment, and capacity for inclusive market actors (IMT 2.0) 1.3.3 cross-cutting themes 1.3.3.1 Youth Empowerment: • Diversified and increased work opportunities (on-farm, wage, etc.) for young men and women (YE 3.0). • Strengthened delivery of SME supports, job supports and last mile services to youth (YE 2.1). 1.3.3.2 Gender Inclusivity: • Improved enabling environment for women farmers. • Increased revenues and employment for women-led SMEs. 1.3.3.3 Nutrition • Increased crop diversification and adoption of nutrient-dense varieties. In the Strategy 3.0, AGRA seeks to increase productivity of major targeted commodities (maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cowpea, groundnut, horticulture, and poultry) by 35%, enhance resilience of 1.2 million Smallholder Farmers in Sikasso, Koulikoro, Segou, Kayes, and Mopti regions, and improve their livelihood SHFs while promoting dignified and fulfilling job creation. The Key expected results from the interventions are linked to the following grant applications.August 02, 2023August 14, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Promote Small-scale Irrigation and Green Energy Mechanization ModelsFounded in 2006, AGRA is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. As the sector that employs most of Africa’s people, all of them small-scale farmers, AGRA recognizes that developing smallholder agriculture into a productive, efficient, and sustainable system is essential to ensuring food security, lifting millions out of poverty, and driving equitable growth across the continent. AGRA is rolling out a new 5-year strategy to catalyze the Food System-led Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 28 million farmers across 11 countries in West, East and Southern Africa. The new Strategic Plan sets out to catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholders are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food in an equitable and inclusive manner. There is increasing acknowledgement that gender inequality and social exclusion of women, youth and rural poor continue to impede Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (IAT). State of the art evidence shows that agricultural development interventions can only be effective if they are intentional in their approaches towards gender equality and social inclusion (Quisumbing et al., 2020; Nyasimi and Huyer, 2017; Doss, 2016). Another critical component in inclusive agricultural transformation is participation by youth, a population which is rapidly growing and is expected to double to 830 million by 2050. A total of 12 million youth enters the employment market each year but only 25% are absorbed into formal jobs leaving large numbers either unemployed or underemployed (AfDB, 2016). AGRA’s approach to the youth is anchored on its inclusive agriculture transformation goal, driving broad-based agricultural transformation that will make agriculture more productive and profitable, thereby creating on-farm and off-farm opportunities. To attain the levels of scale and reach necessary to create fundamental change in youth employment in Africa, it is critical to come up with scalable solutions that reach a substantial proportion of youth – the resilience, and agriculture productivity present an opportunity in this regard.August 02, 2023August 14, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Advancing functional input and output markets and trade to drive productivity and improve farmers’ resilience in MozambiqueAGRA was established in 2006 to work with partners to catalyze an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa. It strives to transform smallholder farming from a solitary struggle to survive to a business that thrives in country’s food systems. AGRA puts smallholder farmers first on the agenda, recognizing that no country has moved from low to middle income without agricultural and food systems transformation. Since its inception, AGRA has completed two important investment cycles. Through the current strategy (AGRA 2023-2027), AGRA intends to influence and leverage its partners to build a robust enabling environment where private sector thrives, and all smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient and healthy food. To achieve its ambitious goal, AGRA seeks to contribute to three interrelated and interdependent strategic objectives that are to: i. Empower and build resilience of smallholder farmers ii. Support the development of inclusive markets to improve functional agricultural systems iii. Build state capability to sustain agricultural transformation. In meeting the above objectives in the African Continent, AGRA will focus its work around four business lines: (i) Inclusive Markets and Trade, (ii) Seed Systems (iii) Sustainable Farming, and (iv) Policy and State Capability which fit together into an integrated whole and drive synergies with one another. Three selected cross-cutting areas which include Inclusivity (Women & Youth), Climate Change Adaptation and Nutrition shape AGRA work to ensure we are building sustainable food systems and delivering impact to farmers in an inclusive manner.August 02, 2023August 11, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Concept Notes (RFCN): Implementation of Tanzania AGRA Country Strategy 2023-2027Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a thriving business. We are working with our partners to develop Africa’s food systems sustainably. In Tanzania, AGRA targets to reach three million farmers during the current strategy period with interventions that cut through four business lines and three cross-cutting areas. AGRA selected four complementary and integrated business lines: seed systems, sustainable farming, inclusive markets & trade (IMT), and policy & state capability (PSC). Besides the four business lines, AGRA and its partners selected three cross-cutting areas (a) inclusivity (enabling women and youth to contribute to agriculture for their economic empowerment), (b) climate change adaptation (equipping farmers and strengthening food systems to absorb and recover from shocks, and (c) nutrition (improving nutrition outcomes by diversifying crops and ensuring food availability). The strategy entry point is ‘’to support the country in building inclusive and competitive markets through value addition and trade.” The consultations with different stakeholders leading to the development of the strategy identified access to markets and trade as the main bottleneck in the food system that should be given priority in the strategy. However, success in building inclusive and competitive markets is premised on other business lines that involve inputs and productivity, sustainable agriculture, and policy & state capability working optimally. Thus, though the priority in this strategy is building inclusive markets and trade, AGRA is also looking to support interventions around the other business lines that include seed systems, sustainable farming, and policy & state capability. In strategy 3.0, AGRA will implement its investments in Tanzania in an integrated manner to ensure coordination across its business lines and create efficiencies for better impacts at the country level.August 02, 2023July 30, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Grant Applications (RFA): Trade Expansion Support Grants to Smes Engaged in Regional Food Trade Led by Women and Youth in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa Posted: May 31, 202Inclusive Markets and Trade (IMT) work will be centered around i) creating an enabling environment for inclusive markets, trade, and finance (i.e. policy reforms, implementation, trade facilitation, etc.) and ii) supporting a well-functioning private sector that will be capable of driving farmers and agri-business into a cycle of commercial growth and reinvestment. To support the implementation of Inclusive Markets and Trade work through market shaping/trade facilitation interventions, AGRA is seeking potential partners, to manage the necessary sub-awards, to deliver the three long-term Objectives of the IMT program: SO-1: Resilient supply and demand of supported agricultural products and services; SO-2: Inclusive market (output and finance) performance for supported value chains; SO-3: Improved enabling environment for inclusive markets, trade, and finance especially for youth and women agrientrepreneurship. The potential partners will include, but not limited to, the following: • Export ready firms and SMEs engaged in regional food trade led by women and youth or in support of women and youth in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa in one or more of the targeted trade corridors and priority value chains (see section 3 for targeted trade corridors). AGRA therefore invites submissions of grant applications from interested and qualified export ready firms and SMEs operating in the agricultural value chains for projects within the targeted trade corridors that will contribute to the achievement of AGRA’s stated intended objectives and outcomes.June 06, 2023July 7, 2023 12:00 am Closed View
—Request for Grant Applications (RFA): Building Capacity of Cross-border Trade Associations and Promote Utilization of Trade Facilitation Tools by Women and Youth in Trade in Eastern and Southern AfricaInclusive Markets and Trade (IMT) work will be centered around i) creating an enabling environment for inclusive markets, trade, REQUEST FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS (RFA) and finance (i.e. policy reforms, implementation, trade facilitation, etc.) and ii) supporting a well-functioning private sector that will be capable of driving farmers and agri-business into a cycle of commercial growth and reinvestment. To support the implementation of Inclusive Markets and Trade work through market shaping/trade facilitation interventions, AGRA is seeking potential partners, to manage the necessary sub-awards, to deliver the three long-term Objectives of the IMT program: SO-1: Resilient supply and demand of supported agricultural products and services; SO-2: Inclusive market (output and finance) performance for supported value chains; SO-3: Improved enabling environment for inclusive markets, trade, and finance especially for youth and women agrientrepreneurship. The potential partners will include, but not limited to, the following: • NGOs or private firms providing Business Development Services and other consultancy services. • Capacity building/training institutions that have a strategic focus towards training of Trade Associations and business associations involved in national and intra-regional trade. AGRA therefore invites submissions of grant applications from interested and qualified organizations operating in the agricultural value chains for projects that contribute to the achievement of AGRA’s stated intended objectives and outcomes.June 06, 2023July 5, 2023 12:00 am Closed View