Funding is essential towards ensuring the growth of a sustainable agricultural sector. There are a number of top key organizations that are involved in funding agricultural related projects. The article presents an overview of these organizations.
1. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
The main aim of AGRA is to invest in projects with a measurable impact that is able to bring about a worthwhile, transformative change in the agricultural sector. The awarding of the grants by the organization is preceded by intensive and collective planning between AGRA and the institutions that have been identified for funding. AGRA only offers grants to organizations that have been found to possess technical expertise, operational capability, those that have the experience to implement AGRA’s transformative agenda and those with adequate internal control. Grantees that are eligible should fall in any of the following categories: seed companies, financial institutions, farmer organizations, market/farmer produce board, private sector organizations, national research institutions, universities & other educational institutions, agro-dealers, governments/ministries and not for profit organizations.
EMAIL: info@agra.org
WEBSITE: https://agra.org/grants/
2. E4Impact
E4Impact was an initiative that was launched in 2010 by the ALTIS-Graduate School of Business and Society of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Its main purpose is to train impact entrepreneurs in developing countries to support the start-up and growth of their businesses. The portfolio activities of the E4Impact entail the following: entrepreneurship programs, multilateral projects, services for the expansion of European SMEs and accelerators for new businesses.
WEBSITE: https://e4impact.org/
3. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
IFAD is an international financial institution and United Nations agency that is located in Rome. The agency has provided about 23.2 billion US dollars in grants since 1978 and provided low-interest loans to projects that have reached about 518 million people. IFAD majorly invests in rural people through empowering them to increase their food security, increase their income and improve their families’ nutrition. IFAD works in areas where hunger and poverty are prominent.
EMAIL: ifad@ifad.org
WEBSITE: https://www.ifad.org/en/about
4. International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
The regional office of IDRC is located in Ottawa, Canada and its regional offices are in India, Jordan, Kenya, Senegal, and Uruguay which enables the centre to reach out to projects and research that they fund in the developing countries. The IDRC provides funding, grants and awards to researchers and projects that aim to find solutions to the global development challenges. The centre requests research proposals to fund projects that promote climate-resilient food systems, education and science, global health, sustainable and inclusive economies in developing nations.
WEBSITE: https://www.idrc.ca/en/funding
5. OPEC Fund for International Development
The work of OPEC fund is people-centred and mainly targets projects that meet the basic needs of people that including food, clean water, energy, education, health care and sanitation aiming at promoting self-reliance and hope for the future. Since the start of the organization, it has extended grants in support of capacity building activities, special development initiatives as well as technical assistance. The organization has also provided emergency aid grants after the occurrence of various crises.
WEBSITE: https://opecfund.org/
6. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
This is a bilateral funding agency of the Swiss government. It undertakes development cooperation activities that aim to reduce poverty in developing nations through supporting the civil society and the governments’ developmental activities. The cooperation is committed to undertaking developmental funding in 14 priority countries. The agency focuses on the following key areas: agriculture, health, education, environment, employment, migration, economic integration, governance and gender
EMAIL: info.deza@eda.admin.ch
WEBSITE: https://www.eda.admin.ch/sdc
7. National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
NIFA supports extensions activities, education and research through the following funding mechanisms: competitive grants, capacity grants and non-competitive grants. NIFA’s office of grants and financial management provides guidance and support to recipients of the awards during the lifecycle of grants and cooperative agreements. The lifecycle phase of the grants includes a pre-award, award, post-award and closeout.
WEBSITE: https://nifa.usda.gov/
8. African Development Fund (ADF)
ADF is the concessional financing window of the African Development Bank Group. It provides technical assistance, concessional loans and grants to the region’s member countries. It offers technical assistance for capacity building and studies in order to support projects as well as programs that aim to stimulate poverty reduction and economic development.
EMAIL: a.adesina@afdb.org
WEBSITE: https://www.afdb.org/en
9. Agriculture Fast Track (AFT) Fund
AFT is under the African Development Bank and builds upon previous commitments of G8 and G20 through supporting food security projects that are socially beneficial, environmentally sustainable and financially sound. The projects that are supported by AFT supports are part of the food security projects that support Africa’s agricultural transformation agenda. AFT provides funds for project development costs that include financial modelling, business plan development, market research, feasibility studies and environmental and social impact studies. The eligible countries initially include Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania that form the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.
WEBSITE: https://www.afdb.org
10. African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), based in Zimbabwe, was founded by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and United Nations Development Programme, African Governments and bilateral donors, and is operational in 15 countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda. Provision of grants is an important component in the Foundation’s capacity-building interventions and information on how organisations can apply for funding is available on the website. The website also provides Information resources on Capacity Building in Africa and links to international NGO websites.
WEBSITE: http://www.acbf-pact.org
11. African Youth Foundation (AYF)
The African Youth Foundation supports initiatives that help African youth gain access to education and have meaningful roles in national development initiatives.
WEBSITE: http://www.ayf.de
12. Book Aid International
Book Aid International is the major UK support for libraries in sub saharan Africa. The aim is that locally produced and culturally relevant books should be made available for readers in Africa and beyond. Book Aid International works with partners that give the widest possible access to books and information, including public library services, community resource centres, universities, colleges, schools and non-governmental organisations. The website includes details of how organisations can apply for books and library resources, and online publications on education issues.
WEBSITE: http://www.bookaid.org
13. The Britain – Tanzania Society
The Britain – Tanzania Society aims to increase knowledge, understanding and respect between citizens of the two countries. Through the Tanzania Development Trust, the funding arm of the society and a UK registered charity, Britain-Tanzania Society supports small rural development projects in health, education and water supply.
WEBSITE: http://www.btsociety.org
14. Comic Relief
Comic Relief is committed to helping end poverty and social injustice in the poorest countries in the world. Through its Africa grants programme, Comic Relief funds projects focused on: people affected by conflict; women and girls; urban poverty; disabled people; pastoralists and hunter-gatherers; people affected by HIV and AIDS. Please note that, at present, Southern NGOs can only access funds through partnerships with Northern NGOs. Application forms and guidelines can be downloaded from the website.
WEBSITE: http://www.comicrelief.com
15. Volunteers For Africa
Volunteers for Africa offer a service to NGOs in East and Central Africa, connecting them with volunteers and funders, as well as providing assistance and advice on how to write funding proposals.
WEBSITE: http://www.vfa.8m.net
Compiled by Authors: Anthony M. Wanjohi1 and Purity Syokau2
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