Description

The FCI4Africa project launches its Open Call 1, offering funding to support innovative projects that test, validate, and develop solutions for fair, sustainable, and climate-neutral agri-food systems in Africa.

Overview

FCI4Africa Open Call 1 aims to fund 8 sub-projects led by individual applicants to contribute to the development and validation of tools, methodologies, and business models within the project.

Projects are expected to generate high-quality datasets and practical insights that strengthen the project’s innovation framework and support sustainable agricultural trade systems.

Objectives

Applicants must address one of the following:

• Objective 1: Test, validate, and enhance existing FCI4Africa business concepts and tools, including those developed in project use cases
• Objective 2: Develop new tools and ideas addressing specific challenges within the FCI4Africa ecosystem

Funding Available

• Total budget: €400,000
• Up to €50,000 per project
• 8 projects will be funded

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Universities and research institutes
• Technology developers and R&D-focused SMEs
• Innovation-driven start-ups
• Other multidisciplinary research and technology actors

Note: Only single applicants are allowed (no consortia).

Project Structure

Funded projects will follow a 3-phase implementation approach:

• Phase 1 – Design (Nov 2026 – Jan 2027)
  Development of the activity plan
• Phase 2 – Development (Feb 2027 – Jul 2027)
  Implementation and demonstration of results
• Phase 3 – Validation (Aug 2027 – Oct 2027)
  Dissemination and reporting of lessons learned

Key Dates

• Call launch: 7 April 2026
• Deadline: 30 June 2026 (17:00 CEST)
• Project implementation: November 2026 – October 2027

How to Apply

Proposals must be submitted digitally via the opencalls.fund platform before the deadline.

Applicants must consult and comply with the Open Call 1 Kit, which includes:

• Annex 1: Call for Evaluators
• Annex 2: Open Call 1 Text
• Annex 3: Hand out Summary
• Annex 4: Applicants’ Guide
• Annex 5: Proposal Template
• Annex 6: Budget Template
• Annex 7: Declaration of Honour
• Annex 8: SME Declaration
• Annex 9: Model Sub-grant Agreement
• Annex 10: Bank Account Information
• Annex 11: FAQ

For questions or clarifications: [email protected]