Call for Proposals: Power of Diversity Grants 2026

The Power of Diversity Funding Facility has launched the Power of Diversity Grants 2026, a EUR 2.2 million funding programme designed to strengthen opportunity crop value chains across Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Colombia. The initiative focuses on improving agricultural productivity, nutrition security, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems through underutilized crops.

The programme supports targeted interventions that enhance production systems, processing capacity, market access, and consumer awareness for opportunity crops identified through stakeholder consultations.

Programme Overview

The grant programme promotes agricultural diversification by supporting crops that are:

Nutrient-dense and beneficial for food security
Climate-resilient and adaptable to harsh environments
Underutilized despite strong agricultural potential

It aims to strengthen entire value chains from seed systems to markets, ensuring sustainable production and long-term scalability.

Key Focus Areas

The programme supports interventions in the following areas:

Seed system development and improved access to quality planting materials
Promotion of good agricultural practices to increase productivity
Strengthening post-harvest handling and processing systems
Improving market access and value chain efficiency
Enhancing consumer awareness of opportunity crops
Supporting conservation and use of crop diversity
Engaging national genebanks and biodiversity institutions
Developing scalable and sustainable agricultural value chains

Geographic Coverage

The programme supports projects in:

Kenya
Nigeria
Zambia
Tanzania
Uganda
Colombia

Projects may operate in one or multiple countries depending on scope and design.

Funding Scope and Budget

Total programme funding: EUR 2.2 million
Typical project budget range: USD 100,000 to USD 200,000
Funding is awarded based on intervention scope and expected impact

Applicants may propose:

Single-country or multi-country projects
One or multiple intervention areas
One or more opportunity crops

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible organizations must demonstrate:

At least 3 years of in-country operational experience
Strong technical expertise in agricultural value chains
Proven implementation and project management capacity
Financial capacity where average annual turnover (2023–2025) exceeds proposed project budget
Ability to deliver scalable and sustainable interventions

Required Proposal Components

Applications must clearly include:

Detailed project activities and implementation plan
Expected outcomes and impact pathways
Timelines, milestones, and deliverables
Clear budget justification aligned with activities
Sustainability and scaling strategy
Linkages with existing stakeholders and initiatives
Country-specific or multi-country implementation logic

Priority Intervention Approach

Projects should focus on strengthening opportunity crop systems through:

End-to-end value chain development (production to market)
Integration of farmers, processors, and market actors
Improved resilience and climate adaptation
Enhanced nutrition and food security outcomes
Strong public-private and institutional partnerships

Selection Expectations

Successful proposals are expected to:

Deliver measurable improvements in crop value chains
Demonstrate strong local implementation capacity
Show realistic scaling and long-term sustainability pathways
Align with national agricultural priorities and systems
Create economic benefits for farmers and rural communities

Why the Programme Matters

Supports climate-resilient and nutrient-rich crops
Strengthens food security and dietary diversity
Improves farmer incomes through better market systems
Reduces reliance on a narrow set of staple crops
Promotes biodiversity and agricultural sustainability
Builds stronger, more resilient rural economies

Conclusion

The Power of Diversity Grants 2026 programme is a strategic agricultural funding initiative aimed at transforming opportunity crop value chains across multiple countries. By supporting innovation in production, processing, and market systems, the programme enhances food security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods for farming communities while promoting long-term agricultural diversity.