Deadline: 24-May-23
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for Global Program for Small Agroecological Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (GP-SAEP) that contributes to the transition towards sustainable agri-food systems for the benefit of the poorest rural people.
The transformation of food and agricultural systems is an urgent global priority. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union (EU) and its Member States have worked together successfully for decades to build inclusive rural economies and food systems that benefit the most vulnerable people in rural areas. The European Union (EU), the Belgian Development Cooperation and IFAD engage with this program in a joint effort with other partners to support the scaling up of agroecology1 as an effective way to achieve to sustainable food systems benefiting small rural producers and to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger) and SDG 13 (climate action) as well as SDG12 (responsible consumption and production) and SDG15 (life on land).
Based on discussions held in 2022 between the European Commission (EC), Belgian Development Cooperation and IFAD, IFAD developed the Global Program for Small Agroecological Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (GP-SAEP). The GP-SAEP program aims to address key barriers to scaling up agroecology and transitioning to sustainable food systems for small-scale producers (farmers and micro, small and medium agribusinesses) in Africa, by Latin America and the Caribbean. The GP-SAEP seeks synergies with different investments from Belgium, EC, IFAD, African and LAC governments and other investment partners (including other EU Member States), to extend its impacts by supporting the adoption of agroecological strategies in partner countries.
The GP-SAEP will also generate key lessons for the development community by strengthening the performance of agroecology investment programs for smallholders, measuring results and generating evidence of its importance. The program will be implemented over a period of 4 years starting in the first quarter of 2023.
The development objective is to enable small-scale rural producers to strengthen their practice of agroecology through better access to knowledge, support services, improved technologies and market opportunities, thereby improving their resilience to shocks and stressors. Climatic, environmental and socio-economic stresses as well as their nutritional security and income.
Components
- Program interventions in Burkina Faso are structured around 2 components:
- Improve access to agro-ecological bio-solutions, including seeds, bio-inputs (organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides) and mechanical equipment suitable for small-scale agro-ecological farming practices;
- Component 1. Bio-solutions and technologies relevant to agroecology (seeds, bio-inputs, mechanical and digital technologies). The access of small producers to appropriate and quality agricultural biosolutions and technologies is essential for a successful transition to sustainable agricultural production. Farmers who adopt agroecology need access to a wide plant and animal genetic diversity adapted to local conditions to strengthen their resilience to the multiple shocks and stressors to which they are exposed, and to improve their productivity and the nutritional outcome of their output.
- Strengthen the added value and markets of agroecological products by harnessing the benefits of the sustainable food system;
- Component 2. Increased value addition and markets for agroecological products. Connecting producers and consumers around the value of sustainably produced and quality food is fundamental for
- the economic viability of the agroecological transition, for
- facilitating job creation and for
- Generate food system benefits from agroecological production systems.
Funding Information
- Amount of IFAD grant: EUR 1,500,000
- Implementation period: 31 months (September 2023 – March 2026)
Eligibility Criteria
- The following eligibility conditions apply to applicants:
- Be a private non-profit institution such as a non-profit organization legally registered in an IFAD Member State (in the case of involvement of multiple entities, at least one must be based in a Member State);
- Have legal status and be registered in the country in which it operates; proof of legal status, such as official registration, will be requested prior to final approval by IFAD;
- Present audited financial statements and signed external audit reports, be admitted to the proposal submission phase, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements specified. in accordance with international auditing standards, for at least the past two years;
- Have a minimum of two years of relevant operational experience.
Selection Process
- The selection will be done with a 2-step process consisting of:
- a call for expressions of interest (AMI) open to any non-profit private sector entity such as nongovernmental organizations;
- a request for proposal to be submitted by the successful eligible applicants based on the evaluation of the AMIs.
For more information, visit IFAD.