The Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) challenge aims to convert seed-level innovative agricultural ideas in East Africa and scale them to sustainable business ideas. RAIN seeks new innovative agricultural initiatives to provide customized support. Winners will receive a cash prize of up to US$50 thousand after the initial mentoring period. RAIN is open to non-profit organizations as well as farmers, and entrepreneurs in East Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda). Applications are due on 31 January 2025. RAIN Challenge
agriculture
Acumen Fund — East Africa Fellowship
The Acumen East Africa Fellows Program is a 6-month program comprising 5 seminars that gives individuals from East Africa the training they need to accelerate their social impact and leadership potential. Eligible countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan & Ethiopia. Past fellows have included several in smallholder agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, fair trade, and other areas. Acumen covers all program expenses related to travel and accommodations, but it does not offer scholarships, stipends, or other funding. The application deadline is 07 February 2025. About this fellowship
King Baudouin Foundation — KBF Africa Prize 2025-2026
The KBF Africa Prize is awarded to Africans or African organizations who are making an outstanding contribution to development in Africa. There are no restrictions as to the chosen themes. The Selection Committee favors community approaches that deal with actual and current challenges in Africa. The winners receive financial support of up to €250 thousand. Self-nomination is not permitted. The deadline for nominations is 03 March 2025. Find out how to nominate a candidate
Latin America Regional Fund for Agricultural Technologies — Call for Proposals 2025
The Latin America Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology – Fondo Regional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (FONTAGRO) – calls for innovations for the sustainable increase of agricultural productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of climate change. FONTAGRO member countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Proposals are accepted from multi-country consortia of public and private organizations at national, regional, and international levels. Grants are up to US$200 thousand for projects of up to 36 months. Projects will require counterpart contributions. The closing date for preliminary applications (Spanish) is 11 April 2025. Convocatoria 2025
Council for the Advancement of Science Writing — Science Reporting Award
The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) awards the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award. The award recognizes the accomplishments of a mid-career science journalist. The winner receives US$20 thousand to undertake a significant reporting project. Candidates must be experienced journalists who have compiled a substantial body of work in science journalism. The deadline for submissions is 30 April 2025. CASW Science Reporting Award
World Academy of Sciences — Prize in Agricultural Sciences or Biology
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) invites nominations for the Fayzah M. Al-Kharafi Award in Agricultural Sciences or Biology. The prize aims to recognize scientists for their achievements in Agricultural Sciences or Biology. Eligible nominees are female scientists from scientifically and technologically lagging countries. The prize is a US$4 thousand cash award. Nominations should be submitted electronically before 14 May 2025. Prize in Agricultural Sciences or Biology
SVG Ventures — THRIVE Academy
Silicon Valley Global Ventures is an investment, technology and advisory firm that invests in companies that go through their accelerator program. The THRIVE Academy supports idea stage and pre-seed stage startups in the agri-food tech sector. The 12-week accelerator program helps startups and researchers looking to commercialize their innovations. The application deadline is 15 January 2025. THRIVE Academy
Cornell University — Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces
The Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAARS) fellowship program announces its annual call for research proposals. STAARS Fellows will be paired with researcher mentors from Cornell University or the World Bank with whom they will jointly author a paper on a topic of mutual interest relating to structural transformation in Africa south of the Sahara. The call is open to early career researchers, either Ph.D. students in their final year prior to degree completion. The selected applicants will receive funds to cover travel and participation in a three-week mentorship program. The deadline to submit a research proposal is 17 January 2025. Link to STAARS Fellowship
French Committee for International Solidarity — Grants for Family Agriculture in West Africa 2025
The French Committee for International Solidarity (Comité Français pour la Solidarité Internationale – CFSI), in partnership with Fondation de France, funds projects that support small-scale farming in West Africa. Grants will support projects carried out by partnerships between European and West African nonprofit legal entities, research and training organizations in the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Projects can range from one to three years. Grants are a maximum of €15 thousand per year or €50 thousand in the case of a 3-year project. The deadline for project summaries (French, English) is 06 March 2025. Find the call
Aspen Institute — Food Leaders Fellowship
Applications are open for the Food Leaders Fellowship. The fellowship an 8-month program for food system leaders consisting of in-person and virtual gatherings including site visits. Candidates must be based in the United States, Mexico, or Canada. Applications are open until 13 December 2024. Food Leaders Fellowship