Innovation for Agriculture – launch of the SEWOH fund “i4Ag”

In many developing countries, agricultural production and processing is falling behind what it could achieve. Innovations are required in order to better exploit the potential of agriculture and the food sector for the sustainable development of rural areas. They ought to promote income and employment, strengthen food security and counter the impacts of climate change and inappropriate land use.

In the context of the special initiative “A World Without Hunger” (SEWOH), Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has set up the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag). Via this fund, innovations in the agricultural and food sector which bear the potential to contribute to food security, employment and income promotion and/or the conservation of natural resources are to be supported financially. 

The aim is to advance these innovations in partnerships and bring them to market maturity so that they can be used and disseminated by smallholdings, their associations as well as processing and manufacturing companies in the agricultural and food sector. 

To identify innovations, the Fund has opted for scouting, tendering and competitive bidding formats. Innovations can be supported world-wide in selected partner countries and value chains and be proposed by both public and private actors. 

Innovations are eligible for funding which are applicable in more than one country, reach out to an optimally broad target group and fit in with the thematic fields of digitisation, renewable energy, mechanisation, agricultural research and extension as well as cooperation with the private sector. 

Gender-sensitive implementation is also ensured via a mandatory gender strategy. The mode and amount of funding are worked out individually in consultation with the applicants.

(GIZ/wi)

Contact:
Proposals for innovation partnerships can be forwarded to the project via i4ag@giz.de at any time.

Further information:
Funds for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture