Call For Applications: UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge 2024 for African Clean Energy Powered Agritech Innovations ( Up to $37,000 Grant)
The United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, is rolling out a call for its Innovate for Clean Agricultural Technologies (INFoCAT) project. The INFoCAT innovation challenge is an initiative sponsored by IDRC under the Clean Energy for Development: A Call for Action program and is partnered by Enda Energie and UNU INRA.
The INFoCAT innovation challenge is to support low-cost clean energy-powered agritech innovators, with the intentionto expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy technologies for smallholder women and youth farmers in Ghana, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire to increase agricultural productivity and income.
The objectives of the Innovation challenge are to:
- Support the development and expansion of affordable, labor-saving, clean energy agricultural technology solutions to save time and reduce drudgery.
- Support clean energy agriculture technology start-ups with a focus on women-led enterprises and where possible, refine and expand their products to meet the needs of smallholder rural farmers and
- Create avenues for mentorship, access to networking, and training.
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Eligibility & Criteria
- Eligible innovators or enterprises must be based in Ghana.
- Complete the application form with business details and a full description of the innovation.
- Agritech technology must be powered by clean energy and must demonstrate energy efficiency. Technology must meet the needs of small to medium-scaleholder rural farmers in the priority crop areas (rice, maize, cassava, and groundnut).
- Technology use must require less human (manual) labor and time. Technology must be cost-effective and have clear commercial potential, be easy to operate, and be scalable. Demonstrate a solution that reduces CO2 emissions.
- Teamwork is highly recommended (including members with diverse backgrounds). The team must demonstrate gender intersectionality with the inclusion of women.
- Priority will be given to women and youth innovators. Clean energy supply – the innovation should have the potential to be used to power both agricultural technologies and other uses. This will be an added advantage.
- Demonstration of a working prototype (NB: There is room for new technology yet to be designed).
Grant
- Pilot grant: USD 3,000 -7,400 (grant available for about 10 innovations/ teams/ enterprise)
- Business Scale-up grant support: USD 30,000 – 37,000 (1 innovation/team)
Deadline: June 7, 2024