Calls for Innovations and Prizes

Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) is a project supported by several countries, including Germany, the European Union, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. This project helps farmers by providing money, technical help, and support for new ideas that improve how we use water, energy, and food.

WE4F focuses on innovations in water and food, energy and food, and the combination of water, energy, and food. These innovations help small farmers by giving them what they need, like money, technology, and ways to sell their products. By using these new ideas, farmers and food companies can be better prepared for changes in the weather and can also reduce the amount of harmful gases they release into the air.

Grant Amount:

• Individual awards range from $40,000 to $250,000 USD.
• Awardees must contribute a minimum 1-1 matching amount.

Benefits:

1. Join a Network of Innovative Game-Changing Entrepreneurs:
   • Winners become part of an extensive network, connecting with partners, mentors, and service providers.
   • Access to an exclusive learning community for idea exchange through regular workshops and meetings.
2. Receive Technical Support and Investment Facilitation:
   • Support for business expansion to other geographies, products, or services.
   • Assistance in attracting external investors through collaboration with S/CA RIH’s Brokering Unit.
   • Support categories include investment readiness, commercial expansion, marketing, communication, and digitalization.
3. Unlock Grant Funding to Help Your Innovation Grow:
   • Select organizations may qualify for grants to aid scaling goals.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Mid- to late-stage enterprises, nonprofits with a for-profit program, and other organizations based in Southern and Central Africa.
• Women-owned and women-led organizations are encouraged to apply.

Country Can Apply:

• Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Sector:

• Innovations must have a direct linkage to water-food, energy-food, or water-energy-food.
• Must impact poverty reduction and gender equality positively.
• Should have a positive impact on the environment, avoiding negative environmental effects.

How to Apply:

1. Review the solicitation document.
2. Check the eligibility criteria.
3. Apply on Survey Monkey.
4. Register for the Q&A webinar if interested and submit questions.
5. Submit the complete application via the application portal; email submissions will not be accepted.
6. Save progress using the “Save & continue editing” icon before the deadline.
7. Mandatory questions marked with * must be filled before submission.

Contact:

• For questions or technical challenges, contact we4fafricarih@tetratech.com.

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