The 2024 UNU INRA INFoCAT Innovation Agriculture Challenge is now accepting applications.
A request for proposals is being released for the Innovate for Clean Agricultural Technologies (INFoCAT) initiative by the United Nations University’s Institute for Natural Resources in Africa. Enda Energie and UNU INRA are partners in the IDRC-sponsored INFoCAT innovation challenge, which is part of the Clean Energy for Development: A Call for Action program.
The goal of the INFoCAT innovation challenge is to provide low-cost, clean energy-powered agritech innovators with support in order to increase agricultural productivity and income by providing smallholder women and youth farmers in Ghana, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire with more access to dependable, affordable, and sustainable energy technologies.
The objectives of the Innovation challenge are to:
- Support the development and expansion of affordable, labour-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.
Eligibility:
- Eligible innovators or enterprises must be based in Ghana.
- Complete application form with business details and 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-scale holder rural farmers in the priority crop areas (rice, maize, cassava, and groundnut).
- Technology use must require less human (manual) labour and time. Technology must be cost-effective and have clear commercial potential, be easy to operate and scalable. Demonstrate a solution that reduces CO 2emissions.
- Teamwork is highly recommended (including members with diverse backgrounds). The team must demonstrate gender intersectionality with 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 use. 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)
