Agribusiness Challenge Fund (Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity)

Agribusiness Challenge Fund (Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity) is sponsored by Mastercard Foundation. This fund supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture, agritech, and climate-smart farming across Africa. It targets businesses that integrate innovation and sustainability into their operations and aim to create work opportunities for young women and men.

The Agribusiness Challenge Fund | Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity The Agribusiness Challenge Fund The Agribusiness Challenge Fund was a rolling call for proposals open from 18 March 2024 to 22 November 2024, with three application harvest periods.

The challenge was open to applicants from any country as long as the projects met the eligibility criteria and were being implemented in at least one of the 20 focus countries.

Support from the Fund in this challenge includes grants ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000, disbursed over a three-year period, based on the applicant's development stage, scalability, and business model, in accordance with agreed periodic milestone targets. The funding structure will be determined on a case-by-case basis after evaluating proposals and organizations.

Additional support to successful applicants will include tailored technical assistance in alignment with the Fund objectives over the three-year period. Processing and aggregation Trading and market linkages The Fund was broadly interested in any agribusiness opportunity that was capable of work creation opportunities at scale for young women and men with limited financial means, including refugees and those living with disabilities.

Applicants that were working in these or other parts of the agriculture value chain were encouraged to apply. Women-led applicants were also encouraged to apply.

Solar powered agriculture tools Climate resilient crop varieties Food storage and preservation Farmer training on adaptation techniques Bioenergy production and fossil fuels Solar powered agricultural tools ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE: To be eligible to apply, an applicant needed to: Be involved in the challenge sector of focus i.e. agriculture. Be an existing for-profit Small or Medium-sized Enterprise.

Women-led applicants were also encouraged to apply. Be implementing business in at least one of the 20 focus countries in Africa. Be requesting for grant funding ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000, disbursed over a three-year period, based on applicants’ development stage, scalability, and business model.

Additional tailored technical assistance will be provided to successful applicants. Be providing matching contribution of at least 30% of the total project cost. Have innovative, practical, and scalable businesses that aim to create work opportunities for young women and men with limited financial means, including refugees and those living with disabilities.

Adhere to fundamental human rights, labour standards, and environmental management laws, both nationally and internationally, including seed laws/policy. Refrain from any involvement in acts of terrorism or support for terrorist activities.

Applications in the Agribusiness Challenge Fund are being selected based on the following criteria: Project description and objective Alignment with Fund for Resilience and Prosperity priorities Financing plan/Matching funds Below were key dates for the Agribusiness Challenge Fund. Agribusiness Challenge Fund periods Agribusiness Challenge Fund launch: The rolling call for proposals launched on this date.

The first collection of submitted applications for assessment occurred on this date, approximately 12 weeks after the opening date of the challenge. The second collection of submitted applications for assessment occurred on this date, approximately 12 weeks after the first harvest. The third collection of submitted applications for assessment occurred on this date, approximately 12 weeks after the second harvest.

Agribusiness Challenge closing date Fund for Rural Prosperity Thank you for your interest in the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity. Tell us more about yourself so we can see how best to engage on our journey to create work opportunities for young women and men in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba British Indian Ocean Territory Congo, Democratic Republic of the French Southern Territories Heard and Mc Donald Islands Lao People's Democratic Republic Micronesia, Federated States of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines South Georgia and the South Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands USA Minor Outlying Islands Vatican City State (Holy See) Wallis and Futuna Islands Inter-professional association Mission-based organization Non-governmental organization Resident welfare association Your specific area of interest in the Fund * The Challenge Fund intervention for SMEs The Convening and Influencing intervention in support of The Technical Assistance intervention for SMEs The Connect Fund intervention for additional funding to Specific area of interest (Other) Do you have a focus on any of these potential beneficiaries of the Fund?

Young people with disabilities I am willing to join the Fund mailing list I am interested to be invited to relevant Fund events Anything else of relevance you would like us to