Applications open for the Africa Agri-Food Development Programme

The Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) stands as Ireland’s principal initiative dedicated to supporting the role of the private sector in cultivating sustainable food systems. It functions as a catalyst, enabling Irish and African businesses to identify and pursue opportunities to deploy their expertise in Africa. This facilitates the development of new markets and contributes to the strengthening of mutual trade between Ireland and Africa.

Through a matched grant funding mechanism, the programme offers Irish and African agri-businesses of all scales a valuable opportunity to develop and harness the potential arising from innovative partnerships with companies in sub-Saharan African countries.

This enables businesses to manage financial risk and to utilise their expertise and resources through joint projects, thereby delivering significant positive impacts for local communities in African countries.

The AADP conducts an annual call for funding applications to support projects and feasibility studies. By facilitating the engagement of Ireland’s agri-food sector, the programme contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at tackling poverty, eradicating hunger, fighting inequality, and implementing meaningful, sustainable changes that improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

For questions concerning the AADP or the application procedure, please consider joining our pre-application information sessions. Further details on eligibility criteria are available on our dedicated webpage.

Overview of grant types – Africa Agri-Food Development Programme

Feasibility Study grants

The Feasibility Study grant supports projects exploring commercial concepts and market opportunities aimed at contributing to the sustainable transformation and development of Africa’s agri-food system. Applications are accepted from Irish private sector organisations and eligible African countries. Projects may be delivered by a single organisation (solo projects) or through a partnership between two organisations.

Full Commercial Project grants

The Full Commercial Project grant is available for joint, partnership-based applications from Irish and African private sector organisations. It supports innovative, scalable, impactful, and revenue-generating projects. The grant aims to support the sustainable transformation and development of Africa’s agri-food system, while also fostering mutual trade and knowledge exchange between Ireland and Africa. Applications for Full Commercial Projects must be jointly developed by the African and Irish partners.

Type of Eligible business – Africa Agri-Food Development Programme

Applicants must be agri-food businesses. Businesses must be registered/incorporated in Ireland or one of the 19 eligible African countries for a minimum of 24 months prior to submitting their AADP application. Businesses of any size or structure are eligible.

• Micro enterprises
• SMEs
• Companies
• Sole traders
• Cooperatives
• Farming groups
• Partnerships
• Social enterprises
• Registered commercial farming networks
• Any other structure

Eligible Countries – Africa Agri-Food Development Programme

Cóte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Proposal Requirements – Africa Agri-Food Development Programme

All proposals must:

* Be commercial in nature.
* Be implemented in one or more of the 19 eligible African countries.
* Clearly demonstrate a strong contribution to the sustainable development of the food system, including alignment wherever possible with priority areas of Ireland’s international development policy, A Better World, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, within the chosen African country or countries.
* Clearly explain the necessity of public funding for the initiative, including its role in leveraging or accessing other sources of finance in the future.
* Demonstrate the applicant(s) suitability to deliver the proposed project, referencing their experience, knowledge, and skills, and explaining how these relate to the project objectives, activities, and deliverables.
* Ensure all applicants possess appropriate governance, financial management, and fraud prevention systems.
* Outline how the project will share, develop, and/or leverage mutual expertise between Ireland and Africa in the specific project area.
* Indicate how the project will generate or strengthen mutual trade between Ireland and Africa.

Supporting Documentation – Africa Agri-Food Development Programme

• Applications must be accompanied by the following supporting documentation:
• * An Irish Tax Clearance Certificate – which all applicants, including African applicants, must apply for and receive from the Irish Revenue Commissioners for inclusion with their application.
  * A comprehensive project budget with breakdown of spending, funding source, activities, and equipment.
  * A detailed project implementation plan with a calendar of main steps and activities required to deliver the project objectives.
  * A collaboration plan over the timeline of the project.
• Please consult the checklist in the relevant application form, as the Feasibility Study grant and Full Commercial Project grant have different requirements.
• Successful AADP funding applicants are encouraged to engage with Irish and other national and international NGOs on various aspects of the projects, where possible. For example, project design, community engagement and mobilisation, or training and extension.
• Applicants seeking funding for a Full Commercial Project are required to source a partner business independently. Neither the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) nor the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) are in a position to match Irish and African companies for the purpose of this Programme. Furthermore, the AADP cannot serve as a partner for AADP-funded projects.

Pre-application information sessions