The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA) Program for 2024 is now open

The CFSA program, known as the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator, is a science-driven accelerator that aims to support agribusinesses in scaling climate-smart innovations to address challenges in East and Southern Africa’s food systems. Through a combination of investment readiness and tailored science-based technical assistance, CFSA equips agribusinesses with the necessary tools and knowledge to become more commercially viable, environmentally conscious, and sustainable.

In the 2024 cohort, CFSA will be collaborating with the Agroecology Initiative to assist agribusinesses in adopting sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. This partnership seeks to integrate the principles of agroecology, which involve applying science, practices, and innovations to transition food systems towards more sustainable and equitable production and consumption. Agroecology emphasizes improving resource efficiency, enhancing resilience, and promoting social equity and responsibility. For instance, it encourages business models that promote equal participation of women and men in decision-making and leadership, as well as recycling organic matter to enhance sustainable production.

Goals

• The CFSA program aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 and 10 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Ecosystem partnerships).
• These goals are achieved through various means such as promoting economic activities to reduce poverty, adopting climate-smart agriculture to combat hunger, implementing mixed maize farming for improved health, supporting women entrepreneurs and farmers in the supply chain for gender equality, fostering decent work and economic growth for youth, promoting climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming for climate action, and developing ecosystem partnerships to achieve the SDGs.

Countries

• The CFSA program targets countries including Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Applicable Sectors

• It focuses on sectors such as agribusiness, agritech, environmental services, food production, and smart city solutions.
• For more information,  visit  website of the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator. Deadline: January 8, 2024