Submit an Online Application

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations' flagship catalytic financing entity for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With its unique capital mandate and focus on the LDCs, UNCDF works to invest and catalyse capital to support these countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI)
The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) was launched at COP 21 in Paris as an African-led initiative to ensure that the continent urgently adapts to the adverse impacts of climate change in the short, medium, and longer terms. As an African-led initiative, AAI is mandated to lead climate change adaptation efforts, in full recognition of the African’s development priorities articulated in the agenda 2063, the blueprint and master plan for transforming the continent. The AAI’s mission is to: (i) Raise awareness of climate adaptation; (ii) Facilitate knowledge management, capacity building, and capacity-strengthening; (iii) Support and facilitate resource mobilization for implementation; (iv) Promote cooperation and partnerships (at sub-regional and regional levels) for synergy, scale and maximize shared benefits; (v) Track progress through monitoring and evaluation of an action. In order to achieve this mission, AAI is developing and implementing multiple large scale adaptation projects to benefit the entirety of the African continent.

The AAI Food Security Accelerator (FSA), an initiative strategically designed by the Africa Adaptation Initiative and in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, invests in climate-adaptive food system solutions, with a particular emphasis on nature-positive, adaptation-centric businesses in Africa's emerging and frontier markets.

This Request for Applications (RfA) seeks to identify high-potential businesses (especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)) that the FSA can support to implement and scale up nature-positive adaptation solutions for Africa’s food systems. UNCDF has been mandated to support the implementation of the AAI Food Security Accelerator ( FSA) Programme in Africa. The FSA is purpose-built to invest in climate-adaptive food systems solutions, specifically nature-positive and gender-sensitive adaptation focused businesses.

Summary:

Eligible candidates: Applications will be accepted from companies meeting the requirements set forth in section 3.4 below. Applicants are allowed to apply for a combination capacity building and technical assistance with most relevant eligible instruments as listed above. All applications must be submitted via UNCDF’s e-investment platform:

Deadline: no later than 22 March 2024 by 23:59 Eastern Standard Time.

However, please visit UNCDF’s Apply platform to check if the deadline has not been extended. Inquiries to this request for applications may be submitted by email to uncdf.rfa@uncdf.org cc. john.sankara@uncdf.org.

Selected applicants will sign a funding agreement, including guarantee agreement, loan agreement or other applicable legal agreement with UNCDF as negotiated during the selection process.

Webinar/Information Session

Date: Fri, Feb 09

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST

Format: Online event

Registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/22686f12-e2b1-4ab3-8f0f-7892fc108a7e@b3e5db5e-2944-4837-99f5-7488ace54319

Application Guides

The webinar presentation and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be accessed at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1guhHl9I0kDIQADoSFucAVmAjEu9LbKrm?usp=share_link