The United NationsCapital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development in the most vulnerable communities.

A crucial community in most economies, particularly emerging and least developed countries, is the smallholder farmers, who are a significant stakeholder in the Agriculture. Yet, they continue to face challenges that impact their livelihood including inefficiencies in supply chain, low productivity and increasing risk from climate change.

UNCDF is inviting applications from innovators under the Agritech Challenge (‘Programme), with solutions that benefit smallholder farmers. The Programme will support piloting of agri-tech & agri-fintech solutions in India, Indonesia, Malaysia in Asia and Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia in Africa (‘participating countries’).

The applicants must address one or more of the following challenges facing smallholder farmers in at least one of the participating countries.

• Low Productivity; Climate Risk; Inefficient Supply Chains

Eligible candidates with a registered entity in any of the participating countries and a proven solution can apply against any one or more of these three areas.

UNCDF will provide a financial prize grant to up to 3 selected applicants. The selected applicants will be signing a Performance-Based Agreement (PBA) with UNCDF.

UNCDF’s contributions can range from USD 15,000 to USD 5,000, depending on the readiness level for solution pilots in participating countries.

Enquiries to this request for applications may be submitted by email to financial.health@uncdf.org, cc uncdf.rfa@uncdf.org by May 18, 2022.

All applications must be submitted by 23:59 EDT TIME of May 20, 2022.

However, please check the UNCDF’s platform to see if this deadline has been extended.