Apply for the FS4Africa Open Call 2 and secure up to €40,000 in grant funding to strengthen food safety innovation across Africa. Learn about eligibility, funding, focus areas, and the application process.
Applications are now open for FS4Africa Open Call 2 (OC2), a Horizon Europe-funded grant programme designed to strengthen Africa’s food safety innovation ecosystem. The initiative offers up to €40,000 in fully funded support to innovation hubs that can deliver training, mentoring, and business acceleration programmes focused on food safety solutions across African agrifood systems.
The programme aims to empower innovation hubs to help startups, entrepreneurs, SMEs, and food system actors develop innovative technologies and solutions that improve food safety, public health, food security, and sustainable agricultural development across the continent.
About FS4Africa Open Call 2
FS4Africa Open Call 2 is part of the Horizon Europe initiative supporting innovation across Africa’s agricultural sector. The programme seeks to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by funding organizations capable of building the capacity of businesses addressing food safety challenges.
Selected innovation hubs will organize structured programmes that combine technical training, mentoring, incubation, and business acceleration to help innovators scale their solutions and increase market readiness.
Ultimately, the initiative contributes to safer, more resilient, and sustainable food systems while promoting regional trade, environmental sustainability, and improved public health.
Grant Value
The programme has a total budget of €200,000.
Successful applicants can receive:
- Up to €40,000 per project
- 100% funded grant support
- Funding for at least five innovation hub projects
Focus Areas
Projects should contribute to one or more of the following priority areas:
- Food safety in African agrifood systems
- Agrifood innovation
- Entrepreneurship development
- Startup incubation and acceleration
- Innovation ecosystem strengthening
- Capacity building
- Digital agriculture
- Food quality assurance
- Aflatoxin management
- Reduction of pesticide residues
- Safe aquaculture
- Microbial contamination management
- Informal food market safety
Projects should support practical solutions that improve food safety while strengthening agricultural value chains across Africa.
Required Activities
Each selected innovation hub must deliver at least six structured activities, including:
- Training programmes
- Mentoring sessions
- Business acceleration initiatives
- Capacity-building activities
- Support for Open Call 1 beneficiaries
- Support for FS4Africa Use Cases
Activities may be delivered through various formats, such as:
- Online webinars
- Technical workshops
- Online learning courses
- Mentoring clinics
- Innovation bootcamps
These programmes are intended to strengthen entrepreneurial skills, improve business readiness, and accelerate the commercialization of food safety innovations.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are open to single legal entities only. Consortium applications are not permitted.
Eligible applicants include established innovation hubs that:
- Have demonstrated experience supporting innovation ecosystems
- Deliver mentoring, incubation, training, or business acceleration programmes
- Focus on strengthening food safety innovation
- Are established in eligible Horizon Europe countries or eligible low- and middle-income countries
Innovation hubs located outside Africa must demonstrate previous experience supporting African innovation ecosystems.
Required Application Documents
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- Completed application form
- Project proposal
- Budget template
- Declaration of Honour
- Bank account information
- Supporting organizational documents
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all documentation requirements before submission.
Why Apply?
The FS4Africa Open Call 2 offers innovation hubs the opportunity to:
- Secure up to €40,000 in grant funding
- Expand food safety innovation programmes
- Support African startups and SMEs
- Build stronger regional innovation ecosystems
- Promote sustainable agrifood development
- Improve public health and food security
- Strengthen market readiness for innovative food safety solutions
The programme also enables participating organizations to contribute to broader goals of agricultural transformation and regional economic development.
Application Deadline
31 August 2026
Interested organizations are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline to be considered for funding.
Final Thoughts
The FS4Africa Open Call 2 presents an excellent opportunity for innovation hubs across Africa to secure funding while strengthening food safety innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable agricultural development. Through training, mentoring, and business acceleration, selected organizations will play a key role in building safer and more resilient food systems across the continent.
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