IFAD is inviting eligible organizations to apply for a USD 2 million grant supporting food systems transformation across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Deadline: 16 October 2026.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has opened a Call for Proposals for Food Systems Transformation in the Central Sahel, offering USD 2 million in grant financing for a regional initiative covering Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The opportunity targets eligible institutions and organizations capable of implementing innovative and scalable interventions across priority agricultural value chains.
Opportunity Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) |
| Opportunity | Support for Food Systems Transformation in the Central Sahel |
| Grant amount | USD 2 million |
| Countries | Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger |
| Priority value chains | Livestock, cassava and rice |
| Eligible applicants | Institutions, government agencies, private sector entities, research institutions or consortia |
| Languages | English or French |
| Submission format | |
| Submission method | |
| Questions deadline | 2 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT |
| Application deadline | 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT |
About the IFAD Grant Opportunity
The initiative is designed to support food systems transformation in the Central Sahel, where food insecurity, conflict, climate change, land degradation and limited economic opportunities continue to create major challenges.
IFAD, together with the Governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as well as FAO and WFP, has identified livestock, cassava and rice as priority value chains with potential to improve food security, create employment, strengthen regional integration and attract private investment.
The grant will provide catalytic seed financing for innovative interventions addressing bottlenecks and unlocking opportunities throughout the value chain, from production and processing to marketing and consumption.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to eligible:
- Organizations and institutions
- Government agencies
- Private sector entities
- Research institutions
- Consortia
Proposals should demonstrate relevant experience and the ability to deliver a transformative regional initiative in the Central Sahel.
What IFAD Is Looking For
Proposals should demonstrate:
Regional relevance: Activities should have relevance across the Central Sahel and the selected countries.
Commercial viability: Proposed interventions should have potential to support sustainable economic activity.
Climate resilience: Projects should address climate-related challenges affecting food systems.
Inclusion: Proposals should consider the participation and benefits of women and youth.
Scalability: IFAD is seeking approaches capable of being expanded to produce transformative results across the region.
Priority Areas
The call focuses on three priority value chains:
Livestock
Cassava
Rice
Applicants should develop proposals addressing opportunities and constraints within these areas.
Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit:
- Grant Concept Note Template.
- Self-Certification of Eligibility for IFAD Grant Financing – standard form.
- Self-Certification of Eligibility for IFAD Grant Financing – UN entities, where applicable.
- A brief institutional profile of one page or less describing relevant regional experience and expertise.
- General Provisions Applicable to IFAD Grant Agreements.
All proposal documents must be submitted electronically in PDF format.
Proposals may be prepared in English or French.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting proposals is:
16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT
Questions concerning the call had to be submitted by 2 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT. Relevant responses are to be published through the FAQ section of the Call for Proposals webpage.
How to Apply
Proposals must be submitted electronically to the official IFAD submission address:
View the IFAD Central Sahel Call for Proposals – Official Website
Applicants should also review the official call documentation, evaluation methodology and criteria, concept note template and eligibility forms before submitting their proposal.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
This IFAD call may be particularly relevant to organizations working in agriculture, food systems, livestock, cassava, rice, climate resilience, rural development, food security and inclusive economic development in the Central Sahel.
The opportunity is structured for organizations rather than individual applicants. Eligible applicants should therefore focus on demonstrating regional experience, institutional capacity, commercial viability, inclusion of women and youth, climate resilience and potential for scaling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding is available?
IFAD is providing a USD 2 million grant to finance the implementation of the selected regional initiative.
Which countries are covered?
The initiative covers Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Who can submit a proposal?
Eligible organizations, governmental agencies, private sector entities, research institutions and consortia can submit proposals, subject to IFAD’s eligibility requirements.
What are the priority value chains?
The three identified priority value chains are livestock, cassava and rice.
Can individuals apply?
This call is intended for eligible organizations and institutions, rather than individual applicants.
Which languages are accepted?
Proposals may be submitted in English or French.
What format should documents use?
All documents must be submitted electronically in PDF format.
What is the application deadline?
The final submission deadline is 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Where should proposals be submitted?
Proposals should be submitted by email to sahelfoodsystems@ifad.org.
Disclaimer
Opportunities Feed is sharing this opportunity for informational and funding purposes. We are not affiliated with IFAD and do not manage or administer this grant. Applicants should review the official call documentation and verify all eligibility, evaluation and submission requirements with IFAD before submitting a proposal.
SEO Keywords: IFAD grants 2026, IFAD call for proposals 2026, Central Sahel grant, IFAD food systems transformation, USD 2 million grant, Burkina Faso grants, Mali grants, Niger grants, agriculture grants Africa, food security funding Africa, livestock grants, cassava grants, rice grants, climate resilience funding, IFAD funding opportunities
