Deadline Date: June 23, 2026
AGRA has launched a call for concept notes to support the creation of decent and sustainable employment opportunities for young women and men through the development of an inclusive, climate-resilient market gardening value chain in Burkina Faso.
The key focus areas of the opportunity include securing and equipping production areas for market gardening projects led by young people, strengthening sustainable agricultural productivity and climate-resilient production systems in youth-led market gardening projects, expanding inclusive markets, value addition and access to finance for agri-youth-led businesses in vegetable value chains, and strengthening young people’s technical skills, entrepreneurial capacity and institutional support systems in vegetable value chains.
The initiative aims to create 58,000 decent and sustainable job opportunities for youth aged 18-35 through the development of market gardening value chains across production, processing and marketing activities. The project will support the establishment of 40 market garden sites and promote sustainable, inclusive and professionalized agricultural businesses managed by young women and men.
The intervention is part of AGRA’s YEFFA initiative, which focuses on improving employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth by strengthening inclusive market systems. The project will address barriers affecting youth and women participation in agriculture through approaches that combine policy improvements, technological advancements, financial support mechanisms and behavioral changes among public, private and civil society stakeholders.
Eligible organizations include legally registered entities in Burkina Faso such as private companies, producer organizations and cooperatives, structured youth and women’s cooperatives, business development service providers, incubators, NGOs and civil society organizations with relevant experience in youth employment, agriculture value chains and consortium management.
The project will focus on improving access to quality agricultural inputs, including improved seeds adapted to local conditions, mineral and organic fertilizers, biopesticides and ecological alternatives, while promoting organized group purchasing systems. It will also strengthen technical capacities through training on market gardening techniques, sustainable soil management and efficient water management solutions such as irrigation systems, solar boreholes and drip irrigation.
The opportunity also promotes local production of organic inputs through the creation of composting centers, production of organic fertilizers and biopesticides, and the promotion of agro-ecological practices. These interventions aim to strengthen resilient agricultural production systems and improve opportunities for young entrepreneurs in vegetable value chains.
With a project duration of 36 months and a budget allocation of USD 2.3 million, the initiative seeks to transform agricultural production areas into resilient and profitable businesses while contributing to local economic development and reducing challenges related to youth unemployment.
For more information, visit AGRA.
