Call for Applications: AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge

Agriculture is at the heart of Rwanda’s economy, contributing 25% of GDP and employing 65% of the population. However, climate change remains a critical challenge, impacting smallholder farmers who face erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and limited financial access. This initiative will bridge these gaps by providing support to scalable, science-driven Agri-Tech solutions that address climate risks, enhance resilience, and align with Rwanda’s Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA IV).

Aims

• AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge 2025 aim is scouting, accelerating, and funding science-based Agri-Tech solutions aligned with Rwanda’s agricultural and climate resilience goals. The initiative supports technologies in the agricultural sector that will increase resilience, agricultural risk management, adaptation solutions and services, and gender and social inclusion, all while responding to the national climate and sustainability goals.

Priority Sectors

• They welcome applications from businesses working in the following key areas:
  • Irrigation solutions – Addressing droughts and dry spells
  • Resilient livestock practices – Innovations for cows and goats
  • Precision farming – Smart agricultural technology applications
  • Climate & Weather Services (CWS) – Providing data-driven insights for farmers
  • Climate-resilient inputs – Drought-tolerant seeds, fertilizers, and nutrient-rich crops
  • Post-harvest management – Cold storage, digital storage, and processing solutions
  • Other innovative Agri-Tech solutions aligned with climate adaptation needs

Funding Information

• Investment opportunities, including recoverable grants of up to RWF 300,000,000.

Benefits

• This programme offers:
  • Tailored technical assistance to scale your venture
  • Expert mentorship from leading industry professionals
  • Exposure & networking with investors, policymakers, and agribusinesses leaders
  • A platform to de-risk adaptation investments and foster climate-smart agricultural solutions

Eligibility Criteria

• This challenge is open to early-stage to growth ventures that are driving Agri-Tech adaptation solutions in Rwanda. Applicants should:
  • Address climate change challenges within the agricultural sector
  • Innovations should address the priority areas and have a tech component

Assessment Criteria

• Applications will be assessed based on the following:
  • Relevance to Rwanda’s agricultural context and the Challenge’s priority sectors
  • Scientific and technical feasibility
  • Proven financial track record
  • Innovation, sustainability, and scalability
  • Direct impact on farmer resilience and climate adaptation
  • Team capacity and execution ability

For more information, visit Rwanda Green Fund.