Call for Projects: Supporting Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship

The OIF through its Regional Representation in Central Africa (REPAC) wishes to encourage and support young leaders of integrated climate-economic projects whose implementation will respond to the challenges relating to food security in the French-speaking countries of the Congo Basin while contributing to strengthening climate resilience in this region.

Objectives

• The objective of this call is to encourage and support young entrepreneurs carrying out integrated climate economic projects in the field of agriculture in order to respond to the challenges relating to food security in the Congo Basin countries.
• The specific objectives are as follows:
  • Select at least one partner structure per country in the Congo Basin which will have the mandate to identify young project leaders in the areas of the agriculture-water-energy-biodiversity nexus and to support them in carrying out their project;
  • Support the implementation of concrete projects with a positive impact on food security and sustainable development;
  • Promote good agricultural practices initiated by young people in favor of climate resilience;
  • Build a vibrant community of young French-speaking leaders in the agricultural sectors in Congo Basin countries;
  • Promote job creation and local capacity building in sectors linked to the nexus agriculture-climate-water-energy-biodiversity.

Six Priority Areas of Action

• Priority areas of action in the sustainable agriculture sector which will be supported within the framework of this call are the following:
  • Agroecology
  • Agroforestry
  • Organic farming
  • Permaculture
  • Conservation agriculture
  • Urban and peri-urban agriculture
• Particular attention will be given to projects that:
  • create employment for women and young people
  • generate rapid impacts to improve the living conditions of populations, particularly with regard to concerns food safety,
  • highlight innovative practices in favor of environmental protection for agriculture durable,
  • contribute to achieving SDG 1 (No poverty); SDG 2 (“Zero” hunger); SDG 13 (Measures relating to the fight against climate change)

Eligible Countries

• The list of countries eligible for the call for applications is as follows: Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo.

Selection Criteria

Applications received will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Ability to identify women or young entrepreneurs with structuring projects in the areas of sustainable agriculture;
• Experience in supporting women or young people in the agricultural sectors durable;
• Experience in awarding grants and developing technical and financial reports;
• Ability to mobilize various stakeholders such as public or government actors, universities or research centers, investors, successful mentors or entrepreneurs, support providers (lawyers, accountants, consultants, etc.);
• Commitment to actively participate in sustainable development and the promotion of solutions environmental.

For more information, visit International organization of Francophonie (OIF).