UP-RISE Project for Fermented Food Processors

Objectives

• This call aims to select 10 processors or groups of processors that work on the fermentation of traditional products in specific fermented food value chains, respectively two processors of akpan in Benin, two processors of coca baca in Ivory Coast, two processors of maziwa mala in Kenya, two processors of kunun-zaki in Nigeria and two processors of umqombothi in South Africa.
• The processors together with connected operators in the value chains will constitute the case studies (2 per country) of the UP-RISE project.
• The UP-RISE project team aims to collaborate and involve processors and connected operators in the value chain to facilitate knowledge exchange, analyze the current activity and food safety attainment and work towards improvements. The collaboration would span over three year (January 2025 to December 2027).
• The specific objectives for this call are for operators to be involved in the following activities:
  • Sharing production knowledge;
  • Managing logistics for food safety sampling and analysis;
  • Demonstrating UP-RISE innovations such as new fermentation protocols and good food safety practices;
  • Hosting workshops and participatory research sessions;
  • Opening businesses for safe production demonstrations;
  • Implementing mycotoxin mitigation measures.
• The processors selected and connected operators in the value chain will be eligible for financial compensation for the time, effort and investments made to participate in the above-mentioned activities.

Funding Information

• Available Funding
  • Each African university partner of the UP-RISE project, namely the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in Benin, the University of Nangui  Abrogoua (UNA) in Ivory Coast, the University of Nairobi (UoN) in Kenya, the Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMIN) in Nigeria, and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa will respectively be responsible for a maximum of 100,000 EUR funding. This amount will be dedicated to the two case studies comprising selected processors and connected operators in the value chain.
  • Each applicant together with connected operators in the value chain will be eligible to receive financial compensation for their activities within the project.
• Cost Eligibility
  • Different activities, in which applicants will take part, will be eligible to claim financial compensation.
  • These compensations will be capped per selected third party to a maximum according to the following criteria:
    • 1,000 to 5,000 EUR: Participation of small businesses or small operators in a large supply chain.
    • 5,000 to 20,000 EUR: SMEs or group of operators taking part in demonstration activities.
    • 20,000 to 60,000 EUR: SMEs or group of operators taking part in equipment purchase, process innovation, or staff training.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be processors (i.e., actors in the value chain that are involved in fermenting the product) of:
  • akpan in Benin; or
  • coco baca in Ivory Coast; or
  • maziwa mala in Kenya; or
  • kunun zaki in Nigeria; or
  • umqombothi in South Africa.
• The collaboration is designed to benefit an individual, a small-scale business, an SME or a group of processors and connected operators in the value chain.
• Applications not fulfilling the above stated eligibility criteria will be rejected.

Award Criteria

• The preselection team and then the selection committee will assess eligible and admissible applications following the defined award criteria. The award criteria are:
  • Geographical site accessibility that will facilitate logistics for sampling or regular exchange and site visits;
  • Data accessibility & traceability: ability to trace the value chain from raw materials to final products, connection to both upstream and downstream operators in the value chain;
  • Entrepreneurial skills: basic management and organizational skills;
  • Communication skills: clearly communicate key aspects of the business. If possible, the applicant has knowledge of English or French;
  • Motivation & availability: open to collaborate, open to mentoring and commitment during the time frame of the project;
  • Reliability & representativeness: The information provided in the application seems realistic and in line with other operators’ activities in the field;
  • Gender: at least half applicants selected will be female-owned businesses or with daily operation conducted mostly (51%) by women
• Each criterion will be assigned a grade from 1 to 4. These grades will be assigned following assessment of the application submitted and in-depth interviews.
• Additional assets might be taken into account to assess cases of exceptional candidates. These fall under the two following criteria:
  • Overall innovation capacity, social innovation and environmental performance;
  • Trade perspectives, particularly in terms of potential export to the EU.
• By submitting an application, the applicant commits to providing accurate information.

For more information, visit European Union.