Agriculture, forestry and fishing

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), under the Pro‑Congo programme, is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from private enterprises in the Congo Basin to access blended financing and technical assistance for nature‑positive, deforestation‑free and climate‑resilient business models. The initiative targets MSMEs that can drive sustainable land use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity and create inclusive livelihoods through activities in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, forest-industry transformation, landscape restoration, and ecotourism.

The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) has launched its 28th Call for Proposals, targeting transformative projects that empower smallholder farmers, promote regenerative agriculture, and foster inclusive value chains in developing countries. With a focus on aligning commercial viability with environmental sustainability and social equity, the CFC supports initiatives that connect farmers to global markets, enhance local value addition, and build resilience through agtech, financial access, and women-led enterprises.

The AGRO-WELL Open Call – Topic A provides up to €37,500 per project to demonstrate and validate smart farming solutions using AI, robotics or augmented reality (AR) that improve working conditions and support more sustainable, data‑driven agriculture on commercial farms.​

Opportunity overview

The Xiamen BRICS Cross‑Border Innovation Accelerator Program 2026 is a flagship international acceleration initiative hosted in Xiamen, China, designed to help high‑potential overseas and China‑based innovation companies enter, validate and scale in the Chinese market.

The National Cleantech Innovation Challenge (NCIC) 2026 is a national programme led by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) in partnership with NGIN, regional hubs and Start‑Up Culture to accelerate South Africa’s transition to a low‑carbon, climate‑resilient and inclusive economy.

The INCiTiS‑FOOD project (Integrated and Circular Technologies for Sustainable City‑Region Food Systems in Africa) has launched Open Call 2 for Independent Innovators (IIs) to support start‑ups and SMEs working on sustainable urban and peri‑urban food production.

The STREAMING Open Call for Knowledge Transfer is a Horizon Europe‑funded scheme that provides up to €25,000 per grant to develop interactive digital learning courses on sustainable food systems and food trade, with a total budget of €275,000 for 11 grants. The call supports content that translates cutting‑edge research into practical digital training for farmers, food producers and processors, startups, students and other stakeholders, covering the entire food supply chain from sustainable farming to waste reduction and food safety.