Are you working on innovative solutions for Africa’s food systems? The FCI4Africa Open Call 2026 offers up to €50,000 in funding for projects that boost fairness, resilience, and sustainability. This chance comes from the Horizon Europe program and targets start-ups, researchers, and tech groups ready to make real change.
What is FCI4Africa Open Call 1?
FCI4Africa Open Call 1, or OC1, supports ideas that improve food value chains across Africa. The program runs from 2024 to 2028 and involves 14 partners in seven countries. Its goal is to create more inclusive food systems through new tech, research, and business models.
This call focuses on practical steps to fix key problems in food production, distribution, and access. Selected projects will test tools and gather data to help the whole initiative grow. With a total budget of €400,000, it plans to fund eight sub-projects.
Main Objectives
Applicants must align their work with one of two clear goals.
Objective 1: Improve Existing Tools
Teams can build on FCI4Africa’s current business concepts, digital tools, or project examples. This means testing them in real settings, fixing issues, and making them stronger. The aim is to create better results and useful data for future use.
Objective 2: Create New Solutions
Proposals can introduce fresh ideas or tech to tackle specific food system challenges. These must fit the FCI4Africa framework, like boosting resilience or fairness. Projects should produce datasets that support ongoing improvements.
Both paths stress real-world testing and measurable outcomes.
Funding Breakdown
Each winning project gets up to €50,000. The full pot of €400,000 will cover eight grants. Funding comes from Horizon Europe, a major EU research effort.
This money helps with piloting tech, checking business plans, collecting proof of impact, and showing results. It covers costs for design, building, and sharing findings.
Project Timeline
Funded projects start in November 2026 and end in October 2027. They follow three phases to ensure steady progress.
Phase 1: Design (November 2026 – January 2027)
This three-month step creates a detailed activity plan. Teams outline steps, resources, and goals.
Phase 2: Development (February 2027 – July 2027)
Over six months, groups build and test their solutions. The key output is a demo of results.
Phase 3: Validation (August 2027 – October 2027)
In three months, projects wrap up with a report on lessons learned and ways to share knowledge.
This structure keeps work focused and accountable.
Who is Eligible?
Only single organizations or groups can apply. No team-ups or consortia allowed.
Open to:
- Universities
- Research institutes
- Tech providers
- R&D small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
- Start-ups in innovation
- Industry players developing new tech
- Other stakeholders with mixed skills
Focus stays on those with strong ideas for African food systems.
Key Benefits of Applying
Beyond cash, this call offers real advantages.
- Up to €50,000 to fund your work.
- Backing from a top Horizon Europe program for credibility.
- Chance to test ideas in live markets.
- Role in building sustainable food systems.
- Data and proof to scale up later.
- Links to global experts and partners.
It turns concepts into action with support.
How to Submit Your Application
Use the online platform at the official Open Call site. Prepare a strong proposal that matches the objectives. Check full details on the FCI4Africa page for guidance.
Early prep helps avoid last-minute issues.
Application Deadline
Submit by June 30, 2026, at 17:00 CEST (Brussels time). No late entries accepted. Start now to meet the cutoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FCI4Africa Open Call 1?
FCI4Africa Open Call 1 supports ideas to improve food value chains in Africa through new tech, research, and business models. It funds eight projects with a total budget of €400,000 from Horizon Europe.
Who can apply for the funding?
Single organizations like universities, research institutes, tech providers, SMEs, start-ups, and industry players with strong ideas for African food systems can apply. No consortia or team-ups are allowed.
What is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2026, at 17:00 CEST. No late entries will be accepted.
How much funding is available per project?
Each selected project can receive up to €50,000 to cover piloting, testing, and sharing results. The funding supports design, development, and validation phases.
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