FCI4Africa Open Call 2026: Get Up to €50,000 Funding for Food System Innovation Projects in Africa

Innovators, researchers, start-ups, and technology-driven organizations now have a major opportunity to secure funding for transformative food system solutions in Africa. The FCI4Africa Open Call 1 (OC1) has officially launched, offering up to €50,000 per project to selected applicants working on innovative ideas that strengthen fairness, resilience, and sustainability across African food value chains.

Backed by the Horizon Europe programme, FCI4Africa is focused on building more inclusive food systems by supporting practical innovations, research-driven tools, and scalable technologies that solve key challenges across the continent.

With a total funding pool of €400,000, eight selected sub-projects will receive financial support to test, validate, and scale impactful solutions.

What is FCI4Africa Open Call 1?

FCI4Africa is a four-year international initiative running from 2024 to 2028 with 14 partners across 7 countries. Its mission is to improve food systems in Africa through innovation, fairness, and resilience.

The first Open Call is designed to attract forward-thinking applicants who can help solve food system challenges through technology, research, and new business models.

Applicants are invited to submit projects aligned with one of the following objectives:

Objective 1: Improve Existing FCI4Africa Tools and Concepts

Applicants can test, validate, and enhance existing business concepts, digital tools, and project use cases already developed within FCI4Africa.

Objective 2: Develop New Solutions for Specific Challenges

Applicants may also propose fresh ideas, tools, or technologies that directly address identified food system challenges under the FCI4Africa framework.

All selected projects are expected to generate useful datasets that can further improve project tools, methods, and business models.

Funding Details

• Maximum funding per project: €50,000
• Total call budget: €400,000
• Number of projects to be funded: 8
• Funding source: Horizon Europe

This funding can help innovators pilot technologies, validate business ideas, gather evidence, and demonstrate measurable impact.

Project Timeline

The selected projects will run from November 2026 to October 2027 through a structured three-phase implementation process:

Phase 1 – Design

November 2026 – January 2027
Duration: 3 Months
Deliverable: Activity Plan

Phase 2 – Development

February 2027 – July 2027
Duration: 6 Months
Deliverable: Results Demonstration

Phase 3 – Validation

August 2027 – October 2027
Duration: 3 Months
Deliverable: Dissemination Report and Lessons Learned

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to individual organizations or entities only. Consortia are not allowed.

Eligible applicants include:

• Universities
• Research institutes
• Technology providers
• R&D SMEs
• Innovation start-ups
• Industry actors building new technologies
• Multidisciplinary stakeholders

Why You Should Apply

This opportunity offers more than funding. It provides a pathway to test solutions in real-world markets, contribute to Africa’s development, and collaborate with a leading international innovation network.

Key Benefits

• Access up to €50,000 in project funding
• Gain recognition through a Horizon Europe-backed programme
• Validate your innovation in practical environments
• Contribute to sustainable food systems in Africa
• Build datasets and evidence for future scaling
• Connect with global experts and innovation partners

How to Apply

Applicants must submit proposals online through the official Open Call platform.

APPLY HERE. 

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Deadline

June 30, 2026 at 17:00 CEST (Brussels Time)

Late applications will not be considered, so early submission is strongly advised.

Final Thoughts

The FCI4Africa Open Call 2026 is a high-value opportunity for innovators committed to solving Africa’s food system challenges. Whether you are a start-up building agri-tech solutions, a university conducting research, or an SME creating sustainable tools, this grant can help bring your ideas to life.

If your project can improve fairness, resilience, and inclusivity in food value chains, now is the time to apply.