Selection
Timeline
Call for Application
You are invited to apply to the West Africa Agri-Food Challenge.
The call for applications will be open from 4 June 2026 to 3 July 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
Bootcamp
If you are among the 45 selected innovation representatives (15 per country), you will be invited to participate in a three-day immersive bootcamp in Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire.
Each bootcamp will include a farm visit, technical advisory sessions, business mentoring, and pitch training to prepare participants for the final pitch event held on the last day of the bootcamp.
Bootcamp dates:
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Côte d’Ivoire: 5–7 October 2026
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Benin: 9–11 November 2026
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Senegal: 16–18 November 2026
Accelerator Program
If you are among the 21 top innovations selected (7 per country), you will participate in a fully funded acceleration programme combining business training, scientific and technical assistance, and funding support to help you test, validate, and prepare your innovation for scale.
Demo Day
The acceleration programme will officially conclude with an international Demo Day, during which ten innovators will have the opportunity to present their solutions to investors, industry experts, agri-food companies, scientists, government institutions, and strategic partners, alongside the other finalists.
Post-accelerator support and lessons learned
Five innovators will benefit from extended support in the form of strategic advisory services, technology validation, and privileged access to the International Innovation Hub network.
Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of industry experts and representatives from the project's partner organizations.
The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
Applicability to the Local Context
The team must demonstrate a strong understanding of the agricultural sector in Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire, including its specific needs and challenges.
The proposed solution must align with at least one of the programme’s priority themes.
Scientific Relevance
The solution and its applications must be clearly defined and either scientifically validated or supported by a robust scientific foundation.
Novelty and Originality
The solution should introduce innovative concepts, approaches, or technologies that clearly differentiate it from existing practices and solutions.
Sustainability and Scalability
The business model must be viable, sustainable, and adapted to market realities in Benin, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and/or the wider region.
Applicants should provide evidence demonstrating market size, growth potential, replicability, and transferability of the solution.
Environmental and Social Impact
The solution must provide concrete responses to social and environmental challenges while generating positive, measurable, and lasting impacts.
Team
The team should bring together diverse and complementary skills, including technical, scientific, and/or sector-specific expertise.
It should also demonstrate a strong level of commitment, openness, and motivation to actively participate in all programme activities.
Please Note
The selection criteria may evolve throughout the different phases of the programme, with additional requirements introduced depending on the stage of evaluation.