FAQ
The call for applications will close on 3 July 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
The West Africa Agri-Food Challenge is open to innovative national and international teams that meet the following criteria:
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Be at the conceptual or pre-commercial stage and have a minimum viable product (MVP)
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Have developed an innovative solution addressing a real market need in Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire, and aligned with at least one of the programme’s priority themes
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Be the sole inventors and holders of the intellectual property rights of the solution
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Be practitioners, entrepreneurs, PhD students/postdoctoral researchers, researchers, or scientists with a clear objective and a willingness to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to their innovation
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Be a company legally registered in one of the three countries (Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire), or be affiliated with a research institute, research center, or university.
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Be fully committed to the programme and available to participate in field activities
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Have at least one team member who is proficient in French.
Important note: Incomplete applications, applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements, or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered during the evaluation process.
Yes. The West Africa Agri-Food Challenge targets early-stage ventures developing innovations applicable to the context of Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire. At this stage, participants must have a minimum viable product (MVP).
The programme supports teams in developing and structuring a strong commercialisation strategy through technical validation of the solution and facilitated access to markets.
Yes. You may apply if your innovation has been designed, developed, or tested in a context relevant to West Africa and meets the programme’s eligibility criteria.
No. Only one application per team is allowed. However, you may indicate all relevant themes in the application form.
No. The call for applications is open to all applicants, regardless of their country of residence, provided that the proposed solution is applicable to the context of Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire. The organization must be legally registered in one of the following three countries: Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire.
Results will be communicated within one week after the application deadline.
Yes. The bootcamp will take place in person between October and November. Pre-selected candidates will be notified by email and must confirm their participation or designate a team member to represent them.
One team member per selected innovation will receive full funding to participate in the three-day bootcamp in Benin, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire. A second team member may also participate at their own expense.
The Accelerate for Impact Platform, under the supervision of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, is responsible for data processing. Data is collected, managed, and stored in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For more information, please refer to the privacy policy.
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