IA-CascadeOpen13761COMPETITIVE_CALL

Open Call 1 (OC1) addressed to research and technology stakeholders

Fair food and trade systems for Africa through food convergence innovation

Per project€50K

Call envelope€400K

1 phase

Deadline:2026-06-30

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Strategic Analysis

FCI4Africa Open Call 1 (OC1)

The FCI4Africa Open Call 1 (OC1) is addressed to research and technology stakeholders, including start-ups, SMEs, research organisations, and other multidisciplinary actors. Its purpose is to provide financial support for testing, validating, and enhancing the project's existing business concepts and tools, or for developing new ideas and tools that address specific challenges within the FCI4Africa framework. A total budget of €400,000 is allocated for OC1, funding up to eight subprojects, with each selected entity receiving a maximum of €50,000 on a lump-sum basis. Projects are expected to have an implementation timeframe of 12 months, launching in November 2026 and concluding by October 2027. The call was launched on 7 April 2026, with a submission deadline of 30 June 2026.

Scope Activities (8)

SC01

Test, validate, and enhance existing business concepts and tools

SC02

Develop ideas and tools addressing specific FCI4Africa challenges

SC03

Generate data sets for refinement of tools, methodologies, and business concepts

SC04

Implement an iterative multi-actor innovation process in real-life environments

SC05

Collaborate with local stakeholders for contextual relevance

SC06Eliminating

Respect the 'Do No Significant Harm Principle'

SC07Eliminating

Integrate ethical principles and data protection ('ethics by design')

SC08

Allocate budget for dissemination activities

Expected Outcomes (6)

EO01

Solutions addressing lack of sustainability, fairness, and justness in agri-food sector

EO02

Solutions addressing difficulties in complying with new EU legislation and trade policies

EO03

Solutions addressing high certification costs for African small-scale farmers

EO04

Solutions addressing fragmentation of intra-African agricultural trade

EO05

Solutions addressing limited transparency and data obstructing informal sector integration

EO06

Solutions addressing inconsistency of non-tariff measures across regions