Agriculture is a very important sector in our economy which requires investment through funding from the Government and partners for sustainable growth. The funds are injected in to the agricultural value chain to empower farmers to increase their income and food production. With the adoption of sustainable agriculture due to climate – change, more funds need to be invested in the sector to meet the food demand by increasing food production.
However the farmers can’t adopt new technologies due to lack of access to affordable credit finance.
Farming is mostly viewed as a high risk venture associated with drought, floods, pests and diseases
among others. Therefore their efficiency is compromised. To achieve food security, the Government and its partners have found it prudent to allocate funds to be accessed by farmers. The funds are in form of subsidies, grants or loans.
Currently, farmers have a wide range of grants and funds available to them from government agencies including Agricultural Finance Cooperation, Uwezo Fund, Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, just to mention a few. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), African Development Fund (ADF) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are some of the international partners providing funds to the agricultural sector.
What is a grant?
A grant is a financial aid that is generally not repayable.
Some type of Grants
Start – up grants are for launching new businesses. Startup funding is raising capital to begin and support a business. This comes in many forms eg fundraising and competitions with different price winning ranges which boost the growth potential.
Accelerator grants are funds that support services/programs to help new businesses grow e.g. investing in a value addition process.They are fixed terms which include seed investments, access to industry connections, mentorship, training and education that helps the startups grow to the next level.
Youth grants are mostly targeted specifically towards the youth to encourage them venture into any business, in this case agribusiness or entrepreneurship, so that they can be job creators.
Farm Equipment grants are specifically for purchase of farm machinery.
Match grants is whereby the farmer or entrepreneur avails equal amount to the grant.
Loans are available to farmers and are repayable. Likewise, the loans are for purchase of land, dairy and livestock, machinery, farm inputs, farm operations, and facilities (storage). In addition there is crop loan which is advanced to farmers for inputs for cultivation and repaid after harvesting.
In most cases, farmer/farmers has/have to apply or write a proposal which must show that the activity has measurable impact and can have meaningful and transformative change in the agricultural sector, amongst other requirements.
Meanwhile, a farmers’ group in Kiambu has benefited from a financial arrangement with government owned Uwezo Fund. It is amongst many groups that have taken advantage of the program and improved the income and production of its members. Kiambu Poultry farmers, a woman based group which was formed in the year 2012, has received financial assistance of Sh.700, 000 over the years. The amount increased with time due their credit worth.
Despite their age, most of the ladies are in their 50s and 60s, the 10 women started by rearing chicken before toying with the idea of table banking. This has enabled them repay their loan while generating income for the group. Currently they are rearing cows and pigs with a target of 200 chicken and 20 pigs per member.
The group own land and has applied for more funds to grow their activities. This will enable them build a slaughterhouse as value addition to their animals for better income. In the process they have acquired new skills in animal rearing impacted on them by experts that enabled them cut costs. High cost of feeds and access to limited funds are some of the challenges the group faces. With the expansion comes the need for more funding. However the group appreciates the financial support gotten from the Fund as it has enabled them be financially independent. With the groups’ steady growth and financial independence the Fund has achieved one of its goals of enhancing economic growth.
The Fund which provides loans to youths, women and persons living with disabilities has products these special groups can benefit from e.g. Wezesha Loan and Endeleza Loan for first time borrowers and repeat borrowers respectively. Wezesha Loan amounts range between Sh.50, 000 to Sh.100, 000 while Endeleza Loan amounts is based on an incremental percentage of between 150% to 200% of the initial loan however not more than Sh.500, 000.
In conclusion more funds should be availed for such exemplary groups after evaluation for growth
Available Financial aid Grants globally
Acumen West Africa Fellowship for Emerging Leaders
Each year the Acumen West Africa Fellows Programme brings together ~20 bold and generous leaders who are committed to tackling issues of poverty and injustice in West Africa- and equips them with the practices and community needed to deepen and sustain their impact.
Fellows come from all walks of life and are creating hope in a cynical world; they are bridging our divides, connecting our communities, empowering our youth, standing with our vulnerable, protecting our environment, serving us all.
The Fellowship is designed for individuals who are currently leading or are an integral part of building an initiative whose mission is to eradicate poverty or injustice.
Eligibility Requirements
- The Acumen Fellows program in West Africa is for individuals who are leading an initiative in any of these five countries: Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
Fellows
- All Fellows have demonstrated a commitment to creating a more just, inclusive and sustainable society through their work, and are:
- Building solutions based on a deep understanding of the issue
- Making a long-term play to change the system they are working in
- Influencing change in their current work, formally or informally
- Ready to undergo an intensive year-long leadership journey
Paths: Social Entrepreneur
Founder of a for-profit or non-profit organization that develop market-based solutions to tackle issues of poverty & injustice.
Organizational Builder
Intrapreneur
- Supporting the growth of institutions from within (eg. Country Director, CEO, COO)
Creating solutions from within existing institutions (eg. Team lead, Head of Dept)
The Fellows Programme is centred around:
- Self-reflection: Fellows have space to broaden their perspectives and identify areas of personal development
- Cohort based learning: Fellows have space to practice new modes of leadership with a diverse group of builders from across sectors and backgrounds
- Real-world application: Fellows take away learning that can be immediately applied to their social change work to generate lasting impact
Fellowship Structure:
- Fellows remain in their jobs and come together for three seminars, each lasting 6 days, throughout the year. Attendance at each seminar is mandatory.
- Between seminars, Fellows are expected to participate in and complete online readings and assignments.
- Fellows remain in their jobs and come together for three seminars, each lasting 6 days, throughout the year. Attendance at each seminar is mandatory.
- Between seminars, Fellows are expected to participate in and complete online readings and assignments.
Benefits:
- Acumen covers all fellowship-related expenses during the fellowship year. This includes all costs associated with the seminars including lodging, food, transportation, and visas.
How to Apply: The application process consists of these four steps.
- Step 1: Apply online — Applications open 1 June and close 12 July
- Step 2: Receive your online assignments in August
- Step 3: Attend the Selection Conference in November 11 & 12 November
- Step 4: The Fellows are selected in December
The online application consists of:
- Section 1: Your Profile – understanding your background and relationship with West Africa
- Section 2: Your Current and Past Work – understanding your current work tackling poverty & injustice, and your past work and experiences
- Section 3: Your relationship with Acumen Academy
- Section 4: Personal Questions – understanding who you are, your reasons for applying to this programme, and your vision
- Section 5: Some Additional Questions – understanding how you heard about the Fellowship and how we can share more about our work in West Africa
- Section 6: Terms and Conditions – your commitment going forward
For more information and application details, see; Acumen West Africa Fellowship for Emerging Leaders
Agriculture Venture Capital Available for African
Agriculture Research Grants
The Kirkhouse Trust has established two main legume research consortia which it funds: the first in West African countries, focuses on cowpea, and the second, in East Africa countries, on common bean.
The Trust’s aim in these programmes is to bring the power of modern genetic methods, such as marker-assisted breeding techniques, to the improvement of crops.
The Trust has worked with the grantees to design the project and to set in place appropriate funding for staff and consumables.
In some cases we have provided molecular biology and pathology equipment and other resources.
Most existing grantees have joined these programmes by invitation.
The projects are always built around an existing experienced legume breeder, located either in a National Agricultural Research Institute or a University.
With few exceptions, research projects supported by Kirkhouse Trust are located in countries where local support of science is under funded.
The Trust is willing to engage with scientists whose interests fit within the Trust’s two main consortia (please see our projects page).
However, the Trust prefers enquirers to make an initial informal approach to check if a project is likely to be successful, rather than submitting a formal application.
It should be noted that most applications from institutions in countries where science is well developed and well-funded are likely to be rejected.
The Trust provides guidance for new applicants which explains the way in which the Trust typically operates.
Application Process
Typically, the application process will be as follows:
Stage 1:
Applicants are asked initially to submit an outline application. This will include a brief description of the scientific aims of the project together with the proposed methodology and time scale to achieve these; and an outline budget to enable the funding implications to be gauged.
The Trust will review the outline application and either decide to reject it at this stage, or invite the applicant(s) to move to:
Stage 2:
Applicants will be asked to liaise closely with a Project Administrator to expand on the outline project application and to work up a more detailed budget.
It is likely that a plant scientist will liaise with the Principle Investigator (PI) to discuss the proposed programme of research and firm up on a timeline and milestones.
Stage 3:
When the detailed research project and budget have been agreed, a contract document will be drawn up by the Trust for signing by representatives of the Trust and the PI’s home institution.
The Trust may elect to approve the budget for the first year of the project initially, and to fix the budget for future years based on the experience of the first year.
How to Apply
Follow the links below for more information and application details For more information and application details, see; Agriculture Research Grants
AERA Research Grants
With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the AERA Grants Program announces its Research Grants competition.
The program seeks to stimulate research on U.S. education issues using data from the large-scale, national and international data sets supported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NSF, and other federal agencies, and to increase the number of education researchers using these data sets.
The program supports research projects that are quantitative in nature, include the analysis of existing data from NCES, NSF or other federal agencies, and have U.S. education policy relevance.
AERA invites education-related dissertation proposals using NCES, NSF, and other federal data bases.
Research Grants are available for faculty at institutions of higher education, postdoctoral researchers, and other doctoral-level researchers.
Applications are encouraged from a variety of disciplines, such as but not limited to, education, sociology, economics, psychology, demography, statistics, and psychometrics.
The Governing Board for the AERA Grants Program has established the following four strands of emphasis for proposals.
Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that:
- Develop or benefit from new quantitative measures or methodological approaches for addressing education issues
- Include interdisciplinary teams with subject matter expertise, especially when studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning
- Analyze TIMSS, PISA, or other international data resources
Include the integration and analysis of more than one data set
Research projects related to at least one of the strands above and to science and/or mathematics education are especially encouraged.
Other topics of interest include policies and practices related to student achievement in STEM, contextual factors in education, educational participation and persistence (kindergarten through graduate school), early childhood education, and postsecondary education.
The research project must include the analysis of data from at least one of the large-scale, nationally or internationally representative data sets supported by NCES, NSF, or other federal agency, such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Institutes of Health.
Additional data sets may be used in conjunction with the obligatory federal data set.
If international data sets are used, the study must include U.S. education.
Eligibility:
- Applicants for Research Grants may be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must have received the doctoral degree by the start date of the grant.
- Researchers who have previously received a major award through the AERA Grants Program (i.e., AERA Research Grant as a PI or Co-PI, AERA Postdoctoral Fellowship, or AERA Fellowship) may not apply for a Research Grant.
- Applicants who have received an AERA Dissertation Grant are eligible to apply for a Research Grant.
- Dissertation Grant recipients must complete the Dissertation Grant before applying for a Research Grant.
- Underrepresented minority researchers are strongly encouraged to apply.
Awards:
- Awards for Research Grants are up to $20,000 for 1-year projects, or up to $35,000 for 2-year projects.
- In accordance with AERA’s agreement with the funding agencies, institutions may not charge indirect costs or overhead on these awards.
Approximately 15 Research Grants will be awarded per year.
Deadline: 1st September
Follow the links below for more details and application contacts. For more information and application, visit: AERA Research Grants Website