You can now apply for the NourishNext West Africa Youth Agrifood Innovation Challenge 2026, a regional program dedicated to empowering young entrepreneurs who are reshaping the agricultural sector. Spearheaded by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) alongside the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the initiative collaborates with local implementation partners in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal, with key backing from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Key Focus Areas
The challenge aims to identify, support, and scale youth-led innovations that strengthen fruit and vegetable value chains across West Africa. Target solutions include those that advance processing, preservation, packaging, transportation, marketing, distribution, or consumption to foster resilient and nutrition-focused food systems.
Eligible submissions should fit into one of four core categories:
- Value Addition & Processing: Innovations that enhance processing capability and add value to local produce.
- Public Systems Integration: Incorporating locally produced fruits and vegetables into public nutrition and social protection programs.
- Supply Chain & Market Strengthening: Solutions that improve the availability, safety, and market desirability of fruits and vegetables.
- Behavioral Change & Consumer Demand: Campaigns and strategies designed to inspire healthy dietary habits and raise consumer demand for fruits and vegetables.
Key Benefits
Selected innovators will gain access to critical resources to scale their operations, including:
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- $5,000 USD in seed funding grants.
- Technical mentorship and capacity-building training from industry leaders.
- Networking access across national and regional agricultural platforms.
- Live pitch opportunities at the NourishNext West Africa Regional Showcase in Dakar, Senegal (2026), connecting directly with investors, policymakers, and private sector executives.
Eligibility Criteria
- Target Group: Youth-led enterprises and individual innovators living and operating in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, or Senegal.
- Age Limit: Open to individuals aged 18 to 35 years (extended up to 40 years for women-led ventures).
- Sector Alignment: Projects must directly target at least one of the four competition categories within the fruit and vegetable sector.
Requirements to Apply
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- A fully completed online application form.
- Valid proof of age for the lead applicant (e.g., Passport, National ID, or Birth Certificate).
- Evidence of operational stage (e.g., product photos, customer testimonials, financial records, or pilot results).
To complete your application, Here: https://nutritionconnect.org/west-africa-youth-agrifood-innovation-challenge-2026-en
Disclaimer
Edfrica shares opportunities for informational purposes only. Results and funding outcomes are not guaranteed.
