Call for Projects: Living Eco-Innovation Laboratories for Sustainable Agriculture

Objectives

• The objective of this call for projects is to support the creation of living laboratories which will serve as spaces for innovation, demonstration and learning to promote sustainable agricultural practices in Central Africa, with an emphasis on eco -innovation. These laboratories will be dynamic platforms where young farmers, young researchers, innovators, decision-makers and local communities can collaborate to develop, test and disseminate innovative solutions for more resilient and environmentally friendly agriculture. At the end of this call, the creation of 10 living eco innovation laboratories for sustainable agriculture will be supported in the Congo Basin over the period 2024-2027.
• Through support for the creation of these living laboratories, the OIF aims to:
  • Foster collaborative research and development efforts that leverage eco-innovation to address the pressing challenges facing agricultural sustainability in the Congo Basin.
  • Contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the goals related to zero hunger, climate action and biodiversity conservation.
  • Create platforms for knowledge sharing, capacity building and technology transfer among stakeholders, including local communities, young researchers, young entrepreneurs and policy makers.
  • Promote the adoption and scale-up of sustainable practices, environmentally friendly agricultural technologies and solutions that improve productivity, resilience and environmental management.
  • Stimulate entrepreneurship, youth employability and innovation ecosystems in Central Africa around sustainable agriculture, by giving local actors the means to develop and market eco-innovative products and services.

Priority Themes

• Agricultural solutions for climate change resilience: Development of agricultural practices resilient to the effects of climate change, such as agroforestry, water management/conservation and sustainable land management; etc.
• Technological eco-innovation: Integration of innovative technologies to improve the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems (precision agriculture, agricultural drones, applications mobiles, etc.).
• Agroecology and biodiversity: Promotion of innovative agroecological methods favoring the preservation and restoration of biodiversity, soil fertility, conservation water resources, etc.

Funding Information

• Grants will be awarded to selected projects with a maximum value of 65,000 euros per project, covering costs related to the establishment and operation of the living laboratories. The ratio used of the grant in relation to human resources and management costs must not exceed 15%.

Eligibility Criteria

• Research centers, academic institutions and university research laboratories are invited to submit their proposals as part of this call for projects. Eligible countries are: Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo.
• Administrative criteria
  • Be a legal entity registered in the country concerned;
  • Have clearly defined governance, including designated managers for project.
• Financial capacities and operating costs
  • Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support the project over its duration planned;
  • Justify operating costs and establish a clear limit for operating expenses in relation to the overall project budget, not exceeding 20% of the overall budget;
• Structures specialized in the sustainable agriculture sector
  • Have proven expertise in the field of sustainable agriculture, demonstrated by previous projects, collaborations with sector players, publications, etc;
  • Have suitable infrastructure (equipped laboratories, etc.) for the establishment and operation of living laboratories and be qualified for research and development activities linked to sustainable agriculture.
• Without this being a selection criterion, collaboration with international research partners is authorized with the aim of strengthening the quality and impact of initiatives and promoting the transfer of knowledge and knowhow from north to south and south. south between the countries of the French-speaking area.

For more information, visit OIF.