The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss-based foundation, launched in 2002 at a Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children to tackle human suffering caused by malnutrition, is calling on women and youth-led agribusinesses, farmers associations and cooperatives to apply for its Microgrant Funding Opportunity. This second edition of the Microgrant is a funding opportunity for nutritious food businesses with food products from Vitamin A Maize, Vitamin A Cassava, and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato, operating in Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, and Oyo states.
Agribusinesses play a vital role in Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to employment generation, food security, and overall economic development. However, access to finance has been a persistent challenge for agribusinesses in the country, limiting their growth and potential impact. One of the primary obstacles faced by agribusinesses in Nigeria is financing for innovative agribusiness solutions, high-interest rates offered by banks and other financial institutions are another significant barrier for agribusinesses seeking loans in Nigeria. Through its Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples Project, GAIN is seeking to provide an opportunity for over 30 nutritious food businesses to access micro-grant funding in Nigeria.
Benefit
Aim
GAIN Micro-Grant Funding aims to fund nutritious food businesses operating in the Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato value chains in Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, and Oyo States with equity-free grants to scale their businesses and support the commercialization of nutrient-enriched food products in Nigeria.
Benefit
The microgrant program will provide equity-free grants of N3,000,000 (Three million naira) to 33 select businesses across the four project states.
Requirements
To qualify to apply, the founder of the business or association applying must be 18 years of age or over as of May 2023 and must reside in Nigeria. Applicants MUST operate in the following target groups:
- Food Processors, Farmer’s Associations or Cooperative Societies
- Youth-led businesses and women-led businesses
- The interested individual applicants must be operating businesses functioning in one of the value chains; Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato
- Must be registered with CAC for a minimum of one year, while group applicants must be registered with CAC for a minimum of three years.
Method of Application
For More Information,
Visit the Official Webpage
Application Deadline: November 12, 2023.