AGRA & CGIAR Small Grants Programme for Women-Led Agribusinesses – Climate Adaptation & Financing

AGRA and CGIAR have opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) for women-led agribusinesses across Sub-Saharan Africa that are contributing to climate adaptation, resilience and sustainable agricultural development.

The Climate Adaptation & Financing for Women-Led SMEs programme is designed to identify and support women-led agribusinesses that are developing or implementing practical solutions to climate-related challenges.

Selected businesses may receive a combination of:

• Small grant support
• Technical assistance
• Capacity strengthening
• Support to document and strengthen climate adaptation practices
• Support to communicate and showcase climate-resilient business solutions

The initiative is being implemented through AGRA’s VALUE4HER initiative in collaboration with CGIAR, including the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). 

Who should apply?

The opportunity is intended for women-led agribusinesses operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their business contributes to climate adaptation and resilience within agriculture or food systems. The eligibility screening specifically asks whether the agribusiness is led or majority-owned by a woman or women. 

Relevant businesses may include enterprises working on climate-smart agriculture, resilient food production, agricultural processing, value addition, sustainable inputs, water resilience, climate-risk management, resilient supply chains, or other practical responses to climate change.

Programme: AGRA & CGIAR Climate Adaptation & Financing for Women-Led SMEs

Target applicants: Women-led agribusinesses

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sector: Agribusiness and climate adaptation

Support: Small grants, technical assistance and capacity building

Implementers: AGRA through VALUE4HER and CGIAR through the Adaptation Insights project

Application type: Expression of Interest

Application time: Approximately 20–30 minutes

Deadline: 20 August 2026