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Applications are Now Open for the Business Incubator and Accelerator Program: FAO 2024 with Up to USD 150 000 to be granted in each participating country
Mountains and islands cover 30% of the earth’s surface and are home to about 1.3 billion people.
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These communities are among the hardest hit by climate change, facing high rates of poverty and hunger and struggling with natural disasters.
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), along with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is launching a new grant program.
This initiative aims to increase the resilience of mountain and island communities by supporting innovative entrepreneurship in agricultural and textile value chains through grants, technical assistance, and capacity development.
About the Grant Program
The program, titled “Business Incubator and Accelerator (BIA) for Mountains and Islands,” will be implemented in the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, and Uganda. Each participating country will receive a total budget of USD 150,000. Grants will range from USD 15,000 to USD 50,000 per project. Additional funds are allocated for technical assistance and capacity development.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their project proposals through the online application portal. Reviewing the Applicant Information Booklet, available in English and Spanish, is crucial before submission.
For questions or clarifications, contact the BIA Team at MP-BIA@fao.org. Requests submitted after the application deadline will not be considered.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a grant through the BIA for Mountains and Islands, a project proposal must meet the following criteria:
– Applicant Type: The lead applicant must be either a non-governmental organization at least one year old, or a Producer Organization (cooperative, community-based organization, association) that is at least one year old with at least five members.
– Registration: The lead applicant must be formally registered in the country where the project is based.
– **Single Application**: Only one application per lead applicant is allowed.
– Financial Status: The lead and partner applicants must not be bankrupt, liquidated, or under court administration.
– Location: The lead applicant and/or partner applicant must operate in a mountainous area or on an island in one of the following countries: the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, or Uganda.
– Documentation: The lead applicant must provide all necessary documentation proving the above criteria.
– Matching Contribution: The proposed project must include a matching contribution from the applicant of at least 50% of the requested grant.
– Capability: The lead applicant must demonstrate the ability to use capital and/or other assets involved in their investment plan (e.g., agricultural land, buildings, machinery, labor, skills).
– Membership: The lead applicant must be a member of the Mountain Partnership (MP). If not, they must join the MP before the grant agreement is established.
– Project Focus: The proposed project must target one of the following areas:
– Biodiversity
– Sustainable forest management
– Climate change mitigation and community-based adaptation
– Natural resources management
– Strengthening of local economies
Deadline: Jun 8 2023 12:00 AM (GMT)
