Virtual Irrigation Academy Wins Water Changemaker Innovation Awards' Inclusion Award

The Water Changemaker Innovation Awards 2023 has announced the winners of the competition; a global initiative that recognizes high-level commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water investments. The Awards also showcase the most promising climate-resilient innovations with the greatest potential for scale, replication, and further investment to support a water-secure world.

SCA Innovator Meets the President: Youth-led agritech innovator, KivuGreen, recognized by the highest office in the DRC

Kivu Green CEO, Chris Ayale, has made navigating the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) challenging business environment look easy. The innovator has capitalized on two industries with the greatest potential: agriculture and technology. Kivu Green provides digital weather and extension solutions to common agricultural problems. The impact that the innovator is making has even caught the attention of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo!

On October 30, Kivu Green was invited to meet with the President. Mr. Ayale, along with other young entrepreneurs exchanged ideas with the President on digital development. The success of this meeting prompted an individual introduction of Kivu Green to the Minister of Agriculture and the Office of the President of Development. With improving investment in infrastructure to improve internet connectivity in the DRC, the parties are in discussions to possibly establish an exchange program for agribusiness.

WE4F Launches 2023 Iraq Call for Innovations

The WE4F Middle East and North Africa Regional Innovation Hub (MENA RIH) is proud to announce the launch of the 2023 Iraq Call for Innovations! This $2 million track supported by Sida and USAID/Iraq will help Iraq-based innovators, dedicated businesses and agri-industry players, and private and public sector partners to foster innovation for a more sustainable and secure food future in Iraq. The winning Iraqi businesses will receive customized financial and technical assistance as well as investment facilitation that will help scale their business and reach more end-users.

Formation en Côte d’Ivoire : Renforcer les compétences des producteurs agricoles sur le compostage

Dans le cadre de la promotion des engrais organiques en Côte d’Ivoire, le projet WE4F a mis en place un programme de renforcement de capacités des producteurs agricoles sur le compostage, s’étendant d’octobre à décembre 2023.



Ce programme a débuté par l’organisation de deux ateliers de formations des formateurs, rassemblant 15 représentants de coopératives respectivement à Gagnoa et Abengourou. Chaque atelier s’est déroulé pendant deux jours dont un jour de théorie et un jour de pratique.

Formation au Burkina Faso: Renforcer les compétences des producteurs agricoles sur le compostage

Dans le cadre de la promotion des engrais organiques au Burkina Faso, le projet WE4F a mis en place un programme de renforcement de capacités des producteurs agricoles sur le compostage, s’étendant de fin septembre à fin novembre 2023.



Ce programme a débuté par la tenue de deux ateliers de formations des formateurs réunissant quatre représentants de coopératives à Bobo-Dioulasso et six représentants à Ouagadougou. Chaque atelier a duré deux jours dont un jour de théorie et un jour de pratique.

East Africa Hub Showcases 13 Innovators in a Digital Exhibition

After 3 years of successful and fruitful collaboration, the WE4F East Africa Hub proudly announces the launch of its first digital exhibition showcasing 13 innovators from five implementation countries: Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. The interactive exhibition allows the viewer to explore the East African innovations and companies up close, helping them visualize the context, countries, and environments in the region where the innovators operate.

Empowering Women In Agriculture at Cairo Water Week

After 3 years of successful and fruitful collaboration, the WE4F East Africa Hub proudly announces the launch of its first digital exhibition showcasing 13 innovators from five implementation countries: Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. The interactive exhibition allows the viewer to explore the East African innovations and companies up close, helping them visualize the context, countries, and environments in the region where the innovators operate.

Sun4Water in East Africa: Catalyzing Sustainable Partnerships for Solar Irrigation Development

In a strategic move to initiate and strengthen partnerships for the Sun4Water program, Dr. Macben Makenzi, Sun4Water’s East Africa Regional Coordinator, conducted an appraisal visit in Ethiopia and Malawi. The primary objective was to involve diverse stakeholders, formalize partnerships, and deliberate on implementation strategies for the program’s upcoming years.

Water and Energy for Food Launches Open Calls for Innovations

Current, WE4F has three regional Open Calls for Innovations (OCFI) in the Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Southern and Central Africa. WE4F’s O-CFIs will foster innovations that enhance food security, water security, renewable energy usage, and sustainable water usage in their respective regions. Individual OCFI awards will receive support in the form of technical assistance, investment facilitation, enabling ecosystem support, and grants. The awarded innovators will match the grant amount by at least 100%. All O-CFIs are now accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Zimbabwe Biogas Open Call for Innovations

For biogas innovations based in Zimbabwe, WE4F has an Open Call for Innovations that will support selected Zimbabwean biogas innovators, helping increase their capacity and productivity. Scaling these selected small and medium-sized enterprises will improve farmers’ access to climate-resilient technology that can increase food production. WE4F will provide the biogas innovators with grants, technical assistance, and help to facilitate the activity.

The Zimbabwe Biogas Call for Innovations awards range from US$10,000 to $30,000. The awarded innovators are expected to match the funding amount in cash or in-kind contributions. The period of performance for individual awards is up to 1.5 years, however the actual period of performance for each award will be determined at the time of award.

Agritech Call

Launched in November 2023, the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund will make over £1.3million available to organisations to develop clean energy agricultural technologies and appliances. Funding is being provided by UK aid via the Transforming Energy Access platform, and the IKEA Foundation. Application closes January 17th.

Food Systems Accelerator 2024

Are you an agribusiness with a climate-smart innovation that tackles food insecurity and increases resilience in the East and Southern Africa region? Apply to CGIAR's program to receive tailor-made support as well as access to finance to bring your innovations to scale.

The CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator (CFSA) program is a science-driven accelerator designed to support agribusinesses scale climate-smart innovations that address pressing challenges in East and Southern Africa food systems. By combining investment readiness with tailored science-based technical assistance, CFSA provides agribusinesses with the necessary tools and knowledge to become more commercially viable, environmentally conscious, and sustainable.