Creating Demand and Awareness for Farmers and SMEs- Grants for NGOs in Africa

Call for EOIs: Creating Demand and Awareness for Farmers and SMEs (Component 1)

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from qualified organisations to implement Component 1: Creating Demand and Awareness for Farmers and SMEs under its sustainable agro-input systems initiative. This is a critical opportunity for NGOs and non-profit partners to support smallholder farmers and local agri-enterprises in accessing inputs, markets, and knowledge through awareness and demand-generation strategies. For NGOs working in the agriculture and rural development sector, this call presents a timely opportunity to secure NGO grants and contribute meaningfully to economic transformation in Africa.

Grant Summary

Supporting Smallholder Farmers and Agri-SMEs: What This Grant Is All About

AGRA’s latest EOI call under Component 1 is part of a larger multi-component strategy to strengthen sustainable input systems across African agricultural value chains. At the heart of this component is the need to raise awareness among farmers and small-to-medium agribusinesses about the importance of using improved seeds, fertilizers, and sustainable technologies. For NGOs, especially those seeking funds for NGOs in agriculture, this initiative provides a chance to build campaigns, partnerships, and rural networks that can influence farmer behavior, stimulate demand, and improve market readiness. This component complements other AGRA efforts in policy reform, input distribution, and SME ecosystem support. It directly tackles demand-generation — a frequently overlooked but crucial part of scaling agricultural transformation across Africa.

Who Should Apply?

AGRA is inviting EOIs from:

• NGOs and non-profits with proven experience in rural communication, farmer outreach, or behavior change communication (BCC)
• Social enterprises and consultancy firms with strong agribusiness networks
• Organisations with a track record of delivering community-based campaigns, training, and inclusive awareness-building among smallholders and rural SMEs

Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa — especially in agriculture input systems, marketing, and communication — will be critical for selection. This is a strong opportunity for organisations actively looking for NGO funding in agriculture, particularly in the context of demand creation and farmer education.

Key Responsibilities of Grantees

Selected partners will be expected to:

• Develop and execute awareness strategies targeting smallholder farmers and SMEs
• Design and deliver multi-platform campaigns to drive adoption of improved agro-inputs
• Build partnerships with community-based groups, agri-dealers, and local government stakeholders
• Track, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of awareness and demand-generation efforts

Organisations with experience in farmer radio programming, SMS outreach, market-day promotions, or rural mobilization campaigns will have an advantage.

Budget and Duration

The total budget is not pre-fixed but will be allocated based on the proposed scope, target geography, and expected impact. AGRA is committed to funding scalable and context-specific interventions, and the funding size will reflect the ambition and viability of the submitted proposals. Project duration and budget details are expected to be clarified in the second stage after successful EOIs are shortlisted.

Application Process

• Deadline for submission: March 28, 2025
• All EOIs must be submitted through AGRA’s online application portal (link available on the funding page)
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full proposals in the next stage

👉 Full opportunity details and submission link

Final Thoughts

This EOI is a powerful chance for NGOs and rural development actors to make a strategic difference in agricultural markets. By fostering awareness and driving demand at the grassroots level, grantees will help empower farmers and agri-SMEs to embrace modern, sustainable input systems — and ultimately contribute to food security, income generation, and inclusive rural growth. For those exploring funds for NGOs focused on farming communities and agribusiness development, AGRA’s initiative stands out as a meaningful opportunity to lead change where it matters most.