The Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF), in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, invites young and emerging agripreneurs to participate in the Build Your AgriCanvas. Build Your Future initiative. This programme calls for innovative agribusiness ideas focused on the cocoa, maize, livestock (cattle, sheep, goats), and cashew value chains, offering participants the chance to transform ideas into sustainable, investment-ready enterprises.
Agriculture remains the foundation of many African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) economies. However, micro and small agribusinesses often lack the necessary tools, skills, and investment readiness to scale effectively. The Agribusiness e-Academy, an initiative under ABF, bridges this gap by providing accessible, high-quality training to entrepreneurs seeking to enhance their agribusiness competencies. With more than 55,000 learners already enrolled, the platform continues to empower agripreneurs with essential business, climate adaptation, and investment skills.
Empowering Agripreneurs for Sustainable Growth
The Build Your AgriCanvas competition offers participants the opportunity to develop their business concepts into market-ready, climate-smart ventures. The programme promotes inclusive, sustainable, and profitable value chains—encouraging participation from women and youth while fostering resilience against the impacts of climate change.
Eligible participants must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Reside in a member state of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS)
- Work within one or more of the following value chains: cocoa, maize, cashew, or livestock (cattle, sheep, goats)
Participation and training are entirely free of charge, ensuring equitable access to learning and competition opportunities for all.
Participants who have completed the Agribusiness e-Academy courses are encouraged to apply their knowledge by developing an AgriCanvas—a business model canvas that outlines their vision for a viable agribusiness project. This submission serves as a strategic blueprint, showcasing how the idea integrates sustainability, profitability, and innovation within the targeted value chains.
Awards and Benefits
Selected winners will receive valuable support to advance their agribusiness goals. Prizes include:
- EUR 2,000 in direct business funding
- Digital equipment such as laptops, tablets, or software tools
- Expert mentoring, training, and incubation support
- Networking opportunities with financial institutions and investors
By supporting promising agripreneurs, ABF aims to strengthen climate-resilient agricultural practices and stimulate inclusive economic growth across ACP countries.
Competition Timeline
The competition features three submission windows:
- Window 1: 15 September – 7 November 2025
- Window 2: 1 February – 30 April 2026
- Window 3: 1 June – 31 August 2026
Each window offers a new opportunity for participants to refine and resubmit their ideas. The learning pathway requires approximately 8.5 hours to complete, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of agribusiness development fundamentals.
Steps to Apply
- Register on the Agribusiness e-Academy platform.
- Complete three mandatory courses:
- Climate-Smart Agribusiness Adaptation
- Business Model Canvas
- Creating an Investment-Ready Agribusiness (unlocked after completing the first two)
- Develop your AgriCanvas using the official template provided within the final course module.
This collaborative effort aligns with global objectives to enhance competitiveness, create jobs, and foster climate-resilient agricultural development across ACP regions.
Matching Grant Fund (MGF)
In parallel, the Matching Grant Fund (MGF) provides additional opportunities for legally registered private-sector entities, including farmer organisations, processors, and training institutions. Through this mechanism, eligible applicants can access up to 50% of their project budget, with funding reaching as high as EUR 100,000. Preference is given to projects from countries or regions with fewer prior beneficiaries to ensure balanced regional participation.
The MGF process includes several phases—concept submission, technical proposal development, evaluation, contracting, and implementation—ensuring transparency and quality across all selected projects. Consortia are strongly encouraged, particularly partnerships involving private enterprises, NGOs, and research institutions.
Driving Inclusive and Climate-Smart Innovation
Through its combined initiatives, ABF fosters an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive sustainably. By promoting innovation within the cocoa, maize, cashew, and livestock sectors, the programme contributes to job creation, food security, and climate resilience. It also supports gender equality and youth empowerment by prioritising inclusive participation throughout its training and funding activities.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Terms and Conditions, attend webinars, and consult FAQs for guidance. All relevant templates, forms, and supporting materials are available in the ABF Downloads section.
Conclusion
The Build Your AgriCanvas initiative represents more than a competition—it is a platform for transformation. By equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, skills, and resources they need, the programme supports a new generation of agripreneurs who are shaping the future of sustainable agribusiness across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific
