The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has officially launched its 9th Call for Proposals, inviting eligible low-income countries to apply for approximately US$163 million in grant financing to strengthen agriculture, improve food security, and build resilient food systems. This funding opportunity comes at a crucial time as countries continue to face the impacts of climate change, conflict, economic instability, and rising food and fertilizer costs.
The new funding round supports country-led investment projects that promote sustainable agricultural development, improve rural livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and increase market access for smallholder farmers. Between 6 and 10 projects are expected to receive funding through this competitive call.
Governments of eligible countries are encouraged to prepare strong, collaborative proposals that align with national development priorities and the GAFSP Strategic Plan (2025–2030).
About the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP)
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) is an international financing mechanism that supports investments aimed at reducing hunger, improving nutrition, and strengthening sustainable agriculture in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Through grants and partnerships, GAFSP helps governments implement long-term agricultural development programmes that improve productivity, strengthen food systems, increase resilience to climate change, and support rural economic growth.
The programme emphasizes country ownership, stakeholder participation, and partnerships with international development organizations to maximize development impact.
Funding Available
Under the 9th Call for Proposals, GAFSP will provide approximately:
- US$163 million in grant financing
The programme expects to finance:
- 6 to 10 country-led investment projects
Funding will support scalable, high-impact initiatives that contribute to long-term food security and agricultural development.
Priority Areas
The 9th Call places strong emphasis on innovative and integrated approaches that support:
Agricultural Productivity
- Improving crop and livestock productivity
- Strengthening agricultural value chains
- Supporting sustainable farming systems
Climate Resilience
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Adaptation to climate shocks
- Sustainable natural resource management
Market Access
- Improving market connectivity
- Strengthening agricultural supply chains
- Supporting rural economic development
Women and Girls
- Women’s economic empowerment
- Gender-inclusive agriculture
- Increased participation of women in food systems
Sustainable Food Systems
- Inclusive agricultural development
- Food security and nutrition
- Long-term resilience of food systems
The programme also encourages stronger collaboration among governments, private sector organizations, producer groups, civil society, and development partners.
Who Can Apply?
The Country-Led Call for Proposals is open only to:
- National governments of eligible countries
Applications must be prepared by governments in partnership with an approved GAFSP Supervising Entity and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Organizations not eligible to apply directly include:
- NGOs
- Civil society organizations
- Farmer organizations
- Private companies
- Universities
- Research institutions
- Local governments
- Individuals
Although these organizations cannot submit proposals independently, they are encouraged to participate in proposal preparation through collaboration with their national governments.
Eligible Supervising Entities
Each proposal must be supported by an approved GAFSP Supervising Entity.
Eligible investment Supervising Entities include:
- African Development Bank (AfDB)
- Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
- World Bank
For technical assistance activities, governments may also work with:
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- World Food Programme (WFP)
These organizations support project preparation and implementation according to their respective operational procedures.
Co-financing Requirement
A key requirement of the 9th Call is mandatory co-financing.
Important points include:
- Proposals without co-financing are ineligible.
- Both cash and in-kind contributions are accepted.
- Applicants must provide evidence of secured or expected co-financing.
Additional scoring is awarded for:
- Co-financing from non-official development assistance sources (such as governments or the private sector).
- Total co-financing equal to or greater than 50% of the requested GAFSP grant.
Proposal Evaluation
Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate:
- Strong country ownership
- High implementation readiness
- Innovative project design
- Robust stakeholder engagement
- Meaningful collaboration with farmers, civil society, and the private sector
- Sustainable and scalable development outcomes
These criteria are intended to ensure that funded projects deliver lasting improvements to food security and rural livelihoods.
Why This Funding Matters
The 9th Call responds to growing global challenges affecting food production and agricultural systems.
Supported projects are expected to:
- Increase agricultural productivity
- Strengthen climate resilience
- Improve nutrition and food security
- Enhance rural incomes
- Support smallholder farmers
- Build stronger agricultural markets
- Promote inclusive economic development
The programme places particular emphasis on supporting countries facing fragile conditions and increasing resilience to future crises.
Application Process
Eligible governments should prepare proposals in consultation with their chosen Supervising Entity and relevant national stakeholders.
Applicants should:
- Review the official proposal guidelines.
- Complete the required proposal template.
- Prepare the budget template.
- Secure the necessary co-financing documentation.
- Submit all required materials before the deadline.
According to the official announcement, the submission deadline for proposals and supporting documents is 15 September 2026.
Final Thoughts
The GAFSP 9th Call for Proposals 2026 offers an important opportunity for eligible governments to secure substantial grant funding for agriculture and food security initiatives. With approximately US$163 million available, the programme aims to support transformative investments that improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food systems, empower rural communities, and build resilience to future challenges.
Governments planning to apply should begin coordinating with their selected Supervising Entity and national stakeholders as early as possible to develop competitive, high-quality proposals before the application deadline.
Keywords
GAFSP 2026, GAFSP 9th Call for Proposals, Agriculture Grants 2026, Food Security Grants, Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, Government Grants, International Development Funding, Agricultural Development Grants, Climate Resilience Funding, Smallholder Farmers Grant, Rural Development Grants, Food Systems Funding, Sustainable Agriculture Grants, Agriculture Project Funding, Development Finance, World Bank Agriculture Grants, IFAD Grants, AfDB Agriculture Funding, ADB Development Grants, FAO Agriculture Programmes, WFP Development Funding, Grant Opportunities 2026, Government Agriculture Projects, Agricultural Investment Grants, Climate Smart Agriculture, Food Security Projects, International Grant Funding, Agriculture Financing, Rural Livelihoods, Low Income Countries Funding
