FS4Africa Open Call 2: Up to €40,000 Grant for African Food Safety Innovation Hubs

Applications are now open for the FS4Africa Open Call 2 (OC2), a Horizon Europe-funded grant programme designed to strengthen Africa’s food safety innovation ecosystem. The initiative provides up to €40,000 in fully funded support to innovation hubs that can deliver training, mentoring, business acceleration, and capacity-building programmes focused on improving food safety across African agrifood systems.

The programme seeks experienced innovation hubs that can empower entrepreneurs, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and food system actors by helping them develop, test, and scale innovative food safety solutions.

By investing in innovation ecosystems, FS4Africa aims to contribute to safer food systems, stronger regional trade, improved public health, and sustainable agricultural development across the continent.

About FS4Africa Open Call 2

FS4Africa Open Call 2 is part of the FS4Africa Horizon Europe project, which supports innovation and collaboration to improve food safety throughout Africa’s agrifood value chains.

The programme funds innovation hubs capable of delivering structured support programmes that enhance business readiness, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and accelerate the commercialization of food safety innovations.

Selected organizations will play a key role in building Africa’s innovation ecosystem while supporting startups and innovators addressing critical food safety challenges.

Funding Overview

Successful applicants may receive:

Funding Type: Grant
Maximum Funding: Up to €40,000 per project
Funding Rate: 100% funded
Total Call Budget: €200,000
Expected Number of Projects: At least 5

The funding is intended to support activities that strengthen innovation capacity and accelerate practical food safety solutions.

Programme Objectives

The Open Call aims to:

Strengthen Africa’s food safety innovation ecosystem
Improve entrepreneurial capacity within agrifood systems
Support startups and SMEs working on food safety challenges
Increase market readiness of innovative food safety solutions
Promote sustainable and resilient food systems
Improve food security and public health
Support regional trade through improved food quality and safety standards

Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

Food safety in African agrifood systems
Agrifood innovation
Entrepreneurship
Startup acceleration
Capacity building
Innovation ecosystem development
Digital agriculture
Food quality assurance
Aflatoxin management
Reduction of pesticide residues
Safe aquaculture
Management of microbial contamination
Food safety in informal food markets

Projects should clearly demonstrate how their proposed activities contribute to strengthening food safety innovation across Africa.

Required Activities

Selected innovation hubs will be expected to deliver a structured programme consisting of at least six activities.

These activities include:

Training programmes
Mentoring sessions
Business acceleration
Capacity-building initiatives
Support for Open Call 1 beneficiaries
Support for FS4Africa Use Cases

Training may be delivered through various formats, including:

Webinars
Workshops
Online courses
Mentoring clinics
Innovation bootcamps

Applicants should present a clear implementation plan outlining how these activities will be delivered during the project period.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

Apply as a single legal entity (consortia are not permitted)
Be an established innovation hub with demonstrated experience supporting innovation
Be located in an eligible Horizon Europe country or an eligible low- or middle-income country
Innovation hubs located outside Africa must demonstrate previous experience supporting African innovation ecosystems
Have proven experience delivering:
- Training programmes
- Mentoring
- Business acceleration
- Incubation services
Focus on strengthening food safety innovation ecosystems

Organizations should have the capacity to support entrepreneurs and innovators working within Africa’s agrifood sector.

Required Application Documents

Applicants are required to submit:

Completed application form
Project proposal
Budget template
Declaration of Honour
Bank account information
Supporting organizational documents

Incomplete applications may not be considered during the evaluation process.

Why Apply?

The FS4Africa Open Call 2 offers several advantages for eligible innovation hubs, including:

Up to €40,000 in non-dilutive grant funding
Opportunity to strengthen Africa’s food safety ecosystem
Support for innovation-driven entrepreneurship
Enhanced collaboration with Horizon Europe initiatives
Contribution to sustainable agriculture and food security
Increased visibility within African innovation networks
Opportunity to support startups addressing major food safety challenges

The programme also provides an opportunity to strengthen institutional capacity while contributing to long-term economic and public health outcomes.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Interested organizations are encouraged to begin preparing their proposals early to ensure sufficient time to complete all required documentation.

Final Thoughts

The FS4Africa Open Call 2 represents an excellent funding opportunity for African innovation hubs committed to strengthening food safety, supporting agrifood entrepreneurs, and building sustainable innovation ecosystems. With up to €40,000 in fully funded support, successful organizations can deliver impactful training, mentoring, and business acceleration programmes that help innovative food safety solutions reach the market and improve livelihoods across the continent.

Innovation hubs with experience supporting startups, SMEs, and food system innovators are encouraged to submit competitive proposals before the application deadline.

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