Are you an agri-food entrepreneur in South Africa or another eligible African country with a scalable, impactful business idea? The Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) is now open for applications, and it’s one of the few international grant opportunities designed specifically to support collaborative agri-food projects between African businesses and Ireland.
Backed by the Government of Ireland, the AADP provides grant funding for feasibility studies and full commercial projects that aim to transform Africa’s agri-food systems in a sustainable, inclusive and commercially viable way.
About the AADP
The Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) is a grant initiative launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland , in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine . It aims to support agri-food partnerships that:
- Promote sustainable food systems
- Encourage commercial trade and investment
- Share agricultural knowledge and technology
- Align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Ireland’s international development policy , A Better World
This initiative is designed to transform agri-food systems in Africa , with a strong focus on job creation, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth .
Who Can Apply?
You’re eligible if you are an agri-food business registered in one of the following countries:
South Africa, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
Eligible business structures include:
- SMEs
- Sole traders
- Cooperatives
- Farming groups
- Social enterprises
- Registered commercial networks
- Partnerships
- Companies and micro-enterprises
Your business must be at least 2 years old and officially registered in one of the eligible countries or in Ireland.
Two Grant Streams Available
1. Feasibility Study Grants
Open to single African businesses or partnerships with Irish companies, this grant supports the exploration of new market opportunities and commercial concepts that can transform local food systems.
2. Full Commercial Project Grants
Joint applications between African and Irish agri-food companies are required. These projects must be revenue-generating, scalable, and sustainable—with a strong cross-border collaboration and shared knowledge model.
Project Requirements
Proposals must:
- Be commercial in nature and implemented in one or more eligible African countries
- Align with Ireland’s international development policy, A Better World, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Clearly show why public funding is essential to unlock the initiative
- Highlight the experience and capacity of the applicants
- Include mechanisms for good governance, fraud prevention, and financial management
- Detail how mutual knowledge, trade, and expertise will be shared between Ireland and Africa
Required Supporting Documents
Your application must include:
- A valid Irish Tax Clearance Certificate (even for African applicants)
- A detailed project budget
- A timeline of implementation activities
- A collaboration plan showing how Irish and African partners will work together
Key Dates & How to Apply
- Deadline to apply: 15 August 2025
- More details:
AADP Eligibility & Guidelines - Application form:
Apply for AADP
Related opportunity: Join Limpopo’s First Market Day and Explore Agri Opportunities
Unlocking Global Growth for African Agri-Businesses
AADP is more than just funding—it’s a gateway to global collaboration, market expansion, and sustainable impact. For South African agri-businesses ready to scale with support from global partners, this is a chance to build long-term resilience and profitability.
Whether you’re in agri-processing, input supply, storage, distribution, or farm-level innovation—if you can collaborate with an Irish partner and deliver meaningful impact, this opportunity is for you.
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