USAID has launched a COVID-19 Food Security Challenge

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the USAID/Nigeria COVID-19 Food Security Challenge, which will grant US$3 million in funding to Nigerian businesses that can help mitigate COVID-19’s effect on the country’s agri-food systems.

Nigeria is currently experiencing a food security crisis, which has been exacerbated by the global pandemic of COVID-19 and its detrimental effect on the country’s food value chain.

Millions of people, especially the most vulnerable households, are at risk of hunger and malnutrition as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s socioeconomic consequences.

In a statement, USAID mission director Anne Patterson said, “We are launching the COVID-19 Food Security Challenge to help innovative Nigerians alleviate food insecurity.”

Patterson said, “This assistance encourages private sector-led solutions to improve food production, processing, and market linkage along the agriculture value chain in a sustainable way across Nigeria.”

USAID has opened applications for commercially viable youth-led and mid-stage food production, processing, and distribution businesses as part of the challenge.

Over the next six months, successful applicants will present proposals that demonstrate how they can help farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain improve agricultural productivity and food security.

The challenge will grant $75,000 to 15 to 25 youth-led businesses and $150,000 to 10 to 15 mid-stage businesses.

Winners will receive funding and technical assistance to rapidly enhance their activities to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on Nigeria’s food value chain and boost vulnerable households’ resilience to the pandemic’s negative effects.

The deadline for applications is May 9th.

Visit this link for more details or to apply.