Cultivate Africa's Future

Africa has the highest proportion of undernourished people in the world. Research has considerable potential to improve the food security situation by demonstrating how effective interventions can be undertaken. Investing in small-scale agriculture is one of the most effective ways to meet the food security needs of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, while building economic livelihoods. Food security in Africa depends on three factors:
-improving post-harvest systems;
-deepening understanding of the linkages between agricultural production and human nutrition; and,
-improving water usage and management practices.

This project aims to support applied research in these three areas, with the goal of improving food security. The research team will focus on small-scale farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. They will identify innovations and mechanisms for scaling up the most promising results to practice and policy.

Ten Eastern and Southern African countries will form part of this research: Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The project team will select projects using an open competitive call where applicants will submit a concept note, followed by a full proposal for successful applicants. Projects with a value ranging from CA$1 to $3 million will receive funding for a maximum of 30 months.