The UK Department for International Development (DFID) is launching a Challenge Fund to support the development and testing of innovative approaches and partnerships for strengthening land governance, with a specific focus on piloting approaches to responsible land-related investments. The geographic focus is on 7 countries in Africa: Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia and Sierra Leone.
The Challenge Fund is launched under DFID’s LEGEND programme—or Land: Enhancing Governance for Economic Development—which aims to improve land rights protection, knowledge and information, and responsible land investment.
The Challenge Fund provides funding for specific projects that are clearly linked to results. The funding duration is flexible ranging from 12 to 30 months, but all projects must end by latest December 2018. The amount of funding available is broad to allow flexibility to suit a range of projects. Each application will be expected to justify the level of funding that is requested.
The Fund has two concurrent “windows” through which applicants can apply for grants:
Window 1: Responsible Land-Based Agricultural Investments
The purpose of this window is to test the New Alliance’s Due Diligence tool (the Analytical Framework for Due Diligence in Responsible Land-Based Agricultural Investments). The geographic focus of this window is on the four target countries that are participating in the New Alliance: Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.
Project proposals are expected to reflect the approach specified in the New Alliance DD tool which identifies a number of issues to be considered in the due diligence process. See: https://www.growafrica.com/sites/default/files/Analytical-framework-for-land-based-investments-in-African-agriculture_0.pdf
In addition, project proposals could include complementary activities to be implemented alongside the New Alliance DD. These activities would help to make the due diligence process effective and enable responsible and inclusive agricultural investments.
Window 2: Open Innovation
The Open Innovation Window is for testing innovative approaches to responsible land-based investments consistent with the principles of the VGGT. These ideas would also aim to generate shared value for local people/local economies and business. This could involve investments in agriculture but may also involve investments for mining, forestry, natural products, infrastructure, energy, tourism etc., or private investments that contribute to stronger land governance or more secure land rights. The window is open to projects in 7 African countries: Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Zambia.
For more information, visit Landportal.info.