and Energy for Food in MENA
The Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) Call for Innovations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is now open for application.
What is at stake?
The MENA region is subject to a plethora of challenges, including population growth, resource scarcity, water stress, gender inequality, and a high risk for conflict and displacement – all of this in addition to unsustainable agricultural and industrial practices that lead to deteriorating environments, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
This call is designed to support innovations that enable the production of more food with more efficient and sustainable usage of water and energy along the food value chain from farming to end-user, to achieve food security, environmental sustainability, gender equality, poverty reduction, and political and social stability in the region.
Who can apply?
WE4F is looking for innovators (for-profit or non-profit organizations with a sustainable business model) working on local, sustainable, and innovative solutions for pressing challenges in the water, energy, and agriculture sectors in the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, The Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In addition to hard criteria including sales, operational standards, sound management, transparency and accountability, WE4F places a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strict environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria when assessing an innovator's eligibility. WE4F also particularly encourages women-led enterprises and enterprises that make women and base of the pyramid beneficiaries a cornerstone of their business.
Why join WE4F?
The MENA Regional Innovation Hub for WE4F is designed to support innovators in the region in growing their businesses. By tackling matters related to business growth, technical aspects, environmental and social impact, policy and legal barriers and access to finance together with experts, innovators will receive tailored and intense support to help sustainably scaling their enterprises.
Through this competition, WE4F anticipates disbursing $4.5 million USD in award funding in the form of technical assistance and grants, and provide access to regional and global networking and investment matchmaking opportunities. Individual awards for innovators are expected to range from $25,000 USD to $300,000 USD, depending on the type of funding requested.
When and where to apply?
Concept Notes shall be submitted no later than December 15, 2020 at 5:00 PM CET.
Apply through the Online Application Platform where you can also find more information about the call.
Questions shall be submitted in writing no later than November 16, 2020 at 5:00 PM CET to we4f@berytech.org.
All questions will be responded to during the November 23 webinars:
- English webinar at 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM CET
- Arabic webinar at 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM CET