Common Fund for Commodities: Impact finance for global value chain to support SMEs in the commodity sector
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) invites applications for financial support from qualifying projects. The CFC can offer a range of financial and technical instruments of support to meet specific needs of SMEs/enterprises, cooperatives, and institutions along the entire commodity value chain in its member countries.
Eligible projects are based in one of the CFC Member Countries and intend to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals by investing in commodity value chains. Successful applications will demonstrate clear and visible potential to achieve sustainable positive impact on the livelihoods of the poorest people who depend on commodities.
OUR MISSION
To contribute to poverty alleviation by strengthening the income-generating capacity of commodity producers and mitigating vulnerability to their economic well being.
OUR VISION
To strengthen and diversify the commodity sector in developing countries and transform it to be a major contributor to poverty alleviation and sustained economic growth and development.
With poverty alleviation as our mission, the CFC will support proposals investing in poorest and most vulnerable people in the global value chains, which may concern production, processing, financing, marketing, research and development (R&D), etc.
Quality project proposals from LDCs (Least Developed Countries), LLDCs (Landlocked Developing Countries) and SIDs (Small Island Developing States) will be given priority to alleviate more people of poverty.
The CFC expects that its involvement will enable innovation for positive change in the value chain, providing more income for all participants, securing equitable distribution of benefits, and contributing to social and environmental well-being of its poorest participants at the bottom of the pyramid.
The CFC encourages applications proposing innovative solutions for the commodity sector. These may include new agritech applications, agroforestry, agro-ecology themed innovative productivity practices, regenerative technologies, increased availability of renewable and affordable energy, expanding environmental services, expediting digital and green recovery, adding to the nutrition security, climate friendly practices contributing to biodiversity, preventing deforestation, digitalization, blockchain and other traceability solutions.
Financing can be provided in the form of loans for capital expenditures, working capital or trade finance to invest in productivity and value chain upgrading involving smallholders and/or SMEs. Applications should clearly show operational and financial viability, and be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Women entrepreneurs are especially encouraged to apply.
How to apply:
All interested SMEs/enterprises/cooperatives/governments are kindly invited to submit qualifying proposals no later than 15 September 2022.
Please note that Application form and Balance Sheet/Income Statement may be submitted in English only.
For full details, please download the call for proposals and submission guidelines: https://www.common-fund.org/call-for-proposals/
