FS4Africa Opens Call 2: Up to $40,000 Funding Available for African and European Food Innovation Hubs

FS4Africa Open Call 2 2026 | Up to $40,000 Funding for Food Innovation Hubs. Apply for the FS4Africa Open Call 2 2026 and secure up to $40,000 in funding for innovation hubs supporting African and European food entrepreneurs, startups, and agrifood innovations.

The FS4Africa Open Call 2 (OC2) is now accepting applications from innovation hubs across Africa and Europe seeking funding to accelerate food innovation and entrepreneurship. Supported under the FS4Africa project, this funding opportunity will award up to $40,000 to selected projects that strengthen innovation ecosystems by mentoring startups, supporting social innovation, and accelerating sustainable agrifood business ideas.

With five additional projects set to receive financial support, this call presents an excellent opportunity for organizations committed to advancing innovative food systems and fostering entrepreneurship across Africa and Europe.

About the FS4Africa Open Call 2

The FS4Africa Open Call 2 aims to provide financial support to third parties—specifically innovation hubs—to strengthen innovation within the food sector.

Selected innovation hubs will work closely with:

Use case partners
Beneficiaries from FS4Africa Open Call 1
Food entrepreneurs
Startups
Emerging innovators

The program focuses on providing mentoring, business acceleration, and innovation support to develop scalable food-related businesses capable of creating sustainable economic and social impact.

Funding Overview

Details	Information
Programme	FS4Africa Open Call 2 (OC2)
Funding Focus	Food Innovation & Business Acceleration
Eligible Applicants	Innovation Hubs
Funding Amount	Up to US$40,000
Number of Projects	Five (5)
Opening Date	18 May 2026
Application Deadline	31 August 2026 (17:00 CET)

Objectives of Open Call 2

The programme seeks to strengthen the innovation ecosystem by enabling selected innovation hubs to:

Mentor food entrepreneurs and startups.
Accelerate innovative business concepts.
Support social innovation initiatives.
Help promising businesses scale.
Strengthen African and European food innovation ecosystems.
Build entrepreneurial capacity among beneficiaries.
Promote sustainable agrifood innovation.

Who Can Apply?

Open Call 2 is intended for innovation hubs capable of supporting entrepreneurial development within the food sector.

Successful applicants should be able to provide:

Business mentoring
Startup acceleration
Innovation support
Capacity-building activities
Entrepreneurial coaching
Ecosystem development services

The call specifically targets organizations that can help entrepreneurs transform innovative food-related ideas into scalable businesses.

What Activities Will Be Supported?

Selected innovation hubs will provide structured support to entrepreneurs through activities such as:

Mentoring programmes
Business acceleration
Innovation coaching
Startup support
Business model development
Social innovation guidance
Upscaling strategies
Entrepreneurial capacity development

These activities are expected to strengthen innovation within both African and European food systems.

Funding Benefits

Successful applicants may receive funding of up to US$40,000 to support activities including:

Mentorship programmes
Innovation acceleration
Capacity building
Entrepreneur training
Business support initiatives
Startup ecosystem development
Innovation management

Expected Impact

The FS4Africa initiative aims to create stronger connections between African and European innovation ecosystems while supporting sustainable food systems through entrepreneurship.

The programme seeks to:

Encourage innovative food businesses.
Strengthen startup ecosystems.
Improve knowledge transfer.
Support sustainable food production.
Promote inclusive economic growth.
Foster social innovation.
Increase collaboration between Africa and Europe.

Application Documents

Applicants should carefully review the official documentation before submitting an application. Available resources include:

Applicant’s Guide
Proposal Template
Budget Template
Declaration of Honour

Applications that follow the guidance provided in these official documents are more likely to meet the programme requirements.

How to Apply

Interested innovation hubs should:

Review the official Applicant’s Guide and supporting documents.
Prepare a proposal outlining the planned innovation support activities.
Complete the required application templates.
Submit all required documentation before the application deadline.
Ensure the proposal aligns with the objectives of FS4Africa Open Call 2.

Application Deadline

Deadline: 31 August 2026 (17:00 CET)

Late applications are typically not considered, so applicants are encouraged to prepare and submit their proposals well before the closing date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many projects will receive funding?

The programme will fund five additional projects through Open Call 2.

Who is the target applicant?

The call is specifically designed for innovation hubs that can provide mentoring, acceleration, and business development support.

What is the funding amount?

Selected projects may receive up to US$40,000 in financial support.

What is the main objective?

The programme aims to strengthen food innovation by supporting innovation hubs that mentor entrepreneurs and accelerate innovative food business concepts across Africa and Europe.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

The FS4Africa Open Call 2 goes beyond providing financial support by strengthening innovation ecosystems that help food entrepreneurs transform promising ideas into scalable businesses. Through mentoring, acceleration, and collaboration between African and European innovation hubs, the programme contributes to more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Final Thoughts

The FS4Africa Open Call 2 offers an outstanding opportunity for innovation hubs working in the agrifood sector to access up to US$40,000 in funding while supporting the next generation of food entrepreneurs. If your organization has experience in mentoring startups, promoting social innovation, and accelerating sustainable food businesses, this programme provides valuable resources to expand your impact across Africa and Europe.

Keywords: FS4Africa Open Call 2 2026, FS4Africa funding, food innovation grants, Africa innovation hubs, Europe innovation hubs, agrifood funding, startup accelerator grants, food entrepreneurship funding, innovation hub grants, social innovation funding, sustainable food systems, startup mentoring, agribusiness grants, European Union food innovation, food startup accelerator.

APPLY NOW