About

FoodSafety4Africa (FS4Africa) is launching Open Call 2 to support innovation hubs in delivering mentoring and capacity‑building programmes that accelerate innovative business concepts, including social innovation and upscaling. Selected hubs will design and implement structured programmes that refine value propositions, identify target markets in African and European food systems, strengthen business models and revenue streams, and enhance financial sustainability beyond grant funding. The programme also promotes social innovation approaches such as community engagement, gender inclusion, and local embedding; identifies feasible upscaling and replication pathways; improves market access, regulatory awareness, and ecosystem integration; and develops impact measurement and investment‑readiness strategies.

At least five projects will be supported with a total budget of €200,000, providing up to €40,000 per project through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP). Each project must deliver a minimum of six training–mentoring activities over an eight‑month implementation period, with clearly defined objectives, target beneficiaries, learning outcomes, delivery methods, and follow‑up actions. Activities must go beyond lectures, ensuring structured mentoring, measurable outputs, and alignment with FS4Africa objectives. Applicants must also deliver at least two training activities supporting at least two different Open Call 1 beneficiaries, tailored to their food safety challenges.

Eligibility

Applications are open exclusively to innovation hubs, with only one entity permitted per proposal; consortia are not allowed. Eligible applicants must demonstrate capacity to design and implement structured training–mentoring programmes aligned with FS4Africa objectives. Proposals must include activities that support at least two distinct Open Call 1 sub‑projects. Applications that consist solely of lectures without mentoring or measurable outputs will not be considered.

Independent evaluators are also sought to review Open Call 2 applications. Eligible evaluators must be nationals of EU or Horizon Europe associated countries, with expertise in food safety systems and prior experience evaluating European Commission proposals or similar programmes. Knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurship support in the African informal sector is an advantage. Evaluators must not be affiliated with organisations applying to FS4Africa Open Call 2 or participating in the FS4Africa consortium.

Post Date: July 27, 2026