The Cashew Matching Grants Fund – The first and only Fund for Cashew worldwide!
As part of a second Phase, the African Cashew initiative (ACi) created a unique Cashew Matching Fund to accelerate the development of the cashew industry by allowing public and private investments to benefit farm productivity and farmer income. The African Cashew Alliance (ACA), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Dutch Sustainable Trade Institute (IDH) make up the Board of the Matching Fund.
The first call for applications was in September 2012, and by beginning of February 2013, 16 projects with a total investment of 6.0 Million Euro started implementation. The grant component from the Cashew Matching Grants Fund is 2.2 Million Euro. Public partners are research institutes as AICAJU, INCAJU and IIAM in Mozambique, CNSF, INERA and URPA in Burkina Faso, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and CRIG in Ghana and INRAB in Benin with a focusing on the development and distribution of improved planting material for enhanced cashew production and productivity. Private Partners include cashew processers – Benin Gold and Tolaro Global in Benin, Gebana in Burkina Faso, OLAM in Ghana and Intersnack in Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Benin – who are implementing projects on effective supply chain linkages.
Currently, trainings by the Matching Fund Unit of ACi are provided on Monitoring and Evaluation Systems as well as on Financial Administration, which is highly appreciated by all partners. During trainings, ACi experts discuss technicalities concerning the project roll out and the identification of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs are defined variables to measure the effectiveness of a project to trace the progress throughout the implementation phase.
While the first projects are implemented, the ACi is already preparing for a second call for applications to be announced after 1st of July, with intended funding by IDH. Again cashew processors, farmer-based organizations, buyers/traders who purchase kernels from Africa, international kernel retailers, private sector foundations and government/research institutions are eligible to apply for grants.
For further information please contact:
Ernest Mintah (Matching Fund Manager)
p +233 302 771807 / 774162
