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Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals

24th Call for Proposals

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/businesses, 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 from 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, financial inclusion, 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/business/cooperatives/governments are kindly invited to

submit qualifying proposals no later than 1 April 2024.

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 application form and the Balance Sheet/Income statement:

  • Application form (PDF and Word)
  • Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Excel)

 

Application form and Balance Sheet/Income Statement in other languages please see below:

OPENCALL WEBINAR SCHEDULE 2024

24th Call for Proposals

Tuesday, 16 January 2024, 15:00 - 16:00 CET

 

Thursday, 7 March 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 CET
 
25th Call for Proposals

Tuesday, 7 May 2024, 15:00 - 16:00 CET
Register here

Thursday, 5 September 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 CET
Register here

Webinar Videos

Webinar 24th Call for Proposals, 7 March 2024

Webinar 24th Call for Proposals, 16 January 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Application forms may be submitted in English only.

Yes, if the country where your project will operate is a Member State* of the CFC, you are eligible to apply for the proposal to be implemented within a Member State. 

* https://common-fund.org/about-us/member-states

Yes, provided that all activities financed by the CFC are implemented in a Member State of the CFC.

The CFC does not finance start-up companies.

Eligible proposals must demonstrate a track record of at least 3 years (addressing substantive as well as financial issues). 

The existence of a credible historical period of operations (documented by audited financial statements) is important.

The goal of the CFC is to advance development in commodity-dependent developing countries.

Matters covered by other international organisations, such as research, humanitarian aid, educational, medical issues fall outside the CFC’s mandate.

SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals (UN).

For further information, please refer to the website of the UN https://sdgs.un.org

IRR%: Internal Rate of Return

The CFC funds projects with loan and other debt instruments.

The maximum amount is USD 1.5 million for regular projects, and up to USD 300,000 under the Fast-Track procedure.

However, we show some flexibility when we have projects with higher impacts and good case of finance.

This will be determined depending on the type of project and the risk attached to it.

CFC offers affordable and competitive financing terms and conditions that are tailored to the risk profile and requirements of the borrower.

For certain projects with the appropriate risk profile, the CFC can offer a grace period on its loans, not exceeding 2 years.

The CFC will only contact proponents of proposals that are deemed suitable for further consideration by the Consultative Committee.

If you have not heard from us two weeks after the dates of Consultative Committee meeting, the proposal was not recommended for follow-up.

Please provide a summary of impact indicators consistently with the impact projections in the Excel template attached with the application.

Section 8.1 lists the documents required by the CFC. An application form without these documents will be incomplete.

Section 8.2 lists the documents which are desirable but can be omitted at the application stage.