Introduction
In an era where food security, climate resilience, and economic stability are more interconnected than ever, the world is turning to technology to help agriculture leap forward. For innovators in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, that means solutions like drones for crop monitoring, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors for soil and environment data, and AI platforms for predictive analytics aren’t just “nice to have” — they are rapidly becoming essential for farmers, agribusinesses, and entire value chains.
Here’s the exciting part: there are open-call grants dedicated specifically to those kinds of AgriTech innovations. These grants seek entities developing tools and technologies for agriculture in emerging markets, especially in regions like Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. For innovators, startups, researchers, and even NGOs operating in those areas, this is a golden opportunity.
In this blog post, we’ll cover:
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Why these grants matter in the context of AgriTech innovation in those regions.
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How to compare different grant calls and choose the right one.
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A detailed step-by-step guide for new applicants.
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Key insights, benefits, and real-world examples of technologies.
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A recommended structure for your proposal and common mistakes to avoid.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) to clarify typical concerns.
Whether you’re developing a drone-based pest-detection system in Kenya or an IoT/AI platform for rice farms in Vietnam — this guide will walk you through how to win funding, step by step.
Why These Open Call Grants for AgriTech Innovation Matter
Context for Southeast Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa
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Smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia play a huge role in global food production, yet they often lack access to modern tech. For example, 85% of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa don’t have reliable energy access, which affects technology adoption and productivity.
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Donor agencies, impact funds and innovation challenges are increasingly targeting agri-technology. For example, the Efficiency for Access R&D Fund launched an AgriTech call to support clean energy agricultural tools in Africa and South Asia.
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Grant calls that specifically mention drones, robotics, IoT, AI or data-driven agriculture signal that the funding community believes technology can help address long-standing issues like post-harvest losses, climate risk adaptation, and market access. For example, an open innovation challenge in Morocco listed “robots and drones as support for human labour” among priority areas.
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For applicants in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, these grants can provide the critical first capital to build a proof-of-concept (POC), pilot in real farms, or scale from lab to field.
What makes these calls “open”?
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They’re open-call rather than closed or invite-only. That means any eligible applicant meeting criteria can apply.
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They usually specify priority regions, e.g., Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa.
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They often articulate priority technologies: drones, IoT, AI, robotics, sensors, data platforms.
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They include funding, mentorship, pilot deployment support, and sometimes market linkage.
So if you’re working on an AgriTech innovation for those regions, these open-call grants are high-value opportunities.
How to Compare Grant Calls – Making the Right Choice
Before you dive into applications, it’s smart to compare different grant calls to pick the best fit. Here’s a table to help you organise comparisons:
| Criteria | Why It Matters | Examples of What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Focus | Ensures your innovation fits the purpose | Does the call explicitly mention drones, IoT, AI, robotics? |
| Geographic Focus | Whether your region is eligible | Are Southeast Asia / Sub-Saharan Africa listed as eligible? |
| Stage of Innovation | POC vs. scaling vs. market-ready | Does it allow early-stage prototypes or only pilots with farms? |
| Grant Size & Support | Determines whether you can deliver your tech | How much funding, and does it include mentorship, pilot costs, travel? |
| Eligibility | Who can apply: startup, NGO, researcher | Are you eligible as an entity? Registration, country-of-residence? |
| Timeline & Deadlines | You’ll need to align your project calendar | When does the call open, application deadline, project start date? |
| Selection Criteria | Understanding scoring helps you tailor application | What evaluation criteria—impact, scalability, tech novelty, team? |
| Commitments Required | After grant, what are your obligations? | Pilot sites, data sharing, publication, co-funding? |
Using this table during your selection process will help you narrow to 1-2 calls that truly fit your innovation.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply (For Newcomers)
Let’s break it down into actionable steps you can follow, especially if this is your first time applying for an open-call AgriTech grant.
Step 1: Identify Suitable Grant Calls
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Monitor impact-funding portals, donor websites, and innovation challenge announcements. Example: The Efficiency for Access site listing an AgriTech call for clean energy agriculture technologies.
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Filter by region (Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa), by technology (drones, IoT, AI), and by stage (prototype, pilot, scale).
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Select 1-2 calls that match your innovation, capacity and timeline.
Step 2: Understand the Call and Eligibility
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Read the call document fully: eligibility, technologies, thematic focus, required deliverables.
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Check if you (your startup/organization) qualify: region, entity type (startup, NGO, research institute), technology stage.
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Note all deadlines and submission portals.
Step 3: Clarify the Problem, Innovation & Impact
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Define clearly the agricultural challenge you target (e.g., “pest detection via drones for smallholder maize farms in Kenya”).
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Explain how your technology (drone + image analytics + IoT sensors) addresses that challenge.
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Outline projected impact: yield improvement, cost reduction, climate resilience, farmer income.
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Highlight scalability in SEA or SSA.
Step 4: Build Your Proposal / Application
Typical components include:
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Executive summary or concept note.
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Problem statement + innovation description.
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Technical approach: how your drones/IoT/AI will work, pilot plan.
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Impact plan: what metrics (yield, income, losses reduced) you will measure.
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Business or sustainability model: after grant, how will you continue?
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Team and capability: your team, expertise, past work.
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Budget and timeline: how much you’ll spend when, cost breakdown.
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Risk management: how you’ll handle technology, climate, adoption risks.
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Monitoring & evaluation (M&E) plan: how you’ll measure success and report.
Step 5: Prepare Supporting Documents
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Company/organisation registration, legal status.
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CVs of key team members.
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Letters of partner organisations (e.g., a farmer organisation, local research institution).
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Evidence of prototype or prior work (if required).
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Financial statements (if required).
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Any compliance documents (environmental, ethics).
Step 6: Submit Application on Time
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Upload in the format required (PDF, online form) via the portal.
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Double-check all fields, names, budgets.
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Meet the deadline and ensure you receive confirmation.
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Some calls allow questions or webinars—participate to clarify.
Step 7: After Submission – Prepare for Selection
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Some grants conduct interviews or ask for a pitch. Be ready to present your innovation, team and impact.
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If shortlisted, respond quickly to any additional requests.
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If unsuccessful, carefully review feedback (if given), refine your innovation and try again.
Step 8: If Awarded – Deliver, Report, Scale
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Review your grant agreement: deliverables, milestones, reporting schedule.
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Implement the pilot or project as described.
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Collect data, report on outcomes and lessons.
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Use the pilot to attract further funding or scale your solution.
Key Insights, Benefits & Real-World Examples
Benefits to You as Innovator
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Access to Seed Funding: Grants help you build or test your tech without relying solely on commercial investment.
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Credibility and Visibility: Winning a grant signals to partners, farmers and investors that your solution is credible.
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Access to Networks: Many grant calls pair innovators with mentors, pilot sites, or investor introductions.
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Scale Potential: With funding and pilot evidence, you can scale through partnerships in SEA or SSA.
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Impact Orientation: These grants emphasise social and environmental returns, potentially attracting further donor/impact investment.
Real-World Example
In one initiative, 11 organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia received funding for “clean energy agricultural technologies” including IoT greenhouse solar dryers, solar-powered chillers for fish value chains, and last-mile cold-chain logistics through innovative hardware.
Another example: A project entitled “Eyes in the Sky, Smart Techs on the Ground” supported youth-led drone enterprises in 21 African countries including pest-monitoring services for farmers, showing how drones and AI are already creating value.
These examples illustrate that grants are not purely theoretical—they fund real technology, real pilots and real impact in your regions.
Your Proposal Structure — Simple, Strong & Focused
Here’s a recommended outline for your application proposal:
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Title: A clear, concise innovation title (e.g., “Drone + AI system for monitoring maize pests at scale in Kenya”).
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Executive Summary: 300-400 words summarising the challenge, solution, target region, expected impact and funding ask.
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Problem Statement: Describe the current agricultural challenge in your region (SEA or SSA) and why existing solutions fall short.
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Innovation Description:
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Technology: drones, IoT sensors, AI analytics.
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How it works: flight plan, data capture, analytics, farmer interface.
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Pilot location: number of farms, seasons, crops.
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Impact & Alignment: Metrics you will target (yield increase %, loss reduction %, income rises, CO₂ reduction, climate resilience). Show alignment with grant’s thematic focus (e.g., smallholder productivity, climate adaptation).
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Scalability & Sustainability: Explain how you will move from pilot to broader adoption (business model, partnerships with local farmer organisations, licensing, data platform).
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Team & Partnerships: Introduce your core team, expertise (drones, software, agronomy), mention local partner(s) (farmer groups, universities).
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Budget & Timeline: Provide month-by-month plan, cost breakdown (hardware, flights, personnel, data costs, farmer training), total funding requested.
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Risk Analysis: Identify key risks (technical failure, farmer adoption, regulation, weather) and mitigation strategies.
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Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): How you will measure success (e.g., field trials before-after, farmer surveys, yield measurement, cost savings) and how you will report.
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Conclusion & Call to Action: Reiterate why your innovation matters and invite the grant-body to support your journey.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | Why It’s a Problem | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Vague problem or innovation description | The reviewers can’t see your unique value | Be specific about region, crop, technology and measurable impact |
| Ignoring local context | Tech may seem disconnected from reality (farmers, infrastructure) | Show your knowledge of local farm systems, partner with local organisations |
| Unrealistic budget or timeline | May signal lack of feasibility | Be conservative and realistic – explain assumptions |
| Weak team / lack of partnership | Tech innovation often fails without local adoption & support | Build partnerships with farmer groups, universities or ag-institutions |
| Late submission or missing documents | Automatic disqualification in many calls | Start early, create checklist, double-check deadlines |
| Assuming grant money covers everything | Some calls require co-funding or exclude certain items | Read the terms carefully, show other resources if required |
FAQs (Concise but Useful)
Q: Can I apply if I’m based in Southeast Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa?
A: Yes, these open-call grants often target those regions specifically. Make sure your region is listed in the call’s eligibility section.
Q: Does my innovation have to involve drones, IoT, and AI?
A: Not always all three, but many calls emphasise technologies like drones, IoT sensors, AI analytics. Review the technology focus in the call. Example: The “AgriTech4Morocco” challenge explicitly listed robots and drones as acceptable solutions.
Q: At what stage of development should my technology be?
A: It depends on the call. Some accept prototypes or proofs of concept (POC), others require pilot-ready solutions. Check the “Scope” or “Stage” section of the call document.
Q: How large are the grants typically?
A: Grant sizes vary widely—from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands USD/Euros. For example, Efficiency for Access awarded US$1.7 million across several innovators in Africa & South Asia.
Q: Do I need to have partnership with farmers or local organisations?
A: Yes—most grants strongly prefer or require local partnerships for pilots, adoption and sustainability.
Q: What happens after the pilot?
A: Many grants expect you to scale your solution or be “investment-ready”. Show in your proposal how you will continue beyond the funded phase.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Technology is no longer optional in agriculture—it’s becoming vital. For innovators in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, the convergence of drones, IoT and AI presents an opportunity not just to participate in the digital future, but to lead it. Open-call grants in AgriTech are your doorway to funding, credibility and impact.
Your next steps:
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Identify one or two suitable open calls that match your region and technology
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Prepare your problem statement, innovation description and plan
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Build partnerships with local farmer groups or research institutions
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Draft your proposal following the structure above
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Submit before the deadline with all required documents and supporting evidence
“Innovation becomes meaningful only when it reaches the farmer, the field and the future food system.”
Take this moment to apply, pilot, and transform agriculture with your technology. Because you don’t just build tech—you build resilience, prosperity and the future.
