The Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI), in partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and with support from the CGIAR Science Programme on Policy Innovations, and the Digital Transformation Accelerator, invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and development actors to submit abstracts for a pre-conference workshop on The Political Economy of AI in African Agrifood Systems. The workshop will be held on the margins of the 13th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 26 October 2026. ANAPRI and IFPRI are currently seeking funding for bursaries for travel and participation of delegates with selected abstract submissions.Background and Rationale Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being positioned as a transformative force in African food, land, and water systems (FLWS). Through large scale data collection, predictive analytics and personalized advisory tools, AI is framed by many policymakers and tech companies as a solution to persistent challenges of food insecurity, climate vulnerability and public service delivery. Yet these promises raise urgent questions. Who controls the data and infrastructures on which AI systems depend? How are digital tools being used to support policymaking, organize public life, and shape relations between citizens, states, markets, and development actors? And how are the benefits and risks of AI distributed across places already marked by unequal access to resources, political unrest, and limited technological capacity? This call for abstracts invites contributions that critically examine the political economy of AI in FLWS. We are particularly interested in work that moves beyond either technological optimism or blanket critique, and instead investigates how AI is being imagined, institutionalized, contested, and made consequential in specific social, ecological, and political contexts. In doing so, the collection asks how policy research institutions can help governments navigate this rapidly shifting landscape, build regulatory and institutional capacity, and inform policy change that are grounded in the needs, priorities, and aspirations of smallholder farmers and other FLWS actors.Workshop Objectives The workshop aims to create a space for comparative learning on how AI is being governed, contested, and applied in FLWS. Rather than treating AI governance as a technical or universal policy challenge, the event will examine how lessons from different institutional, political, and infrastructural settings can inform more effective governance approaches in Africa. In addition to the presentation of new research, it will bring together researchers, policymakers, technology actors, civil society, and ANAPRI member institutions to identify what is already being learned from practice, where policy gaps remain, and how evidence can support national, regional, and continental strategies that are responsive to the needs of smallholder farmers and rural communities.Thematic Areas We welcome empirical, conceptual, methodological, and policy-oriented contributions addressing one or more of the following themes: 1. Data governance and digital infrastructure: who controls the means? AI systems depend on data: who collects it, who owns it, who can access it, and who has the authority to interpret and act on it. In African food, land, and water systems, these questions are closely tied to histories of extraction, unreliable and inaccessible digital infrastructure, weak regulatory capacity, and fragmented institutional arrangements. Abstracts under this theme may explore topics such as agricultural data governance, data sovereignty, digital public infrastructure, platformization, interoperability, cybersecurity, privacy, consent, and the role of public, private, and development actors in building and governing AI-ready data ecosystems. 2. AI and the organization of public life: who shapes decisions? AI and other digital tools are increasingly being introduced into policy processes, public administration, agricultural extension, environmental monitoring, social protection, and other aspects of public life. These tools may support decision-making, improve coordination, or make public systems more responsive. At the same time, they may shift accountability, obscure political choices, or embed particular assumptions about efficiency, expertise, and development. Abstracts under this theme may present, demonstrate, or assess AI-enabled tools for policy and public systems, while also critically examining their risks, limitations, and governance implications. We welcome contributions on decision-support systems, dashboards, predictive models, advisory platforms, monitoring systems, and other tools that raise questions of accountability, transparency, bias, exclusion, institutional dependency, and public value. 3. AI in the majority world: who benefits, and who bears the risks? The development and deployment of AI in African FLWS is marked by unequal access to resources, political instability, limited technological capacity, and uneven institutional authority. These conditions shape who is able to benefit from AI-enabled systems, who bears their risks, and whose interests are reflected in emerging policy and regulatory frameworks. Abstracts under this theme may examine how AI policies, investment decisions, data governance arrangements, and regulatory frameworks reduce or reinforce existing inequalities. We welcome contributions on the distributional consequences of AI for smallholder farmers, pastoralists, fishers, women, youth, rural communities, displaced populations, and other groups whose livelihoods depend on FLWS. Who Should Submit? This call welcomes interdisciplinary contributions from scholars and practitioners working across agriculture, economics, political science, data science, development studies, sociology, ICT policy, law, agronomy, and related fields. Submissions from African institutions, early-career researchers, women researchers, policymakers, farmer organisations, NGOs, and development practitioners are particularly encouraged. We also welcome contributions that present work on/from all majority world/Global South geographies that are relevant for sub-Saharan Africa.Abstract Submission and Guidelines to Authors Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026 Notification of Acceptance: 31 August 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop: 26 October 2026 13th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders Conference: 27–29 October 2026Guidelines for Submissions Please review the guidelines before submitting. Access the submission guidelines here.https://www.anapri.net/call-for-abstracts-the-political-economy-of-ai-in-african-agrifood-systems/  Read more

Deadline: Nov 15, 2026 Donor: International Finance Corporation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: More than $1 million Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Eswatini, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan Area: Business & Industry, Businesses, Companies and Enterprises, Capacity Building, Learning, Employment & Labor, Equipment, Research, Technology The SME Growth Accelerator Program helps small and medium enterprises grow, expand into new markets, and strengthen their business capacity through funding and mentorship support. For more information, visit https://ifcgrants.org/grants/sme-growth-accelerator Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/open-call-sme-growth-accelerator-program Read more

Deadline: Sep 30, 2026 Donor: International Finance Corporation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: More than $1 million Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia Federated States Of, Moldova Republic Of, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Togo, Tonga, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, South Sudan Area: Agriculture Food & Nutrition, Business & Industry, Infrastructure, Climate Change The Climate Resilience Fund provides flexible financing to private sector projects that enhance climate adaptation and resilience in vulnerable regions. For more information, visit https://ifcgrants.org/grants/climate-resilience-fund-2026 Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/submit-applications-for-climate-resilience-fund Read more

Deadline: Jul 07, 2026 Donor: African Center for Economic Transformation Grant Type: Events Grant Size: Not Available Countries/Regions: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo DR, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan Area: Education, Environment, Health care, Individuals, Innovation, Leadership, Sustainable Development, Youth & Adolescents Applications are now open for the young Africans to engage in simulated policymaking processes that strengthen governance thinking and practical problem-solving skills. For more information, visit https://acetforafrica.org/youth-policy-lab/ Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/Call-for-Applications-ACET-Youth-Policy-Lab-2026 Read more

Deadline: Jun 26, 2026 Donor: WomHub Grant Type: Training Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000 Countries/Regions: South Africa Area: Business & Industry, Entrepreneurship, Startups, Innovation, Leadership, Gender Equality, Women & Gender The Women in Tech Incubator South Africa is requesting applications to support women innovators in STEM with resources, training, and business development opportunities. For more information, visit https://www.womhub.com/scwomenintech4.html Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/applications-open-for-women-in-tech-incubator-south-africa Read more

Deadline: Dec 01, 2026 Donor: International Finance Corporation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: More than $1 million Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Congo DR, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Eswatini, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan Area: Business & Industry, Capacity Building, Learning, Equipment, Health care, Research, Technology The Healthcare Access Initiative is now accepting applications to support projects that improve healthcare access and patient outcomes for low-income communities. For more information, visit https://ifcgrants.org/grants/healthcare-access-initiative Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/request-for-applications-healthcare-access-initiative Read more

Deadline: Jun 30, 2026 Donor: United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: Not Available Countries/Regions: Malawi Area: Agriculture Food & Nutrition, Business & Industry, Capacity Building, Farmers/Ranchers, Individuals The United Nations Development Programme is seeking applications to support agricultural commercialisation in Malawi through mentorship and off-taking services. For more information, visit https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=98851 Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/cfas-strengthening-agriculture-commercialisation-project-in-malawi Read more

Deadline: Oct 10, 2026 Donor: International Finance Corporation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: More than $1 million Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo DR, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Reunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe Area: Agriculture Food & Nutrition, Farming, Food Safety, Business & Industry, Capacity Building, Learning, Climate Change, Equipment, Research, Technology The Agritech Modernization Grant offers to support modernizing smallholder farming systems using technology and climate-smart practices to improve incomes and food security. For more information, visit https://ifcgrants.org/grants/agritech-modernization Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/applications-open-for-agritech-modernization-grant Read more

Deadline: Aug 20, 2026 Donor: International Finance Corporation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: $500,000 to $1 million Countries/Regions: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia Federated States Of, Moldova Republic Of, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Eswatini, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Togo, Tonga, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, South Sudan Area: Business & Industry, Leadership, Women & Gender The Women-Led Business Grant Program is requesting applications to support women-led high-impact ventures by combining non-dilutive funding with leadership coaching and access to a global peer network to support scalable and inclusive business growth. For more information, visit https://ifcgrants.org/grants/women-led-business-grant Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/open-call-for-women-led-business-grant-program Read more

Deadline: Jun 30, 2026 Donor: DW Akademie Grant Type: Training Grant Size: Not Available Countries/Regions: Tanzania, Uganda Area: Capacity Building, Individuals, Leadership, Women & Gender, Youth & Adolescents The DW Akademie is seeking committed community champions from rural and peri-urban areas in Uganda and Tanzania who have a strong idea for expanding their impact. For more information, visit https://akademie.dw.com/en/uganda-tanzania-apply-now-for-sparkchange/a-77429906 Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/applications-open-for-sparkchange-programme-uganda-and-tanzania Read more

Deadline: Jun 19, 2026 Donor: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000 Countries/Regions: Congo DR, Kenya, Tanzania, Togo Area: Community Development, Biodiversity, Conservation, Innovation, Livelihood, Water Conservation The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from the Government of Germany through the AFR100 Support Programme, is inviting applications for Direct Beneficiary Grants to support locally led forest and landscape restoration initiatives in Kenya. For more information, visit https://www.fao.org/in-action/afr100/news/detail/applications-open-for-direct-beneficiary-grants-on-restoration-under-the-afr100-support-programme/en Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/apply-now-for-afr100-direct-beneficiary-grants Read more

Deadline: Jun 25, 2026 Donor: Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities Grant Type: Awards, Prizes and Challenges Grant Size: Not Available Countries/Regions: All Countries Area: Urban Development, Housing & Shelter, Sustainable Development The Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) is a global initiative jointly led by UN-Habitat and China to recognize cities that demonstrate outstanding progress in advancing sustainable urban development. For more information, visit https://www.shanghaiaward.org/ Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/apply-now-for-shanghai-award-for-sustainable-urban-development Read more