Developing a joint AU-EU Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) supporting the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) partnership

This is a Research & Innovation Action (RIA) to develop a joint European Union–African Union Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) under the FNSSA (Food & Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture) partnership. The goal is to co-create tools, platforms, networks, and policy‑science interfaces that strengthen knowledge flows between EU and AU agricultural innovation actors. The project must support climate‑resilient, sustainable agri‑food systems in Africa, help implement the FNSSA roadmap, and further the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and EU Green Deal objectives. That includes fostering resilient agroecological approaches, enhancing adaptation to climate change, and improving science‑policy dialogues at AU‑EU level.

Eligible proposals must:

• Co‑design and pilot an integrated AU–EU AKIS framework that engages a diverse ecosystem of actors: R&I institutions, extension services, advisors, farmers, policymakers, consumer groups, private sector, civil society.
• Include mechanisms for exchange of knowledge, policy uptake, training, digital platforms, regional centres of competence, cross‑regional learning labs.
• Contribute concretely to FNSSA partnership goals on sustainable agriculture, food security, climate adaptation/resilience, biodiversity and innovation governance systems

• Personnel costs
• Subcontracting
• Travel and subsistence
• Equipment (depreciation or rental)
• Consumables and materials
• Dissemination and communication
• Access to research infrastructure
• IPR and certification
• Audit costs
• Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
• Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 6.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Maximum value per project: 6.000.000€

• Consortia of min. 3 legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries, including at least one entity with coordination capability.
• Entities must demonstrate operational and financial capacity per Horizon Europe Grant Agreement annexes B & C.
• The consortium must include participants from both the EU and African Union region: R&I organisations, advisors, farmer groups, civil society actors, policymaking bodies.
• Multi‑actor and multi‑stakeholder engagement required.
• Projects must align with FNSSA and AU‑EU science & innovation dialogues, Green Deal, climate and biodiversity commitments