Call for Proposals

27th Call for Proposals

Thriving Farmers, Resilient Ecosystems

The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) seeks to support transformative, high-impact projects that not only increase smallholder incomes but also contribute to the regeneration of ecosystems. We finance initiatives that align commercial viability with environmental and social sustainability - enabling smallholders to access high-value markets, adopt eco-friendly practices, add value locally, and engage in biodiversity-conscious farming.

Our investments aim to build more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable value chains -where technology empowers people, healthy ecosystemssit alongside economic opportunity, and smallholders are positioned as active partners in progress.

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.

General Priority Areas:

Trade Finance for Companies - Connecting Smallholder Farmers with Global Markets.
Regenerative Agriculture & Biodiversity Protection.
Local Value Addition with Low Environmental Impact.
Agtech and Digital Tools for Inclusive, Sustainable and Transparent Value Chains.
Improving Financial Access for Smallholder Farmers.
Women Entrepreneurship and Business Solutions with a Gender Lens

Additional Priority Areas for the 27^th Call for Proposal:

Projects focused on the sustainable use and conservation of forest resources in the Congo Basin region (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo).
High impact funding proposals concerning small ticket sizes (up to USD 500,000) in the following countries: Senegal, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe.

Who should apply?

he CFC welcomes applications from SMEs, cooperatives, social enterprises, NGOs, and public or private sector entities that work to enhance smallholder livelihoods and drive inclusive local development.

Eligible applicants must be based in, or have active operations in, CFC member countries, with projects that align with our mission of inclusive growth and sustainable development. Projects should be financially viable, and applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of operational history demonstrating relevant experience and capacity.

Funding proposals from or focused on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing Countries (SIDCs) are treated with priority.

For any query, please write to opencall@common-fund.org

Deadline: 29 September 2025

Let’s build value chains that respect and support smallholders, increase local incomes, restore the land, strengthen communities, and make biodiversity a source of shared value.

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)
General: Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Excel)
Financial Institutions only: Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Excel)

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

Should the CFC Open Call Application form be completed in English?

Application forms may be submitted in English only.

Is my country eligible to apply for the Open Call for Proposals?

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

Can an organization in a non-member CFC country apply?

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

Can a start-up company apply?

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.

Does the CFC provide Humanitarian/ Educational / Medical aid?

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.

What is the meaning of SDGs and IRR%?

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

What is the maximum amount of CFC funding?

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.

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