USAID Launches Grants to Support Food Security Challenge in Nigeria

:Mnena Iyorkegh, Abuja

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria has launched a COVID-19 Food Security Challenge that will provide $3 million in grant funding and technical assistance to youth-led and mid-stage companies working in food value chains in Nigeria.

Speaking, USAID Mission Director Anne Patterson said the launching of the COVID-19 Food Security Challenge is to help innovative Nigerians alleviate food insecurity, encourages private sector-led solutions to boost food production, processing, and create market linkage along the agriculture value chain in a sustainable way across Nigeria

According to her, the pandemic has disrupted agricultural productivity and negatively impacts livelihoods, especially among vulnerable households, women, and youth.
To this she said “with the launching of the Challenge, USAID seeks commercially viable youth-led and mid-stage companies already working in food production, processing, and distribution. Successful applicants will present ideas that demonstrably help farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain increase agricultural productivity and food security within the next six months.”

Patterson, added that ” The Challenge will award 15 to 25 youth-led companies up to $75,000 each and award 10 to15 mid-stage companies up to $150,000 each. Winners will receive funding and technical assistance to rapidly expand their activities to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on Nigeria’s food value chain and improve the resilience of vulnerable households”.