The Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF) is inviting eligible businesses and financial institutions involved in Africa’s agricultural and agrifood sectors to submit investment opportunities for consideration.

AATIF is a blended-finance, private-debt fund focused on strengthening Africa’s agricultural potential by investing in local agrifood value chains. Its investments are designed to support food security while contributing to jobs and income for farmers, entrepreneurs, and workers.

Unlike a conventional grant programme, AATIF provides market-based financing. Its financing can support eligible businesses and institutions operating within Africa’s agricultural value chains.

Who Can Apply for AATIF Funding?

AATIF considers investment opportunities from different types of organizations involved directly or indirectly in agriculture and agribusiness.

1. Direct Investment Companies

Direct investment opportunities can include businesses operating in areas such as:

• Commercial farming
• Agricultural inputs
  Food processing
• Agricultural trading
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural production and related services
• Other businesses operating within agricultural value chains

AATIF’s published investment criteria indicate that direct investees should already be operational and have an experienced management team. The fund generally looks for businesses that are already profitable or have strong shareholder or sponsor support.

2. Intermediary Investment Companies

AATIF also considers larger agribusinesses and other intermediaries that can channel financing into agricultural value chains.

These may include companies acting as:

• Agricultural off-takers
• Service providers
• Providers of credit to smallholder farmers
• Financing partners for agricultural SMEs
• Other intermediaries supporting farmers and agribusinesses

The objective is to help expand access to finance and strengthen linkages between farmers, businesses, and agricultural markets.

3. Financial Institutions

Financial institutions that provide financing to Africa’s agricultural sector can also be considered.

Potential applicants include:

• Commercial banks
• Microfinance institutions
• Savings and credit cooperatives
• Agricultural finance institutions
• Other eligible financial intermediaries

AATIF has previously invested through financial institutions and intermediaries to expand lending and investment across agricultural value chains.

What Types of Agricultural Investments Does AATIF Support?

AATIF focuses on businesses and institutions operating across Africa’s agricultural value chains.

Potential areas include:

• Agriculture and farming
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural finance
• Food processing
• Agricultural inputs
• Agricultural trading
• Agricultural value chains
• Smallholder farmer support
• SME financing
• Agricultural services

The fund’s existing portfolio demonstrates its focus on areas including agricultural inputs, food processing, agricultural trading, farmer finance, and value addition.

AATIF Funding Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should carefully review AATIF’s eligibility criteria before submitting an investment opportunity.

The fund’s published criteria indicate that an eligible investment generally needs to meet requirements including:

• The business must already be operational rather than still at the planning stage.
• The company should have an experienced management team.
• The business should generally have positive EBITDA or strong sponsor/shareholder backing.
• The investment must meet AATIF’s minimum financing and capital-structure requirements.

AATIF states that the principal amount of its loan should generally exceed US$5 million, although this can be as low as US$3.5 million where a business demonstrates clear short- or medium-term growth potential.

These criteria mean that AATIF funding is primarily suited to established agricultural businesses, agribusinesses, intermediaries, and financial institutions rather than very early-stage businesses seeking small grants.

Documents to Prepare

Businesses considering an AATIF funding application should be prepared to provide detailed information about their investment opportunity and financial position.

Depending on the investment, applicants may be asked to provide documents such as:

• Business plan or investment proposal
• Recent financial statements
• Information about the company’s ownership and management
• Details of the proposed investment
• Environmental and social information
• Other documents required during AATIF’s due diligence process

Applicants should ensure that their financial and operational information is accurate and up to date before submitting an application.

How to Apply for AATIF Funding

Interested organizations can begin the process by completing AATIF’s funding questionnaire.

The application process involves providing information about the proposed investment so that AATIF can assess its potential eligibility. The fund’s official contact page specifically directs parties seeking funding to complete the funding questionnaire.

Applicants should:

Review AATIF’s investment criteria.

Prepare information about the business or financial institution.

• Complete the AATIF funding questionnaire.
• Provide details of the proposed investment.
• Submit supporting information and documentation as requested.
• Wait for AATIF or its investment advisor to assess the opportunity.
• Proceed to further discussions and due diligence if the opportunity meets the initial requirements.

If an organization is submitting more than one investment opportunity, each project should be presented separately so that it can be assessed on its own merits.

Is There an AATIF Application Deadline?

AATIF’s funding process is presented as an ongoing investment process rather than a conventional grant competition with a single annual closing date. Prospective funding recipients are directed to submit a funding questionnaire through the fund’s official website.

Applicants should therefore check the official AATIF website for the latest application instructions and eligibility requirements before submitting.

Why AATIF Funding Matters for African Agriculture

Access to finance remains an important challenge for businesses operating across Africa’s agricultural value chains. Investment can help agribusinesses expand processing capacity, purchase agricultural commodities, improve storage, strengthen supply chains, and provide better market opportunities for farmers.

AATIF’s existing investments illustrate this approach. For example, its portfolio includes investments supporting agricultural lending, food processing, agricultural inputs, and stable markets for smallholder farmers.

In Zambia, AATIF has supported businesses including Mount Meru Millers, where a US$5 million facility helped finance expansion of refinery, storage, processing, and packaging capacity.

Apply for AATIF Funding

African agribusinesses, agricultural companies, intermediaries, and eligible financial institutions seeking investment financing can explore the AATIF funding process through the fund’s official website.

AATIF funding application: Complete the AATIF funding questionnaire

Applicants should review the eligibility requirements carefully and ensure that their proposed investment meets AATIF’s criteria before applying.

Note: AATIF financing is investment funding rather than a conventional grant. Eligibility, financing amounts, terms, and due-diligence requirements are determined by AATIF based on the specific investment opportunity.