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2025 Eighth Call for Proposals for Producer Organizations-led Projects

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8th Call for Proposals for Producer Organizations

GAFSP recognizes Producer Organizations (POs) as critical actors in linking smallholder farmers to input, capital, and product markets. By enhancing the capacity and reach of POs, GAFSP aims to increase agricultural productivity and incomes, particularly for smallholders, while improving food availability and access for consumers.

The Eighth Call for Proposals continues GAFSP鈥檚 targeted support to PO-led initiatives. Building on three previous calls, GAFSP has already allocated US$80 million across 32 PO-led projects, helping POs improve their internal systems and service delivery to better meet the needs of their members. These investments aim to increase smallholder farmers鈥 income, food and nutrition security, and resilience to shocks, including those driven by climate change, economic volatility, and fragility.

  • Part 1: Submission Deadline for Expressions of Interest - June 26, 2025

  • Par 2: Submission Deadline for Grant Proposals (Full Proposal) - November 11, 2025

Information Sessions

The CU has provided two information sessions to give an overview of the Call. Recording and slides are available below in English, Spanish, and French.

Information Session Slides (in English)

Key Contacts:

  • GAFSP General Inbox info@gafspfund.org
  • Shijie Yang, GAFSP Portfolio manager, syang1@worldbank.org
  • Cecilia Magarotto, PO Portfolio Lead, cmagarotto@worldbank.org

Resources

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Download the PDF version here.

Abbreviations: PO = Producer Organization; SE = Supervising Entity; TAC = Technical Advisory Committee; CU = Coordination Unit; PO-Call = Call for Proposals for Producer Organizations   

 

Eligibility Criteria

1. Are regional or international organizations eligible to apply? 

As specified in section 2.1 of the PO-Call Guidelines, regional or international POs are eligible to apply, as long as they satisfy all of the criteria listed. 

2. Are POs that have not worked with GAFSP in the past eligible to apply?

Yes, they are eligible as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and the proposal satisfies the activity criteria specified in section 3 of the Guidelines.

3. Are PO consortiums (i.e., a group of POs) eligible to apply?

A consortium of POs is eligible to apply, provided it meets the criteria outlined in the eligibility criteria鈥攎ost importantly, the consortium itself must be a registered legal entity in a GAFSP-eligible country. Ad-hoc PO consortia formed solely for the purpose for this Call are not eligible as stated in Section 2.2.

4. Can two or more POs submit a joint proposal in one country? 

No. While multiple POs can be involved in a project, only one PO should be designated as the official applicant. This PO will be responsible for project coordination and implementation, while any other partner POs may be involved in the project as implementation partners or sub-grantees.

5. Can NGOs apply? Can NGO apply as a co-applicant while PO is the lead?

No. NGOs that do not meet the definition of a PO described in Section 2 of the Call Guidelines are not eligible to apply. Each submission can only have one PO applicant so no 鈥渃o-applicants鈥 are allowed.  An exception may be considered only if the PO can demonstrate in their submission that, due to local legal or institutional constraints, the PO could only be formally registered as an NGO.

6.  What are the exceptional circumstances under which NGOs and private companies can apply?

NGOs are, in principle, not eligible. However, it is recognized that in some countries, entities that are de facto POs must register as private companies or as NGOs to constitute themselves as a legal entity. In these specific cases, the eligibility of national and sub-national NGOs and private companies will be verified on a case-by-case basis by assessing whether the entity in question reflects the key characteristics outlined by GAFSP in the PO eligibility criteria. It is important that the applicant describe clearly in the Part 1 submission documentation (Expression of Interest) how their organization fulfils the eligibility criteria as specified in Section 2 of the Call Guidelines. 

7. How can national/international NGO be involved in a PO-led project?

National/international NGO can be involved in the project in two ways: (1) by providing services to the PO in specific activities during implementation of the project, and (2) by partnering with an eligible PO as co-financers. 

8. Does the PO need to have experience working with one of the SE to be eligible? 

No. Prior collaboration with a SE is not a requirement for eligibility. However, proposals that demonstrate linkages with existing SE projects鈥攑articularly those funded by GAFSP鈥攚ill be given priority during the selection process.

9. What is the minimum capacity required from the PO? 

Please refer to the PO Capacity in the Selection criteria table (Table 3 and Table 4) on the different aspects of capacity the Call will assess upon. 

10. Is there a specific amount of funds that the PO needs to have managed in the past to be eligible? 

No, there is no specific budget threshold. However, POs are required to describe their experience in managing funds adequate to the size of the grants that they are applying for.

11. Can an organization registered in an ineligible country but working in an eligible one apply? For example, an organization registered in India (ineligible) but working in Sri Lanka (eligible)?

Yes, but only in the case of regional POs. Regional POs registered in a GAFSP-eligible IDA country (see Table 1 in Call Guidelines), or in an IDA-blend country (see Table 2 in Call Guidelines), are eligible to apply. However, all project activities must be implemented exclusively in a GAFSP-eligible IDA country.

12. Is it an advantage if the PO is contributing to the cross-cutting themes of the Call?

As outlined in Scoring Tables 3 and 4 of the Guidelines (see 2.3 Alignment with GAFSP), the inclusion of GAFSP鈥檚 cross-cutting themes is a key element in evaluating the technical strength of a proposal. Moreover, climate resilience and women and girl's empowerment are mandatory themes that must be addressed by each proposal. Each proposal would also need to include at least one climate indicator in the results framework (as part of the Part 2 submission (Full Proposal)). However, as stated in Section 2.3 of Tables 3 and 4, whether the proposal addresses improvement of nutrition is optional and confers no advantage or disadvantage in the assessment. With that said, please demonstrate a clear understanding of local challenges of the issue, propose targeted practical response, and ensure these are budgeted, tracked, and outcome-driven.

13. If the PO has already received funding from GAFSP, can they apply for operating in a different geographic area and different type of activities?

As specified in Section 2 of the PO-Call Guidelines, POs that are currently implementing GAFSP PO-led projects funded under earlier Calls for Proposals are not eligible to apply, either to increase the budget of the existing GAFSP-financed project or to implement a new project.

14. Is there a minimum requirement of how many members a PO needs to have to qualify? 

No, there are no requirements on number of members. 

Supervising Entities

15a. What is the role of the Supervising Entity?

Please refer to the Section 4 of the PO-Call Guidelines for this question. 

It is noted there are two types of SEs that the PO should choose according to its needs and preference: 

  • Technical Assistance (TA) SEs, namely FAO and WFP, that will directly implement certain activities (e.g., training or studies) as part of the grant. As noted in the Guideline footnote 18: 鈥渙n average, for PO-led projects to date, 27 percent of the grants have been used by the FAO or WFP for direct project implementation in this way, ranging from 15鈥49 percent across the sixth and seventh Call-funded projects.鈥

  • Investment SEs typically channel the full grant amount to the PO (though not a requirement), which then directly manages all implementation and procurement activities.

The final proposal must clearly indicate how responsibilities and budget management are divided between the PO and SE to avoid future misunderstandings. POs are encouraged to engage with SEs early to ensure a strong, collaborative fit.

15b. For Investment SE, is it required to channel the full amount of the GAFSP grant directly to the PO, which then assumes full responsibility for the procurement and implementation of all technical activities? 

This is not a requirement, though the typical arrangement. In other words, investment SE can also provide TA directly, not required to channel all the grants to the PO as long as it鈥檚 agreed and clear to the PO. Please indicate the implementation arrangement in the budget table clearly as well. Of course, given the goals of the PO-led call, the POs should be in the driver鈥檚 seat and empowered as much as possible by any arrangements.

16. Can SE submit more than one proposal per country? 

Yes. Each SE may submit up to 10 Part 1 Submissions (Expressions of Interest).

17. Are there guidelines for the SEs on how to select which POs to support? 

No. SEs should use their own judgement and considerations to decide which POs to support taking into account the eligibility criteria as described in Section 2.1 of the Call Guidelines as well as any other internal business considerations.

18. How can a PO get in touch with the SE in their country if it has not previously worked with one?

POs can reach out to SE country offices or to the contact persons listed below, who are GAFSP focal points for each SE and can put POs in touch with relevant in-country personnel.  

19. Can a PO submit a proposal on its own (without any SE)? 

No. As the guidelines state in Section 5, all submissions to GAFSP must be submitted by the SE partner from an SE staff email address. This is a mandatory requirement and cannot be waived.

20. Can two SEs support the application of one proposal? 

No, a PO can choose only one SE as implementing partner.

Project Proposals and Submission Process 

21. What is the recommended project duration? 

Please decide the project duration adequately according to the design, implementation capacity of the PO, and country context, although the recommended duration could be between 3 to 4 years. 

22. Can a previous proposal be submitted again (if it was not successful before)? 

Yes. POs which submitted proposals in the previous Call for Proposals but were not selected are eligible to submit a new or an updated proposal, provided that the new proposal is adjusted and is aligned with the objectives and requirements of this specific PO-Call. 

Capacity assessment

23. Is the PO capacity assessment compulsory?

Yes. Please note that PO capacity assessment is not only for the screening purpose, it is also serves as needs assessment for you to understand the weakness and areas for development that can be adequately reflected in the proposal, which also provides a baseline. 

24. Who is in charge of carrying out the capacity assessment?

The Supervising Entity.

25. What assessment tool should be used?

A well-designed tool that covers as many aspects as possible in accordance with the Tables 3 and 4 in the Call Guidelines for TAC鈥檚 assessment. Options could include assessment tools developed by SE or the GAFSP Private Sector Window Advisory Service-financed Agribusiness Leadership Program PO metrics, and other similar tools. The assessments should be carried out by the SE.

General Questions

26. Is co-funding required?

Co-funding is not required, but it can be included and must be listed under the Project Funding information together with a letter of the intent of co-financing partners to the proposed project.

27. Can project proposals be submitted in the official language used by the PO? 

GAFSP proposals and any submitted supporting documents are required to be in English or French. If any supporting documents are in a language other than English or French, both the original document and a translated document in English or French should be submitted.