Who can apply
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Cooperatives
- Social enterprises
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Public-sector entities
- Private-sector entities
- Established enterprises operating in commodity value chains
- Eligible organisations based or actively operating in CFC member countries
- Organisations outside CFC member countries where all CFC-financed activities will take place in an eligible member country
Focus areas
- Smallholder farmer livelihoods
- Commodity value chains
- Trade finance
- Access to global markets
- Regenerative agriculture
- Biodiversity protection
- Local value addition
- Low-impact processing
- AgTech
- Digital tools for agriculture
- Transparent and traceable value chains
- Smallholder access to finance
- Women entrepreneurship
- Gender-lens business solutions
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Sustainable forest resources
- Congo Basin conservation
- Inclusive local economic development
Requirements
- Applicants must demonstrate at least three years of operational history.
- Start-up companies without the required operating track record are not eligible.
- The proposed project must be financially viable.
- The project must contribute to smallholder livelihoods, commodity-sector development or inclusive local economic development.
- Activities financed by CFC must be implemented in a CFC member country.
- Applicants should demonstrate relevant institutional experience and implementation capacity.
- A credible operating history supported by audited financial statements is important.
- The requested CFC financing should be supported by appropriate co-financing.
- For loan financing, the application form requires co-financing at least equal to the amount requested from CFC.
- Applicants must demonstrate measurable development impact.
- Applicants must explain the proposed project's social and environmental risks and mitigation measures.
- The completed application form and financial statements must be submitted in English.
- Applicants must provide the mandatory supporting documents specified in the official application form.
- Projects involving humanitarian aid, education, medical aid or standalone research fall outside CFC's core mandate.
Application steps
- Review the official CFC 29th Call for Proposals and confirm project and country eligibility.
- Download the official CFC application form.
- Download and complete the applicable Balance Sheet and Income Statement template.
- Describe the organisation, operating history, business model and development impact.
- Describe the proposed investment, financing need and intended use of funds.
- Identify the requested CFC financing instrument and amount.
- Identify and document the required co-financing.
- Prepare historical financial information and financial projections.
- Explain the project's impact on smallholders, communities and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.
- Describe environmental and social risks and mitigation measures.
- Attach all mandatory supporting documents listed in the application form.
- Submit the completed application and supplementary documents by email to opencall@common-fund.org.
- Submit no later than 1 October 2026.
This is not a conventional grant opportunity. The Common Fund for Commodities primarily provides repayable impact financing to established, financially viable organisations operating in commodity value chains. It is particularly relevant to agribusinesses, cooperatives, social enterprises and NGOs with revenue-generating operations, proven financial history and a clear pathway for repayment. Uganda is an eligible CFC member country. Proposals from Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries receive priority, making the call particularly relevant to qualified Ugandan enterprises and organisations. Applicants should only pursue this opportunity where they can demonstrate commercial viability, at least three years of operations, credible financial records and the required co-financing.