The Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund (AATIF) provides an important financing avenue for agribusinesses and financial institutions working to strengthen African agricultural value chains. Established in 2011 by KfW with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Bank, the fund has deployed over USD 550 million in investment capital across the continent, reaching more than 320,000 smallholders .
Understanding the Application Process
AATIF uses an online application system that allows you to submit investment opportunities for review by the investment advisor, Cygnum Capital . The process involves completing a questionnaire and uploading supporting documents.
Required Documents
To allow for an initial review of your project, you will need to submit:
- Business Plan – Use the provided template or follow the guidance on content
- Audited Financial Statements – For the past three years (if available)
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) – Or any document providing further information on the social and environmental impact of your project
What Happens After Submission
If your project appears eligible, the investment advisor will contact you within 2 weeks after submission to discuss further steps. You may submit several projects, but each project must be submitted separately .
Eligibility: Choose Your Project Profile
To start the application, you must select one of three profile types :
1. Direct Investee Company
A company or project that entertains direct activities in the agricultural sector in one or more African countries related to input provision, farming, processing, and/or sales and trading.
2. Intermediary Investee Company
A large agribusiness that acts as off-taker, service provider, and/or credit provider for smallholders or local small and medium enterprises in the African agriculture sector.
3. Financial Institution
A financial institution (e.g., commercial bank, microfinance institution, saving and credit cooperative) providing financing to the African agriculture sector.
Investment Criteria and Strategy
Focus Areas
AATIF finances projects across the entire agricultural value chain, including:
Supported Entities
The fund provides financing to:
- Agribusiness companies (directly)
- Local banks and financial institutions (intermediaries)
- Companies along the value chain
Financing Instruments
AATIF provides debt financing for agricultural investments, with an emphasis on patient capital. The fund has taken a strategic decision not to pursue equity investments at this time.
Investment Size
- Minimum investment: USD 3 million
- Maximum investment: USD 15 million (larger investments may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
Technical Assistance
Beyond capital, AATIF offers a Technical Assistance (TA) Facility managed by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) . This facility provides grant funding to support:
- Smallholder farmer outgrower schemes
- Advisory and technical support for business operations
- Capacity development of staff
- Research and development activities to promote agrifinance in Africa
To date, the TA Facility has developed over 116 TA projects across seventeen countries in Africa and Latin America, with budgets ranging from EUR 6,000 to EUR 500,000.
Impact and Reach
AATIF is an impact investment fund with a clear mission: improve food security, employment, and income in rural regions across Africa . Key impact metrics include:
- USD 550 million+ deployed in investment capital
- USD 10 million in technical assistance
- 320,000+ smallholders reached
- 24,000+ jobs supported, with more than 50% held by women
🌍 How Earth Focus Network Brings This to Our Community
At Earth Focus Network, we believe that environmental and social change is not a solo journey—it’s a collective movement. Opportunities like the AATIF funding application are exactly the kind of investment pathways we exist to share with our community of changemakers.
What We Do
- Curate Opportunities – We identify and share funding calls, investment opportunities, grants, and partnership pathways from across the globe
- Amplify Visibility – We use our news media channels, Slack community, and social platforms to ensure our members are the first to know about high-impact developments
- Connect Mission-Aligned Partners—Through smart matching and networking, we connect you with the right organizations, funders, and collaborators
- Build a Regenerative Ecosystem – Every new member strengthens our network effect, creating a powerful, self-sustaining community of changemakers
Why This Matters for Our Members
When you join Earth Focus Network, you gain access to:
- Exclusive funding alerts—Be the first to know about calls like AATIF, Sandals Foundation grants, IDB Lab, UNHCR Accelerator, and more
- Vetted opportunities—We vet every opportunity to ensure they are legitimate and aligned with sustainability and social impact
- Global connections – Connect with organizations, investors, and fellow changemakers across continents
- Visibility – Showcase your work to a global audience of stakeholders through our media channels
📢 Join Earth Focus Network – Be the First to Know
Are you an agribusiness, financial institution, NGO, social enterprise, or changemaker working in African agriculture?
Don’t miss out on funding opportunities like this. Members who join today get immediate access to our curated opportunities board, smart matching, and global network.
How to Join
- Join Our Community—Connect with fellow changemakers and start networking immediately
- Create Your Account – Set up your professional profile on the Earth Focus Network website
- Apply for Vetting – Ensure you join a trusted, high-impact community
- Make Your Contribution – Support reforestation and community projects
- Book Your 1:1 Matching Session – Get personalized connections to the right partners and opportunities
✨ Be Part of the Movement
“You are not just a member. You are a co-creator of a regenerative future.”
The planet needs all of us. Earth Focus Network is a living ecosystem of people who refuse to accept the status quo. The time is now.
🌐 Visit us: www.earthfocusnetwork.com
📧 Email us: Info@earthfocusnetwork.com
📌 Apply Now
If you have a project ready to scale and create impact in African agriculture, start your application today.
🔗 Apply now: https://www.aatif.lu/en/funding-application
📧 For questions: info@aatif.lu
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