Renforcement et structuration des filières soja, karité et avicole au Bénin

EU grant to strengthen and structure soybean, shea (karité) and poultry value chains in Benin, focusing on organization, processing, access to finance and market competitiveness. Indicative envelope €7,500,000 with individual grants to request between €5,000,000 and €7,500,000 and an expected EU contribution of 90 to 95 percent of eligible costs. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit legal persons and consortia established in countries eligible under the IVCDCI, implementation is required in Benin and projects should be implementation-ready at scale. Full applications are submitted online via PROSPECT after PADOR registration and the deadline for full applications is 21 October 2026 (Brussels time).

Essentiel

Quoi

Subvention UE ciblant le renforcement de la production, transformation et commercialisation des filières soja, karité et avicole au Bénin, avec attention transversale à la gouvernance, l’inclusion (femmes, jeunes) et la durabilité.

Budget total disponible:Enveloppe indicative: €7 500 000; demande minimale: €5 000 000; demande maximale: €7 500 000. Le taux de cofinancement attendu est élevé (90–95 % du coût éligible). ¹

1. 1Qui peut demander: organisations à but non lucratif (ONG, associations, organisations internationales) établies dans les pays éligibles de l’instrument IVCDCI; consortiums (jusqu’à 4 entités) encouragés
2. 2Actions éligibles: projets de 36–48 mois mis en œuvre au Bénin (priorité aux départements du nord: Alibori, Atacora, Borgou, Donga) axés sur production, transformation, accès aux marchés, financement et gouvernance des filières
3. 3Forme du financement: subvention (remboursement des coûts) — règles PRAG applicables; possibilité de financements non liés aux coûts si spécifié dans appel

Dates et référence

Date limite de soumission de la demande complète:21/10/2026 à 12:00 (heure de Bruxelles). Identifiant EuropeAid: EuropeAid; callId: 186989. Publication et dossier d’appel disponibles sur le portail officiel Opportunity details.

Points de candidature rapides

Les candidats doivent:s’enregistrer dans PADOR, soumettre via PROSPECT, fournir note succincte puis demande complète si présélection, joindre pièces justificatives (identification, capacités financières, logframe, budget détaillé). Des annexes modèles (budget, logframe, contrats-types, TPA/AUP) sont fournies dans le dossier d’appel.

1. 1Durée d’action requise: 36 à 48 mois
2. 2Montant de la subvention demandé: entre €5 000 000 et €7 500 000
3. 3Taux de cofinancement attendu: 90–95 % des coûts éligibles

Avant de soumettre, vérifiez l’éligibilité juridique et financière, la conformité aux règles PRAG et les exigences spécifiques (ex. taux de cofinancement, modalités de reporting, éventuelle obligation de tierce partie pour vérification FNLC). Des séances d’information et manuels PROSPECT/PADOR sont proposés par la Délégation de l’UE au Bénin.

Footnotes

1. 1Lignes directrices complètes de l’appel (FR) et documents annexes (budget, logframe, formulaires d’identification, ToR AUP/TPA) disponibles dans le dossier d’appel sur le portail; exemple: Lignes directrices appel (FR) Lignes directrices.

Title:Renforcement et structuration des filières soja, karité et avicole au Bénin. Reference: EuropeAid. Publication and call pages and all official annexes are available from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for prospect ID 186989PROSPECTSEN Opportunity page. The contracting authority: European Commission / DG INTPA (EU Delegation to Benin for operational delivery as indicated in call). The call is an open call for proposals with deadline for full applications: 21 October 2026 (Brussels time).

What this call finances

Purpose:strengthen and structure the soybean, shea (karité) and poultry value chains in Benin. The action is part of a wider programme supporting agro-industrial transformation, with two complementary components: an investment component (implemented by EBRD) to facilitate financing for MSMEs and an EU-funded performance/value chain component to provide technical and financial support to operators in the three target value chains. Geographic focus: Benin, with priority on northern/central departments Alibori, Atacora, Borgou and Donga.

Total budget and grant sizes:Indicative global envelope: €7,500,000. Individual grants to be requested must be between €5,000,000 (minimum) and €7,500,000 (maximum). The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all funds.

Who can apply and eligible applicant types

Main eligible applicant profile:non-profit legal persons effectively established in countries eligible under the Instrument for Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation — Europe (IVCDCI Europe in the World). The call text and guidelines specify preferred applicant categories and requirements:

1. 1Non-profit organisations and NGOs (national and international).
2. 2International organisations (intergovernmental organisations) where allowed by the specific call provisions.
3. 3Public law bodies (public entities with legal personality) when they meet requirements in the call documentation.
4. 4Private law bodies with legal personality (non-profit legal form) where they meet the call criteria.
5. 5Consortia of organisations (co-applicants) are allowed and encouraged (maximum of 4 organisations recommended).

Notes:The call emphasises non-profit status for the lead applicant. Co-applicants and affiliated entities are allowed but must satisfy eligibility criteria. The call documentation contains Annex D identification forms for public law bodies, private law bodies and natural persons to complete during full application.

Funding instrument and modalities

Funding type:Grant. The call allows standard reimbursement-of-costs grants and may include financing not linked to costs (FNLC) features where explicitly used in proposals and budget (templates for FNLC budgets and rules for assessments and third party validation are provided). Payments and modalities follow the standard EU external actions Grant Contract (Annex II General Conditions) including possible pre-financing, interim payments and balance, contractual expenditure verification and third party assessment obligations where thresholds apply.

Consortium requirement and structure

Consortium:Not strictly mandatory to present a consortium; single applicants are acceptable. However, consortium applications are encouraged given the territorial and technical scope (consortia should normally not exceed four organisations). If awarded, the lead applicant (coordinator) becomes the contractual beneficiary and legal contact with the contracting authority and is responsible for coordination, consolidation of reporting and contractual obligations.

Geographic eligibility (beneficiary scope)

Geographic scope of the action:Republic of Benin (Benin). Applicants must be established in eligible countries covered by IVCDCI — the call specifically targets implementation in Benin and the envelope is for activities in Benin (priority departments in the north/centre named).

Target sectors and thematic priorities

1. 1Agriculture and agribusiness / food value chains (soya, karité (shea), and poultry).
2. 2Agro-processing and local value addition (factory-level processes, packaging, cold chain).
3. 3Private sector development and access to finance for MSME (link with investment component / banks / SAEs).
4. 4Rural development, inclusive growth, gender and youth employment (special emphasis on women collectors in shea).
5. 5Food safety, hygiene, biosafety and standards compliance (including EUDR and export standards).
6. 6Climate-smart approaches (regeneration of shea parklands, sustainable production practices).
7. 7Digital solutions for traceability, market linkages and input distribution.

Project stage / expected maturity of proposals

Expected project maturity:implementation-ready and scale-up projects. The call targets interventions that move value chains from current production or pilot activity towards improved productivity, processing, market linkages and investment-readiness. Proposals should demonstrate operational readiness, technical capacity and capacity to manage multi-year, multi-partner programmes and to mobilise co-financing.

Funding amount and co-financing

Call envelope:€7,500,000 (total). Grant amounts requested must be between €5,000,000 and €7,500,000 per proposal. The grant may finance 90% to 95% of the total eligible costs of the action; therefore co-financing is required to cover the remaining 5% to 10% of total eligible costs. The applicant must identify and justify other sources of funds for the remaining budget share in the application. The call allows the grant to finance the total eligible costs in exceptional, justified cases; a strong justification will be evaluated.

Application method and deadlines

Application type:Open call for proposals (competitive). Submission is online through PROSPECT (applicants must register their organisation in PADOR first). The process is two-step: first a short concept note / synopsis is submitted and evaluated; shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full application. Deadline for full application submission: 21 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time (12:00 CET). The published guidelines include instructions for online submission and a scheduled information session (14 September 2026).

Application stages and selection process

1. 1Stage 1 – Submission and evaluation of short concept note / note succincte de présentation (administrative check and quality screening).
2. 2Stage 2 – Invitation only: shortlisted lead applicants submit full application (detailed proposal, annexes, financials).
3. 3Stage 3 – Verification and due diligence (eligibility checks on applicants, affiliated entities, supporting documents; may include financial capacity checks, exclusion criteria, declaration on honour).
4. 4Final decision – award and negotiation of the Grant Contract (Special Conditions, Annexes).

Therefore applicants should be prepared for a minimum of three decision/review stages (initial concept screening, full application evaluation, eligibility and compliance verification) before signature of the grant contract.

Success rates

No explicit historical success rate is published for this specific call. Typical success rates for highly targeted large-value EU external actions are low (single-digit to low double-digit percent) depending on competition and quality of proposals. Applicants should assume competitive selection and prepare technically robust, evidence-based proposals aligned with call objectives.

Co-funding and cost rules

Co-funding requirement:yes. The call defines grant contribution as between 90% and 95% of eligible costs. Applicants must propose co-financing for the remainder (5% to 10%). Eligible costs and budget rules follow EU external actions practical guide and the Grant Contract Annex II General Conditions. The call documentation provides budget templates (Annex B worksheets 1a/€1Bfor cost-based budgets, 1c for FNLC-only budgets), rules on direct/indirect costs (indirect costs capped as per Special Conditions), contingency reserve rules (max 5% of direct eligible costs), volunteers rules, and FNLC-specific templates and validation rules.

Nature of support to beneficiaries

The action provides financial support (money) in the form of a grant. The grant may be structured as reimbursement of eligible costs, financing not linked to costs (FNLC) or a hybrid approach, depending on the proposal and what the call allows. Non-financial support (technical assistance, capacity building, training, third party assessments) is expected as project activities funded by the grant.

Reporting, audit and verification requirements

Standard EU external action reporting applies:narrative and financial interim and final reports using Annex VI templates, detailed financial breakdowns, contractual expenditure verification/Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) for grants above thresholds, and third party assessments to validate FNLC results where FNLC is used and thresholds apply. The call documentation contains the full set of annexes and templates: Annex B Budget worksheets (EN and FR), Annex C Logical Framework, Annex D Identification forms (public, private, natural person), Annex F PADOR offline registration, Annex G Standard Grant Contract and multiple annexes (TO R for AUP, TPA for FNLC, Financial guarantee model, Procurement rules, Annex IX transfer of assets template, Annex J on tax rules, Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire).

Key mandatory templates and documents (available attachments)

1. 1Annex B Budget (xlsx) — cost-based worksheets 1a, €1Band FNLC worksheet 1c (EN/FR).
2. 2Annex C Logical Framework (docx) — logframe and activities matrix.
3. 3Annex D Identification Forms (PDF) — public law body, private law body with legal form, natural person (EN/FR).
4. 4Annex F PADOR offline registration form (PDF).
5. 5Annex G Standard Grant Contract (zip containing multiple annex models in EN/FR).
6. 6Annex H Declaration of Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (docx).
7. 7Annex J Information on the tax regime applicable to grant contracts (docx).
8. 8Annex K Clarifications on Financing Not Linked to Costs (docx) — guidance and checklists for FNLC.
9. 9Annex L Self-evaluation questionnaire on SEA-H (docx).
10. 10Call guidance document (Lignes directrices appel à proposition ouvert) in French — principal application guidance and eligibility rules (FR).

Application form structure and templates — what applicants must prepare

Applicants will prepare and submit:(a) a short concept note (note succincte de présentation) in the first stage; (b) a full application that includes narrative proposal (Annex A.2 full application form), a detailed budget using Annex B worksheets, the Logical Framework (Annex C), identification forms (Annex D), supporting financial documents for selection checks, Declaration on Honour (Annex H), SEA-H self-evaluation (Annex L) and any appendices (technical specifications, procurement plans). All documentation must be uploaded in PROSPECT and the applicant organisation must be registered in PADOR prior to submission (PADOR registration templates are provided).

Application templates and structure — essential sections:Applicants should follow the call’s full application template: executive summary; context and needs analysis; intervention logic; description of activities and outputs; results chain and indicators (logframe); detailed activity schedule and implementation matrix; risk analysis and mitigation; organisation and consortium description (roles, capacity, CVs); detailed budget and budget justification (Annex B worksheets); co-financing plan and sustainability; procurement and grants to third parties plan (if any); M&E and reporting plan; visibility plan and SEA-H measures; annexes and legal/financial identification documents. Use the provided Annex VI templates for interim and final narrative reports and Annex V for payment requests if awarded.

Eligibility and exclusion checks

Administrative and eligibility checks include verification of:legal status and registration documents (Annex D), financial capacity and past project management experience (ability to manage multi-million EUR actions), tax and social security compliance where relevant (Annex J clarifications), absence of exclusion grounds (declaration on honour, Annex H), procurement rules compliance (Annex IV) and, if applicable, PADOR/EID status. The contracting authority will perform contractual expenditure verification (AUP) and may require a third-party assessment for FNLC results under Article 2.11 of the General Conditions.

Procurement and subcontracting

Procurement by beneficiaries must follow Annex IV procurement rules for EU external actions. Subcontracting is allowed but must not cover core tasks of the action. Financial support to third parties (sub-granting) is allowed only if foreseen in Annex I and subject to conditions (max €60,000 per third party unless special justification). Full procurement documentation must be kept for audit and verification purposes.

Visibility, data protection and ethics

EU visibility rules (Annex II Article 6) apply:beneficiaries must acknowledge EU funding and use emblem/visibility statements as required. Processing of personal data is governed by EU rules; PADOR privacy and processing statements apply (e-Calls PADOR privacy statement). Applicants must demonstrate compliance with fundamental EU values, anti-corruption and anti-fraud measures, and respect for SEA-H rules (Annex L self-evaluation).

Key compliance and control instruments included in the call

1. 1Annex G: Standard grant contract templates including General Conditions (Annex II), Special Conditions, Financial guarantee model, Terms of Reference for expenditure verification (AUP) and third party assessment (TPA) for FNLC.
2. 2Annex IV: Procurement rules for beneficiaries (detailed procedures and nationality/origin rules).
3. 3Annex V: Standard payment request model and schedules.
4. 4Annex VII-A/B: AUP and TPA ToR and templates for expenditure verification and result validation.
5. 5Annex IX: Transfer of ownership template for assets bought by the action.
6. 6Annex J: Guidance on tax regime and proof obligations relating to taxes (VAT/duties).

Practical tips for applicants

1. 1Register your organisation in PADOR early and obtain your EuropeAid ID; check PADOR documentation and privacy notice.
2. 2Use the exact budget templates provided (Annex B) and justify all cost lines in the budget justification sheet; respect the rules on indirect costs (max % specified in Special Conditions) and contingency (max 5%).
3. 3If proposing FNLC-type payments, follow Annex K guidance: ensure indicators are contractable, include baseline, measurable targets, data sources, technical specifications and transcribe them precisely in the FNLC budget worksheet (1c). Plan for third party assessment where required.
4. 4Prepare Annex D identification forms (public, private, natural person) and the Declaration on Honour (Annex H) and include requested supporting legal and financial documents with the full application.
5. 5Clearly document co-financing sources and include realistic cashflow and sustainability plans. Demonstrate prior experience with projects of similar budgets and complexity.
6. 6Ensure procurement rules and rules of origin compliance (Annex IV) and maintain procurement files for audit.
7. 7Address SEA-H issues with the self-evaluation (Annex L) and include mitigation measures in the proposal.
8. 8Plan for contractual expenditure verification (AUP) and possible audits: retain all original supporting documentation and adhere to record-keeping periods.

Where to apply and more information:Applications and supporting templates (French and English versions) are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal published prospect page and documents can be downloaded from the publication document list for this call Call documents Full opportunity portal ¹.

Structured answers to the requested classification questions

Below are concise, explicit extractions and structured categorizations of the opportunity based on the official call information and annexes.

Eligible Applicant Types:Non-profit organisations and NGOs (national and international), international organisations (if allowed by the call), public law bodies, private law bodies with legal personality (non-profit forms where relevant), consortia (up to 4 recommended). Affiliated entities acceptable where structural links exist (legal/ownership/membership). Natural persons may only appear as personnel or individual experts; lead applicant must be a legal person. Detailed identification forms (Annex D) must be completed for each legal form.

Funding Type:Grant — reimbursement of eligible costs and/or financing not linked to costs (FNLC) or a hybrid model depending on the proposal and call allowance. Payments follow EU external action grant contract modalities (pre-financing, interim payments, balance).

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant allowed; consortium encouraged for multi-thematic/geographic projects. Consortia up to 4 organisations are recommended. If a consortium is formed, a Lead Applicant (Coordinator) must be nominated and will sign the Grant Contract and manage reporting on behalf of the consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Implementation required in the Republic of Benin (priority departments Alibori, Atacora, Borgou and Donga). Applicants must be established in countries eligible under the IVCDCI programme rules (EU external action eligibility).

Target Sector:Agriculture/food value chains: soybean, shea (karité), and poultry (aviculture). Cross-cutting: agri-processing, private sector development, access to finance, climate-smart agriculture, food safety and standards, digital traceability.

Mentioned Countries:Benin (Republic of Benin).

Project Stage:Implementation and scale-up: projects should be at an implementation-ready or scale-up stage (demonstrable technical and operational capacity), aiming to move value chains toward improved productivity, transformation and market access.

Funding Amount:Call envelope: €7,500,000. Individual grants between €5,000,000 (min) and €7,500,000 (max). EU contribution share between 90% and 95% of eligible costs (co-funding 5%–10%).

Application Type:Open call for proposals submitted online via PROSPECT following PADOR registration; two-step submission process (short concept note first, shortlisted full application).

Nature of Support:Primarily monetary (grant) to implement activities and provide technical assistance. Non-financial services (training, capacity building, technical assistance) are expected components funded by the grant.

Application Stages:Three principal stages: 1) submission and evaluation of short concept notes; 2) invitation and evaluation of full applications; 3) eligibility checks, due diligence and contractual negotiations prior to signature. Additional verification steps include contractual expenditure verification and third party assessment where FNLC or thresholds require them.

Success Rates:Not published for this specific call. Expect competitive selection; historical success typically low for large, targeted EU grants. No explicit percentage provided.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. The grant finances 90%–95% of eligible costs; applicants must provide evidence of the balance (5%–10%) through other sources. Full financing by the EU is exceptionally possible if fully justified and approved.

Templates and application form structure (outline)

Key templates and their required content (applicants must complete and attach):

1. 1Annex A.1 / A.2 application forms: short concept note and full application (narrative sections: context, objectives, intervention logic, activities, beneficiaries, risks, sustainability, cross-cutting issues).
2. 2Annex B Budget worksheets: 1a and €1Bfor cost-based proposals; 1c for FNLC-only actions; Forecast and follow-up worksheets; Justification worksheets. Budgets must break down HR, travel, equipment, project office, other costs, indirect costs and contingency following guidance in Annex B.
3. 3Annex C Logical Framework Matrix (logframe) and Activities Matrix: results chain, indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, assumptions. If FNLC is used, indicators to be budgeted must be flagged in the logframe and transcribed exactly in the FNLC budget worksheet (Annex K guidance).
4. 4Annex D Identification forms: completed for each legal entity (public law body, private law body with legal form, natural persons where relevant).
5. 5Annex F PADOR offline registration: for registration where online access is not possible.
6. 6Annex H Declaration of Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (signed).
7. 7Annex L SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire and list of envisaged measures.
8. 8Annex G Standard Grant Contract templates and all contractual annexes (to be examined by applicants).
9. 9Procurement rules and documentation: bidders lists, tender documentation templates, rules on nationality/origin (Annex IV).
10. 10Annexes for AUP (expenditure verification) and TPA (third party assessment) templates and ToR when applicable.

Application preparation checklist (recommended):ensure PADOR registration (EuropeAid ID), complete Annex A.1 short note in stage 1; if shortlisted prepare full Annex A.2 with Annex B budget, Annex C logframe, all identification forms, audited financial statements or evidence of financial capacity, partnership agreements, procurement policies, and proof of co-financing. Prepare technical appendices for FNLC indicators and third party assessment plans if proposing FNLC-linked results.

Closing summary — What is this opportunity about and how to explain it

This EU call finances a substantial grant programme to strengthen and structure three strategic agricultural value chains in Benin — soya, shea and poultry — with the objective of increasing value addition in-country, improving producer incomes, formalising and professionalising value chain actors, improving standards and market access (including compliance with regulations), and reinforcing the investment climate and access to finance for MSMEs in these sectors. The action fits within a larger EU-funded agro-industrial transformational programme linking technical capacity building, market- and standards-driven investments and a financing window. Applicants should be non-profit legal entities with demonstrated capacity to manage multi-million-euro sector-wide interventions, or consortia combining complementary skills (technical, financial, private-sector linkages). Proposals must be submitted through the EU online systems (PADOR and PROSPECT), follow the strict budget and reporting templates supplied by the Commission, and demonstrate co-financing, robust procurement plans and monitoring and evaluation arrangements. The call provides full contract templates, guidance on FNLC results-based components (if used), procedures for expenditure verification and third party assessments, and a comprehensive set of supporting annexes that applicants must consult and follow closely.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary call page and all annexes available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu and webgate.ec.europa.eu

This opportunity appears to concern the reinforcement and structuring of soybean, shea and poultry value chains in Benin, with a focus on organization, competitiveness, financing and market access.[1][2][6][13][20][30] The accessible evidence points to a development and value-chain support intervention rather than a pure research grant.[1][3][6][20]

Official portal record:EU Funding and Tenders Portal ¹

What is known from the public sources

The EU and the European Investment Bank announced a €100 millioneuro financing operation for Benin agricultural value chains, guaranteed by the European Commission, as part of the Global Gateway strategy.[1][2][3] The EU’s programming for Benin also includes a 2021-2024 envelope of €255 millioneuro and a 2025-2027 envelope of €172 millioneuro under NDICI Global Europe.[1] The visible EU and EIB operation is broader and names soy, cotton and cashew rather than shea and poultry, so the title of this specific opportunity likely reflects a separate but related value-chain intervention in the same national agriculture agenda.[1][2][3][13][30]

Likely applicant profile

The formal eligibility rules are not visible in the accessible search results, so the exact applicant categories cannot be confirmed.[1][3] Based on comparable Benin agricultural funding instruments, the most plausible applicants are producer cooperatives and associations, registered SMEs, interprofessional organizations, local authorities, and implementation consortia with capacity in agricultural value-chain development.[21][30]

Applicant-facing implications

1. 1Expect a strong emphasis on bankable value-chain interventions, not standalone production support, because the EU and EIB context stresses financing, local transformation and integration into sustainable value chains.[1][3]
2. 2Expect evidence of actor structuring, because shea documentation in Benin highlights diagnostics, actor mapping, cooperative creation and federation-building as core steps.[6]
3. 3Expect poultry proposals to address productivity, professionalization and access to finance, because Benin policy documents treat these as central requirements for aviculture development.[30]
4. 4Expect soy proposals to show seed access, technical capacity, transformation and commercialization pathways, because local soy initiatives focus on those elements.[20]
5. 5Expect social inclusion and ESG sensitivity, because the technical assistance package specifically mentions SMEs, cooperatives, women and young people, and capacity building in environmental, social and governance aspects.[1][3]

The deadline supplied with the opportunity is 2026-10-21T10:00:28+00:00. The publicly available materials do not show a topic-specific budget, so applicants should treat the exact financial envelope as unconfirmed until the official call text is consulted.[1][3][FN:1]

Footnotes

1. 1The official portal page is the primary source for the exact call text, eligibility, budget and submission rules, but the search results available here do not expose those details.