Bidding begins on African trade initiatives

The Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund (FRICH) has opened a third bidding round for UK companies to put forward innovative projects which promote trade to some of the poorest countries south of the Sahara and north of South Africa.

The funding from the UK’s Department for International Development is designed to challenge the private sector to increase food trade from African farms to the UK.

FRICH will match fund eligible projects implemented by organisations involved in the food business. The deadline for the submission of concept notes for projects is 15 July.

FRICH has funded seven projects to date including work on fruit juice, dried berries and vegetables, with these products coming to the UK from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and São Tomé.

Grants of up to £250,000 are available and FRICH funded activities for third round projects must be completed within two years of the start of the project. FRICH is seeking ideas that promote trade in other products and is interested in developing competitive quality products.