Capsha South-South Collaboration Innovation Pitch Challenge 2026 (Up To USD 15,000 Grant Funding)

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Applications are open for Capsha South-South Collaboration Innovation Pitch Challenge 2026. Are you part of a National Agricultural Research, Extension and Education System (NAREES) institution with an innovative idea that could strengthen agricultural research and innovation across the Global South? The CGIAR Capacity Sharing Accelerator (CapSha) has officially opened applications for the South–South Collaboration Innovation Pitch Challenge 2026, offering three grants of US$15,000 each to support transformative capacity-sharing partnerships.

The challenge seeks bold, collaborative ideas that move beyond traditional training programmes and instead foster long-term institutional partnerships, knowledge co-creation, and sustainable innovation.

The CGIAR Capacity Sharing Accelerator (CapSha) is an initiative designed to strengthen institutional capacity by promoting equitable collaboration among research and education organizations across the Global South.

National Agricultural Research Extension and Education Systems (NAREES) are central to advancing sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food, land, and water systems across Africa, Asia, and South America. Yet addressing increasingly complex challenges requires new approaches to capacity sharing that move beyond traditional training towards equitable partnerships, co-creation of knowledge, mutual learning, and long-term institutional transformation.

The CGIAR Capacity Sharing (CapSha) Accelerator promotes a collaborative model in which CGIAR and NAREES jointly generate, exchange, adapt, and apply knowledge as equal partners. A consultative side event will be organized during the International Dryland Conference.

Capsha South-South Collaboration Innovation Pitch Challenge Overall Goal

The goal is to identify and catalyze innovative, demand-driven capacity-sharing partnerships that strengthen national research and innovation systems while advancing CGIAR’s long-term impact agenda.

Specific Objectives

Strengthen engagement between CGIAR and NAREES around capacity sharing.
Identify innovative and scalable opportunities for co-investment.
Promote equitable partnerships and co-creation.
Advance South-South and North-South knowledge exchanges.
Generate scalable models for strengthening national agrifood systems.
Foster Communities of Practice and sustainable learning networks.

Funding Details

Award: USD 45,000 total, with three grants of USD 15,000 for the top-ranked candidate from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Capsha South-South Collaboration Innovation Pitch Challenge Benefits

The six highest-ranked proposals will be invited to present during the CapSha South-South Cooperation Side Event in New Delhi, India, from 10–12 September 2026. Successful applicants will receive return economy airfare, conference registration, and accommodation, and will engage with CGIAR leadership and NAREES institutions. Successful applicants will receive much more than financial support.

Participation offers opportunities to:

Secure US$15,000 in grant funding
Build international institutional partnerships
Strengthen organizational capacity
Test innovative collaboration models
Expand regional research networks
Enhance knowledge exchange
Increase institutional visibility
Contribute to stronger agricultural innovation systems

The initiative is particularly valuable for institutions seeking to establish sustainable regional and international collaborations.

Scope of Ideas

The call encourages ideas that foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and institutional strengthening across agricultural disciplines and sectors.
Themes may include digital platforms, joint research and innovation, youth and women’s leadership, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable water management, resilient seed systems, food systems transformation, artificial intelligence, digital agriculture, extension models, innovation ecosystems, research management, policy capacity, One Health, agribusiness incubation, commercialization, scaling, and institutional strengthening.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications must be led by a NAREES institution from Africa, Asia, or Latin America and the Caribbean.
The lead applicant may partner with CGIAR Centers, universities, government agencies, farmer producer organizations, the private sector, NGOs, development partners, and regional organizations.