Deadline: July 21, 2025
Are you an agri-food SME or processor based in Nigeria with innovative ideas for rice or cashew-based products? The CARI New Product Development Program 2025 is now open for applications! This is a unique opportunity for businesses in the rice and cashew value chains to receive funding and marketing support to develop and launch new or improved products.
Organised under the GIZ-MOVE initiative—which brings together the Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) and ComCashew—this programme aims to strengthen value chains, support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and foster innovation in the Nigerian agri-food sector.
About the CARI New Product Development Program 2025
The CARI New Product Development Program 2025 seeks to fund and support businesses that want to create or refine products made from rice, cashew, or their by-products. Selected applicants will receive assistance to develop their product and showcase it at a major market exhibition. The programme also offers a robust Marketing Services Package to help selected businesses reach new customers and improve visibility.
Applicants are expected to submit a detailed concept note and budget proposal for their product idea, with successful proposals being those that are customer-oriented, innovative, and feasible within a reasonable budget.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the programme, applicants must:
- Be legally registered businesses based in Nigeria.
- Have at least 3 years of operational experience in rice/cashew processing, gastronomy, agri-food, cosmetics, or health sectors.
- Possess existing marketing and distribution channels such as social media presence, direct-to-customer channels, supermarkets, or stores.
- Be able to commit to sharing their product recipe and participate in monitoring and evaluation processes.
Preference will be given to women-led businesses and enterprises that promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
What Kind of Products Are Eligible?
The programme supports:
- New products never before offered by the company.
- Significantly modified or improved versions of existing products.
- Products made from rice, cashew, or their by-products.
- Customer-oriented innovations—whether edible or non-edible.
Applicants must propose one product per application and will be expected to share its formula or recipe with the programme team.
Benefits of the Programme
Participants will receive:
- Funding to support product development and exhibition.
- Access to a curated Marketing Services Package for product promotion.
- Visibility at a high-impact market launch event.
- Ongoing technical support and inclusion in the programme’s innovation monitoring structure.
This is a prime opportunity to bring your product ideas to life and position your brand in the competitive agri-food sector.
Important Dates
| Key Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | July 1, 2025 |
| Deadline to Apply | July 21, 2025 |
How to Apply
Interested applicants should:
- Prepare a concept note describing the proposed product, its innovation, target market, and alignment with the programme objectives.
- Develop a simple budget proposal covering the product development and exhibition.
- Send your application to move@giz.de before the deadline.
👉 Click here to apply
👉 Read more about the programme
Final Thoughts
The CARI New Product Development Program 2025 represents an exceptional opportunity for Nigerian businesses to lead the way in agricultural innovation, particularly in the rice and cashew sectors. If you have a market-ready idea and a passion for value addition, this is your moment.
Don’t miss out! Submit your application by July 21, 2025.
Need help with your application?
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining and review.
