Deadline: August 31, 2025
Are you a women-led enterprise based in rural Somalia with an innovative solution to improve market access or financial inclusion in agriculture? The Somalia Women’s Market Access Innovation Challenge 2025 is now open for applications. Organised by Somalia’s Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation (MoAI), the Centre for Innovation and Agropreneurship Development (CIAD), IFAD’s Rural Livelihoods Resilience Programme (RLRP), and the World Bank’s Somalia Food Systems Resilience Project (S-FSRP), this challenge aims to empower women in agriculture with funding, capacity building, and market linkages.
This blog post breaks down all you need to know about the Somalia Women’s Market Access Innovation Challenge 2025 and how to apply before the deadline.
What is the Somalia Women’s Market Access Innovation Challenge 2025?
The Somalia Women’s Market Access Innovation Challenge 2025 is a competitive programme designed to support women-led and women-inclusive enterprises in rural Somalia. The challenge seeks scalable, innovative solutions that improve market access, enhance business competitiveness, and promote financial inclusion for women in agriculture.
This initiative is part of broader efforts by IFAD and the World Bank to build resilient, inclusive food systems and strengthen rural livelihoods in Somalia through targeted investments in women and agri-business innovation.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a legally registered rural enterprise in Somalia
- Be women-led, or have at least 30% of women in leadership positions
- Provide a scalable solution, ideally with a validated technological prototype
- Demonstrate potential to enhance market access or financial inclusion for women in agriculture
Solutions that apply digital tools, improve community linkages, or use data for impact will be prioritised.
Why You Should Apply
Successful applicants will receive a full support package, including:
- Seed funding or technical support to develop their solution
- Tailored business coaching and mentoring
- Training in design thinking, lean innovation, storytelling, and data-driven decision-making
- Access to networks and markets, enhancing long-term sustainability and growth
This is a unique opportunity to turn an idea into a real business impact while connecting with major institutional stakeholders and funders in Somalia’s agri-business space.
Timeline and Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Challenge Launch | July 2, 2025 @ 7:00 AM |
| Application Deadline | August 31, 2025 @ 5:00 PM (Mogadishu Time) |
All applications must be submitted online through the official CIAD platform before the deadline.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can complete their submissions via the official application portal:
Before applying, make sure to review the programme details and eligibility guidelines provided by CIAD:
🔗 Read more about the programme
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Ensure all required documentation and descriptions of your innovation are submitted clearly and completely.
Why This Matters: Women’s Role in Somali Agriculture
Despite their pivotal role in Somalia’s agricultural sector, women continue to face systemic barriers, including limited access to finance and weak market integration. For example, although women account for 50% of loans by number in Somalia’s Gargaara MSME system, they receive less than 10% by value.
The Somalia Women’s Market Access Innovation Challenge 2025 directly tackles these disparities by providing women-led businesses with tools to succeed and scale sustainably. It supports Somalia’s broader development agenda for gender equity and inclusive economic growth.
Contact and Support
For additional information, you may reach out to the organising team via:
📧 ciad@moa.gov.so
📧 agrobusinessdept@moa.gov.so
Or visit the official CIAD website: https://ciad.moa.gov.so
For support with proposal drafting, refining and review, contact grantsdatabase.org.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Somalia Women’s Market Access Innovation Challenge — apply today and scale your impact!
