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ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) | MsingiLab

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ResearchGrantRolling

ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics)

$10K-$10M (varies widely by project type and partnership)

RollingWebsiteEst. 1972

GrantTechnical AssistanceAgricultureClimateFood SystemsAll Stages

Moderate Gender LensStrong Climate Lens

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CGIAR research center focused on dryland agriculture. Provides research partnerships, collaborative grants, and technical assistance for crop improvement, seed systems, and climate-resilient farming in semi-arid tropics. ~60% of research budget is spent in Africa.

What You Get

Research Grants

Collaborative research funding for dryland crop improvement and farming systems

Technical Assistance

Access to ICRISAT's breeding resources, gene banks, and research infrastructure

Capacity Building

Training, peer learning networks, and knowledge exchange

CGIAR Network

Access to the broader CGIAR research system and partnerships

Warm Intro

Required

Geographic Focus

Pan-Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa

Decision Timeline

4-12 weeks depending on partnership type

Key Dates

2025-09-01Strategic Plan 2025-2030 launched at Africa Food Systems Forum, Senegal

2026-02-27Joint Open Week with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization

Eligibility

Research institutions, NARS, NGOs, or farmer organizations working on dryland agriculture
Clear project plan with measurable outcomes
Alignment with ICRISAT's mandate crops or dryland systems
Partnerships established through direct engagement with ICRISAT country offices

Traction Required

Clear project plan and measurable outcomes; demonstrated capacity in dryland agriculture research

Team Requirements

Strong research or implementation team with relevant dryland agriculture expertise

Selection Criteria

Alignment with ICRISAT mandate crops and strategic pillars
Scientific rigor and feasibility
Potential for impact at scale in dryland regions
Capacity of implementing team
Sustainability and replicability

Focus Areas

Crops of the Future

Climate-smart varieties of sorghum, millet, groundnut, chickpea, pigeonpea, finger millet, teff

Resilient Agroecosystems

Regenerative farming practices for semi-arid regions

Systemic Change

Smart Food initiative, inclusive agribusiness, seed systems innovation

What They Look For

Researchers, NARS, and organizations working on dryland crop improvement — especially sorghum, millet, groundnut, chickpea, pigeonpea. Strong presence in Mali, Niger, Kenya, Zimbabwe. Partnerships must align with ICRISAT's three strategic pillars: Crops of the Future, Resilient Agroecosystems, and Systemic Change.

Post-Investment Support

Reporting support, capacity building, peer learning network, access to CGIAR breeding resources and gene banks

Red Flags to Watch

No open grant application portal — partnerships established through direct engagement only; Confirm specific funding cycle is open before applying; Review reporting burden requirements

Insider Tip

ICRISAT is a CGIAR center, not a traditional grant-maker with open calls. Best approach is through ICRISAT country offices in target countries or through CGIAR research initiatives. Strong presence in Mali, Niger, Kenya, Zimbabwe. New Strategic Plan 2025-2030 may open new partnership windows.

1972

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Notable Investments

SERVIR West Africa partnership (hosted by ICRISAT); Odisha Agriculture Drought Mitigation Programme (with ICAR-CRIDA & IRRI); Multiple NARS partnerships across 10+ African countries