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GovernmentGrantDFIOpen

Italian Development Cooperation (AICS)

€500,000–€20M per project (varies by call; recent calls range from €500K to €1.5M for NGO grants)

RollingWebsiteEst. 2016

GrantDebtTechnical AssistanceAgricultureHealthEducationEnergyWater & SanitationMigrationGovernanceenvironmentFood SecurityBiotechnologyAll Stages

Moderate Gender LensModerate Climate Lens

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Italy's official development cooperation agency, implementing the Mattei Plan for Africa across 23 priority countries through grants, concessional loans, and technical cooperation. In 2026, the Joint Committee approved a €246M package including programs for Ethiopia (environment), Burkina Faso (agriculture), Kenya (food security), and Chad (health). Multiple calls for proposals are open with specific deadlines.

What You Get

Project Grant Funding

Non-dilutive grants for development projects, typically €500K–€20M depending on scale and sector

Technical Cooperation

Technical assistance, institutional strengthening, and capacity building support

Concessional Loans

Soft loans for larger infrastructure and development projects through Italian development finance

Biotechnology Capacity Building

BIOTECHNET II programme supporting lab establishment/upgrading in Horn of Africa and East Africa

Partnership Framework

Access to Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa partnership ecosystem and Italian private sector connections

How to Apply

Respond to specific calls for proposals published on aics.gov.it and AICS country office websites. Each call has defined eligibility, thematic scope, geographic focus, budget limits, and deadlines. Monitor AICS website and country offices for new calls. Current active calls include: Great Lakes Crisis Response (Uganda/Burundi), Kenya Mental Health (deadline April 27, 2026).

Geographic Focus

East Africa, North Africa, West Africa, Horn of Africa

Decision Timeline

Varies by call; typically 2-4 months from submission deadline to award notification

Key Dates

2026-01-01Joint Committee approved €246M development cooperation package for 2026

2026-04-27Deadline: Kenya Mental Health Support for GBV Survivors (€1.5M)

Eligibility

NGOs, civil society organizations, and government entities in AICS priority countries
Italian NGOs and international organizations (for Civil Society Fund calls)
Must respond to specific call for proposals with defined thematic and geographic scope
Projects must align with AICS country strategy and Mattei Plan priorities
Typically requires partnership between Italian and local organizations

Traction Required

Established organization with track record in relevant sector and geography; project-specific requirements vary by call

Team Requirements

Typically requires partnership between Italian and local organizations; strong project management capacity; relevant sector expertise

Selection Criteria

Alignment with AICS country strategy and Mattei Plan priorities
Technical quality and feasibility of proposed intervention
Partnership quality (Italian-local organization collaboration)
Sustainability and exit strategy
Gender mainstreaming and environmental sustainability
Value for money and cost-effectiveness

Focus Areas

Agriculture & Food Security

Agricultural development, food systems, and rural livelihoods — active programs in Burkina Faso and Kenya.

Health Systems

Health system strengthening, mental health (GBV survivors in Kenya), and disease prevention (Chad health system project).

Education & Training

Vocational training, capacity building, and education sector support across priority countries.

Energy & Environment

Renewable energy, environmental development (Ethiopia), and climate resilience programming.

Migration & Crisis Response

Regional crisis response (Great Lakes), migration management, and humanitarian-development nexus programming.

Biotechnology

BIOTECHNET II programme strengthening biotech capacity in Horn of Africa and East Africa for health, agriculture, and renewable energy.

What They Look For

AICS funds development projects in its 23 African priority countries through periodic calls for proposals aligned with the Mattei Plan's 5 pillars: education, health, energy, agriculture, and water. The agency prioritizes projects that involve Italian-local partnerships and emphasize sustainability. AICS has recently expanded its Africa network to 10 offices, signaling deepened engagement. Active 2026 calls cover Great Lakes crisis response, Kenya mental health, Ethiopia environment, Burkina Faso agriculture, Kenya food security, and Chad health systems.

Post-Investment Support

Technical monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and project supervision by AICS country offices

Red Flags to Watch

Funding is call-specific — no rolling open application; Often requires Italian organization as lead or co-applicant; Significant reporting and compliance requirements; Priority countries and sectors shift with Italian government policy

Insider Tip

Monitor AICS country office websites in your target country for calls for proposals. The Mattei Plan has significantly increased Italy's Africa development budget and geographic scope. Partnerships with Italian NGOs (e.g., COSV, AVSI, WeWorld) significantly strengthen applications. The expansion to 23 priority countries creates new opportunities in previously underserved regions.

2016

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Notable Investments

€246M development cooperation package approved for 2026; Great Lakes Crisis Response — up to €1M (Uganda) and €500K (Burundi); Kenya Mental Health for GBV Survivors — €1.5M; Ethiopia environmental development programme; Burkina Faso agricultural development initiative; Kenya food security programme; Chad health system strengthening (via Italian National Institute of Health); BIOTECHNET II — biotech capacity building in Horn of Africa and East Africa