The European Commission (EC) has launched a call for proposals for NGOs as well as governmental agencies and private bodies to develop project to respond against the rising food prices in developing countries. During the past few years, the rising prices of food commodities have adversely impacted poor and developing countries, especially those that are dependent upon food imports. The rising prices have negatively impacted the progress made under the Millennium Development Goals. But on the other hand, it has also been observed that rising food prices have positively helped the agriculture sector. In order to reduce the negative impact and work upon the positive aspects, the EC has adopted the Food Facility Program under which grants would be extended to implementing organizations.

Although the call has been announced for NGOs in all countries, the EC has developed a list of 50 priority countries. Out of the 50, 35 countries will be finally selected based upon the poverty conditions, food policies and the existing local capacities. Each country has been allocated with a certain amount of funding. These countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Guinea , Haiti, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi , Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Yemen and Zambia.

The Food Facility assistance program intends to support project activities such as improving the access to agricultural inputs and services including fertilizers and seeds, providing safety nets for boosting agricultural productive capacity including addressing the shortage of basic food needs of vulnerable groups and facilitating other operations such as microcredit, investment, equipment, infrastructure and storage, skills development etc that will contribute towards the growth of the agriculture sector.

The total duration of the project will be less than three years as all activities have to be winded up by 31 October 2011. The funding allocation for NGOs is between one to five million euros per country. PADOR registration is mandatory for all NGOs applying for this funding opportunity. Concept notes have to be submitted based upon the given format. The completed concept notes can be submitted by email as well as by mail. The last date to apply for this grant assistance is 24 June 2009. For more information, visit this link.