The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency of COMESA, has announced the Second Call for Applications for Matching Grants under the COMESA–EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA). The programme is designed to catalyze innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across key horticultural value chains in the region.
The call targets agribusinesses operating within the potato, onion, and avocado value chains in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. Enterprises at all nodes of the value chain—production, processing, aggregation, or export—are encouraged to apply.
Strengthening Regional Horticulture Competitiveness
The CEHA Matching Grant Facility Implementation and Award Modality (MGFIAM) seeks to transform horticultural value chains through strategic financial and technical support. The facility offers:
- Matching grants ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 100,000
- A mandatory 50% cash contribution from the applicant
- Tailored non-financial support, including:
- Business development services
- Technical assistance for climate-smart and efficient production
- Market access facilitation across COMESA–EAC countries
- Investor-readiness support and linkages
This holistic support framework is aligned with CEHA’s mission to strengthen the region’s horticulture sector through innovation, inclusive growth, and enhanced market integration.
Priority Impact Areas
Projects submitted under this call must contribute to CEHA’s strategic pillars, which include:
- Increased farmer income and productivity, particularly among smallholders
- Gender equity, through women’s empowerment and participation in value chains
- Climate resilience, including sustainable irrigation, renewable energy adoption, and resilient seed systems
- Market development, focusing on post-harvest handling, quality enhancement, and compliance with standards
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the grant, applicants must:
- Operate within the potato, onion, or avocado value chains
- Be legally registered and active in at least one target country
- Demonstrate commercial viability and a scalable business model
- Provide proof of a minimum 50% cash co-investment
- Comply with social, labour, and environmental standards
Applications may be submitted either individually or as consortiums. In the case of consortiums, a signed Letter of Intent from all partners is required.
Submission Details
Interested businesses are required to submit:
- A detailed business plan outlining goals, milestones, and financial projections
- Evidence of matching financial contribution
- Registration and compliance documents
Deadline for submission:
📅 14th January 2026, 17:00 EAT
Submission email:
📧 Tenders@comesa.int
Cc: NMunalula@comesa.int
Guidelines and templates are available for download on the COMESA website and at CEHA National Chapter offices in participating countries.
A Timely Opportunity for Growth
As horticulture continues to emerge as one of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors in the region, the CEHA Matching Grant Facility offers a timely opportunity for agribusinesses looking to scale operations, adopt modern production systems, and expand market reach.
This second call is expected to unlock investment, strengthen regional trade, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods among farming communities.