Organisation Name:
ACCESS Development Services (ACCESS)
Application Deadline:
17 December 2025
About Organisation
ACCESS Development Services (ACCESS) is a uniquely structured organization established in March 2006, dedicated to building evidence, creating models, and aligning thought leadership through collaboration with Civil Society Organizations, Governments, Private Sector, Donors, and Multilateral/Bilateral Agencies. The organization focuses on enhancing income for individual smallholder farmers and building sustainability of Farmer Producer Organizations by incorporating value addition to commodities, improving marketing practices, and introducing climate-resilient farming techniques.
ACCESS creates model Farmer Producer Organizations that serve as learning laboratories and provide replicable capacity-building frameworks for other FPO promoters, government agencies, and funding organizations. The organization demonstrates commitment to inclusive development by specifically targeting vulnerable communities including tribal populations, minority groups, excluded communities, women, small and marginal farmers, and artisans.
Headquartered in Delhi, ACCESS maintains extensive operational reach across India with ongoing projects in thirty-four locations spanning eleven states: Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, National Capital Region, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Through its comprehensive programs, ACCESS has positively impacted the livelihoods of approximately four hundred ten thousand households across these regions. The organization serves as fund manager for the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Investments in Agroecology Value Chain Projects, demonstrating its trusted capacity in managing large-scale development initiatives focused on sustainable agricultural transformation.
About the Grant
The Grant for Agroecology Program Fund represents ACCESS’s management of an investment fund on behalf of the International Fund for Agricultural Development as part of the Investments in Agroecology Value Chain Projects. This initiative aims to promote agroecology-based value chains by identifying viable business opportunities linked to agroecology clusters and providing comprehensive investment support for integrated sustainable production systems.
Through the sixth round of the GAP Challenge, ACCESS invites Concept Notes from eligible enterprises seeking grant investments ranging from ten million to twenty million Indian Rupees (Rs. 100 lakhs to Rs. 200 lakhs, or approximately INR 1-2 crore) for establishing or expanding high-impact business projects within Agroecology Value Chains. The program supports both Micro and Small Enterprises and Producer Organization Enterprises through grants, technical assistance, and ecosystem support.
The grant’s primary objective is assisting agroecology-focused enterprises to become integral components of sustainable food systems. Through competitive grant mechanisms, the GAP Fund empowers enterprises to scale agroecological innovations and address pressing value chain challenges, ultimately enhancing sustainable livelihoods for small producers through viable business models. Participants gain not only financial support but also membership in the GAP Fund community of agroecology enterprises, opportunities to showcase impact, and access to pitch solutions before investors and funders, potentially unlocking additional funding opportunities beyond the initial grant award.
Who can Apply?
The GAP Challenge welcomes applications from two primary categories of eligible entities operating anywhere across India. Producer Organization Enterprises involved in agroecology constitute the first category, including Farmer Producer Organizations/Companies, Producer Organizations/Companies, Producer Groups, Producer Cooperatives, Federations of Self-Help Groups, and other forms of producer collective enterprises. Formalized women’s groups, vulnerable community groups, and youth groups organized as collectives are also eligible within this category.
The second eligible category comprises Micro and Small Enterprises—for-profit entities linked to agroecology value chains, including startup organizations and individual entrepreneurs, provided they maintain proper registration. These enterprises must demonstrate clear connections to agroecology-focused value chains and sustainable food systems.
Non-profit organizations and NGOs can provide valuable assistance in preparing applications for Producer Organizations or Enterprises but cannot submit applications independently in their own capacity. This restriction ensures grants directly benefit operational enterprises rather than intermediary organizations.
The program operates pan-India, accepting proposals from eligible entities across all Indian states and territories without geographic restrictions. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to establish or expand business projects with significant impact potential within agroecology value chains. Selected enterprises should show commitment to scaling agroecological innovations, addressing value chain challenges, and creating tangible benefits for small producers through sustainable, viable business models aligned with the program’s sustainability and livelihood enhancement objectives.
How to Apply?
Eligible enterprises must submit Concept Notes through the online application system by the specified deadline. Applications should detail proposed business projects for establishing or expanding operations within agroecology value chains. Detailed application guidelines, submission requirements, and the complete application form are accessible through the provided Google Forms link. Interested applicants should review all requirements carefully before completing their submissions.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is Friday, December 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time. Concept Notes must be submitted through the online application portal before this date and time to be considered.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
