Across Benin and our neighbouring countries, 70–80% of leafy vegetables and 50–70% of fruits are lost before they ever reach a consumer’s plate. At the same time, poor nutrition continues to affect millions of people across West Africa: one in four children under five suffers from stunting, while more than half of women of reproductive age live with anaemia.
These figures point to deeper challenges across our food systems. Limited processing and storage capacity, fragmented markets, inadequate distribution systems and other barriers prevent nutritious fruits and vegetables from reaching consumers affordably, consistently and at the quality they need.
For Benin, however, these challenges also represent an opportunity. Our agricultural sector, combined with the creativity and entrepreneurial energy of our young population, provides a strong foundation for reducing food losses, adding value to local produce, creating jobs and improving access to nutritious foods.
Our region is home to some of the youngest populations in the world, and young people are already developing ideas, building businesses and testing new solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our food systems. With the right support, these emerging entrepreneurs can turn food-system gaps into viable businesses and scalable solutions.
At GAIN Benin, we believe young entrepreneurs have a critical role to play in building stronger, more resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems. Across the country, young innovators are developing solutions that can transform the fruit and vegetable value chain; from production and processing to distribution, marketing and consumption. What they need now is the right support to take these solutions further.
The opportunity: NourishNext
This is the opportunity behind the NourishNext West Africa Youth Agrifood Innovation Challenge 2026.
NourishNext is looking for youth-led innovations that can strengthen fruit and vegetable value chains in Benin and across West Africa. The initiative is led by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), in partnership with the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and ECOWAS.
The challenge is designed not simply to identify promising ideas, but to support young innovators who are already testing solutions and are ready to take the next step towards greater impact and scale.
Who should apply?
Young innovators aged 18 to 35 are encouraged to apply, with the upper age limit extended to 40 for women-led innovations.
Applicants may include:
- Entrepreneurs and start-ups
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Cooperatives
- Researchers and innovators working within or supporting fruit and vegetable value chains
Importantly, this is not a call for ideas that exist only on paper. Your solution should be a prototype or pilot, have early market traction, or already have an operational presence with users. Applicants should be able to demonstrate that their solution is being tested, implemented or used and has potential to grow.
NourishNext is particularly interested in innovations that improve how fruits and vegetables are processed, preserved, packaged, transported, marketed, distributed, purchased, prepared and consumed; helping to build more resilient, inclusive and nutrition-sensitive food systems.
How to apply
Step one: Submit your online application.
Applicants should clearly explain the problem their innovation addresses, demonstrate how their solution works and provide evidence that it is already being tested or used. Supporting evidence of traction, results or user engagement can help demonstrate the solution’s potential for scale.
Step two: Access support to take your solution further.
NourishNext will select ten winners in each participating country. Selected innovators will receive a USD 5,000 seed grant, mentorship, expert support, investor connections, peer learning opportunities and opportunities to showcase their solutions nationally and regionally.
The top two solutions from each participating country will also be showcased on a regional platform in Dakar, Senegal.
From promising solutions to lasting impact
For young innovators in Benin, this is more than an opportunity to receive funding. It is an opportunity to strengthen a promising solution, build a viable enterprise, connect with new partners and markets, and contribute to a food system that makes nutritious foods more accessible.
At GAIN Benin, we believe that this country has the talent, creativity and entrepreneurial energy needed to develop solutions that can reduce food losses, create livelihoods, strengthen local markets and improve access to nutritious food.
Are you a young Beninese innovator already building, testing or growing a solution for the fruit and vegetable value chain?
This is your opportunity to step forward.
Apply, strengthen your solution and help shape healthier, more resilient food systems for Benin and West Africa.
Applications close 30 September 2026.
APPLY NOW: https://tinyurl.com/NNIC-French-Web
