The Value Chain for Agribusiness, Climate and Employment (VACE) Project is inviting Nigerian agribusiness small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), food processors and product innovators to apply for support to develop new products using dairy, cocoa and their by-products.
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The opportunity targets businesses in dairy, cocoa, food and beverages, bakery and pastry, agri-food processing, cosmetics, health and wellness, nutraceuticals and other value-added industries.
Selected applicants will receive technical support to develop and launch a new product, business development assistance to strengthen their businesses, and opportunities to showcase innovations at market exhibitions and connect with potential buyers.
The call targets businesses already operating in Nigeria that plan to create new customer-oriented products from dairy, cocoa or related by-products. Applicants must be willing to innovate, expand and participate in product development.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must:
- Operate a legally recognised Nigerian business, with valid registration, business permits or proof that registration is ongoing.
- Have at least three years of experience in dairy, cocoa, food and beverages, bakery and pastry, agri-food, cosmetics, health and wellness, nutraceuticals or another value-added industry.
- Have plans to develop a new product using dairy, cocoa or their by-products.
- Maintain at least one marketing channel, such as social media, direct orders, supermarkets or other sales outlets.
- Be willing to develop and launch at least one new customer-oriented product.
- Agree to share the product recipe and participate in future collaboration, monitoring and evaluation reporting.
Women-led and youth-led SMEs, as well as persons with disabilities, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Priority states
The call prioritises SMEs in Ondo and Cross River states for cocoa-related product development. For dairy-related innovations, priority states are Oyo, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau states.
The VACE Project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (EU and ECOWAS), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Applications close on October 27, 2026.
How to apply
Interested businesses should prepare their application using the Concept Note and directly submit it by email to flora.asibe@giz.de before October 27, 2026.
