Call for Expressions of Interest: ABERA Cohort 2 by CGAP and IDH – Fully Supported Program for Financial and Agricultural Service Providers in Asia and Africa

DR. RABIU RABIU DR. RABIU RABIU
Apr 13, 2025 - 00:38
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Call for Expressions of Interest: ABERA Cohort 2 by CGAP and IDH – Fully Supported Program for Financial and Agricultural Service Providers in Asia and Africa

CGAP and IDH, the sustainable trade initiative, are calling for expressions of interest from medium to large financial and agricultural service providers operating in Asia or Africa. These providers should be committed to boosting business performance while delivering innovative services that improve rural women’s resilience to climate change.

Successful applicants will be selected to join ABERA (Accelerating Business to Empower Rural women in Agriculture) — a cohort-based program that supports providers in developing climate-resilient, inclusive financial services that also enhance their commercial viability.

Who Can Apply?

The ABERA initiative is specifically targeting:

  • Medium to large financial and/or agricultural companies.

  • Organizations that serve or source from at least 5,000 farmers.

  • Businesses that operate in Asia and/or Africa.

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

  • Willingness to share gender-disaggregated and anonymized data (under confidentiality agreements) to support pilot design and performance tracking.

  • Commitment to:

    • Engaging more rural women as customers, suppliers, or employees.

    • Building climate resilience within the organization and for rural customers.

    • Co-investing resources and staff time into program implementation and pilot testing.

  • Ability to commit to a 2-3 year cohort participation to ensure lasting outcomes.

Program Details

  • Name of Program: ABERA (Accelerating Business to Empower Rural women in Agriculture)

  • Organized by: CGAP and IDH (the sustainable trade initiative)

  • Program Duration: 2–3 years

  • Location: Virtual and in-person participation (Asia and Africa-based companies)

  • Fees: No program fee mentioned; companies are expected to co-invest in pilot implementation with staff time and resources

For more information, please visit the official website.

Why Join ABERA?

Participating companies receive:

  • Tailored technical assistance to help design, test, and scale climate-resilient solutions.

  • Data-driven strategies for optimizing business performance.

  • Visibility and recognition via CGAP and IDH platforms, publications, and events.

  • Networking opportunities with peers, investors, donors, and sector leaders.

  • Support to pilot recommendations derived from deep business assessments.

What is Expected from Participating Companies?

ABERA requires a strong level of engagement from cohort companies, including:

  • Active staff participation in assessments, regular meetings, and pilot implementation.

  • Sharing experiences and learnings with the cohort to build collective knowledge.

  • Provision of non-sensitive company data (confidentiality ensured) to support analysis.

  • Openness to pilot relevant recommendations generated by the ABERA team.

  • Commitment to a multi-year engagement (2–3 years) to foster sustainable impact.

Application Process

Interested companies should:

  1. Review the detailed call for applications (available in English and French).

  2. Complete the online Expression of Interest form.

  3. Submit the form by the application deadline.

Links for Application and Guidelines:

For any queries, contact: abera@cgap.org

Important Dates

  • April 22, 2025 – Deadline for Expression of Interest submission

  • May 2025 – Review and shortlisting of submissions

  • June 2025 – Final selection and onboarding of Cohort 2 companies

Contact Information

Media Inquiries:
Lamis Daoud, External Affairs Officer
1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Office: +1.202.848.6103
Email: ldaoud@worldbank.org
General inquiries: cgap@worldbank.org

ABERA offers a unique chance to join a powerful global network working at the intersection of gender, climate, and inclusive finance. If your company is driven to innovate for rural women while growing its own resilience and market potential, we strongly encourage you to apply before the deadline on April 22, 2025.

Take the lead in creating a more inclusive and climate-resilient future — submit your Expression of Interest today.

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