Promoting Agroecology through Small Grants: the PAPeS Small Grants Fund in Senegal
Women and youth are at the heart of food systems, yet they are among the least likely to receive climate and environmental funding. Only 0.1 per cent of global foundation funding goes to initiatives supporting women and the environment, and less than one per cent goes to youth-led climate action. The PAPeS Small Grants Fund (Promouvoir l’Agroécologie à travers les Petites Subventions) was set up to close that gap. It channels flexible, low-barrier grants directly to grassroots groups, women’s associations and youth collectives working on agroecology across Senegal.
This publication explains how the fund works and why it matters:
- Small grants shift power, not just money. PAPeS lets communities set their own priorities. Grants are flexible, needs-based and quickly available, without the bureaucracy that keeps informal groups out of conventional funding.
- The right size makes the difference. Grants are capped at €5,000 in the first phase. The cap is set with local advisors so that grants are big enough to have impact without causing division.
- Agroecology is about justice as well as farming. Supported groups use their grants for communal composting, Farmer Field Schools, solar-powered irrigation, forest restoration and youth training. This work builds resilient food systems and strengthens local agency.
- Inclusive governance. The fund is coordinated by IED Afrique, guided by a steering committee, and selects grantees through an independent committee. A research partner documents its impact.
The fund is a practical example that small grants funds are an effective way to get climate finance to the people who need it most.
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Promoting Agroecology through Small Grants: the PAPeS Small Grants Fund in Senegal
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