Reasons to Submit to the FAO Call for Entries This Year

Recent Trends

• Growing emphasis on climate-smart agriculture and digital innovation in food systems has widened the scope of eligible projects.
• Past cycles show a steady increase in submissions from smallholder cooperatives and youth-led ventures, reflecting FAO’s push for inclusive participation.
• Selection committees have recently prioritized cross-sector partnerships over single‑discipline proposals.

Background

The FAO call for entries is an annual or periodic invitation for individuals, organizations, and institutions to showcase scalable solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Originally focused on technical research, the initiative now accepts practice‑based submissions from field projects, policy pilots, and community enterprises. Submissions are typically evaluated on relevance, feasibility, and potential for replication in low‑resource settings.

User Concerns

• Eligibility clarity: Many applicants worry that their project scope is too narrow or too broad. In recent years, FAO has published detailed scoring rubrics to reduce ambiguity.
• Resource intensity: Preparing a thorough entry often requires data collection, translations, and supporting documentation. Some teams hesitate if they lack dedicated administrative support.
• Past rejection stigma: First‑time submitters may fear that previous unsuccessful bids hurt future chances. In practice, reviewers consider each entry on its own merits.

Likely Impact

Submissions that advance to shortlist stages gain visibility among international donors, government agencies, and peer networks. Even non‑winning entries can attract follow‑up funding if they demonstrate measurable results in food security or sustainable production. The 2024–2025 cycle is expected to see increased competition as more organizations align their work with FAO’s “Four Betters” agenda (better production, nutrition, environment, and life). Meanwhile, successful applicants often report improved credibility when applying for other grants or partnerships.

What to Watch Next

Observers should monitor the specific thematic priority that FAO announces for the current call—previous years have alternated between “digital agriculture” and “biodiversity‑positive farming.” Additionally, the timeline for evaluation and announcement may shift if the volume of entries rises significantly. Early‑bird tips and virtual info sessions, typically released a few weeks after the call opens, can help sharpen proposals. Finally, note whether FAO introduces a fast‑track category for projects already piloted in multiple regions.