Haz click aquí para ver la versión en Español
RAFI’s Caribbean Infrastructure Grant provides support to farmers in the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for infrastructure projects that will increase farm viability, support community food sovereignty efforts, preserve traditional and cultural farming practices, as well as assist local food economies.
What is the grant amount?
Applicants may request up to $5,000. This applies to individual farm projects as well as collaborative projects for cooperatives, collectives, or groups of farms applying together.
What is the deadline for this application?
Because Tropical Storm Ernesto affected the Caribbean U.S. Islands and farmers´ Wifi connection, RAFI is postponing the Caribbean Infrastructure Grant Deadline to August 23 at 5:00 p.m. to allow farmers to finish sending their applications. If you have any technical issues, please contact us!
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for this grant, farmers must:
- Have at least three years of farming experience and have worked two years in their current farming operation and location.
- Have their farm located in the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico.
- Apply as either an individual farmer owner/co-owner or as a farm cooperative.
- If applying as a cooperative or collaborative, at least 50% of the cooperative or collaborative must meet eligibility criteria.
- Complete and submit an application by the deadline.
- Submit only one application (as an individual or a collective). If you submit more than one application, neither will be considered.
- Your farm has NOT received RAFI infrastructure grants in the past (2020-2023)
- Include a community education component into their proposal: exchange of experiences/knowledge with the agricultural community, integration with farmer networks, participation in educational events, etc.
Guidelines
We fund promising on-farm projects that demonstrate an ability to increase farm sustainability; establish new markets for local products and services; develop new uses for existing structures and equipment; add value to existing farm products through processing, packaging, or marketing; make optimal use of on-farm and natural resources; Cultural/Heritage projects which are focused on preserving and continuing a specific agrarian tradition; and, projects that include a proposed activity (educational, or technical, or community-based, etc.) that benefit’s other fellow farmers.
Funding priority will be given to proposals with:
- High expected impact on farm viability and sustainability,
- Strong project feasibility and planning: a clear plan, detailed budget and timeline, and all supporting documentation included.
- Individual financial need or location in an economically disadvantaged area.
- Farm uses agroecological and/or ancestral farmer practices.
Please note: you do NOT need to pay an external consultant to complete this application. If you have questions about how to fill it out, please contact RAFI directly for assistance.
Grant Process
Eligible applications will be reviewed by a panel of stakeholders and RAFI staff to select finalists.
RAFI staff may meet some finalists in person and visit their farming operations in August-September 2024.
We will inform applicants of decisions via email or phone call.
For farmers who are awarded a grant, we will collect a grant agreement and a W9 to process the payment. Depending on the submission of these items, awardees can expect to be paid in September 2024.
Payments will be made in two installments:
85% upfront
15% upon completion of a final report (due by February 3, 2025)
Please confirm your eligibility for this grant before spending time on an application. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact Carolina Alzate Gouzy, carolina@rafi.gameflow.design