Call for proposals - VGF Support

Viability Gap Funding for Farmer-Centric Agriphotovoltaics Projects

Putting farmers at the centre of the Agriphotovoltaics transition

Implemented by: Indo-German Cooperation on Agrivoltaics (IGCA)
Applications open: 21 October 2026
Initial application deadline: 31 January 2027
Support: 5% to 25% of total project cost (assessed by IGCA on the proposal)
Eligible projects: Farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics projects of 50-500 kWp total solar installed capacity
Apply at: Online Application Form

About the Call:

The Indo-German Cooperation on Agrivoltaics (IGCA), implemented on behalf of the International Climate Initiative of the Federal Government of Germany, invites proposals for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support for farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics projects. The initiative seeks to encourage the establishment, expansion and demonstration of farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics systems across diverse agro-ecological regions of India focusing on Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam and beyond, generating evidence on viable technical, financial and institutional models while strengthening farmer participation in the renewable energy transition.

At least one supported project will be owned by a women-led organisation, promoting women's leadership and participation in farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics development.

Support Categories:

Two types of VGF support will be offered by IGCA.

1. Service Contracts

For registered institutions and organizations, with a preference for women-led institutions
VGF support may cover both hardware and software components, subject to a 25% ceiling

2. Direct Procurement Awards

For individual farmers (with a preference for female farmers) and informal groups, applying on their own or through civil society partners
Support is delivered through direct procurement of hardware by IWMI (on behalf of IGCA) and transfer of ownership to selected recipients

Who Can Apply?

Applications are invited from:

Individual farmers
Informal farmer groups
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
Farmer cooperatives
NGOs and civil society organizations
Social enterprises and startups
Any other relevant institutions supporting rural livelihoods

Applicants should have either:

An existing farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics installation with a clear plan for expansion or enhancement to a capacity of 50-500 kWp; or
A confirmed plan to establish a new 50-500 kWp farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics project within six months of VGF award

For this call, a farmer-centric project is either a standalone installation of 50-500 kWp, or a cumulative 50-500 kWp across multiple fields that are intrinsically linked and serve a joint or similar purpose. In both cases, proposals must establish the centrality of farmers to the goals and objectives of the project.

Selection Process:

The selection process will follow three stages:

Stage 1: Submission of a brief project concept note through a structured online application format.
Stage 2: Submission of a detailed proposal by shortlisted applicants, covering project design, financial and institutional arrangements, agricultural and energy-use plans, ownership structure and implementation timeline.
Stage 3: Presentation to the IGCA Steering Committee and invited external experts for final selection and award.

Selection Criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated on mutually agreed criteria and weights, along with important non-ratable parameters. The likely criteria and relative weights are:

Technical Design (30%): Quality of design, size, energy use / evacuation plan, agricultural planning, implementation capacity and clear execution timeline.
Financial Design (25%): Sources of funds, extent of reliance on VGF, farmers' contribution, innovations in financing sources or mechanisms.
Institutional Design (25%): Farmers' ownership and stakes, community participation in design and planning, O&M mechanisms, gender and social inclusion.
Strategic Relevance (20%): Scaling potential, alignment with policy priorities, demonstration effect; priority for women-led projects.

Expectations from Awardees:

Ensure meaningful farmer participation throughout project planning, design, deployment and implementation
Maintain productive agricultural production under Agriphotovoltaics systems
Track farm-level outcomes such as income, productivity, costs and risk reduction
Document operational experiences, challenges and lessons learned
Contribute to knowledge-sharing and dissemination activities facilitated by IGCA

Expected Outcomes:

The programme is expected to generate replicable models of farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics, strengthen evidence on socio-economic and environmental benefits, and support the development of policies and investment pathways for large-scale adoption of farmer-led and farmer-centric Agriphotovoltaics in India.

Key Dates:

Online applications open: 21 October 2026
Information sessions: November - December 2026
Initial application deadline: 31 January 2027
Detailed proposal submission deadline: 31 March 2027
Finalists announced: 15 April 2027
Final round presentations and award: April - May 2027

How to Apply:

The call is hosted on the AgriPV portal maintained by IGCA (https://www.agrophotovoltaics.in/).

Apply through the online application format here: Online Application Form.

For queries, please write to: International Water Management Institute, iwmi-awc2026@cgiar.org

Link to VGF Support - Scope of Call