GIZ Due Diligence Fund 2026
By Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
GIZ Due Diligence Fund 5th call closed 15 June 2026. Grants of EUR 50,000-250,000 (about ₹54.5 lakh-₹2.73 crore) for consortia improving agricultural supply chains, with Indian partners eligible.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 15 June 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 5th call of the GIZ Due Diligence Fund is closed. Short proposals were due on 15 June 2026. The official page says review and selection is under way and applicants were notified individually, and it gives no date for a next call; GIZ points to its newsletter and LinkedIn page for announcements. The fund has funded 30 projects across four earlier rounds.
The Due Diligence Fund (DDF) is run by GIZ for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains Initiative (SASI). It is not India-only: it funds consortia in which an Indian company or an Indian public-interest organisation can be the local partner, working with a European company.
What the program offers
Grants of EUR 50,000 to EUR 250,000 (about ₹54.5 lakh to ₹2.73 crore at the top) for up to 18 months of on-site work. There are two windows: EUR 50,000 to 124,999, and EUR 125,000 to 250,000. Beyond money, selected projects get technical support from GIZ during implementation and access to its network. The money funds practical, scalable projects that help companies find and fix human-rights and environmental risks in agricultural supply chains, for example deforestation, living incomes and wages, gender equity, digital traceability or grievance systems for smallholder farmers and plantation workers. The project must go beyond what laws such as Germany's Supply Chain Act, the EU CSDDD or the EU Deforestation Regulation already require.
Who can apply
You apply as a consortium, not alone. It must include at least one commercial partner registered in the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the UK, plus at least one commercial partner registered in a country on the OECD DAC list (India is on it) and/or a public-interest organisation with relevant expertise such as an NGO. The European commercial partner must have at least eight employees and EUR 800,000 annual turnover. Commercial partners must be tied to an agricultural supply chain through production, processing, distribution or enabling services, and the products must be traded in the EU single market. The project needs on-site measures in one or more DAC-listed countries. Germany-based commercial partners cannot receive funding, and applicants must not be on German, EU or UN sanctions lists. It suits an Indian agri company or NGO that already has a European buyer or partner; it does not suit one looking for solo funding.
How to apply
Form the consortium, then submit a short proposal (applicant information and a brief concept note) on the templates from the website. The DDF team offered one optional advice appointment to discuss outlines. If shortlisted, the designated funding recipient completes GIZ's commercial and legal eligibility check and the consortium submits a long proposal.
How applications are judged and what happens next
GIZ first checks each short proposal against the conditions of participation, then shortlists eligible proposals mainly on innovation, scalability, additionality and fit with the portfolio. Long proposals are scored on published selection criteria, and BMZ issues funding approvals on the recommendation of a selection committee of GIZ experts. Selected consortia sign a cooperation agreement with GIZ, and funding is paid under a grant agreement. For the 5th call, selection ran to the end of October 2026.
About GIZ and SASI
GIZ is a German development agency working for BMZ. SASI is an initiative on sustainable agricultural supply chains, and the DDF is one of its funding tools.
Things to check before you apply
- The grant goes to one designated recipient. The terms say this should normally be the local company or the public-interest partner, and the European company may receive funds only in exceptional cases.
- The European partner must co-fund, from at least 25% of the DDF funding depending on its size, in cash or in kind.
- Indian recipients of foreign money should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser.
- A practical tip: line up your European partner and a clear risk problem before the next call opens.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
GIZ funds selected projects through two windows: Window A from EUR 50,000 to EUR 124,999, and Window B from EUR 125,000 to EUR 250,000 (about ₹2.73 crore at the top), with higher requirements and a GIZ-commissioned audit for Window B. The funding period is at most 18 months. The money is paid under a grant agreement to one designated recipient in the consortium, normally the local company or public-interest partner. GIZ also gives guidance through project development and implementation and access to its network.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
GIZ checks each short proposal against the conditions of participation and shortlists on innovation, scalability, additionality and portfolio fit. Shortlisted consortia submit a long proposal scored on published criteria. BMZ issues approvals on the recommendation of a selection committee of GIZ experts.
Application Process
- 1
Short proposal
Submit applicant information and a brief concept note on the DDF templates.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Program templates & documents
Files the program publishes for applicants — download these and apply in the prescribed format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GIZ Due Diligence Fund still open?
No. The 5th call closed on 15 June 2026 for short proposals and selection is under way. The official page gives no date for a next call.
Can an Indian company or NGO apply on its own?
No. Applications are made only as a consortium that includes a commercial partner registered in the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the UK. An Indian company or public-interest organisation can be the other partner.
How much is available?
Window A covers EUR 50,000 to 124,999 and Window B EUR 125,000 to 250,000, about ₹54.5 lakh to ₹2.73 crore at the top, for up to 18 months.
Who receives the money?
One designated funding recipient in the consortium under a grant agreement with GIZ. This should normally be the local company or public-interest partner, and Germany-based companies cannot receive funding.
Is co-funding required?
Yes. The European commercial partner must co-fund from at least 25% of the DDF funding, depending on its size, in cash or in kind.
What kind of projects are funded?
Practical, scalable projects that help companies find and fix human-rights and environmental risks in agricultural supply chains, going beyond what existing laws require.
What do I need to submit?
A short proposal with applicant information and a brief concept note on the website templates. Shortlisted consortia then submit a long proposal.
Do we have to travel?
The project needs on-site measures in a DAC-listed country. The sources reviewed do not describe travel requirements for applicants.
Is it free to apply?
The pages reviewed state no application fee.
When are results announced?
For the 5th call selection ran to the end of October 2026 and applicants were notified individually. Future timelines will come with the next call.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
