MSP inviting Concept Notes for Southern Africa Agricultural Trade & Investment Activity

Deadline: 31-Mar-21

The Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) Southern Africa Agricultural Trade & Investment Activity, managed by DAI on behalf of the USAID Southern Africa Regional Mission, is pleased to invite for-profit businesses in Southern Africa to submit an application for an award.

Eligible activities include novel ideas and innovative business models in input distribution, supply chain management, business services and other support services.

MSP will leverage South Africa’s advanced economy and financial system to support mutually beneficial trade and investment in the southern African region, or to the United States. MSP will increase the value and quality of products traded in the region and therefore increases incomes for throughout the value chain down to the producers.

Objectives

These partnerships will leverage South Africa’s advanced economy and financial system to:

Increase agricultural trade from regional countries to South Africa;
Increase agricultural investment from South Africa to the region; and,
Increase agricultural exports from southern African countries to the United States through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Funding Information

MSP will issue performance-based grants ranging between US$250,000 – US$1,000,000 to establish partnerships with firms and/or investors for meeting the development objectives.
The total amount of funding available for this APS is approximately US$5.5 million over two years.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants:
- Applicants can include financial institutions, investors, businesses, business service organizations, industry/sector organizations, trade or other private sector associations.
- Only applicants legally registered to operate in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and/or Zambia are eligible to apply. Proposed activities must include a South African or American partner and/or investor and demonstrate an increase of trade to South Africa or the United States from at least one of the aforementioned countries. Multi-country concepts are preferred.
- MSP requires at least one-to-one matching investment from applicants, or five-to-one matching for MSP funding used for loans or equity investments.
- Concepts for commodities that would have significant impact on US agricultural exports may be deemed ineligible.
Ineligible applicants:
- Any organization not legally registered in any of the countries named above;
- Any entity listed in the U.S. government Excluded Parties List;
- Any entity unable to obtain a DUNS number;
- Any entity excluded in the US Government System for Award Management;
- Any Public International Organization (PIO);
- Any entity affiliated with DAI or MSP directors, officers, or employees;
- Any military organization;
- Any political party organization;
- Any entity focused solely on religious activities;
- Any labor unions; and,
- Any individuals.