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RFPs: Enhancing Resilience and Livelihoods of Rural Producers in South Sudan

Deadline: 06-Mar-2026

The Rural Enterprises for Agricultural Development (READ) project invites consortia of an international NGO and a local NGO/CSO to manage its Matching Grants Facility in South Sudan. With funding of USD 2,662,400, the initiative supports Rural Producers’ Organizations (RPOs) and cooperatives at multiple stages of development to strengthen food security, nutrition, income, and resilience for rural households. The program emphasizes transparent grant management, financial sustainability, and climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive enterprise growth.

Program Overview

The READ project is a seven-year donor-funded initiative aimed at improving rural livelihoods in South Sudan. Its primary objectives are:

  • Enhance food security, nutrition, and household incomes

  • Strengthen RPOs and cooperatives as viable, inclusive enterprises

  • Expand access to rural financial services via the Cooperative Bank of South Sudan (CBSS)

  • Support policy and regulatory frameworks for cooperative and enterprise development

The project operates across four states and six counties:

  • Eastern Equatoria: Magwi

  • Western Equatoria: Yambio, Nzara, Maridi

  • Northern Bahr el Ghazal: Aweil Centre

  • Upper Nile: Renk

The overall goal is to empower rural households and RPOs, promoting resilience and sustainable participation in the food value chain.

Matching Grants Facility

The central component of READ is the Matching Grants Facility, which provides tiered support for RPOs and cooperatives at different stages of development.

Funding Windows

  1. Window 1 – Asset Transfers for Agricultural Producer Groups (APGs):

    • Provides grants for inputs and equipment

    • Supports organizational management, transparency, and accountability

    • Prepares APGs to transition into cooperatives eligible for future financing

  2. Window 2 – Matching Grants for Emerging/Mid-Tier Cooperatives:

    • Invest in storage, aggregation, or processing equipment

    • Reinforces financial discipline and market engagement

    • Supports sustainable enterprise growth

  3. Window 3 – Performance-Based Grants & CBSS Loans for Tier 3 Cooperatives/MSMEs:

    • Combines loans with grants based on repayment performance

    • Incentivizes expansion into climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive investments

    • Encourages responsible borrowing and financial sustainability

The approach transitions financing from full grants for weaker groups to blended finance for mature cooperatives, promoting accountability, long-term resilience, and commercial viability.

Who Can Apply

READ seeks a Service Provider consortium consisting of:

  • Lead International NGO: Oversees governance, fiduciary compliance, quality assurance, and reporting

  • Local NGO or CSO Partner: Facilitates monitoring, verification, and community engagement through service providers

The consortium ensures that grant resources are delivered transparently, inclusively, and effectively to rural households and enterprises.

Key Responsibilities of the Service Provider Consortium

  • Implement and manage the Matching Grants Facility in line with READ objectives

  • Ensure transparent allocation and use of grants

  • Monitor and verify progress of RPOs and cooperatives

  • Facilitate beneficiary engagement and contextually appropriate support

  • Report accurately on project outcomes to READ management

Funding and Duration

  • Total Funding Available: USD 2,662,400

  • The facility supports grants across all three funding windows for eligible rural enterprises

  • Emphasis on financial sustainability and performance-based outcomes

Geographic Focus

The project operates in targeted rural communities across the following regions:

  • Eastern Equatoria (Magwi)

  • Western Equatoria (Yambio, Nzara, Maridi)

  • Northern Bahr el Ghazal (Aweil Centre)

  • Upper Nile (Renk)

Why This Opportunity Matters

By operationalizing the Matching Grants Facility, READ strengthens:

  • Rural food systems and household resilience

  • Institutional capacity of RPOs and cooperatives

  • Access to finance for emerging and mature agricultural enterprises

  • Climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices

  • Inclusive governance and accountability within rural communities

This call supports systemic improvements, ensuring that grants directly benefit intended beneficiaries and contribute to long-term sustainable development in South Sudan.

How to Prepare a Strong Proposal

  1. Form a Qualified Consortium:

    • Ensure formal partnership between an international NGO and a local NGO/CSO

    • Define clear roles and responsibilities

  2. Demonstrate Experience and Capacity:

    • Proven expertise in grant management, rural development, and agricultural enterprise support

    • Capacity to manage multi-window funding mechanisms

  3. Align with READ Objectives:

    • Show how proposed activities support RPOs and cooperatives

    • Highlight approaches for financial sustainability, transparency, and inclusion

  4. Develop a Detailed Implementation Plan:

    • Outline monitoring and verification processes

    • Define performance indicators for each funding window

    • Include timeline and milestones

  5. Ensure Contextual Relevance:

    • Engage local service providers

    • Include culturally and operationally appropriate strategies for rural households

  6. Prepare a Comprehensive Budget:

    • Align budget with all planned activities and funding windows

    • Demonstrate efficient and accountable use of funds

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a proposal without a formal international-local NGO consortium

  • Failing to clearly define responsibilities of consortium members

  • Ignoring performance-based grant requirements

  • Overlooking alignment with READ objectives and funding windows

  • Omitting monitoring, verification, or community engagement plans

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the total funding available for this call?

USD 2,662,400 for implementing the Matching Grants Facility across South Sudan.

2. Who can lead the consortium?

An international NGO must act as the Lead Service Provider, partnered with a local NGO or CSO.

3. What is the primary role of the local NGO/CSO?

Facilitate monitoring, verification, and beneficiary engagement in rural communities.

4. How are funding windows structured?

Three windows:

  • Window 1: Asset transfers for APGs

  • Window 2: Matching grants for emerging/mid-tier cooperatives

  • Window 3: Performance-based grants with CBSS loans for Tier 3 cooperatives/MSMEs

5. Where will the project be implemented?

Across four states and six counties: Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile.

6. What is the main objective of the Matching Grants Facility?

To strengthen RPOs and cooperatives, promote responsible financing, and support climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive enterprise growth.

7. What are key criteria for a successful proposal?

  • Clear consortium structure

  • Alignment with READ objectives

  • Transparent and accountable grant management

  • Measurable outcomes for RPOs and rural households

Conclusion

The READ Matching Grants Facility presents a strategic opportunity for international-local NGO consortia to empower rural producers and cooperatives in South Sudan.

By implementing multi-tiered financing, promoting financial sustainability, and strengthening inclusive rural enterprise systems, selected consortia will directly contribute to improving food security, income, and resilience for targeted rural households.

Success depends on consortium capacity, alignment with project objectives, and rigorous monitoring of outcomes across all funding windows.

For more information, visit UNDP.