Deadline: 18 May 2020
RADP-E has established a rapid response grants fund to address the operational disruptions being experienced by input suppliers, production firms, processing firms and exporter/packers in the targeted value chains caused by the pandemic in eastern Afghanistan.
The Regional Agricultural Development Program – East (RADP-E) is a five-year USAID-funded program to expand sustainable agriculture-led economic growth in the eight target provinces of Ghazni, Kapisa, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Parwan, Wardak, and Kabul. Program activities will support the apricot, tomato, poultry and dairy value chains through the provision of training, technical assistance, and small grants targeting input suppliers, aggregators (exporters, wholesalers, local traders, distributors) and agro-processors. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious disruptions in the operations of firms in these value chains.
Addressing these issues will require technical and financial support interventions to help affected firms survive disruptions in end-market access (particularly concerning export markets for fresh tomatoes and apricots, delays in raw material supply chains (dairy and poultry) and a general drop in sales resulting from restrictions on employee and consumer movement (especially in Kabul).
Examples of the types of activities to be funded the RFA include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency financial support to maintain key operations and staff.
- Equipment needs to mitigate COVID-19 impacts in two areas:
- Equipment needed to implement sanitary mitigation measures to products, firm employees, and customers (sanitary equipment (plumbing supplies, protection equipment, cleaning equipment…)
- Operational equipment needed to adjust to changes in supply chains for raw materials or in end-market disruptions because of COVID-19 (drying equipment, processing equipment, equipment for product storage, household jam equipment, refrigerated transport equipment …).
Funding Information
- Estimated funds available for the RFA is $225,000.
- DAI anticipates making nine (9) awards under the RFA.
- DAI reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.
- Subject to the availability of funds, DAI intends to provide at least nine (9) grant/s to one or more eligible entities up to a maximum amount of US $24,500 each.
Duration
The expected duration of DAI 2 support for each grant is three (3) to four (4) months.
Requirements
To be considered for assistance, applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Submit a completed Grant Application form.
- Be a registered Afghan business.
- Have branches/retailers in RADP-E’s coverage areas.
- Be within the apricot, tomato, poultry and /or dairy Value Chains.
- Demonstrate negative impact on sales/profitability from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- For monitoring and evaluating purposes, agree to full financial records disclosure.
- Cost share is recommended, but not required.
- Have a minimum of 2 full time employees.
- Demonstrate immediate (4-6 months) and measurable impact as a result of RADP-E assistance.
For more information, visit http://www.acbar.org/rfq/11568.jsp