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UNCDF seeking Applications for Innovative Digital Solutions for the Resilience of MSMEs in the COVID 19 context in Togo

Deadline: 30 April 2020

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is seeking applications for Innovative digital solutions for the resilience of MSMEs in the COVID 19 context in Togo.

In line with the coordinated efforts of the United Nations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) supports LDCs and other countries in need through its primary mandate to build and leverage stable and resilient local economies. a range of technical skills and investment instruments to reduce and limit the economic and social difficulties of communities in poverty.

One of the key strategic initiatives of UNDP is the network of acceleration laboratories. In Togo, as in the sixty or so countries where it is set up, the acceleration laboratory identifies innovative solutions making it possible to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development objectives. Within the framework of the Covid epidemic, the UNDP Togo through its acceleration laboratory is partnering with UNCDF to provide assistance to MSMEs.

In the COVID-19 context, and in a period of uncertainty as to the duration and extent of the containment measures, UNCDF and UNDP TOGO are delighted to collaborate with private sector actors in Togo, taking advantage of the power digital technologies to help MSMEs to:

  • Streamline their existing distribution channels;
  • Optimize their inventory management;
  • Create online and home distribution channels;
  • Integrate digital payments;
  • Leverage other digital solutions and applications for greater efficiency and revenue generation.

These solutions will allow MSMEs to maintain lower activity levels during the containment period and prepare them to better exploit the opportunities in “post-COVID-19 digital economies”.

Solutions

The following non-exhaustive list of solutions corresponds to the objective of this Call for Proposals:

  • Online shops for MSMEs (transition to electronic commerce);
  • Home delivery services for MSMEs;
  • Digital platform to provide instant credit lines to mobile financial agents, super agents and others;
  • Cash-in / cash-out services at home;
  • Electronic presale vouchers for MSMEs;
  • Assistance to MSMEs to accept electronic money (transition to digital merchants);
  • Mobile income protection insurance for MSMEs; and
  • Electronic salary payments

Funding Information

  • Financial assistance will reach a maximum of $ 50,000 and will be eligible to cover the following costs:
    • Project management cost for a dedicated project manager within the organization (mandatory)
    • Communication / marketing to MSMEs selected for the project (compulsory)
    • Additional operational costs for the implementation of the proposed project.
  • The available budget can vary from 10,000 to 50,000 USD depending on the maturity of the solutions, the innovative nature of the proposed solution, the potential impact on the number of improved MSMEs, the ability of the applicant to manage the grant and / or technical assistance.
  • UNCDF will provide a contribution of between US $ 10,000 and US $ 30,000 in grants and / or technical assistance services to selected candidates who have already done a market size analysis / competitive analysis (total market available, available market usable, study feasible market accessible), have completed the analysis of the problem statement and validated the potential solution through market research, consumer testing of viable products.
  • UNCDF will provide a contribution of between US $ 30,000 and US $ 50,000 in grants and / or technical assistance services to selected candidates who have already tested and validated the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and / or the services and their business models.
  • UNCDF will provide a contribution of between US $ 30,000 and US $ 50,000 in grants and / or technical assistance services to selected applicants who have completed a market size / competition analysis, have prototyped an MVP (minimum viable product) , validated value delivery (left side of the canvas), identify and validate the important indicators.

Duration

The maximum project completion date is December 31, 2020.

 Languages ​​

The products to be delivered, as well as all the related correspondence exchanged by the organization and UNCDF, must be written in English.

 Eligibility Criteria

  • In accordance with the priority area of ​​application, the applicant must be properly constituted and registered in Togo;
  • The applicant must operate in Togo for at least one year;
  • Applicants must have at least one Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or a full fledged product on the market that solves the problem statement.
  • The candidate must have audited financial statements for at least the last year;
  • Not being in a state of repair or having been subject to bankruptcy, liquidation, legal settlement, safeguard, cessation of activity or any other similar situation resulting from a similar procedure;
  • Not appear on the UN financial sanctions list, in particular in the fight against the financing of terrorism and against threats to international peace and security;
  • Have fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions in force in Togo.

For more information, visit https://www.uncdf.org/article/5565/rfa-solutions-numriques-innovantes-pour-la-rsilience-des-mpme-dans-le-contexte-covid-19-au-togo

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