Deadline: 31-Aug-2020
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Feed the Future Agriculture and Food Systems Development Activity (AFDA) will advance peace and reduce interethnic tensions by creating bonds of mutual self-interest and urban-rural linkages along production and market value-chains with marginalized ethnic groups in conflict areas.
Objectives
The USAID Agriculture and Food Systems Development Activity (AFDA) aims to partner with market actors, including private sector and non-government organizations, who have the resources and are willing to coinvest in strengthening the agriculture market systems in the AFDA’s ZOI – Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway Regions, and Kachin and Shan States.
The partnerships under this CFA will address critical constraints preventing access to markets, agricultural services and inputs by smallholder farmers especially ethnic groups, women and youth. Through these partnerships, the AFDA will increase the productivity, inclusiveness and competitiveness of key market segments in the following sectors: pulses and beans, oilseeds, horticulture (fruits, nuts, vegetables), spices, beverage crops (tea and coffee), and grains other than rice.
The USAID AFDA intended outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Increased economic interdependence among market actors of different ethnic backgrounds
- Outcome 2: Increased access to agricultural support services
- Outcome 3: Increased availability of improved inputs
- Outcome 4: Smallholder supply-chains expand domestic and international market access
The above outcomes are expected to generate the following specific results within the implementation period of the Activity:
- Assisted farmers and firms increase their sales by US$42 million
- 3,500 new jobs created
- $20 million new investments in agriculture
- 50% increase in household level social capital
- 125,000 individuals participate in the AFDA programs
The USAID AFDA will contribute the following resources to these partnerships:
- Technical Assistance including facilitation, technical, business and marketing expertise, advisory support and coaching, capacity building, strengthening linkages, etc.;
- Studies and research to inform market actors as they embark on critical business decisions; and
- Market Systems Development Fund (MSDF) leveraging investments
The Market Systems Development Fund (MSDF)
The MSDF is a grant instrument intended to support a range of activities that will lead to systemic changes in the market systems
- Encourage the private sector by de-risking investment in pilot innovative technologies and business models to address systemic constraints limiting smallholder farmers’ access to inputs, services and markets.
- Mobilize private sector resources to scale up proven business models and technologies to accelerate transformation of market systems across the agriculture sector in the ZOI.
- Promote inclusiveness through replication of successful business models and technologies in sectors where there is a preponderance of women and youth, and in areas dominated by ethnic communities.
- To bridge a gap in financing due to insufficiency of resources or collateral of the proponent in combination with other financial products.
Eligibility Criteria to access the MSDF support
- Registered as a business or non-government organization*
- Proponent (business, NGO, or person/s) has track record of successful experience in the field of the proposed initiative (> 3 years)**
- Leverage contribution, minimum of 50%-50%**
- Activity implementation will directly impact smallholder farmers or generate employment within the ZOI
- If former grant beneficiary from any donor, must show successful utilization of the grant
- Business or activity is not supported by other donors or if it is, additionality is clearly demonstrated
- The proponent commits to submit regular progress reports to the USAID AFDA
* Non-registered organization may be eligible if it is in the process of registering or willing to be registered. Evidence of initiation of registration must be shared with AFDA prior to signing agreement
** This is negotiable for 1) women/youth led (owned or managed) businesses/NGOs, 2) if proposed activity’s beneficiaries are at least 70% women and/or youth, and 3) if proposed activity will be implemented in difficult areas and/or directly benefit IDPs or ethnic groups in conflict affected areas
Ineligible organizations:
- Political parties, groupings, or institutions or their subsidiaries and affiliates
- Organizations promoting anti-democratic policies or illegal activities Note: Organizations who have received substantial assistance from USAID and other donors but have not shown successful utilization of the grant/s are not encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit https://themimu.info/mm/calls-for-proposals