Deadline: 30-June-23
The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division (FAME) of the Pacific Community (SPC) has launched the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT) funded Sustainable Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture for Pacific Livelihoods, Food and Economic Security (SCoFA) project.
Applications are invited from aquaculture enterprises, community-based farms, farmer cluster associations, processors, exporters, and NGOs, wishing to apply for assistance in business mentoring and training, capacity development and technology transfer in feed, seed and brood stock management to support the strengthening of their productive aquaculture commodity and allied downstream processing. Women and youth applicants and groups are encouraged to apply.
Purpose, Specific Objectives
- The overall objective of the SCoFA Project is to strengthen food security, livelihoods and economic and environmental resilience in Pacific island countries and territories through more sustainable coastal fisheries, improved and diversified aquaculture practices, and adherence to aquatic biosecurity standards.
- Specifically, the objective of the support made available under this CFP is to increase/strengthen the capacity of aquaculture enterprises engaged in productive aquaculture commodities and allied downstream processing and support services.
- The support provided to successful candidates can be in the following forms:
- Product development.
- Capacity development in feed, seed and broodstock management through;
- Trainings
- Workshops
- Mentoring
- Technology transfer for best practices in feed, seed and broodstock management through;
- Provision of technology/ equipment
- Trainings for instalment and management of technology/ equipment
- Mentoring
- Capacity development in aquatic biosecurity standards through;
- Trainings
- Food and animal health safety testing
- Business mentoring.
- Only one proposal per applicant is permitted, but applicants may apply for multiple forms of support.
Funding Information
- Total amount available: EUR 206,000.
SPC’s Grant Activities
- SPC’s grant activities are guided by the principles of high ethical standards (accountability and transparency, freedom from perceived impropriety and influence, no conflicts of interest, confidentiality and proprietary information), risk management and social and environmental responsibility and are carried out under their Grant Policy.
- SPC’s Grant Policy provides the framework for ensuring that SPC ensure integrity and compliance with international standards along the grant process; demonstrates financial probity and accountability to its members and development partners; manages and prevents the potential for conflicts of interest and manages any other risks.
- At SPC, a grant may be used to:
- enable an implementing partner to deliver activities or outcomes under a project or programme;
- develop the capacity of implementing partners;
- deepen the partnership with an implementing partner and build co-ownership of the outcomes.
- Different procedures apply depending on the nature of the grant, the objective of the overall project, the requirements of SPC donors and the potential partners identified.
- Any grant awarded by SPC must comply with the following principles:
- Co-financing: applicants must support the implementation of actions either by contributing their own resources (i.e. staff time) or by providing funding from third parties (in the form of public or private assistance obtained elsewhere).
- Non-retroactivity: In no circumstances will SPC award a grant for actions that are already completed.
- Non-cumulation: the total amount awarded in the grant agreement is a maximum amount. The amount cannot be increased or accumulated in any circumstances.
- No-profit rule: no grant may give rise to profits (i.e. income and expenditure for the action must balance). The no-profit rule applies to the action and not necessarily to the grant beneficiary.
Location
- The project will take place across 22 Pacific Island countries and territories which includes; American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and New Caledonia.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to qualify for support:
- The applicant must be an enterprise (business, non-government organisation, organisation engaged with farmers, processors, exporters, associations or provider of support services) engaged in aquaculture. This includes enterprises engaged in allied downstream processing or specialized input supplies (feed, seed, etc.) in these industries.
- The enterprise is one that will contribute to improved incomes, livelihood opportunities or food security and living standards of Pacific Island nationals. The enterprise will contribute towards youth employment and women’s economic empowerment and the protection of children’s rights.
- The enterprise is in a sound financial position, is currently in production of the target commodity at the time of application or is committed to the start-up of production of a new aquaculture commodity.
- Preference will be given to enterprises that
- have a sound business model and a business plan, as well as
- demonstrable potential for growth in a structured and sustainable way through its performance.
- Notwithstanding (4), and pursuant to section (1.3), consideration will be given to enterprises that meet criterion (4)(ii) but are par in (4)(i), because one characteristic of Pacific agro-business is that numerous enterprises have good ideas and production capabilities but lack the business literacy skills to make them bankable enough to grow the business. Such applicants will be considered for project support to receive training and mentoring in business literacy and business plan preparation, as a preliminary step to render them “application ready” under.
- The enterprise is Pacific-owned or local subsidiary, registered with the Registrar of Companies or equivalent national agency in the eligible Pacific Island Countries.
- Applicants must complete the application form and checklist. Only one application must be received for an enterprise.
Note: Financial reports from 2021 -2022 will be accepted.
For more information, visit SPC.