Deadline: 31 December 2018
Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity has launched a second call for proposals. The five-year WorldFish-led, USAID-funded project is looking for innovative business ideas/concepts from private sector companies and organizations that have the potential to transform aquaculture in Bangladesh, particularly for women, youth and small-scale farmers.
The Activity will stimulate aquaculture sector growth, increase employment and income, and improve food and nutrition security for households. It will serve a facilitating role by coordinating linkages among the value chain actors in the private, public and civil society sector of Bangladesh.
Goal and Objectives
The goal of the Activity is to achieve inclusive aquaculture sector growth through a market systems approach. Specific objectives are:
- increased productivity of aquaculture production systems
- strengthened aquaculture market systems, with particular attention to expanding opportunities for women and youth
- increased awareness and adoption of nutrition-related behaviors, with a particular focus on women and youth.
Funding Information
- WorldFish fund contribution for each application is up to USD 200,000.
- The duration of the proposed business ideas/concepts should be one year.
Targets
- 400,000 men, women and youth in the Feed the Future ZOI and RFA have improved access to better quality aquaculture inputs, services and/or market channels
- 30 percent expansion of investment by the private sector in the Feed the Future ZOI and RFA in aquaculture production and market related to inputs and services(e.g. seed, feed, production/market-related information, technologies etc.)
- 30 percent increase in productivity from ponds and ghers in the Feed the Future ZOI and RFA
- 20 percent increase in the number of households adopting improved nutritional practices (consumption of nutritious food, dietary diversity and hygiene practices).
Eligibility Criteria
- The ABPA is open to all private sector companies and organizations legally registered in Bangladesh and supplying goods and services to aquaculture value chain participants in the Feed the Future ZOI and RFA. Women and youth-focused private sector companies and organizations are highly encouraged to apply.
- Private sector companies and organizations must be registered with relevant government licensing bodies. Non-governmental organization (NGO) applicants must have a valid registration with the NGO Affairs Bureau and or Department of Social Services and at least five years’ experience in similar projects.
- Sub-grantees must hold a bank account and should have valid TIN and VAT registration.
- Business proposals by private sector companies and organizations must be relevant to the priority objectives and activities of the Activity, and fulfill specific areas of need at community level in the Feed the Future ZOI and RFA.
- Business ideas/concepts must have clear and operational definitions of objectives or milestones,with specific linkages to the Activity.
- Co-investment is encouraged, either in-kind and/or cost share. The source of investment CANNOT come from other US Government funding sources. The cost share percentage will be determined during the development of the detailed business proposal and budget.
- Prior experience in aquaculture and supply chain management and demonstrated success incapacity building, providing support to smallholder farmers and market linkages of final beneficiaries are preferred.
- Private sector companies and organizations should demonstrate capacity in their programming,financial management and organizational capability, e.g. functioning board, competent staff.
- Private sector companies and organizations must be willing to provide annual reports including(but not limited to) audited financial reports, human resource and financial manuals/policies,implementation plans, procurement policies, security plans, client lists, staff time sheets etc.
- Private sector companies and organizations must be willing and able to enter into a subgrant arrangement with WorldFish.
- Private sector companies and organizations owned by or consisting of women, minority groups and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply and will be given priority.
- Business ideas/concepts must comply with environmental mitigation measures required by USAID and the Government of Bangladesh (GoB).
- Business ideas/concepts should be gender and youth responsive and nutrition sensitive.
- Innovative business ideas/concepts targeting the RFA will get priority
How to Apply
Interested applicants must download the application form and send it electronically by email at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit
https://bit.ly/2C3A9Bu