CFPs: Agroecology and Leather Supply Chain Enhancement for Agadez and Tahoua” (AGROPEC) in Niger

Deadline: 04-Nov-2024

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation has announced the notice for the awarding of the initiative “Intensification of agroecology and enhancement of the hides and leather supply chain for the inclusive economic development of the regions of Agadez and Tahoua (AGROPEC)”.

The general objective of the projects that will be entrusted to OSC within the scope of this notice, relating to both lots, is to increase the well-being of the populations of the Tahoua and Agadez Regions, starting from the improvement of their food security conditions.

Given the challenges facing the Nigerian agro-silvo-pastoral system, this initiative intends to contribute to increasing the well-being of the populations of the two regions starting from the improvement of their food security conditions through the increase in the incomes of the aforementioned, in particular of women and young people, through the valorisation of agri-food systems and the leather supply chain.

The objective will be achieved thanks to two distinct strategies by type of sector identified:

• Agroecology: valorisation of agrosilvopastoral supply chains through the implementation of the principles of agroecology as summarized in the ten FAO pillars, in which agroecology is defined as an integrated approach that seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, man and the environment, taking take into account in particular the social aspects and traditional knowledge, which must be addressed to ensure a sustainable, equitable and contextualized food system. The key player in this approach is not the technique but the person, whose knowledge of the territory is intended to be optimized with practices and techniques that increase their capabilities, both from the point of view of the long-term quality of the production territories and from the point of view of the ability to make the most of them with virtuous connections to the market.
• Development of the Market System: valorization of the leather supply chain through the implementation of the Market System Development methodology as defined by the International Labor Organization, strengthening the quality of tanning in the production basins of the Tahoua Region, in order to increase the ‘demand push effect; development of the value chain for not only economic but above all social and environmental improvement through effective use of invested resources;

Lots

• Lot 1 – Profitability of agri-food supply chains has increased in the Regions of Agadez and Tahoua
• Lot 2 – Profitability of the leather supply chain has increased in the production districts of the Tahoua Region

Objectives and Expected Results 

• Specific objective Lot 1: Increase in incomes, in particular of women and young people, through the valorisation of agri-food systems, with the agroecological approach.
  • Expected results Lot 1:
    • A1: The production and productivity of agri-food systems have increased through the adoption of agro-ecological techniques.
    • R2: The profitability of agri-food systems has increased.
• Specific objective Lot 2: Increase in incomes, in particular of women and young people, through the valorisation of the hide and leather supply chain.
  • Expected results Lot 2:
    • R1: Traditional and semi-modern tanneries in the production districts of the improve the quality of slaughtered and vegetable tanned hides
    • A2: Artisanal productions have improved in terms of quality and are sold on new markets

Funding Information

• The maximum amount of the AICS loan is equal to 4,500,000.00 euros (four million five hundred thousand /00), divided into two lots:
• Lot 1: The profitability of agri-food supply chains has increased in the Regions of Agadez and Tahoua: 3 400 000,00
• Lot 2: The profitability of the leather supply chain has increased in the production districts of the Tahoua Region: 1 100 000,00
• The executive proposals, valid for Lot 1, must provide for a maximum amount of euros:
  • 595,000.00 for the first year
  • 595,000.00 for the second year
  • 510,000 for the third year.
• The executive proposals, to be applied to Lot 2, must include a maximum amount of Euros:
  • 385,000.00 for the first year
  • 385,000.00 for the second year
  • 330,000 for the third year.

Duration

• The ordinary duration of project activities is 36 (thirty-six) months.

Areas of Intervention

• The initiative will be carried out in Niger, in the regions of Tahoua and Agadez, identified to capitalize on the experience of AICS and Italian CSOs, but also on the basis of analyzes and considerations, the result of a technical evaluation of this AICS headquarters, relating to the needs identified, the dynamics of the population, the security, economic and political situation.
• The activities entrusted to the CSOs and foreseen by this public notice are to be carried out in the following Departments:
  • Lot 1:
    • Agadez Region: Urban Municipality of Agadez; Municipalities that insist in the Department of Tchirozerine
    • Tahoua Region; Tahoua Urban Municipality; Municipalities located in the Departments of Tahoua, Illéla and Keita
  • Lot 2:
    • Tahoua Region: Tahoua Urban Municipality; Municipalities located in the Departments of Tahoua and Keita.

Eligibility Criteria

• Only CSOs that are eligible to participate in the selection procedure as proposing parties can participate in the selection procedure date of publication of the Notice:
  • Are registered in the List referred to in the art. 26, paragraph 3 of law 125/2014;
  • They are not indebted to public administrations for certain, liquid and payable debts, including debt situations deriving from provisions for the revocation of contributions for promoted and/or entrusted projects and/or humanitarian aid;
  • They are not in a state of bankruptcy, are not subject to insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or in where there is an agreement with the creditors, or where the activities are suspended, or any other similar situation foreseen by national law;
  • They comply with the rules governing the right to work of disabled people according to the law Italian (law 12 March 1999, n. 68 and subsequent amendments);
  • They are in compliance with the anti-mafia documentation, pursuant to article 85 of Legislative Decree no. 159/2011 and subsequent amendments. and present the documentation necessary to obtain the issued anti-mafia certificate by the competent Italian authorities;
  • Are up to date with the payment of taxes or social security and welfare contributions required by the current national legislation or the legislation in force in the country in which the contract is executed;
  • Against whom a final sentence or administrative decision has not been issued definitive for serious violations of the regulations or ethical standards of the professional sector of membership of the Organization, or for illicit conduct with bad faith or gross negligence that has affected the professional credibility of the Institution, including, in particular, the following hypotheses:
    • for having submitted false declarations or false documentation in the execution of a contract or regarding eligibility criteria and relevant conditions for participation in selection procedures;
    • for having entered into agreements aimed at distorting competition;
    • for violating intellectual property rights; iv. for attempting to influence the decision-making process of the Contracting Authority during a selection procedure;
    • for attempting to obtain confidential information potentially leading to undue advantages during a selection procedure.
  • Against whom a final sentence has not been pronounced for one of the following offences:
    • fraud, pursuant to art. 1 of the Convention on the Protection of the Financial Interests of European Communities, referred to in the Council Act of 26 July 1995;
    • corruption, pursuant to art. 3 of the Convention on the fight against corruption of officials of the European Communities or officials of the Member States of the European Union, referred to in the Council Act of 26 May 1997, and in art. 2, paragraph 1, of the Council Framework Decision 2003/568/JHA, as well as pursuant to current Italian legislation, or the legislation in on in force in the country in which the Entity has its registered office or in the country in which the contract is executed;
    • participation in a criminal organization, pursuant to art. 2, of the Framework Decision of Council 2008/841/JHA;
    • money laundering or terrorist financing, pursuant to art. 1 of Directive 2005/60/EC of European Parliament and the Council;
    • crimes linked to terrorism or terrorist activities, pursuant to articles respectively. 1 and 3 of the Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA, or incitement, or complicity, or aiding, or attempting to commit the aforementioned crimes, pursuant to art. 4 of the Framework Decision cited above; you. child labor or other forms of human trafficking pursuant to art. 2 of Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and the Council. the. They are not in breach of obligations under contracts financed by the European Union or by Italian public administrations, which have led to the early termination of the contract or the application of penalties or the payment of damages, or which have emerged during checks, audits or inspections by by officials authorized by the European Union, OLAF or the Court of Auditors or by Italian public administrations;
  • Against whom a final sentence or a definitive administrative decision has not been pronounced due to irregularities pursuant to art. 1, paragraph 2, of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/951;
• The Executors/Participants in the tender certify possession of the aforementioned eligibility criteria through the Application for participation (A4_Application for participation and anti-mafia certification form) in compliance with the provisions of the Consolidated Law on legislative and regulatory provisions regarding administrative documentation as per Legislative Decree 28 December 2000, no. 445.
• The AICS office in Niamey carries out checks relating to the eligibility criteria of the project contractor. For the purposes of the aforementioned checks relating to information held by the Italian public administrations, the provisions of Presidential Decree no. 445 of 28 December 2000 apply.

For more information, visit Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.