Deadline: 10-Sep-20
TDC has launched a call for proposals for African MSMEs and producer organizations active in sustainable production and trade. They can apply for financial support from the TDC for initiatives that improve the management of their organization and access to the market (local, regional or international).
Objectives
- As part of its mission, the TDC manages a fund allowing grants to be awarded to finance actions aimed at improving the management and market access (local, regional or international) of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises or producer’s organizations involved in fair or sustainable trade.
Funding Information
- The total indicative amount available under this call for proposals is 500.000 EUR.
- The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all of the available funds. Amount of the grant All applications for grants under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
- minimum amount of the contribution from the contracting authority: 10.000 EUR
- maximum amount of the contribution from the contracting authority: 30.000 EUR
Duration
- The action for which a grant is requested shall end at the latest on December 31st, 2022.
Geographical Coverage
- The actions must be implemented in at least one of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania or Uganda.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for grants, the applicant must meet the following conditions:
- This call for proposals is only open to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) or producer organizations which do not exceed the definition of a medium-sized enterprise.
- which do not have as a primary objective the maximization of benefits. As a matter of example, cooperatives, associations, foundations, and mutual societies meet this objective. In this category, enterprises which meet the following characteristics will be considered:
- They aim to achieve a specific social added value:
- Sustainable development through environmentally friendly production processes and products and integrated environmental protection.
- The priority is given to labor over the capital in the distribution of income. Income is not an objective in itself, but a means to achieve social objectives.
- Democratic decision-making: the people involved have a say in company policy.
- Maximum transparency, including in the areas of general company policy, finance, and internal and external relations.
- Quality relationships. In external relations, the aim is a win-win partnership in which costs and benefits are shared equally. In internal relations, attention is paid to opportunities for personal development, non-discrimination, and conditions of employment for staff.
- Positive integration into society. This can be achieved through dialogue with the local community and non-governmental organizations in the field. Partners work together and build networks.
- They provide goods and services for which there are customers and needs, both current and future. Emphasis is placed on continuity, cost-effectiveness, and efficient use of resources.
- They aim to achieve a specific social added value:
- having a legal status for at least 2 years.
- growing, processing, and/or trading cocoa, coffee, fruits, vegetables or leguminous plants, nuts; or extracting, transforming and/or selling precious metals; or developing tourism services.
- engaged in sustainable production and trade. Please provide proof of strong focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability, either:
- an up-to-date certificate, proof of membership or proof of being in the process of getting certified of: Organic (PGS2 included), Fairtrade, WFTO, ECOCERT, FairWild, Naturland, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, SPP small-producers symbol, Fair for Life, Fairmined, Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), Fair Trade Tourism, Garantie Tourisme équitable et solitaire (ATES) or any other certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), or issued by other members of the ISEAL Alliance;
- evidence of the compliance with economic, social and environmental principles and criteria comparable to one of the certification schemes mentioned above, credibly verified and issued by a third party;
- proof of membership of a formal international, national or regional network of:
- fair trade;
- fair, sustainable, solidarity or community-based tourism;
- a copy of a sales contract with a member of a fair trade network in Europe is also a valid proof.
- located in one of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, DR Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, or Uganda.
- to dispose of accounts of the 2 preceding years: please provide the accounts for 2018 and 2019.
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action for which the grant is requested (not acting as an intermediary).
For more information, visit https://www.tdc-enabel.be/en/2020/07/10/call-for-proposals/