Deadline: 16-Jul-21
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Agribusiness Development activity established the “Agribusiness Development Fund” and announced a request for concept papers from private domestic agribusinesses to strengthen the value-chain of agricultural products, increasing sales, creating new jobs, and accessing new markets.
The fund aims to support agribusinesses to introduce new technologies to promote the growth of their enterprises. Supporting such businesses will help Uzbekistan diversify its economy and increase regional and international trade. USAID welcomes concept papers from qualified/eligible agribusinesses and particularly from women- and youth-owned businesses and enterprises employing women and youth.
This initiative is implemented by the USAID Agribusiness Development activity, a five-year activity, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, that supports private sector-led growth in Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector by introducing new value-added technologies and management practices across the entire value chain for targeted agricultural commodities. These efforts will be focused on increasing value-added production within Uzbekistan, engaging women and youth, linking educational institutions with private sector demand, and promoting favorable policies for agriculture.
Focus
- increasing the competitiveness of agribusinesses by introducing new value-added technologies and management practices in the production, postharvest handling, processing, and marketing of agricultural commodities;
- empowering women and youth with the skills and knowledge to obtain skilled jobs within agribusinesses and launch their own agribusinesses;
- linking agricultural educational institutions with the private sector to improve curricula and target academic research to meet the needs of agribusinesses;
- strengthening and diversifying private and public sector agriculture extension services; and
- designing and improving policies to promote the growth and development of Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector.
Funding Information
- The Project seeks concept papers that request funding from the Agribusiness Development Fund of between UZS 100,000,000 – UZS 300,000,000, but the final amount will be dependent upon final negotiations and may be lower or higher than this range. Under this announcement, the Project anticipates selecting 10 applicants for co-investments.
- The Project expects a minimum of a 1:1 monetary contribution. This means that if an applicant proposes a UZS 100,000,000 co-investment, then the applicant should pay at least 50 percent or UZS 50,000,000.
- Applicants must be registered Uzbek entrepreneurs and/or private sector enterprises formally constituted, recognized by, and in good standing with appropriate Uzbek authorities, and compliant with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations.
- Applications from for-profit and not-for-profit business associations and/or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will also be considered.
- Government entities, including parastatal and quasi-government organizations, are not eligible under this Announcement.
For more information, visit https://www.usaid.gov/uzbekistan/press-releases/jun-22-2021-usaid-seeking-concept-papers-domestic-private-enterprises
