Roots of Peace (ROP)
implements the 36-month, UNDP-funded Community-Based Agricultural Rural
Development – Access to International Markets (CBARD-AIM) Project.
CBARD projects support the production of
fruits and vegetables as an alternative to poppy cultivation, and trade in
three high cultivating provinces of Afghanistan.
CBARD-AIM aims to link the
production areas of the CBARD-East and West Projects with cold chain
facilities, and then connect these areas to domestic and international markets.
The project assists farmers in the target provinces (Farah, Badghis and
Nangahar) to sell their produce to traders, and then for those traders to
export the produce to international markets. Exporting better quality products
to international markets is expected to lead to higher incomes for CBARD
farmers and promote licit trade.
The project has three main
areas of focus: (1) International Markets for High-Value Crops Identified; (2)
Cold Chain Infrastructure for Target High-Value Crops Improved; (3) Market
Connection Established Between Farmers and Traders.
The CBARD-AIM grants
program supports, with matching contributions from applicants, funding to
support proven, private-sector investments in equipment and training, aimed at
improving Afghanistan’s agricultural supply chains, marketing and exports to
international markets. The grants program focuses primarily on cold chain
infrastructure in agriculture
The purpose of this Request
for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) is to pre-qualify firms who have experience
providing, or wish to provide, one or more of the above activities.
Pre-qualified firms may then be invited to respond to a Request for
Applications (RFA) once the EOI has been reviewed.
Grants should contribute to
CBARD-AIM’s overall objectives of:
- Reducing
opium poppy cultivation;
- Creating
licit economic development for former poppy farmers and women in the
community;
- Supporting
more sustainable peace.
Grant
Objectives
As well as meeting
CBARD-AIM’s overall project objectives, grants should result in increases in
business capacity/output, productivity, sales/exports, quality, profitability
and/or employment. They should also encourage the adoption of new technologies,
be financially viable and be sustainable. CBARD-AIM particularly welcomes
applications from women-owned businesses.
Grant
Size & Partner Contribution
- CBARD-AIM
will issue grants between US$10,000 and US$150,000.
- Applicants
must be willing to contribute 50% (30% for Women owned or managed
enterprises) or more of the total investment required.
- Partner
contributions must not originate from other donor programs or government
entities. Contributions can be in-kind or in cash.
Grant
Activities
The grants program focuses
primarily on cold chain infrastructure but will also consider investments and
activities relating to processing, packaging, storage, so long as they benefit
farmers in Farah, Badghis and Nangahar. Cold chain infrastructure includes
pre-cooling facilities, cold storage warehouses, reefer transportation and
mobile cooling facilities.
Grant
Type
All grants issued under the
CBARD grants program will be in-kind. Goods and/or services will be procured
directly by CBARD-AIM, in close collaboration with the grantees.
Geographical
Focus
Grants are targeted at
Nangahar, Farah and Badghis provinces (CBARD East and West target provinces) –
either directly by supporting businesses located in these three provinces, or
indirectly by supporting businesses in neighboring provinces that will source
agricultural products from the three targeted provinces.
Eligibility
Criteria
- Businesses
registered with the Afghan Ministry of Industries and Commerce are
eligible for CBARD-AIM grants. They must be in the target provinces of
Farah, Badghis and Nangahar or in neighboring provinces.
- If
they are in neighboring provinces, they must source a significant volume
of produce from the target provinces. The businesses must be engaged in
the agricultural sector or provide products or services to agribusinesses.
- Educational
institutions, NGOs and Government Agencies are not eligible to receive
grants. Startup businesses are eligible to receive grant funding but must
prove that they have the management and/or personnel with the skills
necessary for the proposed activity.
Evaluation
Criteria
Concept Notes will be
reviewed by CBARD-AIM based on the following objective and subjective criteria:
- Objective
Criteria
- The
Applicant is a MOIC-registered Afghan business;
- The
business is located in Farah, Badghis or Nangahar OR is located in a
province neighboring Farah, Badghis or Nangahar and will source produce
from these three provinces;
- The
business is directly engaged in the agricultural sector, or supports the
agricultural sector;
- The
proposed activity is related to cold chain infrastructure, processing,
packaging, storage, quality certification, and/or export facilitation;
- The
activity requires in-kind grant support;
- Grant
support is requested between US$10,000 and US$150,000;
- The
business will provide a minimum cost share (contribution) of 50% of the
total cost of the investment.
- Subjective
Criteria
- The
proposed activity will result in increases in business capacity/outputs,
sales/exports, productivity, profitability and/or employment, and will
adopt new technologies;
- The
proposed activity is aligned with CBARD-AIM objectives;
- The
proposed activity is financially viable and sustainable;
- The
Applicant has a good understanding of challenges and appropriate
solutions to mitigate these challenges;
- The
proposed activity is appropriate to overcome challenges;
- The
proposed budget is realistic;
- The
company personnel have the necessary experience, skills and
qualifications to implement the proposed activity;
- potential
impact on the environment from solid waste, liquid waste, noise,
construction, etc.
How
to Apply
Businesses interested in
the CBARD-AIM grants program are required to submit an Expression of Interest,
in the form of a Concept Note, to the project. A template for submission is
attached.
Responses must be received
in English.
The grants applications/Concept notes should be submitted via email at the address given on the website.
Post Date - 27-Feb-2020