CALL FOR PROPOSAL/ITANGAZO RIHAMAGARIRA URUBYIRUKO RURI MU BUHINZI GUTANGA IBITEKEREZO BY'IMISHINGA

(ENGLISH VERSION)

Supporting and enhancing resilient and viable employment opportunities (SERVE) project

A – OVERVIEW

DUHAMIC-ADRI in partnership with CARE Rwanda and its implementing partners are implementing the five year Supporting and Enhancing Resilient and Viable Employment Opportunities (SERVE) Project. This project is funded by MasterCard Foundation through the partnership with CARE and focuses on building a resilient, sustainable, gender equitable, and inclusive entrepreneurial environment that increases dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for predominantly female youth in agricultural value chains in 10 districts across Rwanda, namely Rulindo, Gakenke, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rwamagana, Kayonza, Kirehe, Ngoma, and Huye.

The project supports MSE owners and high-potential entrepreneurs to start and/ grow their businesses sustainably to create employment opportunities for more youth. It strengthens market-oriented agricultural skills that increase productivity and diversity in response to market needs and opportunities, all using market systems approaches, good agronomy practices and sustainable climate-smart principles.

The project targets youth aged between 18 and 35 years and 70% of them must be women, 3% persons with disabilities and 3% refugees engaged in or with the potential to engage in micro and small agricultural enterprises (SMEs) .

In order to boost innovation among the supported program participants and promote a culture of local/home grown solutions to the most pressing issues that affect women and youth in agriculture; the project is looking for innovative and profitable predominantly female youth led projects with the growth potential that, if well supported by key actors in their respective eco-systems, can create more dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young people and contribute to economic transformation in the project areas.

B – WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The competitive financial support to youth led agriculture enterprises, farmers groups, individuals and youth cooperatives in the ten project’s districts namely Rulindo, Gakenke, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rwamagana, Kayonza, Nyamagabe, Kirehe, Ngoma, and Huye.

The following table indicates the list of businesses that are eligible for the competition and support:

Business plans/ideas will have to prove the ownership of the proposed activities by showing a contribution of at least 30% for vermi compost production, 20% for animal feed processing unit, 20% for environmentally friendly package materials and 20% for other innovative agriculture business ideas.

C – BUSINESS SELECTION CRITERIA

The best business will have to meet the following key criteria to be selected to enter the competition:

• Enterprises/cooperatives/farmers groups owned by at least 70% female youth (between 18-35years old) will be given a priority;
• Female youth, people with disabilities and refugees led projects in the project targeted districts are strongly encouraged to apply;
• Companies/enterprises, co-operatives, farmers groups and individual SMEs to be considered should be active in the project targeted value chains (Poultry, tomatoes, chili and French beans);
• Existing businesses and Start-ups with sounding innovations (Climate Smart Agriculture related innovations) in the sector of vermicompost production/Compost making, Animal feed processing units, environmentally friendly packaging materials in project’s locations (Rulindo, Gakenke, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Huye, Nyamagabe, Rwamagana, Kayonza, Ngoma and Kirehe districts) will be given priority;
• Business plans should demonstrate the social-economic impact on the livelihoods of youth farmers in a clear and realistic manner;
• Business plans will have to prove the ownership of the proposed activities by showing a co-financing contribution of at least 30% for vermicompost/Compost making, 20% for animal feed processing unit, 20% for environmentally friendly package materials and 20% for other innovative agriculture business ideas for the total requested amount.
• Business plans will have to show evidence that the entrepreneur has a solid knowledge of the challenges and gaps within the field applied for;
• Business plans should demonstrate potential for business growth and creation of dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for fellow youth in the sector;
• Business plans should include evidence of profitability before the grants and sustainability mechanisms after the grant;
• The proposal should demonstrate managerial capabilities and accountability mechanisms of the enterprises;
• Details on the methodology used to measure the progress of the activities and results over time to be clearly described.
• Details of the financial management of the grant which is being applied for to be clearly presented in the business plan. The support shall be provided in cash that will be transferred to the owner’s bank account. In instances where the required support is related to equipment, the amount will be transferred to the vendor’s account after running a compliant procurement process. The own contribution will be used together with the first installment (At the initial stage).
• The fund disbursement for the activities outlined in the business plan shall be implemented until the end of 2024 without possibility of extension of the implementation period. However, Activities implementation period may even continue beyond 2024.
• For all businesses, the applications should indicate how businesses will comply with national environment policies and guidelines and standards guiding the sector.
• Environmental sustainability guidelines (ESG)/criteria will be referred to during the selection process.

G– HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants must submit a full application. The application file shall be comprised of the following: -

• Detailed business plan meeting key criteria mentioned under point C above (see annex II for the template to be used)
• Detail budget (see annex III for the template)
• Any document that shows business ownership (for formally registered MSEs)
• Evidence of the financial capacity to provide the matching (own contribution in kind or cash)

Application forms must be sent to DUHAMIC-ADRI on e-mail procurement@duhamic.org.rw not later than the June 25^th, 2024. Applications must be written in Kinyarwanda and/or English.

Requests for clarification or questions can be sent to the following email addresses procurement@duhamic.org.rw or phone 0788648421.