Feed The Future/Mercy Corps- Call For Application For Enterprise Investment Funding Opportunity For Innovating Business Models In Northeastern Nigeria

Date25 Jan 2022

DEADLINE: 17TH FEBRUARY, 2022
FEED THE FUTURE
MERCY CORPS
ISSUANCE DATE: 17TH JAN 2022
SUBJECT: ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATING BUSINESS MODELS IN NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA
REFERENCE: ISSUED RRA/EIF/03

Through this Funding Opportunity, the USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity (RRA or the “Activity”) aims to identify potential partners and innovative approaches that leverage USAID resources to develop practical and market-driven solutions to implement innovative business models targeting smallholder farmers, youth women, and micro-enterprises who have been affected by the protracted conflicts in North Eastern Nigeria

RRA is a Feed the Future initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Save the Children International (SCI) and International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC). The goal of the Rural Resilience Activity is to ‘facilitate and protect economic recovery and growth in vulnerable, conflict-affected areas and sustainably move people out of chronic vulnerability and poverty via expanded opportunities.’

This goal will be achieved through the following four major components. The Activity seeks to increase income, improve the livelihood and resilience of households through market-led growth in 4 States in North-Eastern Nigeria (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Gombe state)

The Rural Resilience Activity is seeking applicants who can propose activities that can ultimately benefit crop farming Livestock production (Feed, trade, Veterinary) food processing smallholder farmers, and micro-enterprises in at least one of the following objective areas
1. Creating access to premium-priced output markets by promoting new supply-chain structures (like contract farming and out-grower schemes, Livestock trade and feed processing), and new and structured relationships between off- takers/processors and farmers. Models that increase access to post-harvest storage, warehousing, and processing services to reduce wastages and increase farmers’ productivity.

2. Innovating business models to drive and encourage agricultural market

The Activity seeks to offer, subject to the availability of funds, 8 grants to eligible companies, as defined in Section D up to a maximum amount of US $400.000 per award.

Amounts above this value may be approved if one applicant works in more than one state where the Activity is currently implementing.The expected duration of RRA support or the period of performance is twelve ( 12) months. Mercy Corps, as the primary implementer of the Feed the Future/Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted.

For this program, this funding opportunity is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the following:
Section A- Statement of Objectives
Section B- Requirements Section
C- Selection Process Section
D- Evaluation Criteria

Award will be made to the responsible applicant(s) whose applications) offers the best value for money.

Issuance of this funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of RRA, nor does it commit RRA to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Any questions concerning this funding opportunity should be submitted in writing not later than ten (10) days before the closing date shown above to 17 Feb 2022 at ng-consultancy@mercycorps.org. Applicants should retain for their records one copy of all enclosures which accompany their application

For more information and application to download the application form/budget template, kindly visit: https://mcnigeria.com/rra-eif-round3/

Thank you for your interest in Feed the Future/Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity activities.

Sincerely,
Margarita Aswani
Chief of Party, Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity