DEADLINE: 22ND MAY, 2023
ALLIANCE FOR A GREEN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA (AGRA)
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR CONCEPT NOTES FOR PROJECTS ADDRESSING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION IN NIGERIA TO INCREASE YIELDS, RESILIENCE AND IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
AGRA is a farmer-centered, African-led, and partnerships-driven institution that is transforming Africa’s smallholder farming from a solitary struggle to survive to businesses that thrive.
It’s a not-for-profit organization working with African Governments, other donors, NGOs, private sector, and African Farmers to Improve the productivity and incomes of resources poor smallholder farmers significantly and sustainably in Africa. AGRA has Its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and maintain offices In 11 other African countries.
AGRA and her partners aim to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of local state actors to enhance food system transformation in Nigeria through its new strategy 3.0 (2023-2027).
This seeks to develop capacities of key actors (government, private sector, and others) at state and national level to integrate both sustainability and resiliency in staple food crops value chains, chains to improve livelihoods and create jobs for the teaming youth population.
This is being done through selected staple crop value chains using consortia approach through which sustainable and resilient practices will be integrated using catalytic action and technical assistance.
The Grant Funding Opportunity
AGRA’S investment in Nigeria aims to reach 2.7 million farmers directly, and about 5 million farmers indirectly, leveraging another 1.3 million leading to a total of 9 million farmers in 5 states in Nigeria. This call for concept note is requested for the purpose of making new investments and strengthening the existing investments in the country, that will further influence its partners to build a robust enabling environment where private sector thrives, and all smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient and healthy food. This is expected to increase food and nutrition security, improve the natural resources base, all-inclusive economic growth, job creation, (especially women and youths), poverty reduction and socio-economic and demographic stability, it will also strengthen agriculture value chains and integrate natural resources management principles in food systems.
Specifically, these grants will seek to demonstrate, in practical terms, how agriculture value chains and policy can strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of local state actors to enhance food system transformation in the country, in addition the grants are required to document key lessons, success and/or failure factor and briefs for policy and decision-makers, project developers, funding agencies and private sector.
Grant Intervention Areas
This is a call for concept notes for projects addressing sustainable food system transformation in Nigeria to increase yields, resilience and improved food security for smallholder farmers focusing on resilience, sustainability, production, marketing constraints, private sector investment, youth and women engagement in the production and processing of selected staple food crops. The call is open to implementing organizations in Nigeria focusing on Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Oyo, and Gombe states.
Grants may support any of the following issues (list not exhaustive):
- Scaling up production of staples (Maize Rice soybean, cowpea, & Vegetables) and their contribution to soil fertility nutrition, income and carbon sequestration – this will require strengthening seed supply systems using seed companies and the promotion of Integrated soil fertility management practices through provision of extension advisory services to the farmers,
- Promotion and the adoption of water harvesting technologies and the efficient use of the water on farms – for enhancing productivity and conservation.
- Wide-scale uptake of climate smart and environmental sustainability practices such as conservation agriculture, good agronomic practices, postharvest management, processing practices and agroecology. This will require providing technical guidance and identifying institutional or incentives that help address challenges associated with adoption of climate smart and e mental management in smallholder agriculture.
- Strengthening functional markets, finances, information and risk mitigation measures by and other value chain actors.
- Leveraging private sector resources in expanding production, improving productivity, and increasing processing and storage capacity.
- Strengthening MSME’s capacity (particularly women and youth owned) along the focus value chains.
- Digitalization and effective use of ICT4Ag by youths
- Establishing and/or strengthening of private sector linkages between lead firms and/or off-takers engaging with small-scale farmers for more predictable markets
- Generation of jobs or full-time employment for young people in agriculture
- Inclusive policy and programming environment for youth ag work
- Development and dissemination of knowledge products on project experiences including lessons and scaling up of practices with the private sector.
Structure and Purpose of the Grants
Interested, experienced and competent organizations are invited to submit concept notes for a 24-36 months project implementation period. Responses to this call for expression of interest should clearly demonstrate how they will effectively integrate private sector and natural resources management, ICT4Ag, youth and women engagement in the staple crops value chains. A key component of this grant process is to document key practices, employment generation, success factors, (integrated) policy issues and their implications on investment opportunities for private sector, in integrated proposed interventions should solve for inclusiveness of gender and youth as key players/stakeholders in food systems generally, and the selected value chains specifically. Integration of innovations such as information Communication Technologies (ICTs) or Public Private Partnerships is highly encouraged. Applicants can select to implement/develop the proposed interventions in any one or more states (using consortia approach)
This request for grant concepts will remain open for a period of 14 calendar days, from 8 May 2023 to 22 May 2023 before 21.59 hours (WAT). Interested organizations / institutions must submit before the final deadline; Grant concept applications made after the final deadline of 22 May 2023 will not be considered. Organizations wishing to respond to expression of interest are invited to use the attached AGRA grant concept https://bit.ly/3nssJC0
Eligibility Requirements
Organizations contemplating submission of applications in response to this request for concept notes (RFCNs) must determine whether they meet the following requirements to be eligible for AGRA financial assistance:-
(a) Minimum of 5-7 years of demonstrable organization systemic working experience in any or a combination of the following systems level areas: Value Chain Development, Regenerative Agriculture, Seed systems, Fertilizer systems, Market systems, SME development, Agriculture and/or Development policy, Access to finance, Extension systems, Climate-smart Agriculture, Natural resources management in agriculture in Nigeria.
(b) Demonstrable ability to work with private sector partners and have experience leading/facilitating value chain development and resilience building initiatives. Prior experience working with women and youth is an added advantage.
(c) A team with experience working in smallholder agriculture value chains in Nigeria; experience in natural resources management, flagship development, climate change, SME development and working with national institutions.
(d) The organization should be operational, hold a valid and current registration in Nigeria.
(e) Provide evidence of existing relationships working in the development value chains and resilience technologies.
(f) Provide CV’s of key staff proposed for this assignment.
(g) Organization must have accounting systems acceptable to AGRA and corporate integrity/ ethics.
(h) Organization must not be excluded from the eligibility to receive AGRA’s donor-provided funds.
(i) Can be a governmental, non-governmental or private institution.
If an institution/organization meets the above eligibility criteria AGRA will request additional documentation to be submitted as part of the pre-award process. Organizations are advised that any funds made available are subject to AGRA’s and its donor strict accountability and audit requirements.
Priority will be given to concepts that demonstrate strategic collaboration across the whole value chain of the crops mentioned above through working consortium approaches and catalytic to transform Nigeria’s agricultural food system.
Environment and Social Management
Applications should be in line with AGRA’s Environment and Social Policy; and Exclusion List agra.orq/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Environmental-Social-Management-System_ v4.pdf
HOW TO APPLY
If eligible and interested in this Expression of Interest for project Concept Notes, please submit your application (Concept Note, using the prescribed template) via the following email address, rfcn@ogra.org by; 22 May 2023 before 21:59 hours, Western Africa Time (WAT).
Kindly indicate the following reference in the Subject Section of your email: (PID/RFCN/005/2023) Food System Transformation in Nigeria to increase yields, resilience and improved food security for smallholder farmers and job creation for youths. Template for the concept note can be downloaded from this link: https://bit.ly/3nssJC0
The following must be presented with your submission:
(a) A copy of your organization’s registration certificate
(b) Detailed organization profile
(c) Grant Concept Note application in English (AGRA template provided) – stating State of interest in the application and elaborate the methodology including how each of the tasks will be executed.
Past performance:
Demonstrated evidence of undertaking at least three similar assignments done. The information shall include the legal name and address of the organization for which services were provided, a description of services provided and a current contact phone number and email address of a responsible and knowledgeable representative of the organization.
Demonstrate availability of appropriate skills among staff and adequacy of staff and experience in Nigeria and attach their CVs.
Application Review Information
The following criteria, will be used to evaluate and shortlist the applications:
Immediate impact of innovation, Level of private sector engagement, leverages Technical capabilities of applicants and their identified partners to deliver the proposed project in a timely manner, Gender and youth inclusion.
After shortlisting, AGRA will also conduct an organizational capacity assessment (OCA) of the potential of the institutions in line with its grant making criteria which include an assessment of technical, human resources, financial capability and the ability to sustain the programme.
This work is financed by Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PLATA)
AGRA
