Request for Project Concept Notes from Interested Firms (Micro and Small enterprises) for The Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund

Building Climate Resilience and Reintegrating Economically Displaced Workers through Climate Smart Agriculture in the Terai Flood Plain Nepal

Request for Project Concept Notes from Interested Firms (Micro and Small enterprises) for The Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund 

Background

GGGI Nepal is implementing the project “Building Climate Resilience and Reintegrating Economically Displaced Workers through Climate Smart Agriculture in the Terai Flood Plain Nepal” in ten selected municipalities of Dhanusha and Mahottari districts in the Madhesh Province from June 2022 to December 2025. The project, funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is being implemented in close collaboration with Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOLMAC). The three main project objectives are to a) improve emergency management in the agriculture sector to protect lives and livelihoods, b) strengthen resilient agriculture planning and implementation, and c) build and finance climate smart agriculture businesses for job creation and long-term resilient green growth.

In order to achieve the project objectives of supporting long-term resilient green growth through financing enterprises and job creation, the project will support existing and newly established enterprises. The Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund, which is developed as part of this project, aims to support Micro and Small enterprises that work closely with the farmers in the project districts. This Terai Agribusiness and Challenge Fund Program aims to create 1,340 green jobs by mobilizing selected agribusinesses.

The project aims to provide conditional grants of USD 4,000 to 30 micro-enterprises and USD 20,000 to 30 small enterprises associated with agriculture enterprises. The grant amount is fixed and will be granted on a cost-share basis. GGGI shall provide 70% of the total proposed amount and 30% must be provided by applicants. So, the applicants need to provide at least 30% of the total proposed budget i.e., USD 1,714 for micro and USD 8,517 for small enterprises as cost sharing to access the USD 4,000 and USD 20,000 respectively. The grant amount can be spent on incubating new business ideas. It could also be spent on upgrading existing business models, for example, increasing the quality of products, use of low emission technologies, market reach via the new dealerships, and access to customers. The amount can also be spent on technical assistance or training to improve the business supply chain.

To eligible for the Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund, applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Be a for-profit-oriented legal entity (registered as per GoN guidelines) with a business presence (willing to work) in the project districts Dhanusa and Mahottari.
• The call for concept note will be open to all eligible entities; however, priority will be given to a) the ones registered in Dhanusa and Mahottari districts, b) women, youth, and returned migrants (returned labour after 2020) headed businesses, and c) the entities who are registered in other districts but also affiliated and have a presence in project districts.
• The entity must be involved in agriculture/agroforestry value chain business related to vegetables, rice, wheat, maize, spices, dairy, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), insurance OR may be associated with different segments of value chain (Inputs, Production or Output level) such as focusing on inputs, processing or marketing to aforesaid sectors. Along with this, entity must be involved or planning to involve in expanding businesses by focusing on climate smart interventions and green jobs.
• A minimum of two years of operations for the small business category, while experience is not required for micro businesses. New innovative ideas for agriculture value chain businesses (both micro and small) are also welcome.
• Applicants able to create job opportunities (part/full-time employment) for the applied project period.

Note:  In case of a joint venture between 2 or more entities, at least one of the parties must comply with the above requirements. 

Application package

• Project Concept Note (PCN) Template: Download here
• Program Brochure: Download here

Required documents:

1. Permanent account number (PAN) certificate
2. Enterprise registration certificate
3. Latest taxation certificate if applied under enterprise categories
4. Citizenship certificate of owner or representative of organization

Interested firms may obtain complete solicitation (PCN) documents by emailing a request to taecf@gggi.org and include the PCN reference in the subject line on or before MARCH 31, 2023 5:00 PM, Nepal time. GGGI will only respond to written questions or queries regarding this PCN through the email address: taecf@gggi.org. Any questions must be submitted by March 31, 2023, at 5 pm Nepal Time. 

The complete PCN should be submitted by email to taecf@gggi.org labelled PCN reference PCN-CSA-01-03-23, on or before March 31, 2023, 5:00 pm, Nepal time. Incomplete PCN and the ones received after the deadline will be automatically disqualified.

The publication of this PCN does not oblige GGGI to award a grant, nor does it cover any costs associated with application preparation or submission. Furthermore, GGGI reserves the right to reject any or all applications if doing so is deemed to be in GGGI's best interests.