Private Sector Partnership Opportunities in Cambodia: Request for Applications
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Through this Request for Applications (RFA), the Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) Cambodia Agricultural Investment Activity, managed by DAI on behalf of USAID/Cambodia, is offering opportunities for co-investment with private sector businesses in Cambodia in strengthening agricultural trade and investment.
To apply, begin by registering online at the DAI online grants platform and explore the RFA and other key materials.
MSP seeks to channel firm resources, expertise, technology and influence to contribute toward one or more of the following objectives:
- Increase Cambodian exports and strengthen trade relationships with regional and international end markets;
- Increase Cambodia’s national wealth and export volume through the protection of the quantity and quality of stored products;
- Strengthen Cambodia’s economic competitiveness and social inclusiveness;
- Improve Cambodia’s climate change resilience and risk management capacity.
Partnership should meet these objectives by introducing or scaling technologies and agricultural management practices, which may include but are not limited to:
- Technologies for warehousing, storage, cold chain and other practices that preserve stored products in a safe and fresh state;
- Agro-processing technologies that generates additional income for smallholder farming households and expanded opportunities for farmer groups;
- Technologies that improve sanitary and phytosanitary food safety standards;
- Climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices.
MSP will issue performance-based grants to establish partnerships with businesses and investors with a required 1:1 matching.
Summary
Available grant funding and type
MSP performance-based grants ranging from US $250,000-1,000,000. Applicant contribution from prospective partners is required to be a cash investment to the activity of equal to or greater than the value of MSP’s grant.
Period of performance
Partnership grants will be implemented over no more than a 24-month period.
Eligible applicants
For-profit, private sector entities including commercial entities, financial institutions, investors, business service providers, or other private sector associations. Applicants may partner with (or include costs for) non-commercial resource partners or entities which will provide training or technical assistance, but these entities cannot apply directly.
Eligible activities
Eligible activities include novel ideas and innovative business models that bring new technologies and agricultural management practices to Cambodia, or scale technologies and agricultural management practices that are nascent in Cambodia but mainstreamed in other markets. The technologies and management practices should increase Cambodian exports and strengthen trade relationships with regional and international end markets; increase Cambodia’s national wealth and export volume through the protection of the quantity and quality of stored products; strengthen Cambodia’s economic competitiveness and social inclusiveness; or improve Cambodia’s climate change resilience and risk management capacity.
Application process
- Register Online to receive the full RFA via www.mspgrants.com/registration;
- Submit questions on or before 5:00PM EST May 19, 2022 to grants_nofo@ftf-msp.org regarding the process or activity;
- Submit applications via https://www.mspgrants.com/cambodia2/ on or before May 31, 2022 in compliance with the full RFA document.
Application evaluation criteria
Proposed Business Concept - A new or expanded business concept that is feasible, viable and provides a market-based solution to an identified business challenge aligned with core business goals. Potential business concepts should include the introduction or scaling of technologies and agricultural management practices to support agricultural-led growth.
Development Impact (Result) - The specific, measurable, and significant impact on MSP USAID target populations (e.g. smallholders suppliers, bottom of the pyramid (BOP) consumers, small and growing businesses) and contribution to industry-wide concerns/growth the applicant seeks to directly achieve through the proposed partnership—aligned with the objectives included in Section I of the RFA for the Cambodia Agricultural Investment Activity.
Sustainability - The strategy for the business concept to successfully continue without additional donor assistance beyond the life of the MSP partnership.
Scale - Projection of the potential pathway to growth -when the investment or approach will expand and by how much.
Funding Justification - The justification of why the applicant cannot execute the proposed concept on their own, without MSP’s participation.
Environmental Impact – An explanation of potential environmental impacts from the proposed concept and how the applicant will mitigate those impacts.
Issuance of this announcement does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of DAI, nor does it commit DAI to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of applications. Further, DAI reserves the right to reject or approve any or all submitted applications.
Contacts
Submit questions to: grants_nofo@ftf-msp.org
Submit applications to: Applications must be uploaded to https://www.mspgrants.com/cambodia2/
The MSP Activity is advancing learning and good practice in market systems development and private sector engagement within USAID, USAID partners and market actors. For more information, access to technical resources and opportunities to engage, visit www.agrilinks.org/msp.