Unlock $8M for Zimbabwean Crop Businesses!

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development in Zimbabwe (USAID/Zimbabwe), intends to award a cooperative agreement for the Poverty Reduction and Food Security-Crop Development (PRFS-CD) program. The project will be performed in Zimbabwe and the period of performance will be five (5) years from the date of award. USAID/Zimbabwe intends to limit competition to local Zimbabwean organizations. A total of $8 million is available for this cooperative agreement, and only one cooperative agreement will be awarded.USAID/Zimbabwe’s new Poverty Reduction and Food Security Program (PRFS) aims to: (1) reduce rural poverty and increase incomes and food security of targeted smallholder agricultural producers through increased agricultural production and productivity, and market linkages; (2) improve the hygiene and nutrition practices leading to improved nutritional status of beneficiary households; and (3) build the capacity of local organizations to implement agricultural development activities funded by USAID.

The overall PRFS program targets assistance to four sub-sectors: high value crops, staple food crops, beef cattle, and dairy cattle. The cooperative agreement contemplated by this anticipated request for applications will focus on high value crops and staple food crops components. A separate Request for Proposals is anticipated for the beef and dairy cattle components, with a capacity building component as well. Innovative approaches are encouraged.

The attached Draft Program Description is provided for more information. Applicants are encouraged to submit comments at this time. Please submit all comments (if any) to Leona Sasinkova at lsasinkova@usaid.gov by October 7, 2014. USAID may revise the Program Description based on comments received, but is under no obligation to do so.

The Request for Applications is anticipated to be released on or around October 15, 2014 and will be made available electronically upon its release to www.grants.gov. All responsible local sources may submit a proposal, which will be considered by the Contracting Office of USAID/Zimbabwe. Applicants must meet the following definition of local organizations (from USAID policy, ADS 303.3.66.b): Local competition:USAID may limit competition to local or regional (indigenous) entities. For purposes of consistency and reporting, the definition of “local entity” means an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:(1) Is legally organized under the laws of;(2) Has as its principal place of business or operations in;(3) Is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and(4) Is managed by a governing body the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.For purposes of this section, ‘majority owned’ and ‘managed by’ include, without limitation, beneficiary interests and the power, either directly or indirectly, whether exercised or exercisable, to control the election, appointment, or tenure of the organization's managers or a majority of the organization's governing body by any means.PLEASE NOTE: this is not a request for applications.

Do not submit an application at this time. The full RFA will be released at a later date. This notice does not constitute an obligation or endorsement by USAID to proceed with the RFA or ultimately award a cooperative agreement on the basis of this notice, or to pay for any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of comments on this Draft Program Description. USAID may revise the PD based on comments received, but it is not obligated to do so.