Request for application (RFA) to identify local service providers to “Organize localized trade events/exhibition to connect producers and buyers”

Poverty Reduced Sustainably in an Environment of Resilient and Vibrant Economy (PReSERVE)

 

Request for application (RFA) to identify local service providers to “Organize localized trade events/exhibition to connect producers and buyers”.

Location Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint, Simada, and Sahila woredas of Amhara region.

 

Activity Title:	Identify Local Service Provider
Type of award:	Grant/Award from RTI International
Term of grant:	March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026
This grant/Award supports:	Organize localized trade events/exhibitions to connect producers and buyers.
Term of Subgrant:	1 year
Award Range:	USD 15,000-17,500
Match Contribution	No match
Submit Proposal to:	mseffefe@rti.org
Date of Issue of RFA and closing date	January 03, 2025 to February 2, 2025
Date Questions from Applicants Due:	January 15,2025
Date Proposal Due:	February 02, 2025
Approximate Date for Subgrant issued to successful Applicant (s):	March 1, 2025,
RFA Number	RTI-PReSERVE-G-RFA-2024-003

 

Program Description

RTI International (RTI) is managing the market systems development component of the 5-year USAID-funded project in Ethiopia, that is, Poverty Reduced Sustainably in an Environment of Resilient and Vibrant Economy (PReSERVE). PReSERVE is an integrated activity to improve food security of vulnerable households in targeted Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) communities in the Amhara Region and contribute to a sustained reduction in rural poverty. The market systems development component of PReSERVE must bring vital market access and growth to four designated livelihoods deepening woredas (Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint, Simada, Sahila).

More specifically, RTI supports the development of potato, haricot beans, sheep, and goats, as well as fish value chains in the aforementioned woredas. To this end, we have implemented strategic market systems interventions during the past three years. We have also achieved encouraging successes and lessons. For instance, we linked the target beneficiaries with financial service providers so that they engage in the selected value chain; facilitated access to improved seeds and other essential for the producers; promoted access to agricultural extension services and practices; increased the productivity, production, and incomes of the beneficiaries. By working through LSPs, the PReSERVE intends to create sustainable access to affordable and quality agricultural technologies for value chain producers. Secondly, we develop competitive, mutually beneficial, and sustainable output markets between producers and buyers.

On the other hand, RTI remains further committed to better expand the sustainable access and supply of quality and affordable improved agricultural inputs and extension services for the target communities. Similarly, we strive to improve the competitiveness of the output markets of the value chains by promoting linkages between producers and buyers. And to address these two purposes, RTI International plans to employ licensed service provider(s) that have demonstrated experience in organizing trade events/exhibitions.

 

Overall Objective: 

The overall objective of this RFA is to identify local service provider(s) that takes care of the full organization of localized trade events/exhibitions to connect producers and buyers of potato, haricot beans, sheep and goats, and fish value chains in Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint, Simada, and Sahila woredas. This Specific Grant Will Contribute To Achieve the following:

 

Intended Results: 

The LSP’s success will be measured in terms of the outputs listed below.

1. The LSP organized a minimum of two-days long woreda level agricultural trade event/exhibition on Potato, Haricot Beans, Sheep and Goats, and Fish Value Chains in each respective woredas. And the successful applicant must present a detailed proposal that clearly show how it achieves the job including a breakdown of activities, input resources required, anticipated timelines for completion, and a sustainability strategy.
2. For each value chain (Potato, Haricot beans, Sheep and Goats, and Fish), the LSP invited at least twenty credible and licensed suppliers of improved agricultural technologies/inputs and services for each value chain in every respective woreda. The successful LSP shall consult and review with RTI team on the final selection of potential technologies suppliers and services providers.
3. For each value chain (Potato, Haricot beans, Sheep and Goats, and Fish), the LSP invited at least twenty credible and licensed product buyers for each value chain in every respective woreda. The successful LSP shall consult and review with RTI team on the final selection of buyers of each value chain/product.
4. Facilitated business-to-business linkages between inputs suppliers, farmers, farmers’ coops, farmers’ groups/VESAs, and local agro-dealers. At least 50/fifty B2B linkages signed between these parties.
5. Organized business-to-business linkages between farmers producers and buyers, aggregators, exporters, and wholesalers. At least 50 B2B linkages signed between these parties.
6. The LSP promoted the organization of the trade event/exhibition for at least a month before the actual dates of the event. The successful applicant shall particularly promote the event to project target communities, kebeles, and Village Economic and Social Associations (VESA).
7. For each value chain, the LSP prepared and distribute hundred copies of a directory of participants agricultural technologies suppliers, service providers, producer groups/coops, and product buyers.
8. In each woreda, at least 1000 farmers (disaggregated by VC) visited the trade event. The LSP maintained and reported register of visiting farmers including their addresses and signatures. All event participant suppliers and buyers should keep records of their visitors and sales records. The LSP prepared a video documentary of the trade events. The documentary would include interviews with participants, visitors, technical experts, local administration, etc.

 

Application Information

In addition to discussing the above-named intermediate results, successful applicants will include the following in their application:

• The applicant’s understanding of the “development challenge,” opportunity, or problem including the political, social, economic, and environmental conditions(s) require(s) changing.
• Previous experience of organizing trade events and knowledge of the areas where the agricultural exhibitions will take place. and how the applicants know what needs to be changed in the context of the RFA.
• Identification of external factor(s) and other critical assumptions that are likely to facilitate or hinder the achievement of the results. Applicants should provide this information as per the Program Description of the grant application form.

Implementation Plan

A standard Implementation A standard Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should contain a set of indicators that would permit continuous measurement of progress toward targeted results. For each result, what is the performance indicator? What is the baseline data? What is the performance target? What is the timetable for achieving results? Foreach performance indicator, what is the definition and what is the unit of measurement? What are the plans for reporting and using the performance information?

The framework and scope for monitoring, evaluation and assessment of stated results should demonstrate how implementation of activities will contribute to achieve intermediate outcomes of inclusive access and use of savings and credit for men, women and youth and for the outputs of access to financial services for women, men and youth enhanced and Women’s control over household asset allocation improved.

Plan should show how the anticipated results would be achieved. What activities, processes, or strategies are essential to achieve results? Why will the planned work lead to the intended results? What is the anticipated timetable for the achievement of the results?

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

A standard Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should contain a set of indicators that would permit continuous measurement of progress toward targeted results. For each result, what is the performance indicator? What is the baseline data? What is the performance target? What is the timetable for achieving results? Foreach performance indicator, what is the definition and what is the unit of measurement? What are the plans for reporting and using the performance information?

The framework and scope for monitoring, evaluation and assessment of stated results should demonstrate how implementation of activities will contribute to achieve intermediate outcomes of inclusive use of goat out grower model for men, women, and youth.

Financial

Each application must contain a detailed line-item budget accompanied by a budget narrative explaining all costs. An acceptable budget will have all costs broken out by unit costs and clearly show the number of units used for each line item. The narrative will describe how the grantee arrived at each unit cost and the number of units for each line item. See the grant application form for instructions on submitting a detailed budget and narrative. For this specific grant/Award there is not required cost share plan

Past Performance

All applicants are subject to a past performance reference check. Therefore, they must provide the name, address, and other contact information of at least three (3) past performance references, as required by the grant application form.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI, or Unique Entity ID)

Grantees that receive any grant from RTI are required to have a UEI before receiving a grant award. See the Grant Application Form for instructions on requesting a UEI.

Evaluation and Award process 

RTI International will provide award/grant to responsible applicants whose proposals conform to the RFA and will be most advantageous to RTI International, price and other factors considered.