MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT II (SADP II) MATCHING GRANTS PROGRAMME
- Background
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with the support of the World Bank, has established within the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project 2 (SADP 2) a Matching
Grants Programme aiming to support small and medium agriculture-related businesses and farmer associations and cooperatives to increase their level of commercialization
through the introduction, testing, adoption, demonstration and dissemination of new and innovative business initiatives and technological improvements
Priorities
The Matching Grants Programme (MGP) hereby invites applications for grants with a maximumduration of two years, focusing on the introduction and demonstration of appropriate and affordable technologies and business initiatives in the context of Lesotho agriculture, which would provide possible long-term solutions in a flexible manner, thus benefiting smallholders and developing private agribusiness sector to increase competitiveness and profitability; increase value-added to local products; increase market access, market-acceptability and demand for local smallholder produce; and improve agribusiness management practices. Priority areas for investment may include: (i) Protected Agriculture/Vegetable production under protected shade net or Green House (ii) Broiler Production and Processing (iii) Egg Production and Layer Production (iv) Seedling Production (v) Ram Breeding or Buck Breeding (vi) Improved collection, storage, post-harvest handling, processing, grading/sorting, marketing, packaging, labelling, brand development, presentation and promotion of agricultural products; (vii) improvement of product quality and standards, food safety management practices and product certification; (viii) diversification and introduction of higher value-added and niche products.
Eligible Applicants
The youth grants are available to support proposals for business activities providing benefits or services in the ten districts of Lesotho, particularly, business ventures by:
a) Companies owned and led by the youth, that is, young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
b) Registered small and medium scale agriculture-related businesses owned and led by the youth.
c) Registered local, district and national youth associations and cooperatives.
4.Partnership with Service Providers
The potential applicants will be assisted by the qualified technical and/or business service provider(s). The service provider(s) would: (i) provide technical assistance and advice to the applicant to clarify the business idea and prepare the application, (ii) work with the applicant to clarify different technical aspects of the activity and prepare an activity implementation plan; (iii) provide technical assistance to the applicant during project implementation and provide the products and services to be delivered according to an agreed schedule; (iv) support the applicant in managing grant funds, including keeping the necessary accounts and collecting contributions from beneficiaries; (v) supervise the inputs of beneficiaries and subcontract technical assistance as necessary; (vi) take the lead in organization and coordination of the planned technology transfer activities including training and demonstrations; (vii) monitor the progress of activities; (viii) support the applicant in the preparation and submission of the required financial and technical reports.
5.0 Budget:
This round of applications is allocated the maximum of USD1.5 million. The amount will be available to support projects with investment amounts of up to M240 000.00. Grant funds will be applied to up to 80% of the project amount with each beneficiary contributing a cash equity for the remaining 20%.
6.0 Beneficiary contribution:
To engender ownership and to demonstrate commitment, the applicants together with their other partners should contribute co-financing of at least 20% of the total cost of the project.
Therefore, the entire contribution of each applicant’s co-financing should be in cash.
7.0 Deadline and Place for Submission of Applications:
Applications and all necessary supporting documents should be submitted not later than 31st May 2022 at 16:00 pm. Sealed applications should be submitted in four copies (one original plus three copies) and delivered by hand at the office of the:
MGP Secretariat,
Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II
Department of livestock Services at Moshoeshoe II opposite Lesotho Defence Air wing
Maseru.
OR
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security –
District Agricultural Offices in the ten districts of Lesotho specifically to the office of the Project Field officer. Applications submitted after deadline will not be considered.
8.0 Application Documentation:
The official application forms and additional information on drawing up the application will be obtained free of charge at the MGP Secretariat’s Office at the following address:
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,
Smallholder Agriculture Development Project, (SADP II)
Department of Livestock Services
P O Box 24
Maseru 100
OR
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and District Agricultural Offices in all ten districts of Lesotho, specifically to the office of the Project Field officer. The contact person is Ms. ‘Malichaba Nkhethoa and can be contacted on 22312578 and [email protected] .