USAID Africa Trade and Investment Partnerships Opportunity: 

USAID Kenya & East Africa (USAID/KEA) Regional Ocean Plastic APS Addendum

Issuance date: December 20, 2023

Closing date for submission of concept papers: February 28, 2024, 5.00 PM EDT

 

Overview:

USAID established the Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Program to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that increase trade and investment and contribute to job creation in Africa. As part of the Save Our Seas Initiative, USAID is partnering with organizations to combat ocean plastic pollution. Plastic waste is a major challenge in East Africa. In Kenya, plastic accounts for 12 percent of solid waste, amounting to 966,000 tonnes per year. Less than 10% is recycled; the majority ends up in open dumpsites - with negative effects for health and the environment.  In Kenya, it is estimated that 37 thousand tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean every year. In Tanzania, the estimate is 29,000 tons. This plastic waste leakage comes primarily from land-based sources due to weak solid waste management (SWM).  Private sector investment is needed to address this challenge and advance a circular economy for plastics in the region.

USAID/KEA is currently inviting concepts to reduce ocean plastic pollution and create jobs in the plastics value chain in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan) by improving solid waste management and reducing, re-using, and recycling plastic.

Priority focus areas for the Regional Ocean Plastic APS:

  • Improve solid waste management, collection, disposal, reuse, recycling, circular economy (CE)
  • Promote preconditions to CE programming by addressing the enabling environment (i.e. policies, regulations, public awareness, etc.)
  • Increase investment in recycling and CE
  • Reduce generation of plastic waste (via alternatives)
  • Improve livelihoods of vulnerable populations associated with SWM and recycling.
  • Reduce sea-based sources of ocean plastic pollution (i.e., fishing gear)
  • Generate research focused on providing solutions for measuring or tracking impact of recycling and CE programs.

Concepts must realize the following results in at least two East African countries. Preference will be given to proposals based in at least one country with an ocean coastline, but land-locked countries can be part of the wider regional activity.

  • Decreased amount of plastic pollution leaking into the environment (through innovative design, upstream / downstream solutions, etc.).
  • Increased number of jobs (especially formal jobs) in the plastics value chain, especially for women and youth.

Other desired results include:

  • Improved livelihoods of vulnerable populations.
  • Promotion/implementation of circular economy policies.
  • Reduction/mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Funding Range:

It is anticipated that awards under this facility will be in the form of sub-grants and will range from $250,000 to $1,000,000.  Applicants are expected to co-fund the proposed activities through financial leverage at a matching ratio of at least 1:1 with higher ratios strongly preferred.

Selection Criteria- Additional Information:

This addendum follows the Technical Selection Criteria and Cost Evaluation (Section IV) in the ATI APS. For Regional Ocean Plastic concept papers and full proposals, applicants should be aware of the following more specific aspects of the topline criteria:

  • Concept & the objectives it will cover: Interested applicants should include specific details on how the funding sought will be catalytic in nature to reduce plastic pollution and advance the objectives of this APS.
  • Additionality & the value of the partnership: Interested applicants should include information on how the intended concept will address a market gap/specific need, as well as projected targets for results (i.e. amount of plastic to be recycled, jobs created, etc.).
  • Ability to leverage private sector resources, assets, capabilities, and expertise: Leveraged amounts will be considered within the context of the applicant’s objectives and impact.

Information on Applying:

To apply for funding, interested applicants must submit a concept note via the ATI intake site. This concept note will include the technical details of the proposed project, an estimated cost of the activity, and details on the applicant’s company and experience. All applications are due by February 28, 2024. For more information and relevant deadlines, we encourage all interested applicants to visit the entire ATI Annual Program Statement (APS) here.

Note:

  • Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until the available funding is fully utilized.
  • Please see our FAQs page and this PowerPoint deck for suggestions on structuring a grant concept note.
  • ATI responds only to submissions that are selected to advance to the next stage.
  • Note: All applicants that advance to the next stage must have a current Unique Entity Identifier (UEID) and register in the U.S. government’s System for Award Management at sam.gov. It is recommended that organizations begin to secure their UEID and SAM registration as early as possible to avoid delays as it can be a lengthy process. Applicants can register for a UEI by accessing this website.
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