USAID Africa Trade and Investment Partnerships Opportunity:
USAID Regional Food Safety APS Addendum
Focus Areas: Aflatoxins Mitigation
Issuance date: November 10, 2022
Closing date for submission of concept papers: January 16, 2023 5.00PM EDT
Funding Opportunity:
Funding Opportunity: Through this Annual Program Statement (APS) via APS-ATI-002 (APS ATI-02 Food Security and Resilience (formsite.com)), the USAID Africa Trade & Investment (ATI) Program is offering partners the opportunity to partner with USAID to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that will enhance the region’s food safety and trade by mitigating the effects of aflatoxins in maize and dairy value chains.
Background:
There have been numerous public and private sector initiatives in the Eastern African region aimed at reducing the impact of aflatoxins. The initiatives support capacity building, awareness raising, testing, introduction of aflatoxin control technologies such as aflasafe, establishing prevalence data and policy interventions. Several development partners have supported most of these initiatives, with the USAID and the UN FAO contributing the most within the Eastern African region. Despite these interventions, aflatoxin control remains elusive, and this is characterized by numerous recalls of finished products, stoppage of grain at border points, high aflatoxin levels in produce from surveillance exercises, poor enforcement of food safety legislations across agencies and an uncoordinated undertaking of food control by agencies. Most of these interventions have variations in the participation of actors, with sub-optimal participation from the private sector, while many efforts have involved government participation.
USAID is now seeking partnerships with agricultural service providers such as last mile off-takers and suppliers, maize millers, nuts and dairy processors to:
- Increase the number of farmers who use technologies and practices that reduce and prevent aflatoxin contamination;
- Reduce the amount of toxins in food products through the use of technology and improved production processes;
- Generate public demand and raise awareness on the need for toxin-safe foods to mitigate the effects of aflatoxins on consumers’ health and to enhance trade opportunities.
ATI Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants can include financial institutions, investors, businesses, business service organizations, industry/sector organizations, trade or other private sector associations. ATI strongly encourages applications from potential new partners operating in East Africa. Should there be questions of whether your entity is eligible, please submit your inquiry at APS ATI-02 Food Security and Resilience Questions (formsite.com).
- Applicants must demonstrate that it falls into one of the grantee categories below:
- Private Sector Companies – regional (East Africa) firms operating in one or more of the following countries; Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda & Tanzania
- Foreign Organizations (referred to as non-U.S. NGOs): either nonprofit or for-profit organizations that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.47.
- Non-profit Organizations: Organizations that meet the definition of 2 CFR 200.70.
- In addition, an applicant must be domiciled in East Africa. In lieu of official registration, an applicant may still be eligible for award if it shows proof of effort to secure registration, exemption from registration, or cause for why registration is not optional or practicable.
Prior experience with USAID or other US Government entities is not required. DAI encourages applications from potential new partners.
Selection criteria:
This addendum follows the Technical Selection Criteria and Cost Evaluation (Section IV) in the ATI APS, in addition to:
- Level of scale/reach achievable (number of beneficiaries)
- Ability to reach vulnerable populations
- Ability to support farmers and cooperatives
- Demonstrated co-investment by the organization
Budget:
This grant leverages private sector resources, is milestone based and has a matching component in cash valued at $250,000.
Information on applying: CLOSED ON JANUARY 16TH 2023