REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

Kenya Feed the Future – Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity
Issuance date: March1st, 2019
Closing date: March 30th, 2019

Program Background

The Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity (KCDMS) is a five-year (Oct
2017– Sept 2022) project of the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID). It is funded as part of Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger
and food security initiative that helps to increase agricultural production and reduce
poverty and malnutrition in Kenya. The project is being implemented by RTI
International in 12 counties including; Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Migori,
Kisii, Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga.

Amongst other endeavors, KCDMS works in Market Access, Productivity, Policy, and
Social Inclusion for nine (9) value chains: dairy, feed/fodder, mango, banana, avocado,
pineapple, passion fruit, sweet potato, and African Leafy Vegetable. Specifically, the
project’s Social Inclusion component aims at ensuring an increase in incomes and
expanded agricultural investment activities which are inclusive of women and youth.
To advance their meaningful participation in agriculture, the project offers agribusiness
initiatives to enable women and youth to engage in profitable agricultural value chains
by facilitating market-driven partnerships that bring together all players to invest and
support their access to resources and services to grow their agribusinesses. Among
the strategies being promoted is access to both formal and informal finance, including
capacity strengthening of village savings and lending groups.

KCDMS is seeking to engage identified Business Development Service Providers

(BDSP), and Non – governmental Organizations (NGOs) who are experienced in
working with lending and saving groups through capacity strengthening and mentoring
for market-led lending and savings. The main objective of this assignment is to mobilize
and build capacities of VSLG groups on Financial literacy in the 12 counties of KCDMS
focus. This is aimed at improving the management of VSLG activities, saving and lending
culture of the communities while enhancing investment in agriculture. We are
therefore requesting Applications (RFA) from organizations working with
savings and lending groups in the targeted counties, with an emphasis on
developing and improving the management of the selected village savings
and lending groups.

Interested BDSPs and NGOs should send in their applications that propose
innovative approaches for strengthening VSLG capacities in management and
financial literacy within the KCDMS targeted counties. The proposal should outline
the proposed approach and mentorship plan for the selected savings and lending
groups.

Submission Guidelines
Detailed instructions of the RFA and SOW can be found on the RTI website,
https://www.rti.org/current-opportunities . Application including cover letter,
technical proposal and financial proposal (Annex A excel file - KCD RFA Budget
Template) should be completed and submitted to APS2019@kcdmsd.rti.org with
KCDMS VSLA RFA in the subject line reference by 30th March, 2019.

Disclaimer: Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the
part of KCDMS nor commit the project to pay for costs incurred in the preparation
and submission of an application. Further, KCDMS reserves the right to reject any or
all applications received. Similarly, an invitation for further negotiation or to submit
a full application is not a commitment to fund that application.