Permit this clarification in the program Concepts RFA. The SEEP Network seeks three consortia. Under the Location heading, the RFA states, “The three consortia should plan their demonstration programs in locations relatively near one another to facilitate program implementation.”

I suggest the word “consortium” makes it more clear: “Each consortium should plan their demonstration programs in locations relatively near one another to facilitate program implementation.” Obviously, multiple consortia will not be informed in the proposal process what each other is doing and where they propose doing it. Along the way, there will be lessons learned among the three consortia, but, presumably, from different parts of the world.

Some applicants have been asking this question
1.Are Microfinance Institutions eligible for applying?

This initiative seeks to advance enterprise development work (as distinct from microfinance work.) However, we welcome participation of MFIs in this initiative because microenterprises need financial services in order to develop

a. Business planning for sustainability and scale up: This program seeks Business plans for innovative practices in the area of enterprise development from accomplished/advanced practitioners seeking to scale up their programs. MFIs would only be eligible if they also have a significant, successful enterprise development initiative that they seek to expand. In this case, we would see being an MFI as an advantage. Alternately, an MFI could partner with a large enterprise development program and submit an expansion concept as partners.

Please visit “about our work” section of the enterprise development exchange for more information on micro-enterprise development terminology. http://communities.seepnetwork.org/edexchange/node/271

b. Urban Value Chain Development: This program is aimed at building the capacities of new or upcoming programs that have adopted or trying to adopt a value chain approach to their enterprise development programs.

Microfinance Institutions seeking to expand/strengthen their existing programs in the area of urban value chain development may apply for the Urban Value Chain Development program in partnership with a technical advisory team that has value chain development expertise and with other practitioners as described in the RFA. It is an advantage to have an MFI as part of the partnership.

Can individual organizations apply?

1. Advanced practitioners or individual organizations can apply for the business planning for sustainability and scale up RFA.

2. Individual organizations seeking to apply for the urban value chain development program must apply as part of a consortia only. The consortia must constitute of a lead organization to manage the grants and the program, expert technical assistance providers to build capacity and facilitate learning, and on the ground implementing organizations working around a common learning theme in urban value chain development. Please look at the scope of work for consortia concept notes, eligibility and selection criteria for the urban value chain development program in the RFA.

Quite suprising and knowledgeful to see RFA for urban poor. Incase of Nepal also this is in increasing trend where most of the people are in kathmandu and major cities.

In other hand one will find difficult to find youth at rural level as working in middle east has been a charm and also remittance is contributing a lot. We still donot have specific program for developing value chain for people working in middle east. Upgrading their skills before going there and so on.

The basic discussion come to decentralization of the power at rural area and how rural urban partnership can be carried out. The federal system to be introduced in Nepal can bring more power and money at district level thus negating the high flow of people in city like Kathmandu.

More wide discussion has to be carried out for making poor in mainstream market rather then just employement. There rights for sharing the ownership on business. Examples of Swiss Project in forestry has tripartite business ownership between – poor , private and community forestry user group for business.

I still think we need to work for rural areas and work in holistic approach led by goverance system so we can increase opportunities at rural level.

“ Go natural” can be very handy with payment for environment services, eco tourism, non timber forest products production and many more in countries like Nepal.

suhrid chapagain
value chain advisor
nepal swiss community forestry project
Swiss Intercooperation

Good afternoon Mary,

Criteria #6 (Financial Management) for applications to The Value Initiative RFA-1: Business Planning instructs that the institution has experience managing donor funding of at least $100,000 per year for 3-5 years.

As a fair trade, non-profit retailer, our organization does not operate on donor funding. We operate on revenues. Does this criteria exclude organizations like ours?

My apologies if this question is too detailed for this forum.
Thank you,
Kathleen Campbell
Ten Thousand Villages

Mary:

Our challenges in responding to the RFA are as follows:
1. Our consortium is fairly new
2. Botswana is classified as a middle income country

As individuals and collectively we have amassed wealth of experience working with the disadvantaged poor and it is our desire to deploy that experience in helping our people. We also are excited with the team that is prepared to work with us in this project.

Despite the economic classification of the country, we still have high incidences of poverty and huge income disparities. Therefore there is still economic challenges for both the urban and rural poor that need to be addressed. We believe this project can help in addressing the situation.

Does this hamper our eligibility?

Victor