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.

2. 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.

Thanks for the post and clerfifications. This is an opportunity for all to help sustain MF initiative and help contribute to development.

Urban value chain development will really make a change.

Am happy to be part of this vanguard for change.

And lets all help to sustain the key points discussed here and build collaborations to advocate for support for the SEEP initiative.

thanks

I am interested to know what, for the purposes of this RFA, the SEEP Network considers to be an urban context. Here in Mongolia we are currently piloting different value chain approaches linking rural and urban markets but, given the very low population density of this country, most of the areas we consider urban are provincial capitals with a population of around 25,000. Is this sufficiently large to be considered urban or are other criteria than population density/size used to make the urban/rural distinction? Many thanks for your advice.

I would like to know how SEEP is defining “urban” — is there a minimum population requirement or could regional/provincial capitals/towns of 30,000-40,000 people still qualify as an urban environment?

Many thanks,

“Enterprise development work as distinct from microfinance work” is simply unconceivable and indeed it is like talking about a car neglecting the
engigne that make it running.

Alternately, an MFI could partner with a large enterprise development program and submit an expansion concept as partners.
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