March 01, 2023, Janakpur, Nepal – The KOICA-GGGI Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Project has opened the call for project concept notes from interested micro and small agri-enterprises for its Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund (TAECF). The TAECF plans to disburse USD 1.56 million in grants over a 3-year period — USD 720,000 in 2023, USD 510,000 in 2024, and USD 328,000 in 2025 and aims to create 1,340 green jobs by supporting the selected enterprises.
In 2023, the TAECF aims to provide conditional grants of USD 4,000 to 30 micro-entrepreneurs and USD 20,000 to 30 small entrepreneurs associated with agriculture value chain. The grant amount is fixed and will be granted on a cost-share basis. GGGI shall provide 70% of the total proposed amount, and 30% must be provided by applicants. The Fund aims to attract women, youth and returned migrant workers who are engaged in agriculture-related micro and small enterprises in the project districts.
The selected grantees can spend the grant amount on incubating new business ideas, upgrading existing business models, technical assistance/training, and improving the business supply chain focusing on climate smart intervention and green jobs creation. To be eligible for the TAECF, applicants should meet certain criteria, such as being a for-profit-oriented legal entity registered as per Government of Nepal guidelines with a business presence in the project districts (Dhanusha and Mahottari).
The TAECF will be open to all eligible entities. However, priority will be given to a) those that are registered in Dhanusa and Mahottari districts, b) women, youth (16-40 years), and returned migrant (returned after 2020) headed businesses, and c) entities registered in other districts but also affiliated and have a presence in project districts.
The PCN must be sent to the GGGI Project Implementation Office in Janakpur in physical form or alternatively, a digital copy can be emailed to taecf@gggi.org, with ‘PCN-CSA-01-03-23’ mentioned in the subject line. Interested parties can email in the same address and request the PCN template. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2023, 5:00 pm Nepal time.
The TAECF is a major component of the KOICA-funded project “Building Climate Resilience and Reintegrating Economically Displaced Workers Through Climate Smart Agriculture in Terai Flood Plain Nepal,” known as KOICA-GGGI Climate Smart Agriculture Project. The project aims to support widespread adoption of climate-smart agriculture to reduce vulnerability and improve food and job security, especially for women, youth and returned migrant workers in the Terai Flood Plain region.
Visit this site to see the detailed PCN call. In addition, once can always reach out to taecf@gggi.org in case of any other queries related to the TAECF.
Download Concept Note Template here
Download Program Brochure here