The Innovation Fund for Agriculture and Agri-business Call for Concept Notes and Proposals

The Agricultural Sector Ministries have received a grant from SIDA, EU, DANIDA and GTZ under the Agricultural Sector Support Programme (ASSP) through the Agricultural Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU), for the establishment of the Innovation Fund for Agriculture and Agribusiness.

The Fund is a grant to support innovative agricultural and agri-business initiatives and enhance the capacity of the private and public sectors in agriculture to play their role in agricultural development more effectively. This is in line with the Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA).

The Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) have been appointed as the Innovation Fund Manager.

Objectives of the Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund is a Grant Fund to support innovative initiatives in livestock, crops, fisheries, cooperatives, irrigation, agro-forestry, and value-addition activities among others.

The objective of the fund is to support:

• Innovative production & agri-business SRA compliant initiatives e.g. those that overcome managerial, technological or market challenges;
• Value addition initiatives, that enhance farmers influence and ownership of & benefits from the value chain.
• Piloting of innovative Public-Private Partnerships aimed at delivering critical agricultural services and technologies.

Eligibility

The Innovation Fund aims at supporting technically and financially viable business oriented initiatives and development of new ideas that can enhance the performance of Kenya's agricultural sector. Funds will be granted for the support of initiatives that fall within key areas identified in the SRA and the Kenya Vision 2030.

Brief Concept Notes, accompanied by more detailed Proposals, with a minimum budget of Kenya Shillings One million (Ksh. 1m), and not exceeding Kenya Shillings 10 million (KSh. 10 m), are invited from interested and qualifying organizations and individuals.

They should include:

• Background Information
  
• Project Rationale and Justification
  
• A Brief Description of the Innovation Benefits of the Innovation
  
• Approaches to be used
  
• Institutional Linkages
  
• Proposed Budget
  
• Notes to the Budget

Completed Concept Notes and Proposals should be emailed or delivered by courier, post or hand so as to reach the undersigned NOT LATER THAN 27th FEBRUARY 2009 . (Please note that applications received later than this date will not be considered).

The Programme Officer;
Innovation Fund for Agriculture ft Agribusiness;
Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust;
5th Floor, First Assurance Plaza, Muthithi Road, Westlands;
P.O. Box 187, Sarit Centre, 00606 Nairobi, Kenya.
Telefax: 3746354, 3746764 and 3749942