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Applications are now open for the Joint Matching Grant Fund (MGF) for ERO and MOVE – Rice Mills 2024
Why We Focus on Rice
Rice is a crucial staple crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in West Africa. Over the past few decades, demand for rice in this region has been growing faster than anywhere else in the world.
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Unfortunately, local and regional production cannot meet this increasing demand, leading to up to 40% of rice being imported from Asia. Factors such as limited processing and marketing infrastructure, lack of access to high-quality inputs, and weaker markets put local production systems at a disadvantage.
Call for Proposals: Rice Matching Fund
The ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) and MOVE-CARI are pleased to announce a call for proposals for support through their Rice Matching Fund. This Fund is a co-funding mechanism designed to engage private sector enterprises in co-investing in activities that strengthen rice value chains in West Africa. There are two funding streams available from ERO and GIZ MOVE-CARI, and potential applicants can apply for only one in this round.
Eligibility:
- ERO Funding Stream: All ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) National Chapters are eligible to apply.
- GIZ MOVE-CARI Funding Stream: Partners from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Senegal can apply, either individually or as part of a consortium.
Applicants should refer to the Matching Fund Application Guidelines for detailed information on the available support, eligibility criteria, and application process.
Objectives
Private sector organizations involved in the rice value chain are encouraged to apply if they are committed to advancing towards cost-competitive, sustainable, and nutritious rice self-sufficiency in West Africa. The focus areas include:
- Increased productivity and quality of paddy rice
- Enhanced efficiency in local rice sourcing, processing, and marketing
- Improved commercialization of rice and its by-products
This Matching Fund aims to transform the rice value chain through strong business linkages, ensuring competitiveness at every segment.
Application Process
This is a multi-stage application process. Initially, all applicants are required to submit a short proposal (a template is provided separately and can be downloaded from www.araa.org). If applying as part of a consortium, a letter of intent (also available for download on the same website) signed by all members of the consortium is required.
Submission: All required documents must be submitted via email to move@giz.de or mgf-ero@araa.org by 23 August 2024. Late applications will not be considered.
Key Goals of the Fund
- Support smallholder farmers
- Make self-sufficiency a reality
- Mitigate climate impacts
- Create added value through regional production
For any questions regarding the Matching Fund or the application process, please contact the ERO team at mgf-ero@araa.org or the CARI team at move@giz.de.
Please find below all Necessary documents to apply:
- Annex 1a – Short proposal template-ERO
- Annex 1b – Short proposal template_GIZ
- Annex 2b – Letter of intent template_ERO
- Annex 2b – Letter of intent template_GIZ
- Annex 3 Guidelines on costs eligible for reimbursement_GIZ
- Call for proposals
- Joint MGF Application Guidelines
