Final Call for Concept Notes

The overall objective of the Matching Grant Fund is to leverage contributions from partners for the implementation of specific interventions towards the development of the cashew, cocoa, maize, and livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) value chains and build ownership to drive sustainable growth in the respective sectors, strengthen private sector development, and improve the productivity and profitability of stakeholders in all 79 OACPS member states for cashew, cocoa, maize, cattle, sheep, and goats VCs.

Value Chain Cashew: https://www.comcashew.org/matching-grant-fund

Value Chains Cocoa, Maize, and Livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats): https://www.agribusiness-facility.org/funding.html

You can find the presentations in the download section right above this FAQ section.  

Please find the link to the recordings of the webinars directly below the download area for the application documents. You will be forwarded to watch it on YouTube.

They can be downloaded from the Download section above “Downloads - Application: Documents to fill for your application".

This is not possible, but we have many detailed guidelines which you can download from this website. Otherwise, you can always ask a question via mail. However, this question will be posted on our website here in this FAQ section in an anonymized way. Pre-selected concept notes can receive face-to-face support on demand for the development of full proposals.

Yes, it will be to abf-fund@giz.de - responses will be posted anonymously to FAQ.

Please have a look at the handout for gender transformative approaches and climate smart agriculture (download section directly above this FAQ). In addition, we want to reach 50% women with the projects.

All OACPS member states are eligible to apply for the Matching Grant Fund (MGF). However, in the interest of regional balance, during this call, priority will be given to projects originating from countries with no or few projects from our previous calls. A list of countries and number of projects is published on the respective website. Under the MGF, ABF will support a total of 65 projects in the cocoa, maize, and livestock value chains.

The maximum participation of ABF to each project amounts to 50% of the total, with a minimum participation of 40,000 EUR and a maximum participation of 100,000 EUR.

The GIZ contribution varies from a minimum of 40,000 Euro to 100,000 Euro for each project. Depending on the amount of subsidy the project will have to pay out, the number may be increased or reduced.

We anticipate 15 projects for cashew and around 20 projects for other value chains (cocoa, maize, cattle, sheep or goats).

In previous calls, we financed around 71 projects in 20 countries. The breakdown can be checked on our website.

Both formats are eligible, but must be justified.

To be eligible the applicant should have business experience in the targeted value chain. Nevertheless, there is a market facilitation Unit in ABF dedicated to advisory services on market access if you become ABF partners.

Access to EU markets may be difficult, and other markets may be more interesting. Exporting to sub-regional markets is encouraged. For those applicants already working with the EU and/or needing support, for example with new legislation such as on deforestation, can get support.

Up to 18 months.

Annex 1. Filled and signed concept note template

Annex 2. Letter of intent template filled and signed by all consortium partners

Proof of legal registration (please attach evidence of legal form and registration in accordance with the legal provisions that apply in the country in which the private entity is based)

All three documents to be filled and sent to our e-mail (abf-fund@giz.de).

It should be noted that GIZ categorizes countries that are labeled at risk, and assists projects that have activities in these zones. We carry out an analysis to determine the feasibility of activities.

Yes. Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire are eligible for the fund, but not for the cocoa value chain. The cocoa value chain is already covered by the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative in Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. Projects concerning the maize and livestock value chains may be proposed.

Entities from these countries can however also support farmers in the cocoa value chain in other countries.

All OACPS member states are eligible to apply for the Matching Grant Fund for the value chains: cashew, cocoa, maize and livestock (cattle, sheep and goat). However, in the interest of regional balance, during this call, priority will be given to projects originating from countries with no or few projects from our previous calls. Please find an overview of the countries and the numbers of selected projects within those countries in the download section and here.

The value chains have been preselected on an analytical basis by OACPS and EU. Nevertheless, the whole framework programme covers 11 value chains, our project only covers 3 (livestock counting as one). Please note that other value chains are covered via different projects as well while ours focuses on the named value chains cocoa, maize, cattle, sheep, and goats.

For applications for the Cashew value chain please click here: https://www.comcashew.org/matching-grant-fund

All segments of the cattle, sheep and goat value chains are considered. Milk is also included here.

We are not looking for a specific part of value chain, but rather innovative ideas increasing value of value chains and income, including climate resilience and gender empowerment (also aspects that we look for in technical assessment).

A combination of value chains is possible and very welcome.

Yes, but they need to be use for the targeted  livestock (cattle, sheep or goat). Therefore, the livestock will be the key value chain.

Cocoa or cocoa by-products are not eligible in these countries as main value chain. But you can apply for another main value chain and then include cocoa or cocoa by-products as part of your proposal for diversification.

Again, this depends. We would be glad to see your concept.

If you come from a OACPS member state and fulfil the eligibility criteria presented in our guidelines, yes you may be eligible to apply.

Sadly, South Africa is not part of OACPS and therefore would it be great to rather hand in an application for implementation in the other countries planned to implement.

Yes, you can apply together with other consortium partners. Please read the guidelines for applications for other eligibility criteria.

A public company cannot be a lead applicant but can be part of a consortium with a private partner as lead applicant.

Yes, you can hand in applications for other countries if the countries the activity is taking place in is a OACPS member state.

Yes, an input supplier can be a service provider. Depending on the nature of the project you might also be eligible as a consortium partner.

Unfortunately, no.

Sadly, you cannot apply with another research institute. But there is a research grant upcoming by the MOVE-ComCashew project of which you will be informed.

Yes, please check our websites and especially the guidelines for further eligibility criteria.

Farmers and processors are direct actors and are hence eligible to apply. Please keep in mind that this call is not intended to support solely core business but has a technical cooperation character. [MAGG1]

Unfortunately not.

Yes, you can still apply.

We are happy to have NGOs involved. NGOs might be needed as service provider to support implementation of certain activities. However, this is of course up to the applying partners to integrate in their activities.

They can also be consortium partners. The funds will be disbursed to the lead applicant and further distributed between the consortium parties.

There must be a cooperation between you and your partner. It is important that the partner contributes to cash and/or in-kind. This is what we define as consortium partner. Furthermore, you have to identify its contribution within the budget.

You can benefit from our online learning tools and training courses but not for the matching grant fund without formal business registration documents.

Yes, if it is private entity and the commodity is any of our Value Chains. and also contributes to our technical objectives.
Please check the guidelines, if your company play an active role in the value chains, you may be eligible to apply.

South Africa is not part of the OACPS countries. However, if the project takes place fully in an OACPS country then the parent company can apply.

You can take up a new VC, we will evaluate a bit your experience in the VC. However, it is not an eligibility criterion. And the VC can only apply if the main operation is in the VC of cocoa, maize, livestock (cattle, goat, and sheep) or cashew.

Government agencies can be part of the consortium as long as they are not the lead applicant.

Yes, you can apply for both VS, we will classify it as one leading VC, but you only have to submit one concept note.

As far as consortia are concerned, as a National Research Centre you can be part of a consortium, but you cannot be a lead applicant (processing units, cooperatives and buyers are the groups that have the right to take the lead). But you can partner with them and apply in different value chains if you have the capacity.  

Yes, that is possible. The contribution can be in cash, kind, innovation, or equipment. But in cannot be in-kind only, there needs to be some cash contribution from the grantee.

It is a non-monetary contribution e.g., you can work for free in the office of your consortium partner, or you get a training from the consortium partner.

Yes, there is a minimum and maximum money amount for projects being accepted,

Minimum: 40,000 EUR  

Maximum: 100,000 EUR

We generally work with iDPPs (integrated Development Partnership Projects). There are two different types: 1) Implementation agreements where we finance up to 50% of the total contract value and there is money flow between our organisations. 2) Cooperation agreements in which we also contribute up to 50% of the total contract value but there is no money flow between our organisations but we implement some of the activities ourselves. Financially this makes a difference as 1) we finance up to 50% of every budget line and 2) we would finance different activities. For more information, please refer to the presentation Contract forms and finances.

Livestock can be put under equipment. Please state clearly which equipment.

The grant will be paid in instalments, you will not directly get the full amount.

It will be paid out in local currency.

Costs must be included in the budget in the concept note / proposal. Depending on the contract format it will either be paid by GIZ or all cost items (including those for trainings) will be split.

No, the subsidy is to support business links between the players in the value chains indicated. It is not a bank loan and hence does not need to be reimbursed.

Yes, if it is not for the core business of the enterprise but will be used for training or demonstration purposes. Please also read through 4) in Annex 3: Guidelines on costs eligible for reimbursement for more detailed information.

The Annex 4, Excel template "Working aid budget", allows you to convert the amounts in EURO by entering them in your currency.

Funds can generally be used for exchanges with experts and for trainers.
Projects on livestock are restricted to cattle, sheep and goat value chains. If beekeeping is part of a project, it must be related to one of the target value chains, e.g. improving pollination in maize value chain.  

Unfortunately not. It can be taken as security but not as contribution.

Yes, the concept note can be developed in Spanish or Portuguese. The Expert Committee will work in English and French, there are two options for Spanish and Portuguese speakers:

• Have your concept note professionally translated and note it in your budget. This will be reimbursed by GIZ if your concept note/project is selected

• Or develop the application in Spanish and Portuguese and then use internet translators for a translation to English (with specification that you did so)

• Or sent the application in Spanish and Portuguese. We will then translate it to English using internet translators

Yes, if the organization is involved in more than one of the targeted value chains.

The experience in the value chain does not matter, the experience of the company matters. However, the concept note of course has to target at least one of the eligible value chains.

Yes, because the contract will only be with the lead applicant according to the MOU.

Yes, you can apply for different value chains either in one of the countries or both countries. Please look at the possibility to build consortium if alone you don’t have capacity.

Yes, in the concept note template you will see all the indicators and the more you can fill them the better your chances to be preselected.

The evaluation criteria can be found in the guidelines and include the type of firm, the technical concept and budget that you hand in. Don’t be afraid if budget not yet perfect. Use the guidelines as main source of orientation.

Yes! The different sections of the concept note template are limited by default in the number of characters. Please download the concept note-form from the websites and you will be guided.

No, it is not mandatory to have past working experience with GIZ to be eligible.

Financial institution are not eligible to apply for fund in this call.

Training structures/institutions can join forces with cooperatives or private companies to form a consortium and apply for the fund.

They can also be service providers, e.g. Master Trainers and Trainers tend to fall into the service provider category.

Farmers organization in the target value chains can take the lead for application and be supported by a company in a consortium. The company as consortium partner should contribute in cash and/or kind.  

There is no restriction, however applicants should be able to provide at least records of 2 years tax payments or if it’s a startup with tax exemption. The latter must be proven.
As a start-up or a very small institution, you can show us a sound financial system, but before that you need to inform us. You can also form a consortium with a bigger company.

We strongly encourage applications from applicants who apply in a consortium and will only in exceptional cases consider single applicant applications

It is possible since the livestock is part of the eligible value chains.  

In general, this is possible.  
However, please be aware that Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon are not eligible for cocoa since there is the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative in place.

If your Community Based Organization (CBO) is a registered Farmers’ organization you can apply in partnership with other public or private organizations to build a consortium.

Lead applicants can be: a processing company, an agricultural producers' organization, or a national or international distributor. If you fall into one of these categories, you can apply directly.

But if you are a business development support structure, you can be a consortium partner with one of the lead entities submitting the concept note.

An NGO can be part of a consortium with one lead applicant (possible lead applicants: processing company, producer organization or off-taker of the VC project).

It is an umbrella of many value chain associations at regional or continental level.

Yes, it's possible to apply for both if you have capacity.

However, the lead entity must be a private sector entity: These are legally registered private sector entities such as
• Processing companies
• Agricultural producer organisations
• Off-takers of the main final product of the value chain and/or its by-products.

Yes, you need to enter into consortium with a private sector entity - and you as public sector organisation may come in as consortium partner. Please see again in the guideline on the eligibility and requirements towards consortium partners.

Yes, please read more in the guideline on the eligibility and requirements for consortium partner.

Yes, this is possible. We also advise to bring on board national enterprises.

Consortium means there is one lead applicant. A website is optional, for the assessing person to see what you are doing. However, email is a must. Also, the legal registration is important; a clear document that you are legally registered in your country. Otherwise, we won’t be able to work with you.

Yes, this is possible.

Yes, but it of course depends on the capacity of the organization. The best is to focus.

No, it is not possible. The consortium shall include one of the lead applicant (Processing company, Agricultural producer organization, Farmers organization), Off-takers of the main final product of the value chain and/or its by-products.

Yes, the consortium can be made up solely of SMEs if it is an SME organization with a consistent annual turnover of at least twice the amount of the MGF contract requested.

A sensible amount - we usually expect 2-3 partners.

They can contribute with personnel, expertise etc. Moreover, please be aware that the contribution can be in kind not only in cash.

As South Africa is no longer an OACPS member state, the research center can only be part of the consortium if the beneficiaries of the project are based in an OACPS member state.

In this case you can apply for the money amount:

Minimum: 40,000 EUR  

Maximum: 100,000 EUR

The local GIZ cannot participate as a partner in the consortia. ABF would need to collaborate with projects in the green sector to monitor project implementation.

If you are registered at the consortium level, then you don’t have to find a new consortium member.

Please, think about what you want to do and with whom you want to do it, e.g. farmer groups, cooperatives. Then best contact some in your country or region and form a consortium.

A processing facility can be accounted for in terms of depreciation rates for the 18 months, however please keep in mind that each budget line will be divided by shares between the consortium and GIZ. Within the consortium share, the consortium can decide who finances which budget line but lead applicant has to account for it. Generally, equipment should not be higher than 30% of the contract value or 50,000 EUR.

Master trainers will play a major role. ABF has a large network of master trainers who will be able to offer their services for training courses within the framework of a project.

Large-scale implementation is possible for both self-paced online training and face-to-face training.

The e-learning is free of charge and can also be implemented with an offline solution (which comes at low costs). Our FBS and PBS face-to-face trainings are suitable for large-scale implementation, which is more cost-effective.  For face-to-face training, master trainers train trainers who, in turn, train farmers. Materials are relatively inexpensive. For example, for implementation at less than 5,000 farmers, FBS costs around $18-20 per farmer trained. See also our fact sheets in the download section.

You can also consider a blended learning approach.

We are continously translating selected e-learning courses in Portuguese. For example, our Business Model Canvas course is already available in Portuguese.

On the atingi training platform, our Agribusiness e-Academy training materials are accessible to all and can be consulted freely if an internet connection is established. Use of the online offer is not restricted to participants in the MGF call for concept notes. For offline use in the field, an atingi-box can also be used.

Yes.
For offline use in the field, you can also integrate the “atingi-box” into your concept note.

Yes. Technical and entrepreneurship trainings (face-to-face and online) will be provided during the proposal implementation if you are finally selected to receive the MGF and have incorporated it before in your concept note. Costs must be included in the budget of your concept note. Master Trainers will support you in the training implementation as service providers.

It is highly encouraged to combine technical and business trainings as this is more effective in terms of value chain development.

It depends on the training approach. GmBS+ is rather generic with no specific adaptations, while curricula of FBS, PBS and CBS are adapted to the context. The ABF-team will support you on the customization of materials.
E-learning courses can be taken up by partners – they can be altered as long as the basic info remains the same and as long as they are not promoted / offered as paid product.

A standard smartphone, tablet or desktop computer is needed. And a certain digital literacy level is definitely needed. Our 3D animated courses are more visually based but those require reading skills as well, e.g., for the quiz elements.

Applicants can also include their technical and entrepreneurial human capacity development trainings in the concept notes.

ABF offers both various face-to-face training offers and online learning offers through various self-tutored and self-paced web-based trainings through the Agribusiness e-Academy

No! The participants are not required to make any payment. You would have to include the total cost of the whole implementation including training in the budget.

These trainings can be adapted per your context and value chains.

Most of our courses on the Atingi platform are self-tutored and more of a direct learner approach. Of course, courses are also available for trainers rather as a knowledge refresher who multiply knowledge further.

Training of trainers (ToT) are currently held fully in person, especially due to a strong focus on didactics which are difficult to disseminate in online courses.

You can take inspiration from the different approaches and activities presented during the capacity-building presentation and include them in your contexts for women, young people and others.

It's also important to note that you need to clearly define the target group and the challenges it faces in the Value Chain, as well as the activities to be implemented for the project to run smoothly.

Yes, if your project is selected with a contract, it is possible to consider support actions, particularly on gender issues.

It is also possible, if there are beneficiaries in the cashew value chain or agribusiness training courses that take gender issues into account.

A contribution on the theme of Do no harm.

We've been involved in situations where women have separated from their spouses after being empowered. Good practice in this case is that the husband must be involved in the empowerment project otherwise there may be disfunction in the household. Another example is that a partner came to work with the women on a project, but when he wanted to plant the crops, the men didn't give plots because they weren't included or involved in the project. This created a conflict between men and women in the community.