Expression of Interest for Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises Jobs in LusakaCentral and Eastern Province Zambia Agova Jobs in LusakaCentral and Eastern Province Zambia View and Apply Expression of Interest for Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises Jobs in LusakaCentral and Eastern Province at Agova


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USAID Zambia Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced (EDGE) Project

PILOT Expression of Interest for Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises

The five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Funded Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced (EDGE) Activity is looking
for motivated entrepreneurs & small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to partner with
for a duration of 1-2 years. Are you an innovator, mover and shaker, risk
take, creative spirits, business-savvy dreamer, go-getter, game changer,
enabler, leader and transformer If so, join us on a journey to enhance
Zambia’s Agricultural systems and value chains, market systems development and
enterprise growth!
This USAID EDGE Activity Expression of Interest (EOI) is a PILOT EFFORT aimed
at generating potential partners who are seeking to expand, improve, grow
and/or diversify their businesses, products and services with the goal of
generating sustainable livelihoods and more jobs, and increased profits and
revenues. This must be demonstrated via viable business plans/cases, and self-
driven interest to enhance their competitiveness, using a “hand up” vs “hand
out” approach to partnership. Partnership will also provide opportunities to
participate in follow-up, complementary activities/events led by partner
organizations

EDGE partners must be genuinely inclusive in their make-up, philosophy and
governance, exercise full transparency and accountability, embrace climate
smart principles and approaches, have strong potential to create sustainable
employment opportunities for all, especially women and youth. They must also
be able to clearly articulate the systems change that they intend to effect,
based on reliable data/evidence.

PROJECT BACKGROUND, DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

The USAID Zambia Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced (EDGE) Activity is
a five-year activity aimed at increasing the profitability for agricultural
small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by addressing their key investment
constraints on access to finance, limited business management skills and
technology, and access to markets, thereby increasing SMEs’ productivity and
ability to create new jobs. The EDGE Activity is implemented by ACDI/VOCA and
its partners Agova, Open Capital Advisor and Dimagi.
Over the next five years, EDGE will boost SMEs’ competitiveness by addressing
key constraints that they face. The Activity will use a facilitative approach
and work closely with, and through, local partners to drive lasting systemic
changes that create sustainable impact at scale. EDGE will also apply its
inclusive market systems approach, which addresses the root causes, rather
than the symptoms, of a poorly performing market.

ALIGNMENT WITH USAID’S JOURNEY TO SELF-RELIANCE POLICY

USAID’s EDGE Activity is built on investments to date designed to ease
constraints for agricultural SMEs to access financial services and build
competitiveness for SMEs’ products. To champion Zambia’s Journey to Self-
Reliance Policy, EDGE will use a facilitation approach, working through
partnerships to achieve EDGE’s goal of creating jobs and increasing the
profitability of agricultural SMEs.

The EDGE facilitation approach moves away from providing direct project
assistance and input subsidies, working instead with the private sector,
market actors, government institutions, communities, Feed the Future (FTF)
partners, and others to drive lasting systemic changes that create sustainable
impact at scale. The approach emphasizes stimulating systemic change,
identifies effective incentives to prompt behaviour change and self-selection,
commits to adaptive management principles and integrates learning throughout
the Life of Activity (LOA).

EDGE’s PRIORITIZED VALUE CHAINS AND SME TARGETS

Over its life of project, EDGE is expected to support 450 agricultural SMEs
across six (6) different value chains namely Poultry, Aquaculture,
Groundnuts, Honey, Horticulture (annual vegetables and fruits) and Animal feed
(sunflower, soybeans, maize, etc.) in the Lusaka, Central and Eastern
Provinces of Zambia, which will become the main vehicle to promote economic
growth in the agriculture sector.

By the end of the Activity, EDGE is expected to have a) increased the number
of full-time equivalent jobs across targeted SMEs at, (incl. specific
youth/women targets); b) increased SME revenue by 40% from the baseline.; c)
increased SME profit by 30% from baseline; d) facilitated financing for SMEs,
with 80% of SMEs independently accessing financing; and e) Ensured that 20% of
SMEs supported are women-owned. SMEs we partner with must have business
ambitions that will assist EDGE in meeting these targets.

WHAT SELECTED SME PARTNERS STAND TO GAIN

SME applications will undergo a review/assessment process using a tailored
Score Card mechanism to determine SME rankings under various Tiers (B &C, as
per the table below), with selected SMEs being absorbed into the EDGE
Activity, where they will receive tailored capacity development, increased
connectivity to market actors (input suppliers, intermediary services, etc.)
and networking support, as well as linkage opportunities to financial Service
providers.

The EDGE Project will deliver this capacity development package to SMEs in two
main ways

Training Group trainings to increase the SMEs knowledge and skills in
business management and in planning for growth, and to leverage connections
with other SMEs in the same value chains and in related business activities.
Coaching One-on-one coaching to SMEs to provide them with more intensive,
personalized guidance and skill building support, tailored to their specific
needs. By learning from those with expertise and experience, the aim is for
SMEs to build their skills, confidence and build their own professional and
social networks.
The capacity building package to SMEs will include support, to be provided
based on SME and market system needs, constraints and leverage points, and
according to verifying frequencies, depths and schedules, in the following,
but not limited, thematic areas. Business and financial management, sales and
marketing, traceability, codes/regulations, standards, end market
requirements, productive capacity, customer service and HR, business
governance, planning for investment and financing, evidence-based decision
making, contracts and negotiation, human resource management, leadership
skills, and other soft skills.

BENEFITS OF EDGE SME PARTNERS

> Capacity building support, monitoring and follow-up provided over 12 months (as a start);
> Opportunities to participate in future USAID EDGE business development networking and training events;
> Tailored meetings and mentorship with investors, FSPs, potential partners and entrepreneurial and thematic/sector-specific experts;
> Guidance on how to formalize and scale businesses with appropriate markets;
> Connectivity to various funds, financial products, etc. that could potentially support de-risk business and accelerate growth. *It must be emphasized that EDGE will play a facilitative role in linking financial institutions and financial service providers to Agri-SMEs requiring financial services and financing. Financial institutions will conduct their due diligence processes and ultimately use their own decision to determine whether the SME is eligible/qualify to receive financing.

EXPECTATIONS OF PARTNERING SMES

1) Attend business capacity building and technical advisory training sessions
to be provided by the EDGE project (with expectations of cost coverage by
SMEs) and leveraged from local experts.
2) Apply the learnings received from the capacity building package. This could
include but is not limited to Assessing their business needs and identify
challenges that could be addressed through the EDGE capacity building support
package; Keeping records of and track of business performance, sales, revenue
and profit figures and other information as required by the EDGE project;
Applying proposed business strategies by EDGE project to improve business
operations; Identifying other SMEs in the value chain that you could partner
with, to take advantage of economies of scale in supply contracts and other
schemes that may require combined efforts for their successful delivery.
3) Contribute to the improvement of input-output network relationships with
other SMEs in relevant value chains by participating in or establishing a)
out-grower schemes, b) sales on consignments agreements, c) production and
harvesting planning, d) transport services engagements and agreements and/or
e) joint contract agreements cross credit guarantees.
5) Identify relevant financing/investment opportunities for business
development and growth.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) APPLICATION PROCESS

The expressions of interest will be evaluated using EDGE’s Score Card
mechanism, along Tiers (these being B or C, as per the table below).
Applications will initially be screened to ensure applicants meet the
eligibility requirements described above and are relevant to the EDGE project
objectives. Following this initial screening, the EDGE team will review the
applications and evaluate them according the following, general, criteria

Feasibility and bankability The extent to which the business idea is viable,
creative, innovative in expanding livestock related market opportunities and
can attract financing. Innovation and Sustainability The degree to which the
business activities and its impact will continue to be felt beyond the grant
period. Market system and socio-economic impacts The extent to which the
proposed investment will benefit the community and create crowding-in, pull
effects and/or spin-off opportunities. Cross-cutting issues/themes The extent
to which the proposed investment integrates female and youth empowerment
and/or (as per USAID Mission priorities for Zambia) nutrition and water
sanitation objectives.

PROFILE OF SMEs ELIGIBLE FOR EDGE

> Preference given woman or youth led/owned 15-29 (or having 80% of workers women and/or youth);
> Registered as a business or willing to register as a business in Zambia;
> Have business experience of a minimum of 1 year with concept of a viable business opportunity for Tier C business and a minimum of 2 years for Tier B with concept of a viable business opportunity;
> Have prototype of product/service or minimum viable prototype of product/service;
> Be an active and registered local entrepreneur/business operating in the following provinces Central, Lusaka and Eastern provinces of Zambia.
> Be knowledgeable about the agricultural sector and must be operating in at least one of the following value chains Aquaculture, poultry, groundnuts, honey, animal feed (soybeans, sunflower, and maize) and horticulture (annual vegetables and fruits).
> Demonstrate knowledge of business management, operation and strategic planning.
> Have some level of business proficiency in analyzing budgets and preparing financial reports.
> Dedicated to addressing key gaps in above mentioned value chains and enhance market systems;
> Willing to submit regular progress reports to the USAID FTF guidelines and the sharing of information, data on value and volume of sales, profits, revenue, and employment figures (including disaggregates of gender/youth), as well as supply chain networks.

SME Level

Characteristics of SMEs by Tiers

SME B Level

> Growth-oriented
> Limited collateral capacity
> Intermediate managerial skills
> Limited but sound supply channels
> Local or regional market focus and semi-specialized
> Loan need $50,001–$250,000

SME C Level

> Basic collateral capacity
> Limited managerial skills
> Focused on local markets
> Multiple functions within VCs
> Loan need Up to $50,000
> Not a start-up

Successful applicants will be contacted by the EDGE team and advised on the
next steps, which will include requests for documents and site visits at the
business location. Interested individuals or businesses wishing to apply to
this EDGE project call and be eligible to receive capacity building support
should apply by sending an application letter expressing their interest to
this call of the EDGE project, clearly explaining why their business
represents a good candidature for partnering, including business cases/plans
for growth, expansion, diversification, and demonstrate that they meet the
above profile.

Applications are open until JANUARY 17, 2021, at 1159 pm, and should be sent
via email to buckley@agovasv.com and clearly titled “EDGE SME APPLICATION”.
Follow this link to download the application
https//drive.google.com/file/d/1x5OM9yDuRdK74yI7RbCLMWulKH9kB6E5/viewusp=drivesdk

Applications will be accepted starting from the day of the release of this
EOI. Depending on the success of this pilot EOI, additional announcements may
be reinitiated automatically, or annually for subsequent years 2 and 3 of the
USAID EDGE Activity. This EIO is approved by EDGE Chief of Party, Jean-
Frederic (JF) Beauchesne.

To apply please visit [ drive.google.com
](https//drive.google.com/file/d/1x5OM9yDuRdK74yI7RbCLMWulKH9kB6E5/viewusp=drivesdk)
.

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Expression of Interest for Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises Jobs in LusakaCentral and Eastern Province Zambia Agova Jobs in LusakaCentral and Eastern Province Zambia View and Apply Expression of Interest for Agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises Jobs in LusakaCentral and Eastern Province at Agova


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