Mercy Corps Innovation Funding Opportunity 2022

The Mercy Corps Nigeria team is a group of passionate and driven individuals working closely with communities, local organisations and governments to find sustainable solutions that make a difference. With a strong and growing team of over 350 staff, of which 92% are nationals, Mercy Corps Nigeria is currently serving over 600,000 beneficiaries across 12 states in Nigeria. Our programs include girls’ education and financial inclusion, community peacebuilding, market-based livelihoods and a multi-sector humanitarian response.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Innovation Funding Opportunity

Locations: Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Yobe

Job Description

• Through this Funding Opportunity, the USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity (RRA or the "Activity") aims to identify potential partners and innovative approaches that leverage USAID resources to develop practical and market-driven solutions to implement innovative business models targeting smallholder farmers, youth, women, and micro-enterprises who have been affected by the protracted conflicts in North Eastern Nigeria.
• RRA is a Feed the Future initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Save the Children International (SCI) and International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC). The goal of the Rural Resilience Activity is to 'facilitate and protect economic recovery and growth in vulnerable, conflict-affected areas and sustainably move people out of chronic vulnerability and poverty via expanded opportunities'. This goal will be achieved through the following four major components. The Activity seeks to increase incomes, improve the livelihood and resilience of households through market-led growth in 4 States in North-Eastern Nigeria (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Gombe state).

The Rural Resilience Activity is seeking applicants who can propose activities that can ultimately benefit crop farming, Livestock production (Feed, trade, Veterinary) food processing, smallholder farmers, and microenterprises in at least one of the following objective areas:

• Creating access to premium-priced output markets by promoting new supply-chain structures (like contract farming and out-grower schemes, Livestock trade and feed processing ), new and structured relationships between off-takers/processors and farmers. Models that increase access to post-harvest storage, warehousing, and processing services to reduce wastages and increase farmers’ productivity.
• Innovating business models to drive and encourage agricultural market competitiveness through innovative and improved access to agricultural inputs (Fertilizer and Seeds), market transparency, sustained productivity by improving farmer knowledge on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP).

The Activity seeks to offer, subject to the availability of funds, 8 grants to eligible companies, as defined in Section D, up to a maximum amount ofUS $400,000 peraward. Amounts above this value may be approved if one applicant works in more than one state where the Activity is currently implementing. The expected duration of RRA support or the period of performance is twelve (12) months. Mercy Corps, as the primary implementer of the Feed the Future/Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted.

For this program, this funding opportunity is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the following:

• Section A - Statement of Objective
• Section B - Requirements
• Section C - Selection Process
• Section D - Evaluation Criteria

Award will be made to the responsible applicant(s) whose application(s) offers the best value for money.

Application Closing Date
17th February, 2022.