| Overview : UNDP Uganda is implementing Phase Two of the Organization of African Caribbean Pacific Group of States (OACPs) – European Union (EU) Development Minerals Programme under in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is capacity building program that aims to build the profile, and improve the management, of Development Minerals. The program is financed by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and implemented by UNDP. The focus of this second phase of the programme is to support private sector-led efforts to transform the Development Minerals sector. The programme, currently under a second phase of implementation, aims to enable Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Enterprises (ASMEs) in the Development Minerals sector to achieve better livelihoods through higher employment and incomes from their mining operations. The programme will ensure these objectives are met by: i) Formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining; ii) Increasing incomes of ASMEs and enhancing business development (entrepreneurial skills, access to finance, technology, markets, and market information); iii) Strengthening environmental and social safeguards in and around mining operations; iv) Supporting women-owned and -run ASMEs along the value-chain and v) Facilitating Inter-OACP knowledge exchanges. One strategy to achieving these objectives is through implementation and scale-up of inclusive business models in the Development Minerals sector in Uganda. Whereas the sector is dominated by small and medium-scale enterprises, there is limited value chain optimization which in turn makes the earnings accruing to the enterprises dismal thus affecting real livelihood outcomes for the miners and their communities. Furthermore, within the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for SMEs, there is urgent need to bolster Development Minerals sector SME-resilience to the same through increasing access to financing, digitization, gender inclusivity and value addition. One way to achieve this is - in partnership with select sector SMEs - through co-financing of initiatives that expand benefits of business activity to the communities as well as strengthening livelihood security in the Development Minerals sector in Uganda through the mechanism of the innovation challenge facility. The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme in Uganda is therefore supporting SMEs in the Development Mineral value chains to scale-up business practices that benefit the poor and low-income people as consumers and entrepreneurs, help manage the shocks of COVID-19, as well as expand opportunities along their respective supply and value chains for SMEs and their communities. This programme contributes to UNDP’s Private Sector Strategy that supports inclusive growth and development and contributes to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through promoting innovation and inclusive market development (IMD) approaches. Four components will be financed through this Innovation Challenge: - Component One: Grants to selected SMEs in the development minerals value chains to pilot and/or scale up inclusive business models that increase women's participation in development minerals value chains
- Component Two: Grants to a selected financial institution to develop and pilot appropriate financial products for SMEs in the Development Minerals value chains
- Component Three: Grants to pilot the development of digitals solution to enhance access to markets and market information; and access to appropriate technologies in the Development Minerals value chains
Component Four: Grants to selected SMEs in the development minerals value chains to pilot and/or scale-up inclusive business models for product development and value addition that benefit the poor and low-income people. Clarification of Proposal Innovators may request a clarification of any of the Call documents no later than a week before the proposal submission date. Contact Details for submitting clarifications/questions: Focal Person in UNDP: Hope Kyarisiima Attention: Hope Kyarisiima E-mail address dedicated for this purpose: proposals.kampala@undp.org E-mail Subject: Development Minerals – Innovation Challenge Submission and Opening of Proposals Proposals must be submitted with all relevant attachments to the email address proposals.kampala@undp.org The subject line must be clearly marked as “Innovation Challenge Scaling-up Inclusive Business Models Proposal” and MUST also bear the name of the Innovator. Please note that the maximum file size attachable is 30M Deadline for Submission of Proposals and Late Proposals Proposals must be received by UNDP at the email address specified no later than 23:59 hours, Friday August 20,2021. | 
