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Overview

A Call for Applications

Deadline: Friday 25th October 2024

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, is launching a five-year initiative called Empowering Women-led SMEs (EWASME). This Project, funded by the World Bank's Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), aims to support and Promote women-owned and women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Very Small Enterprises (VSEs) engaged in the post-production rice value chain. The initiative focuses on four countries: Guinea, Niger, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

EWASME seeks to eliminate obstacles and provide extensive support to women entrepreneurs in these regions. It prioritizes improving the processing and distribution capacities of appropriate and deserving businesses by offering them targeted capacity-building programs and matching grants.  Furthermore, the project will establish connections between enterprises and private sector buyers and explore options for providing loan collateral.

This call specifically targets women-owned and women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises (VSEs) involved in the post-production segment of the rice value chain within the agriculture sector in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone. Women-owned or led farmer-based organizations, cooperatives, SMEs, and VSEs operating in this area are invited to participate and take advantage of this transformative initiative.

How to apply:

Applications from prospective women-owned or led farmer-based organizations, cooperatives, SMEs and VSEs in the Post Production Rice Value Chain in Tonkolili should be filled and submitted online on:  https://forms.office.com/e/ieh4yG7aCd?origin=lprLink;

Alternatively, application forms duly completed and put in a sealed envelope may also be submitted physically at the District Agriculture office in Tonkolili District in Sierra Leone. 

If one is submitting physically, please get a copy of the application form from the District Agriculture office in Tonkolili District. 

Submission Deadline: The deadline for applications is 23:45 pm on Friday 25th October 2024.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. A team from UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture will visit Tonkolili to provide training for interested women groups on how to complete the application form. The dates for these visits will be announced later through local radio stations and other traditional means of communication in the project area. Additionally, jingles will be produced and aired on specific radio stations to enhance applicants' understanding of the application process, ensuring equal participation and inclusion.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

UNDP implements a policy of zero tolerance on proscribed practices, including fraud, corruption, collusion, unethical practices, and obstruction. UNDP is committed to preventing, identifying and addressing all acts of fraud and corrupt practices against UNDP as well as third parties involved in UNDP activities.        (See http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Transparency/UNDP_Anti_Fraud_Policy

                      _English_FINAL_june_2011.pdf                                                    and

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/procurement/protestandsanctions/ for a full description of the policies).  

In response to this Call for Applications, UNDP requires all Applicants to conduct themselves in a professional, objective, and impartial manner, and they must at all times hold UNDP’s interest’s paramount. Applicants must strictly avoid conflicts with other assignments or their interests, and act without consideration for future work. 

All Applicants found to have a conflict of interest shall be disqualified. Without limitation on the generality of the above, applicants, and any of their affiliates, shall be considered to have a conflict of interest with one or more parties in this solicitation process, if they: 

a) Are or have been associated in the past, with a firm or any of its affiliates which have been engaged UNDP to provide services for the preparation of the design, Terms of Reference, and other documents to be used in this competitive selection process;

b) Were involved in the preparation and/or design of the Programme/project related to the services requested under this Call for Applications; or c) Are found to be in conflict for any other reason, as may be established by, or at the discretion of, UNDP. In the event of any uncertainty in the interpretation of what is potentially a conflict of interest, applicants must disclose the condition to UNDP and seek UNDP’s confirmation on whether such conflict exists.

d) Are members or affiliated with a member of the selection committee. 

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing via messaging functionality in the portal or to vendors.sle@undp.org . UNDP will respond in writing including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry.