REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO FACILITATE TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILLS TRAINING IN AGRICULTURE COMMERCIALIZATION, FINANCIAL LI…

Request For Application (RFA)

Call for Applications to facilitate technical and soft Skills training in agriculture commercialization, financial literacy, and market access for young graduates/students to acquire necessary skills to be an entrepreneur.

The Feed the Future Rwanda Hanga Akazi (HA) Activity is a 5-year USAID-Funded Activity designed to facilitate growth leading to inclusive job creation and entrepreneurship in Rwanda’s agri-food system. Using a market systems approach, the Activity aims to collaborate with private and public sector to support access to productive resources for enterprises and entrepreneurs in the agri-food system that are poised to grow and hire. The Activity will also work on influencing the demand for labor by expanding job opportunities, creating new sectors, and driving economic growth through empowering market actors including farmers, traders, processors, and service providers with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a competitive market environment. The Activity will support increased entrepreneurship in the agri-food system, helping to identify areas of opportunities for entrepreneurs and connecting them with the supporting services such as business development, access to finance, and market linkages they need to succeed.

Agricultural commercialization and financial literacy are critical components in enhancing the efficiency and profitability of agricultural value chains. This training initiative is specifically designed to empower young graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in agricultural commercialization, financial management, and market linkages. By focusing on this key group, the program aims to equip them with the tools necessary to thrive in the agricultural sector, which often faces challenges like limited business skills, poor financial management, and lack of market access. The training will enhance their business acumen, improve financial literacy, and strengthen their ability to connect with markets. Key objectives include improving commercialization skills, fostering better financial decision-making, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and providing continuous support through coaching, mentorship, and ongoing evaluation. Through this initiative, young graduates will gain the practical skills needed to drive innovation, improve profitability, and contribute to the growth of a sustainable agricultural value.

The Activity seeks to collaborate with existing competitive incubation centers, training providers, and other educational institutions involved in Rwanda's agri-food system to build technical and employability skills in agriculture commercialization, financial literacy, and market access for young graduates/students to acquire necessary skills to become prominent entrepreneurs. The Activity has no geographic restriction, the applicant may propose district of intervention according to its modes of operation.

Final funding levels will depend on quality of applications received, number of fundable applications received, market needs, availability of funding, suitability of the application in line with Hanga Akazi’s scope of work and competing priorities. Grants will be awarded competitively in amounts commensurate with their impact but shall not exceed the maximum amount of RWF 75,000,000.

Title

Feed the Future Rwanda Hanga Akazi Call for Partners

RFA No

RFA-HA-2025-011

To download the RFA Application form

RFA Application Forms are posted in: www.rti.org/rfp

RFA Application Forms can also be requested at CGF-Grants@Hanga-Akazi.org

Any questions please email

CGF-Grants@Hanga-Akazi.org

Submit RFA Package to

CGF-Grants@Hanga-Akazi.org

Date of Issue

January 15, 2025

Deadline to Submit Questions

January 22, 2025

Response to Questions published

Responses to questions will be published at www.rti.org/rfp on the dates indicated below and also sent via email.

January 27,2025

Date of Application Closing

February 03,2025

Activity background

Rwanda’s agricultural sector plays a vital role in the economy but continues to face several challenges that constrain its growth and impact. Limited business skills, inadequate financial literacy, and weak market linkages among farmers, traders, and other market actors undermine the efficiency and profitability of agricultural value chains. These challenges not only restrict the sector's contribution to the national economy but also limit opportunities for job creation and innovation in agriculture.

This Request for Application/ the selected candidate will provide a contribution to find solutions to address these critical gaps by empowering young graduates and other market actors with entrepreneurial ambitions. Through advanced training programs in agricultural commercialization, financial literacy, and market access, participants will gain practical skills to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. The training will address core barriers such as poor financial management and lack of market connections while equipping participants with the tools needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving agricultural sector.

In addition to skill-building, the proposed intervention has to focus on fostering sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening economic opportunities. Proposed interventions should include enhancing commercialization skills, improving financial decision-making, and creating pathways for continuous growth through coaching, mentorship, and ongoing evaluation.

Through this initiative, young graduates will gain the practical skills needed to drive innovation, improve profitability, and contribute to the growth of a sustainable agricultural value

Key activities to be undertaken

Under this RFA, Hanga Akazi seeks to channel resources to training/ service providers or incubation centers to deliver Advanced training program in agriculture commercialization, fi…