Open Call for Proposals – Agroecological Enterprises (Akkar)

Born in the highlands of Akkar and Hermel in 1999, Mada is a local NGO that works through a Territorial Approach, constantly adapting to meet local needs. Mada acts as a local agency, exploring new approaches and sectors of development in the deteriorating socio-economic context, with the main pillars being: Food and Agriculture; Environmental Protection, and Women and Youth Mobilization. Under the project 'Wielding Agroecology to Transition Agriculture for Development (WATAD)’ – under the Shabake II project supported by the Agence Française de Développement  (AFD) and the Centre de Crise et De Soutien and implemented by the French Public Agency for International Technical Cooperation - Expertise France, Mada is building the individual and collective capacities of smallholder farmers in Akkar to transition to agroecology, and fostering the enabling environment for agroecology to prosper.

Objective of this Call: Mada is looking to award agroecological start-ups/enterprises with grants up to 7,000 Euros each to support the shift to agroecology by promoting changes at the pre- and post-production levels by emerging enterprises.

Eligible Entities:

• Already registered and/or willing to register enterprise
• Established/run by 1 or more young persons (under 35 years of age).
• Activities include Akkar as a target area.

Eligible Activities:

• Production of sustainable inputs (biological pesticides, compost, mulch, seeds, seedlings, etc.)
• Sustainable processing of agroecological products
• Food-system transformation - including food technology, agriculture and food production/processing/marketing/logistics, nutrition, food safety, food loss/waste, etc.

Non-Eligible Activities: production of fresh product (vegetables, fruits, eggs, etc.), as the call aims to target the production cycle upstream and downstream of the farmer: at the input, processing, and food-system transformation levels.

Eligible Expenses:

• Equipment, tools, raw material
• Operational costs (as long as properly justified): generator fees, internet, rent, fuel, etc.
• Minor repairs and rehabilitations
• Salaries (as long as properly justified) of existing or new personnel
• Consultancy fees for specific missions (e.g., lawyer, accountant, etc.).
• Registration fees

Non-Eligible Expenses:

• Informal labor
• Informal services (e.g., non-registered rental agreements, etc.)
• Stock (although raw material can be purchases for specific activities, complete re-stock is not eligible).

Selection: a maximum of 5 enterprises/start-ups will be selected based on numerous criteria including: potential to generate jobs; willingness to employ refugees; pertinence to the needs of producers and consumers; basic business plan available; basic market assessment conducted; willingness to work directly with farmers. Priority will be given to women-led start-ups, defined as including at majority of women founding members. Following the review of the Application Form, Mada will visit shortlisted applicants for further assessment.