Call for Applications: GAIN Micro Grant for Empowerment 2022(N2M Agribusiness Funding)

Call for Applications: GAIN Micro Grant for Empowerment 2022(Get N2M Agribusiness Funding) The Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples project is currently being implemented by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in collaboration with GIZ and the Green Innovation Center for Agriculture and Food Sector in Nigeria (GIC), with support from the German government through the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and development (BMZ).

The Strengthening Nutrition project will strengthen GIC priority value chains and improve food safety and security through improved nutrition for farmers, ranchers, other business workers in these value chains and the wider population of Nigeria.

The business support component will empower women and youth and unleash the creativity and energy of youth and women to support their families, succeed in agribusiness and strive to address malnutrition and prevent food-borne diseases and food and social insecurity.

This work stream will increase the participation of women and youth in value-added agriculture and entrepreneurship, directly addressing the specific challenges faced by rural women and youth in the four focus areas of this project. It will respond to opportunities to exploit the politician
will invest at local, state and national levels in Nigeria in creating economic opportunities for women and youth in the production, processing and sale of nutritious and safe food.

This will be achieved by significantly increasing the knowledge and information available to women and youth about nutrition and food security, increasing their participation in decision-making and targeting business support and investment to drive innovation, increase livelihood opportunities and create nutrition sensitivity. in GIC value chains.

This will be done using three interrelated approaches:

• 1. Improving the nutritional quality of staple foods produced by SMEs and participating farmersin GIC activities.
• 2. Improving the ability of food safety and value chain actors to comply with standardsand best practice provisions.
• 3. Supporting technical innovations for supply chains through innovation challenges and innovation clinics

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants are only eligible to participate in the Competition if they meet the following criteria:

• Are 18 years of age or over by October 2022; and
• Reside in Nigeria
• Must be operating a business functioning in one of the value chains; Rice, Cassava, Maize and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato.
• Businesses must be registered with CAC for a minimum of two years.
• Must be operating a business functioning in one of the project states; Kaduna, Nassarawa, Benue and Oyo states.

For Individual Applicants:

• Must have attended a minimum of one training workshop under the Business Support component of the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples Project.
• Must be operating a business functioning in one of the value chains; Rice, Cassava, Maize and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato.
• Must be operating a business functioning in one of the project states; Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue and Oyo states.
• Businesses must be registered with CAC for a minimum of two years.
• Must have no fewer than two women as employees

For Group Application {Association and Cooperative Society}

• Must be registered with Corporate Affairs Commission for no less than three years.
• Must have valid a group charter
• Member(s) must have attended a minimum of one training workshop under the Business Support component of the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples Project.
• Member(s) must be operating a business functioning in one of the value chains; Rice, Cassava, Maize and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato. This should be seen in the mandate of the group.
• Member(s) must be operating a business functioning in one of the project states; Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue and Oyo states. This should be seen in the mandate of the group.
• Must have a minimum of 30% female and 30% youth on the executive council. Must be willing to provide the documents showing data of registered members that highlight the sex and age of members and executives.
• Applicants are responsible for any and all costs that they may incur while participating in this Competition, including but not limited to travel.

Benefit

Shortlisted applicants (up to a maximum of 40) stand a chance to win financial support for their business, either in a form of money prize never exceeding N2,000,000 per person or business. The form of the prize, the exact amount, and the payment mechanisms will be referenced in a written document signed by GAIN and shared with the respective price winners.

Application Deadline – November 30, 2022