Heifer International

Request for Proposal

No. HPI/2022/01/10/01-Commercial Program Partner

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Reducing Living Income Gap among Sunflower Smallholder Farmers by Improving Their Visibility through MasterCard Powered Community Pass

Heifer Project International (HPI) is an International Non-Governmental Organization working with smallholder farming communities to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Heifer believes that it significantly contributes to feeding the world and securing sustainable livelihoods by enhancing the capacity of vulnerable and smallholder farmers. This is accompanied by sound approaches [Value Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) and market systems] and innovative solutions that drive transformative processes towards sustainable reduction of the living income gap among smallholder farming households.

Sunflower is one of the key value chains that not only has potential to redeem smallholder farmers from poverty but contributing to reduce the gap of edible oil in Tanzania. To accelerate sunflower production and productivity in the country, smallholder farmers are proposed to be endowed with (but not limited to) Improved access to last-mile extension services; technologies and innovative solutions; finance and access to reliable off-taker markets. To address this challenge, Heifer International and MasterCard Inc. are partnering to utilize an Innovative digital solution that unlocks services for underserved smallholder farmers by establishing farmer visibility through a symbiotic business ecosystem (innovative and inclusive digital platform) called Community Pass.

Heifer International (Tanzania) is determined to support smallholder farmers through digital Innovation (targeting MasterCard’s Community Pass) to create sustainable agriculture ecosystem that benefits farmers. Heifer is seeking a fin-tech/ag-tech company as a Commercial Program Partner vested with experience in digital technologies and/or Innovative financing for 6 months. Realization of the project goal is envisioned in the application of Community Pass to improve farmer access to last-mile extension services; technologies and Innovative solutions; finance and access to the reliable off-taker markets. The project will cover the largest sunflower producing regions in the Central and Lake Zones. The key outcome of the project will be as shown below:-

• 50,000 sunflower smallholder farmers (SHFs) are digitally visible using Community Pass and reduced living income gap through Improved farm yield as result of Improved farmer access to last-mile extension services: Inputs, technology, and innovative solutions; finance and to reliable off-taker markets. Of all SHFs, 40% are women and 20% are youth (15-35 years old)]
• At least 75% of SHFs have better access to improved last-mile extension delivery to through Village Extension Agents, trainings, establishment of demo farms, etc.
• 250 digitized Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) are established to ensure all farmers have better access of services, Information, inputs, and finance through linkages to Agri-Buyers, Agro-Dealers, Financing Institutions, and key service providers connected using Community Pass ecosystem.
• At least 75% of the SHFs have and are using Farm Pass cards (powered by MasterCard) to access services. Information and do transactions
• 250 Farm Field Schools (FFS) and 500 demo farms (each with at least 2 acres) are established and used as extension platforms to improve farm yields and as youth entry points in farming.
• At least 500 jobs as Village Extension Agents, Mobile Merchants, agro-dealers, distributors, Aggregators, etc. created and sustained. 60% and 20% jobs are for youth (boys and girls aged between 15 and 35 years) and women (above than 35 years) respectively.

All FPO and FFS platforms to have gender and youth integration policies.

Heifer International Tanzania invites qualified firms to apply by submitting a comprehensive proposal with both technical and financial sections. The submission should precisely explain how the applicant business model fits and anchors Community Pass powered by MasterCard. The submission should explicitly demonstrate how the model will be commercialized, and how SHFS will sustainably increase Income margins, Implementation approach (methodology) and strategy, detailed project plan and budget. The bidder should submit this proposal by 20 January 2023 at 05:00pm through procurement-tz@heifer.org All Inquiries in response to the RFP must be submitted in writing and electronic mail to: procurement-tz@heifer.org and must be received by 20th January 2023.