Roots of Peace (ROP) implements the 36-month, UNDP-funded Community-Based Agricultural Rural Development – Access to International Markets (CBARD-AIM) Project.

CBARD projects support the production of fruits and vegetables as an alternative to poppy cultivation, and trade in three high cultivating provinces of Afghanistan.

CBARD-AIM aims to link the production areas of the CBARD-East and West Projects with cold chain facilities, and then connect these areas to domestic and international markets. The project assists farmers in the target provinces (Farah, Badghis and Nangahar) to sell their produce to traders, and then for those traders to export the produce to international markets. Exporting better quality products to international markets is expected to lead to higher incomes for CBARD farmers and promote licit trade.

The project has three main areas of focus: (1) International Markets for High-Value Crops Identified; (2) Cold Chain Infrastructure for Target High-Value Crops Improved; (3) Market Connection Established Between Farmers and Traders.

The CBARD-AIM grants program supports, with matching contributions from applicants, funding to support proven, private-sector investments in equipment and training, aimed at improving Afghanistan’s agricultural supply chains, marketing and exports to international markets. The grants program focuses primarily on cold chain infrastructure in agriculture

The purpose of this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) is to pre-qualify firms who have experience providing, or wish to provide, one or more of the above activities. Pre-qualified firms may then be invited to respond to a Request for Applications (RFA) once the EOI has been reviewed.

Grants should contribute to CBARD-AIM’s overall objectives of:

• Reducing opium poppy cultivation;
• Creating licit economic development for former poppy farmers and women in the community;
• Supporting more sustainable peace.

Grant Objectives

As well as meeting CBARD-AIM’s overall project objectives, grants should result in increases in business capacity/output, productivity, sales/exports, quality, profitability and/or employment. They should also encourage the adoption of new technologies, be financially viable and be sustainable. CBARD-AIM particularly welcomes applications from women-owned businesses.

Grant Size & Partner Contribution

• CBARD-AIM will issue grants between US$10,000 and US$150,000.
• Applicants must be willing to contribute 50% (30% for Women owned or managed enterprises) or more of the total investment required.
• Partner contributions must not originate from other donor programs or government entities. Contributions can be in-kind or in cash.

Grant Activities

The grants program focuses primarily on cold chain infrastructure but will also consider investments and activities relating to processing, packaging, storage, so long as they benefit farmers in Farah, Badghis and Nangahar. Cold chain infrastructure includes pre-cooling facilities, cold storage warehouses, reefer transportation and mobile cooling facilities.

Grant Type

All grants issued under the CBARD grants program will be in-kind. Goods and/or services will be procured directly by CBARD-AIM, in close collaboration with the grantees.

Geographical Focus

Grants are targeted at Nangahar, Farah and Badghis provinces (CBARD East and West target provinces) – either directly by supporting businesses located in these three provinces, or indirectly by supporting businesses in neighboring provinces that will source agricultural products from the three targeted provinces.

Eligibility Criteria

• Businesses registered with the Afghan Ministry of Industries and Commerce are eligible for CBARD-AIM grants. They must be in the target provinces of Farah, Badghis and Nangahar or in neighboring provinces.
• If they are in neighboring provinces, they must source a significant volume of produce from the target provinces. The businesses must be engaged in the agricultural sector or provide products or services to agribusinesses.
• Educational institutions, NGOs and Government Agencies are not eligible to receive grants. Startup businesses are eligible to receive grant funding but must prove that they have the management and/or personnel with the skills necessary for the proposed activity.

Evaluation Criteria

Concept Notes will be reviewed by CBARD-AIM based on the following objective and subjective criteria:

• Objective Criteria
  • The Applicant is a MOIC-registered Afghan business;
  • The business is located in Farah, Badghis or Nangahar OR is located in a province neighboring Farah, Badghis or Nangahar and will source produce from these three provinces;
  • The business is directly engaged in the agricultural sector, or supports the agricultural sector;
  • The proposed activity is related to cold chain infrastructure, processing, packaging, storage, quality certification, and/or export facilitation;
  • The activity requires in-kind grant support;
  • Grant support is requested between US$10,000 and US$150,000;
  • The business will provide a minimum cost share (contribution) of 50% of the total cost of the investment.
• Subjective Criteria
  • The proposed activity will result in increases in business capacity/outputs, sales/exports, productivity, profitability and/or employment, and will adopt new technologies;
  • The proposed activity is aligned with CBARD-AIM objectives;
  • The proposed activity is financially viable and sustainable;
  • The Applicant has a good understanding of challenges and appropriate solutions to mitigate these challenges;
  • The proposed activity is appropriate to overcome challenges;
  • The proposed budget is realistic;
  • The company personnel have the necessary experience, skills and qualifications to implement the proposed activity;
  • potential impact on the environment from solid waste, liquid waste, noise, construction, etc.

How to Apply

Businesses interested in the CBARD-AIM grants program are required to submit an Expression of Interest, in the form of a Concept Note, to the project. A template for submission is attached.

Responses must be received in English.

The grants applications/Concept notes should be submitted via email at the address given on the website.

For more information, visit CBARD-AIM.