1. Innovation of Business Case
The business model(s) should indicate objective(s) for the growth of their CSA solution in the selected supply chain and markets. Market opportunities and constraints should be explained together with activities to work within the specific market setting. Applicants will be evaluated on how the proposed partnership will meet business goals and objectives while engaging and supporting smallholder farmers.
2. Commercial viability and sustainability
Potential for growth of the product or service in the selected market(s). Confirmation of a long-term commitment to engaging smallholder farmers in business operations should be provided. Applicants will be evaluated on how the product or services will continue to scale after project closure. Sustainability and/or exit strategy should be indicated. Applicants should provide a two-year projection of revenue, costs, and net income. The proposal should include a growth and financing strategy for at least the next two years.
3. Implementation plan
– Applicants should outline their plan for implementation including key activities/milestones to be completed and the timeframe for each. Applicants should discuss other actors and stakeholders (either within a proposed consortium or external to the partnership) that will need to be engaged to support implementation (for example, cooperatives, industry associations, marketing agents, etc.) and describe how and when that engagement will take place.
– The proposal should indicate the type of evidence or information that will be created for mainstreaming CSA into country-level agricultural practices and policies and public and private investment plans. This would include how the applicant approaches resource sustainability.
– The proposal must indicate the type of data to be collected and proposed roles and activities for the data collection. Proposals should also indicate how applicants would collaborate in research during the data collection. The proposals should also indicate how the data and research results/evidence would contribute to the scaling of the business model and broader partnership impact.
4. Smallholder and marginalized population impact
– How the business model(s) will meet business goals and objectives while engaging and supporting smallholder farmers and marginalized populations, especially women and youth. The proposals should indicate who are smallholder farmers, women, and youth and the number of those target groups the business model(s) intends to reach and how the model can increase their incomes and expand their market access.
– Especially, the proposal should demonstrate how the business model(s) will oversee opportunities of and constraints to include women along CSA scaling pathways, address challenges existing gender norms and power structures preventing women from adopting CSA, manage risks of women being left behind in the up-take of labor-saving mechanized irrigation technologies, and contextualize the products and services to the given context where women clients live and to their needs.
5. Organizational, management, and technical capacity
Applicants will be evaluated on business, management, and technical qualifications with regard to scaling products or services in smallholder markets. Applicants should articulate the organization’s experience operating in smallholder markets, identify any potential capacity gaps in systems or management, and provide solutions for filling those gaps. The proposals should present learning activities and mechanisms to enhance the capacity outcomes for the partners.
Bundle 1 info sheet
