Call for Application For Competitive Matching Grant Support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Partners of CROP-H Project Operating Within the Horticulture Value Chain in The Gambia 417 views

For Competitive Matching Grant Support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Partners of CROP-H Project Operating Within the Horticulture Value Chain in The Gambia

Project: CROP-H PROJECT 5502/FY26

DONOR:

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded Food for Progress (FFPr) project.

ITB N°: SFL/CROP-H PROJECT/FY26/02 for Competitive Matching Grant Support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Partners of CROP-H Project Operating Within the Horticulture Value Chain in The Gambia

Date: 16^th June 2026

Shelter For Life International (SFL) Headquartered in Minnesota, USA is an international and development organization with over 40 years of experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries around the world.

1. Purpose:

The purpose of this activity is to support up to five (5) existing Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized enterprises (MSMEs), engaged in fruit and vegetable processing and marketing including export. The main purpose is the processing enterprises may use the grants as leverage with other financial institutions to gain access to finances for equipment, input materials and upgrades needed to meet the ultimate goal of the project, which is to improve the connection between suppliers and domestic market actors and to build on trade between The Gambia and the United States.

The following are key points of implementation for grants to MSMEs:

• Strengthen processing and operational capacity;
• Enhance packaging, branding, labeling, and traceability;
• Improve market competitiveness and export;

2. Grant Details

• Grant amount range is per MSME: Up to $20,000
• Beneficiary contribution: Applicants must provide a matching contribution in cash and/or in-kind. The contribution details to be reflected by type and cost.

Priority consideration will be given to enterprises processing:

• Hot chilli pepper;
• Okra;
• Tomato;
• Other vegetables and horticultural products with demonstrated export potential.

• • Preference will be given to demonstrate the operation in horticulture processing and trade, having or potentially having  trade links at local, regional levels as well as with the US market.

3. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be legally registered and operating in The Gambia;
• Qualify as a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise (MSME);
• Be actively involved in horticultural processing and value addition;
• Have a clear business growth strategy;
• Have established export/import channels or demonstrate strong market potential and a clear commitment to expanding access into international markets, including the United States market.
• Commit to complying with project monitoring and reporting requirements.

4. Application Requirements

Interested MSMEs are invited to submit a Matching Grant Application including the following information:

• Completed Application Form
• Business registration certificate
• Tax clearance certificate
• Proof of operational activity

• Brief business plan (1–3 pages)
• Proof of matching contribution capacity (cash ? if in-kind, describe)
• Any supporting technical or financial documents.

6. Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Be legally registered and operating in The Gambia as a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise (MSME);
• Be actively involved in horticultural processing and value addition;
• Demonstrate at least one year of operational experience;
• Have a clear business growth strategy;
• Have established export/import channels or demonstrate strong market potential and a clear commitment to expanding access into local, regional international markets, including the United States market. Show capacity to provide a minimum matching contribution;

7. Implementation Modality

• Funds can be disbursed through a controlled bank account or sub account co-managed by SFL
• Disbursement will be upon the equipment procurement offer identified.
• Payments will be made upon:
  • Verification of MSMEs contribution
  • Approval of progress and quality of the implementation

8. Submission Instructions

• Download the Application Form
  Access and download the Microsoft Word (.docx) application form via the link provided: Matching Grant Application Form.docx
• Complete the Application Form
  Fill in all the required fields in the downloaded Word document accurately.
• Convert the Form to PDF
  After completing the form, convert the file to PDF format for submission.
• Submit Your Application

Applications (completed PDF forms and all required documents) must be submitted by email with the subject title “SFL/Project #5502/Matching Grant” to: crophprocurement@shelter.org

SFL will organize introduction sessions for interested people that explain the process applications. Applicants are encouraged to participate in the session (if interested) on June 24, 2026 from 10h00 to 12h00 at main office of CROP-H project – Salameh Complex Sukuta Highway, Brusubi, West coast Region

Deadline for Submission:

Submission deadline is 13^th July 2026 at 5:30 PM Local Time

Late submissions will not be considered.

Evaluation and Award

An Application Evaluation and Award Committee (AEAC) will review the applications based on relevance, impact, value for money, and the applicant’s capacity to implement.

SFL reserves the right to accept or reject any application, any time prior to award of the proposal.

Sincerely yours,

Fakhriddin Kuziboev/Chief of Party