REQUEST FOR APPLICATION

Ensuring affordable improved fish feed, services and linkages to increase profitability of smallholder farmers

Background

WorldFish is an international nonprofit research institution that creates, advances, and translates scientific research on aquatic food systems into scalable solutions. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR, which unites international organizations engaged in research about food security. 

The Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity (Aquaculture Activity) is a five-year project of USAID working to improve nutrition through growth in the aquaculture sector. The project works in 21 districts of southwestern Bangladesh and two districts in the southeast. The Activity stimulates aquaculture sector growth, increases employment and income, and improves food and nutrition security for households. It serves a facilitating role that applies a Market System Development approach by coordinating linkages among the aquaculture value chain actors in the private, public, and civil society sectors of Bangladesh.

Now a days pond fish culture has become a popular enterprise among the farmers in the study area. However, entrepreneurship continues to face some potential barriers which are impeding, in a way, the growth and development of pond fish culture in Bangladesh. Without identifying and eliminating those barriers, it is difficult to attain satisfactory growth of this entrepreneurship. In this background, the authors undertook research work on the subject, with the purpose of identifying the barriers that entrepreneurs of pond fish culture are subjected to and the level of their rapport with the farmers. The specific objectives of the study were:

Now a days pond fish culture has become a popular enterprise among the farmers in the study area. However, entrepreneurship continues to face some potential barriers which are impeding, in a way, the growth and development of pond fish culture in Bangladesh. Now a days pond fish culture has become a popular enterprise among the farmers in the study area. However, entrepreneurship continues to face some potential barriers which are impeding, in a way, the growth and development of pond fish culture in Bangladesh.

Now a days pond fish culture has become a popular enterprise among the farmers in the study area. However, entrepreneurship continues to face some potential barriers which are impeding, in a way, the growth and development of pond fish culture in Bangladesh. Without identifying and eliminating those barriers, it is difficult to attain satisfactory growth of this entrepreneurship. In this background, the authors undertook research work on the subject, with the purpose of identifying the barriers that entrepreneurs of pond fish culture are subjected to and the level of their rapport with the farmers. The specific objectives of the study were:

The aquaculture sector in Bangladesh is expanding day by day. With this expansion, fish farmers continue to face some constraints related to essential inputs and services in recent years. Fish feed is one of the most important inputs as almost 70% cost of aquaculture is incurred for feed. The key constraints regarding fish feed include but are not limited to: a) Unavailability of good quality fish feed at community levels, b) High cost of commercial feed, where available, c) Repeated increase of feed cost every year d) commercial feed companies are dependent on imported raw materials, which increase feed price. In the existing context, fish price is not increasing as rapidly as feed cost is increasing which affects the profitability of fish farming and creates frustration among the fish farmers.

Considering the mentioned challenges, the Aquaculture Activity would like to partner with a competent organization to promote affordable quality fish feed supply for community fish farmers following the One Stop Service Center model.

Objective

Subject to donor approval and availability of funds, the Aquaculture Activity is looking for a feed company/private entity as implementing partner to promote affordable quality fish feed supply for community fish farmers following the One Stop Service Center model.  WorldFish experts will assist regarding feed formulation with the utilization of quality inputs at low cost.  And, the partner will take initiatives for production of low-cost quality feed for community fish farmers’ use.

Scope of Work

The partner if selected will provide the following key results related to the intervention within eight months project period.

• The selected partner will develop the low-cost feed formulation using local ingredients with the support of WorldFish
• The partner will check quality of newly formulated feed at a reliable Laboratory
• Develop the capacity of fish farmers on better management practices with an emphasis on better use of feed
• Strengthen feed supply at community levels
• Develop a detail business plan for the “One-stop Service Center”.
• Establish physical outlets of the “One-stop Service Center” to create access to aquaculture information and services for the fish farmers, nurseries, hatcheries and others relevant actors.
• Train the selected service providers, owners, or franchisees of the “One-stop Service Center” on aquaculture information and service and business management, alongside a clear plan to maintain ongoing training support for the Service Centers.
• Conduct branding, marketing and business linkage activities for the “One-stop Service Centers”.

Key Deliverables

• Low cost feed formulation and manufacturing cost analysis

• A detailed business plan of the proposed “One-stop Service Center” model with the number of centers to be developed, established and operationalized.
• A detail marketing and stakeholder outreach plan.
• Roll out an agreed minimum number of service centers in selected locations.
• Reports, both technical and financial, in the Aquaculture Activity approved templates.

Expected Results
The expected results of this intervention are:

• Reduced feed cost for the fish farmers
• Increased adoption of better management practices in aquaculture with a focus on better use of    

      fish feed by community fish farmers

• Increased production and productivity of the community fish farmers
• Increased access to better quality and affordable fish feed
• Increased access to forward market opportunities
• Availability of information and services through one stop service centers
• Increased knowledge on better feed management

Aquaculture Activity Offers

The Aquaculture Activity will provide both technical and financial support to execute the proposed and agreed upon business models/ideas:

• Financial support to leverage the partner’s investment as appropriate. If shortlisted, the final agreement will be negotiated with selected, qualified companies/entities.
• Facilitation and co-development of the proposed business models or strategic plans
• Technical support as needed for successful implementation of the proposed models/initiatives
• Facilitation of identifying or developing business linkages with other market actors

Aquaculture Activity Fund is not for:

• Working capital (e.g. day to day operational costs, salaries of regular staff, rent of buildings, office, warehouse, storage houses, regular purchases)
• Direct payments/subsidies to producers/aquaculture farmers
• Common IT and fixed assets (e.g., computers, cameras, projectors, vehicles, machinery and equipment)
• Common physical assets (e.g., buildings, warehouses, storage rooms)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Have experience and proven success on similar intervention/s
• Proposed business models/concepts which satisfy and support one or more of the following will be given preference: (i) new and innovative business models, (ii) expansion of successful business models into new and underserved geographic markets and (iii) expansion of the business models targeting underserved customers in the rural areas, such as youth and women
• Proposed business models must demonstrate continuity and sustainability.
• Cost-share should be at least 50% of the total proposed budget.
• The cost-share amount must be verifiable and should not come from other USAID-assisted projects or programs.
• An active certificate of incorporation (for individual companies, a trade license);
• Joint stock registration certificate (if applicable);
• An organizational organogram of key personnel, inclusive of the names of such personnel;
• Tax Identification Number (TIN);
• VAT registration number;
• Proof of a segregated bank account (providing the name and address of such an account);
• The percentage of VAT and total amount of VAT should be mentioned in the proposal.
• Other valid papers (provided by government institutions).

GRANTS AWARD PROCESS:

EVALUATION

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested organizations are requested to submit applications by using the attached application form and budget template on or before 14 December, 2022 to: wfbanaproject@cgiar.org mentioning the title of solicitation or Request for Application (RFA) in the subject line. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will receive a response from WorldFish.