Request for expression of interest for digital platforms engaged in digitizing agricultural value chains and trade/Services and light manufacturing supply chains at FSD Uganda

In its new five-year programmatic strategy (2021/20222025/2026) FSD Uganda will, in addition to investing in the growth to access of financial services, also invest in understanding and testing how the financial sector can more effectively serve the needs of real economy sectors like agriculture, agro-processing and trade, as well as social sectors like education, health, and housing. The focus of the strategy will be on building back better from the economic devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic while laying strong foundations for future resilience and sustainability.

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Through a market-systems-led approach FSD Uganda will continue to facilitate an inclusive, competitive financial system that is pro-poor and responds to the needs of FSD Uganda's target segments - women, youth, forcibly displaced people, smallholder farmers (SHFs), and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
FSD Uganda is going to take a platform approach in the execution of its strategy, seeking to leverage the economies of scale and scope possible with such platforms and their capacity to mobilize and support various actors in different value and supply chains.
Research has shown that to sustainably reach and profitably serve SHFs and MSMEs, it takes a multi-partner approach. FSD Uganda considers that digital platforms are well-placed to efficiently bring together different partners to serve these market segments better and more affordably. In supporting this approach, FSD Uganda recognizes the perceived gender neutrality of digital platforms and intends to work with selected partners to build inclusive platforms which recognize the barriers and opportunities they present for low-income market segments particularly women. Such an approach is intended to enable women to take full advantage of the economic opportunities platforms create and strengthen platforms' business models.
It is against this background that FSD Uganda seeks Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from digital platforms to co-design program interventions that will scale the provision of inclusive financial services to SHFs and MSMEs.
From the Eols submitted, FSD Uganda plans to select at least two digital platforms, one focused on agricultural value chains and the other focused on supply chains in either Trade/services or light manufacturing sectors. The two successful applicants will receive up to USD 300,000 in grants and technical assistance over a period of three years. The assistance will cover program interventions in any or a combination of the following areas: i) Developing appropriate inclusive value and supply chain
financing business models and financial solutions which
address the needs of SHFs and MSMEs. ii) Building strong and sustainable partnerships in the platform
economy to deliver profitable, affordable, and inclusive quality financial services to SHFs and MSME owners. Developing appropriate bundled/embedded financial products/solutions to enhance agricultural productivity, business revenues and profitability and to increase access to
quality education and health care for women and men. iv) Developing strong and sustainable Agency Networks (Cash
in, Cash-out infrastructure, Village/Digital Agents/ Entrepreneurs etc..) to reach the remotest of areas with
financial services, financial and digital literacy. v) Developing sustainable Big Data business models and
products/solutions to increase access to and utilization of gender-inclusive financial services. Focus will be on how data from the technology platforms is collected, validated, authenticated, analyzed, transformed into digital profiles, and shared across platforms and how this can help understand the behaviour and choices of women and men users.

If interested, kindly submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Digital platforms will be selected in accordance with FSD Uganda Investment guidelines.
The detailed advert can be accessed at the following link on the FSDU website free of charge: https://fsduganda.or.ug/news-updates/calls-for-proposals-eois/
EOI Timelines: Activity
Date Publication of Notice of Expression of Interest 13th June 2022 Closing date for receipt of Expression of 14 July 2022 Interest
Submit your EOls by email to procurement@fsduganda.or.ug not later than 5:00 PM, 1 July 2022.