The UK Government has launched a Request for Proposals for the COVID-19 Vulnerable Supply Chains Facility which has a focus on garments and agriculture sectors in key DFID countries. Please note the window for applications is until 20 May.
This initiative offers grants and/or technical assistance of the value between £200,000 and £600,000.
The support is intended to ensure vulnerable workers and suppliers are prepared for the economic and social shocks of COVID-19.
VSCF will support proposals that focus on the garments and agriculture sectors in at least one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, OPTs, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
In the interests of time, the window is quite short and DFID ask for short proposals by May 20, but happy to receive proposals as soon as they are finalised.
ELIGIBILITY
Applications of support from VSCF are welcome from:
- businesses facing industry challenges and looking for advisory/ facilitation support
- businesses looking to support the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable workers and suppliers in their supply chains
- not-for-profit organisations supporting MNCs/SMEs and their suppliers in specific sectors/ geographies
- not-for-profit organisations supporting transparency and accountability mechanisms within/across specific supply chains
- not-for-profit organisations supporting informal workers and smallholder farmers that are part of global supply chains
Further information can be found here.