CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
ASSISTANCE TO FIRMS & COOPERATIVES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

VIEW THE APPLICATION FORM USER GUIDE:

Click on one of the following buttons to view or download the user guide in the language of your choice. You can continue to complete your application form in the main window, while referring to the user guide in a new window.

ABOUT TUNISIA JOBS

Tunisia JOBS provides direct transactional assistance to Tunisian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them grow their sales, thus creating jobs, and increasing incomes. JOBS works with each company to address constraints to growth, which we implement on a cost-shared basis.

The support we provide includes technical assistance to improve operations and increase productivity, strengthen the labor force, help obtain access to finance and investment, certifications, identifying new markets and buyers, and direct financing through grants for equipment and working capital needs. Beyond individualized assistance, JOBS strengthens companies' supply chains to reduce overall costs and reach the widest number of firms, especially smaller producers.

ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITY

USAID Tunisia JOBS is inviting applications from agricultural and agro-industrial companies and cooperative groups (SMSAs, GDAs, GIEs) interested in receiving assistance to promote growth in the agriculture sector. JOBS is interested in supporting well-formulated projects and activities that will help those that receive assistance to (1) increase sales; (2) increase jobs; (3) expand exports; (4) strengthen their suppliers and supply chains; (5) increase the number of cooperative/SMSA members or producers; and (6) implement innovative approaches. We are especially interested in supporting women-led groups or those employing mainly women and enterprises in underserved regions.

JOBS is particularly interested in activities that directly or indirectly support a large number of producers. For example, cooperatives/SMSAs that want to expand their memberships, export, or enhance the services they provide to members through activities such as training. Another example is greenhouses which sell their products to many producers and want to provide training or other benefits to these customers and enhance their opportunity to grow. A third example would be agro-industrial companies that buy from many producers and propose an activity to enhance the technical capacities of the producers in their supply chain. JOBS will also consider assistance to individual companies that meet the criteria below.

Modalities of assistance could include:

  • Technical assistance to companies and agricultural groups in the areas of production productivity, marketing, certifications, employee training, access to finance, etc.
  • Grant funds to cover equipment and working capital needs, e.g., production equipment, raw materials, trainings, rental of facilities, services/utilities required to run the business, etc. Grant funds may not be used for activities that may be harmful to the environment, or for the following items: salaries, construction or infrastructure activities, telecommunications and related IT equipment, purchases made prior to the grant, prior debts, or restricted or prohibited goods. A complete list of these items may be found here.
  • A combination of both modalities.

The maximum duration of the assistance (technical assistance and/or grant) is six months. Longer periods may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Businesses (SMEs) that meet the following conditions may apply to this opportunity:

  • Registered business with 100% Tunisian ownership and capital
  • Operational for at least two years in agriculture production, processing or export
  • Compliant with relevant Tunisian civil, fiscal, and environmental regulations
  • Capable of contributing at least 50% of the cost of the total activity
  • Has not previously benefited from a USAID Tunisia JOBS grant
SELECTION CRITERIA

JOBS will select from eligible candidates and prioritize assistance based on the following:

  • Impact on jobs, revenues, and exports: Technical assistance and/or grant funding is expected to increase sales and or exports by at least 20% and/or sustain or create new jobs
  • Leveraging: Leveraging of additional financing through other donors, programs, financial institutions, and investments (including the firms" own investments) because of the assistance
  • Total number of beneficiaries impacted: includes SMSA members, suppliers of agro-industrial and other ag companies, etc.
  • Social impact: activities that are women-owned or employ a large majority of women or youth, those working in underserved areas, or resulting in a benefit to the environment

Note that all proposed activities will be evaluated in terms of their impact related to these criteria, versus their cost.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please keep in mind the following information when applying for this assistance:

  • Interested applicants will apply for this opportunity by completing the application form linked above. The application should provide basic information about the firm/cooperative and its status, as well as a description of the requested assistance (this can include technical assistance and/or direct funding). The applicant should describe the expected impact of the requested assistance and provide a budget estimate.
  • Submitted applications will be reviewed according to the established eligibility and selection criteria. Applicants whose submissions are approved to move forward in the process will then work with a JOBS Business Advisor to finalize a partnership agreement outlining the commitments of each party and the specific types of support needed to (1) increase sales; (2) increase jobs; (3) expand exports; (4) strengthen their suppliers and supply chains; (5) increase the number of cooperative/SMSA members or producers; and/or (6) implement innovative approaches. The partnership agreement will also describe baselines against which to measure future achievements, timelines and milestones, and cost contributions of each party. Once the terms of the partnership agreement are agreed to and USAID approval is provided for the grant activity (if grant funding is part of the partnership agreement), Tunisia JOBS will sign a partnership agreement/grant agreement with the selected firm/group.
  • Interested firms are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as submitted applications will be reviewed and selected on a rolling basis following the order in which they were received. This opportunity will be open until funds are no longer available or June 12, 2022, whichever is sooner.
  • Questions may be submitted by clicking the button at the top of this page. JOBS will post answers to questions received by the deadline on this page – see above Frequently Asked Questions
  • Interested businesses may only submit one application. An owner with multiple businesses may only submit one application. Only one business per business group may submit an application.
  • The person who submits the application must be an authorized representative of the company.
  • Applications may be submitted in English, French, or Arabic.
  • While evaluating the application and finalizing the partnership agreement (if the applicant is selected to pass to this step), JOBS may conduct a site visit to the business to verify submitted information.
  • Following JOBS review of the submitted application, applicants will be notified in writing if the submission was approved to move forward in the process, or if a decision was reached not to provide assistance.
PREPARING TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FORM

There are a total of 13 sections within the application form. Please note that for each section, once you submit it, you will not be able to go back and modify information in this section. Each section that has been submitted will be saved until the application form is complete. You may log out and return to the application form as many times as needed to complete all the sections, while the application period is still open. The sections of the application form are as follows:

  1. General Company Information
  2. Company Contact Person
  3. General Questions
  4. Management Background
  5. Professional References
  6. Activity & Market Information
  7. Certifications, Grades & Standards
  8. Financial Information
  9. Fiscal Documentation
  10. Employment Information
  11. Activity Description
  12. Estimated Budget
  13. Signing & Certification

Please prepare the following documents in advance as they will be required for your submission:

  • National Register of Enterprises / RNE(required)
  • Social Security Declaration - 2nd, 3rd & 4th Quarters 2021 & 1st Quarter 2022 (required)
  • ANGED Certificate (if applicable)
  • ANPE Certificate – (if applicable)
  • Annual Income Tax Declaration – 2019 (if applicable) and 2020 & 2021 (required)
  • Balance Sheet – 2019 (if applicable) and 2020 & 2021 (required)
  • Income Statement – 2019 (if applicable) and 2020 & 2021 (required)
  • Cash Flow - Optional
CONFIDENTIALITY & ETHICS STATEMENT

Tunisia JOBS confirms that information submitted as part of this application for assistance will be kept confidential. Information submitted will be used only for purposes of determining assistance to be provided to the selected firms. The information contained in the submission will be protected by Tunisia JOBS from unauthorized disclosure. Tunisia JOBS employees may not ask for, and applicants are prohibited from offering, any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation to obtain or reward improper favorable treatment regarding this solicitation. Any improper request from a project employee should be reported to the chief of party or BusinessConduct@chemonics.com. Furthermore, applicants should be aware that USAID, authorized partners, consultants, and intermediaries, do not collect nor charge fees to submit applications for assistance. Any individual or organization trying to collect or charge a fee to apply to this opportunity is potentially a scam.