The Horticultural Advancement Activity (THAzA)
Call for Expression of Interest (EoIs)
In-Kind Grant Support for Agribusiness Projects in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
‘The Horticultural Advancement Activity’ (THAzA) is a 5-year project awarded by USAID and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. THAzA focuses on selected horticultural value chains in Balochistan and in the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (previously called FATA). The objective of THAzA is to create jobs and generate income, through increased productivity and quality, improved marketing and access to services and investments in horticultural value chains.
Through this Call for Expressions of Interest (EoIs or Concept Notes) THAzA intend to extend in-kind grant support to selected projects in the form of machinery/equipment and other hardware items on cost sharing basis. In-kind grants can be awarded for establishing new projects as well as upgrading and expansion of existing businesses, technology and processes. Only those projects may qualify for THAzA grants which are located within the selected districts of Balochistan and KP and involve the horticultural commodities and value chains selected by THAzA: Apple, Grapes, Apricots, Onions and Tomato (including other vegetables produced in tunnels) in Balochistan and Apple, Apricot, Potato, grapes and Tomato (including other vegetables produced in tunnels) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Projects that could potentially qualify for THAzA grants are value added facilities such as grading and packaging facilities; cold and modified atmosphere storage facilities; processing facilities (such as drying, juice and pulp making) and any other value addition and innovative proven technologies for upgrading the competitiveness of the THAzA commodities on a commercial scale at any tier of the selected THAzA value chains (except primary production) and thus contributing to achieving THAzA objectives.
THAzA invites eligible applicants to initially submit Expressions of Interest through Concept Notes for innovative and commercially oriented agribusiness projects under its cost sharing grant program. The objective of this Call for EoIs is to evaluate the Concept Notes as well as the qualifications of interested applicants and to pre-select eligible applicants who will be invited to submit full applications or business plans for consideration against a grant. Female entrepreneurs are particularly encouraged to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoIs).
For details regarding this Call including guidelines for preparing Concept Notes, interested applicants may either download the complete EoI document from www.brightspyre.com or obtain copies from the FAO THAzA Provincial offices in Quetta and Peshawar. For ease of access, EoI will also be made available through the relevant District Agricultural Extension Offices.