Call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs)
Grant Support for Agribusiness Projects
‘The Horticultural Advancement Activity’ (THAzA) is a 5-year Project funded 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 EOIs, THAzA invites applications from investors from all of Pakistan who are interested in establishing small/medium/large size food processing / value addition businesses within the below mentioned districts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Such businesses should also involve THAzA’s horticultural commodities: Apple, Grapes, Apricot, Onion, Tomato, Potato, and other off-season vegetables produced in plastic tunnels.
For all selected Projects, THAzA’s grant support will be in-kind and on cost-sharing basis. Grant support may cover up to 75% of the Project cost and will only be awarded in the form of in-kind material support, e.g. machinery/equipment and other hardware items that will be directly procured and provided by FAO. In-kind grants can be awarded for establishing new projects, expanding existing businesses, and upgrading of technology.
Few examples projects that could potentially qualify for THAzA grant support are grading & packaging facilities; cold storages; drying/dehydration units; juice & pulp making units and any other innovative technology for upgrading the competitiveness of the selected commodities on a commercial scale.
To avail THAzA grant support, it is mandatory that the proposed business unit/facility must be established in one or more of the following districts; Balochistan: Killa Saifullah, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Ziarat, Mastung, Quetta, Zhob, Loralai, Khuzdar, Awaran, Kharan, Kalat, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad and Harnai; Khyber Pakhtunkwa: Kurram, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan.
THAzA invites eligible applicants to initially submit EOIs through Concept Notes that clearly illustrate the project’s business model and potential numbers of jobs to be created within THAzA’s target Districts in Balochistan and KP. The objective is to pre-select eligible applicants who will be later invited to submit full applications or business plans for consideration against a grant. Female entrepreneurs are particularly encouraged to submit their EOIs.