CIMMYT Call for Expression of Interest to Scale out SIMLESA Agricultural Innovations

May 31, 2016

Call for Expression of Interest to Scale out SIMLESA Agricultural Innovations
 

Deadline: Monday 10th June, 2016. 

Indicative budget: Aus$75,000.
 

Duration: 12-24 months
 

The Sustainable Intensification of Maize - Legume cropping Systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) is pleased to release a Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) to scale out new sustainable intensification options, technologies and practices. 

 

These options include new maize and legume (including forage legume) varieties, Conservation Agriculture (CA)-based practices, and soil fertility management technologies.

SIMLESA aims to increase end-user and intermediate-user capacity, as well as enhance productivity by 30% and reduce downside yield risk by 30%, on more than 650,000 farms by 2023 in five countries. 

General information about SIMLESA can be found at: www.simlesa.cimmyt.org.

The goal of this announcement is to give prospective partners notice to submitan EOI. 

Successful EOIs will lead to the development of full proposals in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and partner organisations in each country

Interested organisations need to refer to www.simlesa.cimmyt.org/scaling/EOI for documentation:

1. i). SIMLESA scaling strategy, that includes descriptions of target technologies and practices


2. ii). EOI application template


3. iii). Checklist of required applicant qualifications (to be verified)

You may also contact Dr Michael Misiko (m.misiko@cgiar.org) for clarifications.

The EOI will culminate in projects that sustainably scale SIMLESA innovations to achieve verifiable reach and impact among tens of thousandsof smallholder farms. 

The EOI must include:

1. Sites (i.e. counties or districts)where options will be scaled out


2. Proposed SIMLESAoptionsto be scaled out,


3. How the project will contribute to projected targets by 2018 June. This should include the impact pathway, gender inclusiveness, communication and awareness strategy, and training/capacity development.


4. Specify if the applying organisation plans to use earmarked SIMLESA options beyond 2018


5. How the project will increase capacity, or contribute to policy at national, county or district levels

Eligible organisations are national or international private sector, public sector, seed companies or international NGOs. 

Successful organisations must have a proven record and capacity to scale SIMLESA options beyond one district or ecology.

Funding per proposal will be in the range of up to Aus$ 75,000 per year, payable in instalments based on agreed milestones. 

Leveraging existing resources is preferred. 

The expected duration of the projects is 12 to 24 months, with key milestones and periodical decisions on continuation. 

Qualifying applicants will be supported in ME&L by CIMMYT. 

Successful applicants will work with SIMLESA country implementing NARS and CIMMYT where necessary for project development and technical backstopping.

To ensure plans of work are operational by mid June 2016, a one-step selection process will be used to permit a shorter timeframe to assess and approve EOIs. 

The submission deadline is 10th June, 2016.

SIMLESA implementing NARS cannot lead proposals, but may be included as third party collaborators.

There will be no further information until the winning EOI are announced.

Thank you,
The SIMLESA team