RFI-613-22-000003 for NFTP Activity.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

RFI Number: RFI-613-22-000003 Subject: Support for Commercializing Non-timber Forest Products in Zimbabwe Issuance Date: February 7, 2022 Response Deadline: February 28, 2022 at 17:00 (Harare Time)

This USAID/Zimbabwe Request for Information (RFI) is issued for the purpose of providing industry and stakeholders an opportunity to comment on and suggest areas related to a potential new activity in support for commercializing non-timber forest products in Zimbabwe. The Mission seeks market information on the attached concept note that aims to commercialize non-timber forest products in Zimbabwe in order to improve the resilience of vulnerable and marginalized communities (particularly women and youth) through increased incomes and strengthened environmental stewardship. As appropriate, USAID/Zimbabwe will incorporate responses to this RFI into the development of future activity designs that may lead to a formal solicitation or announcement;

however, USAID/Zimbabwe is not obligated to do so. This RFI is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e). This information will be used to help make planning decisions and influence activity design to improve future development outcomes.

This is an RFI, not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any solicitation or ultimately award an agreement on the basis of this RFI, nor to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any comments.

Any funding proposals submitted in response to this request will not be acknowledged or considered. Responses to this notice must be received no later than the due date and time stated above. All information provided will become the property of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will not be returned, and will not be released publicly. USAID reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for USAID’s own purposes. Proprietary information must not be sent.

Background

The resilience of Zimbabwe’s people depends on the productivity of its natural resources, principally land, water, and fauna. Yet Zimbabwe’s agricultural land, forests, and biodiversity are in steep decline due to climate events, increased poverty, population growth, poor land use planning, and weak governance. The decline in agricultural production, especially in Natural Regions IV and V (where annual rainfall is less than 650 mm1, with frequent seasonal droughts, erratic rainfall and severe dry spells) has resulted in increased food insecurity, as well as reduced household nutrition and income. Consequently, there is often crop failure and/or livestock losses that necessitate vulnerable households seeking alternative income sources to procure food and purchase agricultural inputs such as seeds, calves, and fertilizers for the next farming season.

1 https://www.fao.org/3/a0395e/a0395e06.htm

Of the nearly 6,000 species of indigenous plants found in the country, some 900 of them have traditional use as food, cosmetics or medicine within these two Natural Regions and are supplementary sources of income for 60 - 70 percent of rural households who live there2. With the growing awareness of the nutritional and health benefits that NTFPs offer, there has been an increased demand to commercialize. For example, baobab fruit has been granted a novel foods clearance by the EU and can be exported from Zimbabwe. There are also several companies in Zimbabwe and in the region that buy and process NTFPs and are ready to offer markets to rural producers3.

Return on investment (mainly labor for collection and processing) is much higher than from any of the major cash crops. For example, in Mutoko and Mudzi districts, it is USD 62.80 for Mobola seed and USD 14.08 for Sour Plum compared to USD 1.68 for groundnuts, which is the major cash earner in the two districts. Therefore, the Activity will seek ways to sustainably commercialize non-timber forest products in order to increase alternative income sources, improve natural resource management practices that will promote biodiversity, and reduce human-wildlife conflict. Target districts will be those districts where the NTFPs of most commercial value are of harvestable commercial quantities.

The specific Activity objectives are:

● Increased production and supply of non-timber forest products to meet domestic and international market demands;

● Increased investments by local, regional and international marketers in the communities and on infrastructure that will ensure supply of quality products that meet international standards; and

● Improved natural resource management and sustainable forest management practices that promote biodiversity and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

The illustrative activity interventions to be implemented include:

● Capacity building of communities on good non-timber forest products production practices that will ensure increased production of quality products that meet international standards;

● Introduction and promotion of low-cost technologies that improve efficiency, reduce production costs and improve quality of products;

● Introduction of certification procedures that increase the value and acceptability of the products in local and international markets;

● Build capacity on good governance models for community groups to improve business accountability;

● Build capacity of communities on improved natural resources management practices that promotes biodiversity and reduces human wildlife conflicts;

● Increase community groups’ capacity to anticipate and respond to potential shocks and stresses;

● Support communities to identify and address potential or existing conflicts; and

● Promote consumption of diverse and nutrient dense diets for children and adults.

The anticipated duration of the Activity is 2022 - 2027 (five years) with a maximum total estimated funding level of USD13.0 million. This estimated funding level includes anticipated co-investments by interested local, regional and international stakeholders. The technical requirements, level of funding and other requirements may change significantly before the actual solicitation or notice of funding opportunity is released.

2 Final NTFP Assessment Report (December 2021).

3 Final NTFP Assessment Report (December 2021) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eUwIzMUaDs2yg8TkZDSI3ZwxaY99IsOC/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eUwIzMUaDs2yg8TkZDSI3ZwxaY99IsOC/view?usp=sharing

Submission Instructions Interested parties (local, regional and international) are invited to submit a response to this RFI in the form of the attached template (ATTACHMENT 1) no later than February 28, 2022; 17:00 Harare, Zimbabwe, Local Time.

All responses under this RFI must be submitted to Zeb Simpson at harareprocure@usaid.gov.

The issuance of this request will not restrict the U.S. Government’s ultimate approach, if any. Respondents are advised that USAID is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information, answer questions or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Any information submitted in response to this notice is voluntary. Not responding to this request does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Zeb Simpson Contracting and Agreement Officer mailto:harareprocure@usaid.gov

ATTACHMENTS

1. Request for Information (RFI) Response Template

2. Concept Note

3. Final NTFP Resource Assessment Report (December 2021)

4. Final NTFP Impact Assessment Report (December 2020) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1novJOexyYnFh1vAPyZfZRLYo9E719V1frPBafxB8BeE/edit

Request for Information (RFI) Response Template

Name:

Title:

Organization:

Physical Address of Organization:

Type of organization (local, regional, or international):

Website of the organization (if any):

Telephone:

Email:

USAID/Zimbabwe is interested in responses to the following specific questions. (Respondents are encouraged to review the questions and include responses to the most relevant questions in their submissions. Respondents do not need to respond to all the questions listed below):

1. Based on market analyses, potential competition and financial viability of investments, which of the NTFPs in Zimbabwe are commercially viable?

2. What are the constraints of commercializing these products in Zimbabwe?

3. What steps can entities such as donors, civil society, private sector, public sector take to address these constraints?

4. Which low-cost technologies can be adapted in Zimbabwe for production, harvesting, processing, storage and transportation of NTFPs?

5. Which districts of Zimbabwe should be of focus in the commercialization of NTFPs?

6. What will be the impact of commercializing NTFPs on households and the communities?

7. Who are the appropriate commercial partners that are willing to invest in the proposed NTFP business?

8. How best can a NTFP market-led activity serve to support resilience, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and reduced Human-Wildlife conflict?

9. How can a new NTFP activity best coordinate with and leverage other USAID and donor activities on the ground?

10. How can USAID best incorporate youth and gender sensitive programming in a future NTFP activity?