USAID Africa Trade and Investment Partnership Opportunity

Overview of ATI:

USAID established the Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Program to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that increase trade and investment and contribute to job creation in Africa.  USAID/Kenya East Africa is currently inviting concepts covering specific priority sectors identified below engaging one or more countries in the region including Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Overarching Priorities for USAID/KEA under ATI:

• East Africa’s trade and investment within the region, continent and with the U.S. increased, resulting in significant growth in exports, sales, employment, and investment.
• Increased value-addition and processing in East Africa.
• Markets and jobs created and expanded, particularly for youth and women.
• Skills that match investment and market needs developed and cultivated.
• Access to markets and capital expanded and deepened.

Priority Sectors for USAID/KEA under ATI:

USAID/KEA is seeking potential partnerships in several sectors including:

• Textile and apparel partnerships to support vertical integration, value-addition in East Africa, and to expand formal-sector job opportunities for women and youth.
• Expanding exports, local processing, and financing of East African agricultural commodities linked to U.S. buyers and markets in products including, but not limited to, coffee, tea, spices, essential oils, nuts (cashew/macadamia), shea, honey/beeswax, and natural ingredients.
• Expansion of value-added agricultural processing of East African products, expanding access to agricultural technologies benefitting small-scale farmers, and expanding agricultural sourcing partnerships benefitting large numbers of small-scale farmers and cooperatives.
• Private sector solutions to delivering higher quality and more sustainable water and sanitation services to a greater number of East Africans.
• Large scale vocational training partnerships with companies including, but not limited to, partnerships with firms in the ICT and apparel sectors to promote increased East Africa employment opportunities (particularly for women and youth).
• Expanded partnerships with firms and funds engaged in supporting improved plastic waste management and recycling, tourism and conservation, green manufacturing, and climate finance solutions.

Current Funding:

It is anticipated most support under this activity will be in the range of $250,000 to $1,000,000 although other size awards will be considered. As of the date of this release (above), the current ceiling for awards is $7,000,000. This figure will be updated via amendment when/if new funding is added to ATI.

Information on Applying:

To apply for funding interested applicants must submit a concept note via the ATI intake site. This concept note will include the technical details of the proposed project, an estimated cost of the activity, and details on the applicant’s company and experience. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. For more information and relevant deadlines, we encourage all interested applicants to visit the entire ATI Annual Program Statement (APS) here.