RfA: Inclusive Innovation for improved access to finance for MSME through digital financial services

As part of UNCDF strategy ”Leaving no one behind in the digital era”, this RFA has the objective to identify at least two new partners like banks, digital financial service providers, IT companies or financial intermediaries who can support UNCDF achieve the following project objectives:

• Digitization of Processes and Payments in agriculture value chains for increased efficiency, transparency, security, accountability and access to finance.
• To unlock financing to MSMEs and smallholder farming families, particularly women in agriculture value chains.

In this context, to drive financial inclusion of smallholders and to drive efficiency of operations in value chain, UNCDF looks forward to solutions that can help

1. digitize payments between different stakeholders and
2. also transform farmer cooperatives to digital solutions-based processes such as automated milk ledger or core banking solution etc.

The focus value chain for both the solution is Dairy and Orthodox Tea.

The eligible products and services will include either one or a combination of the following:

• Next-generation digital financial products to digitize payments in the agriculture value chains.
• Digital solutions and finance for agriculture-led economic growth and improved nutrition across Nepal.
• Process Automation and digitization of financial cooperatives that may include automated ledgers, core banking solutions or accounting solutions that would transform manual processes at the cooperatives.

UNCDF will provide technical assistance and grant support to the selected partners. While partners will be in the driver’s seat, UNCDF will be walking the innovation journey together to find solutions along the way.
UNCDF will conduct a due diligence on selected applicants. Applicants must have documents ready to confirm they meet the eligibility criteria, including audited financial statements, certificate of registration, certificate of compliance with the tax authorities and any other documentary evidence that might be requested.
Only applications that follow the Submission Format and include all the necessary documentation will be accepted.

Timing and Contacts
Applications about this RFA should be submitted via email at mm4p.nepal@uncdf.org no later than 27th of January 2020 23:59 Nepal Time.
Queries to this RFA can be submitted via email at mm4p.nepal@uncdf.org with the title “Improved access to finance for MSME through digital financial services- Organization Name”. A document of Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) will be shared on this page.
Please include in the subject line of the email: “Inclusive Innovation for improved access to finance for MSME through digital financial services”.

Applications must follow the submission format as outlined and should comprehend a completed Annex 1.