In February 2011 the EU Delegation launched a consultation process with the majority of the food security stakeholders based in Zimbabwe (questionnaire sent to 1000 contacts) in order to gather some ideas of innovative approaches that currently exist or have good potential in the country. The analysis of the answers shows 3 main areas of intervention that could fit into the FSTP – Innovative approaches component and in line with the second EU strategic priority (sustainable production and environment protection):
a) Small scale high value crop production appropriate for the international fair trade market;
b) Wildlife and natural resource management;
c) Intensive vegetable cash crop production in peri-urban areas;
Based on this survey, recent analysis of the food security in the country, strategic discussions with stakeholders, experiences learned from past and current EU funded projects, field monitoring visits, the EU Delegation has issued an open call for proposals for funding the Food Security Thematic Programme: Innovative Approaches to Food Insecurity program in Zimbabwe.
Objectives
The global objective of this Call for Proposals is to promote innovative approaches to improving food security in Zimbabwe, addressing historical and current food security challenges through innovative and locally owned, sustainable solutions, which have a potential to be scaled up and mainstreamed.
The specific objective of the call is to support innovative approaches for vulnerable families that propose a food security alternative to crop production in geographical areas where agriculture is limited or prone to regular dry spells.
Through the Food Security Thematic Programme – Innovative approaches to Food Insecurity component, the EU would like to support such alternative productive activities, in particular initiatives with large potential of replication related to above mentioned three issues.
Main objectives of the programme:
1) to come up with a catalogue of best practices in different sectors, which in combination will reduce the vulnerability of people living with HIV, especially among HIV-positive mothers, in the most cost-efficient way, and;
2) to define a package and its minimum duration to contribute to the future sustainability of household livelihoods.
FINANCIAL ALLOCATION
The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 2,200,000.
Last date for submitting the applications is August 23, 2011
For more information and details, please visit this link.
