Deadline: 15 May 2015
The National Authorising Office, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, is seeking proposals for activities focusing on Banana Production and Industry in Belize and relating to Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Sectors in Stann Creek and/or Toledo districts of Belize with financial assistance from the banana Accompanying Measures/BAM Programme.
The specific objective of this Call for Proposals is to pursue improved and sustainable farming practices for increased productivity and competitiveness of banana farms in Belize and to mitigate negative environmental impact from banana production/industry, packing and transportation while promoting labour and safety standards for workers in banana farms. The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 4,529,730.
Grant request can be made in between EUR 100,000 to EUR 1,500,000 for projects ranging from 18 to 19 months.
Sectors or themes : The action must focus on Banana Production and Industry in Belize and relate to Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Sectors.
Priority Areas
- Improved Technical and Agronomic Practices;
- increase of soil organic content through the incorporation of external sources and composting;
- reduction of nematode populations and soil compaction by fallowing, using clean planting materials, organic matter and ripping before plantation (except trials);
- water management (irrigation systems allowing the discharge of 5 mm per day during drought periods)
- establishment of flood protection infrastructures and drainage system;
- integrated pest management and plant nutrition (increased efficiency of fertilizing practices
- leading to better productivity, performed according to soil-leaf analysis and rainfall.
- Increased yield in banana farming (verifiable)
- adequate infrastructures for fruit quality.
- innovative business management increasing profitability and guaranteeing amortization;
- supply of bananas to local market as a diversification of activities;
- Reduction of the Environmental Impact of the Banana Industry;
- reduction of the use of chemicals;
- reduction in the use of fuel and oils (incl. their disposal) with decreased carbon footprint,
- land management practices (preparation, drainage, irrigation, fallowing);
- inorganic Waste Management (plastic fruit bags, plastic cords, agro-chemicals containers),
- organic waste management (stalks, fruits at packing plant, pseudo-stems and leaves in the fields);
- Improved Labour and Social Conditions of Workers and their Households;
- increased safety in working conditions (upgrading of cableways, infrastructures, and certification to ensure workers safety);
- trainings of workers on safety measures and skills development;
- human health aspects (farm workers and livelihood), and
- social and recreational centres/activities
- employment opportunities for banana workers and their households,
Eligibility Criteria
- In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicant must:
- be a legal person and
- be established in a Member State of the European Union or countries as defined in regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation and
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary and
- be directly responsible for the preparation of the action on the basis of a business plan with the co-applicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), and
- be actively engaged in the commercial growing and exportation of bananas in Belize either as an individual business entity or as an association representing the interests of Belize banana farmers (BGA – Banana Growers Association), and
- The applicant may act individually or with co-applicant(s) as specified who must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the applicant himself.
- The Applicant and its co-applicant(s) may act with affiliated entity(ies). Entities affiliated to a beneficiary can be:
- Entities directly or indirectly controlled by the beneficiary (daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries). They may also be entities controlled by an entity controlled by the beneficiary (granddaughter companies or second-tier subsidiaries) and the same applies to further tiers of control;
- Entities directly or indirectly controlling the beneficiary (parent companies). Likewise, they may be entities controlling an entity controlling the beneficiary;
- Entities under the same direct or indirect control as the beneficiary (sister companies).
How to Apply?
- Applicants must submit all documents together (Concept Note and Full Application Form). In the first instance, only the Concept Notes will be evaluated. Thereafter, for the applicants who have been pre-selected, the full proposal will be evaluated.
- Applications must be submitted in one original and three copies in A4 size, each bound. The complete application form (Part A: concept note and Part B: full application form), budget and logical framework must also be supplied in electronic format (CD-ROM) in a separate and single file. The electronic file must contain exactly the same application as the paper version enclosed.
- The Checklist and the Declaration by the applicant must be stapled separately and enclosed in the envelope which must bear the reference number and the title of the Call for Proposals, together with the full name and address of the applicant, and the words ‘Not to be opened before the opening session’
- Applications must be send via email or hand delivery.
Note: Prior registration in PADOR for this Call for Proposals is not obligatory.
For more information, please visit Banana Efficiency Belize and download the guidelines.
