As this funding opportunity is focused on innovations, this call for proposals is specifically interested to support the following:
Stage 1 – Market-driven product/business development: These innovations have been verified through a standalone pilot or a series of pilots and now need to be tested and adapted for adoption in new developing or emerging countries. These innovations may require technical validation and proof of adoption/uptake in a new market.
Stage 2 – Scaling/Commercial Growth: These are established innovations that have already demonstrated a viable business model and are generating revenue. They require support for commercial growth, including adaptation of the innovation for larger scale production, market adoption, and distribution. It is expected that these innovations have already demonstrated technical feasibility and market acceptance and can provide evidence supporting these points.
Initially, only concept notes have to submitted and the shortlisted applicants will later be invited to submit full proposals.
Concept note should cover the following sections and address the questions given below each of the sections:
Innovation (Technical) Viability
a) What is your innovation? What is transformative or “game-changing” about it? Why is there an urgent need for your innovation? How does your innovation differ from existing products on the market?
b) What is/are the specific critical barrier(s) or problem(s) – related to water for food security – that your innovation addresses?
c) Has this innovation been piloted (yes/no)? Where? What were the results of the pilot?
d) What are the key, quantifiable metrics related to your innovation’s performance or expected performance (e.g. total increased installed storage capacity (cubic meters); liters of water saved or used per hectare of land)?
Application and Sustainability in Developing or Emerging Country(ies)
a) How might this innovation engage or benefit (directly or indirectly) the poor as innovators, employees, suppliers, distributors, and/or consumers?
b) Describe your expected end-users. Who are they and how might end users need to modify their existing practices or behaviors to use your product or service?
c) Describe the social, environmental, institutional, legal and regulatory challenges your innovation faces that may prevent its scale-up. How do you propose to overcome those barriers?
d) Who is/are your local partner(s)? Who are other potential partners (be specific about partners; e.g. provide names and type of organization, not just categories)?
Business/Financial Viability
a) Describe the demand for your innovation. In what country/region/market are you proposing to expand with Securing Water for Food funding? What is the total addressable market and potential market share for your innovation? What is the basis for your claim?
b) Describe the financial model. Provide a unit cost analysis. For technology innovations, how much does it cost to produce, store, and sell one unit of this innovation? For business model innovations, what must be spent to offer this specific service including the number of times the service is offered, the salaries of those employed to deliver the service, and any materials used to deliver the service? What is your price per unit? If applying for Stage 2, describe the sales and distribution model.
c) Describe key elements of your go-to-market strategy in the country(ies) in which you propose to work. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities?
d) What are your expected sources of matching funds and/or in-kind contributions?
Deadline: 17 January 2014
For more information, visit this link or search for this opportunity at Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity # SOL-OAA-14-000019).
