All applications must be submitted by 23:59 hours (EST, the New York time zone) on 23 March 2021 to rfa.ide.asia@uncdf.org

UNCDF is inviting applications from entities registered in Bangladesh to develop and expand digital and financial literacy skills development modules and solutions to enhance recovery and resilience of Small and Micro Businesses (SMB) towards an inclusive digital economy through digital and financial literacy in Bangladesh. The goal of this initiative is to empower small and micro businesses in Bangladesh by developing mechanism and tools that support acquiring of necessary financial and digital literacy skills, to adopt new digital and financial services, and leveraging digital services to increase enterprise performance.

UNCDF will co-fund companies to pilot and scale digital and financial literacy skills modules and solutions that enhances SMB and specifically women SMB growth and resilience. UNCDF will provide a performance-based grant to the selected applicants who will be technically responsive to this RFA. UNCDF’s contributions can range from USD 30,000 to USD 55,000, depending on the investment readiness level and outreach potential of the solution proposed.

Areas of Intervention Focus

The “Build Back Better – Enhancing Recovery and Resilience of Small and Micro Businesses (SMBs) towards an Inclusive Digital Economy through Digital Literacy” challenge will co-fund companies to pilot and scale digital and financial literacy skills modules and solutions that enhances SMB and specifically women SMB growth and resilience. The goal of this initiative is to empower small and micro businesses in Bangladesh by developing mechanism and tools that support acquiring of necessary financial and digital literacy skills, to adopt new digital and financial services, and leveraging digital services to increase enterprise performance.

Support Offered

The “Build Back Better – Enhancing Recovery and Resilience of Small and Micro Businesses (SMBs) towards an Inclusive Digital Economy through Digital Literacy” challenge is targeted at modules and solutions that are ready for piloting. The fund will provide co-funding risk capital in the amount of USD 30,000 to USD 55,000 to selected partners through performance-based grants.

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant/ lead applicant must be a registered entity and incorporated in Bangladesh.
• The applicant must have, directly or indirectly, at least 50,000 small and micro businesses as users/customers in Bangladesh.
• The applicant should be operating in Bangladesh for at least 3 years.
• The applicant should have audited financial statements for at least 3 years.
• The applicant’s project implementation and solution must target small and micro businesses (SMBs) including women SMBs in Bangladesh.
• Applications from consortiums of organizations must show that the partnership was established prior to this call for applications or due to this call for application with a letter of intent.
• The solution proposed must be implementable in 2021 and 2022, with a project duration of between 18 and 20 months and ending by December 2022.
• Applicants must contribute at least 30 per cent of the project’s cash costs (costs may include technical infrastructure, resources, and operations).
• Applicants shall not have been the subject of bankruptcy, liquidation, judicial settlement, safeguarding, cessation of activity or any other similar situation resulting from a similar procedure.
• Applicants and any of their staff or member of their board of directors shall not be included in the United Nations financial sanctions lists, particularly in the fight against the financing of terrorism and against attacks on international peace and security; and
• Applicants must not be involved in any of the following activities: manufacture, sale or distribution of controversial weapons or their components, including cluster bombs, anti-personnel mines, biological or chemical weapons or nuclear weapons; manufacture, sale or distribution of armaments and/or weapons or their components, including military supplies and equipment; replica weapons marketed to children; manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco products; involvement in the manufacture, sale and distribution of pornography; manufacture, sale or distribution of substances subject to international bans or phase-outs, and wildlife or products regulated under the CITES; gambling including casinos, betting etc. (excluding lotteries with charitable objectives); violation of human rights or complicity in human rights violations; use or toleration of forced or compulsory labor; use or toleration of child labor.

UNCDF will conduct due diligence on selected applicants. Applicants must have documents ready for confirmation that 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 by UNCDF besides the application form.