RFA: Innovative Digital Payment Models in Zambia: develop and implement innovative digital solution for the payment of utilities.
Summary
*EXTENDED DEADLINE: AUGUST 2, 2021*
UNCDF is looking for legally established entities in Zambia that can develop innovative digital payment solutions that can address the following focus areas with an aim of increasing adoption and usage of utility services and payment:
• Area 1: Support a digital payment solution that will partner with at least one water service provider to increase digital payments for water in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
• Area 2: Support a digital payment solution that will partner with at least one mini-grid energy provider or a Pay-as-you-go energy provider that will increase digital payment for electricity, solar or cook stove products in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
• Area 3: Support a digital payment solution that will partner with at least one sanitation service provider to increase digital payments for sanitation services in the urban and peri-urban areas.
Candidates can apply within a single area of intervention (Area 1, Area 2 or Area 3) or propose a project for a combination of areas. Please clearly indicate the areas targeted in your proposal.
The proposed intervention shall target urban, peri-urban and rural populations with focus on women and youth, precisely in the following provinces of Zambia: Lusaka, Central and North-Western.
Moreover, the solutions proposed should create the following effect:
• Strategic partnership with a water service provider in the urban and peri-urban areas to increase the use of digital payment for their services. This can be achieved through the use of technologies such as water ATMs or a prepaid water system integrated with mobile money.
• Strategic partnerships with an energy provider to eliminate the barriers in making digital payments and lead to improved portfolio quality for the organization, for example: collaboration with mini-grid provider, PayGo Solar companies, financial service providers etc.
• Strategic partnership with a sanitation service provider to replace cash payment of bills will a digital one.
UNCDF will provide grant and technical assistance and will sign a Performance-Based Agreement (PBA) with the selected applicants. Please refer to the PBA sample available in this RFA website.
UNCDF’s contributions will range from 50,000 USD to 100,000 USD. Grants will be awarded to at least two applicants, depending on the investment readiness level and outreach potential of the solution proposed.
Applicants can apply only once to this RFA, independently or in a consortium, provided that the consortium has a pre-established partnership prior to when this request for applications was issued.
Inquiries to this request for applications can be submitted by email to
uncdf.rfa@uncdf.org cc isaac.holly@uncdf.org
All applications must be submitted by 23:59 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on August 2, 2021 through UNCDF’s e-investment platform:
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