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UNCDF invites service providers such as e-commerce platforms, Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Customer (B2C) digital marketplace platforms, agritechs, fintechs, supply chain financing and mobile money providers and other digital solution firms to bring forward inclusive digital solutions to promote the use of digital innovations among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

This Request for Applications (RFA) Leveraging digital solutions for MSMEs in Nepal seeks to support MSMEs that are developing/scaling up digital solutions that accelerate the economic recovery after COVID-19. It will support the systematic digitization of MSMEs by supporting related federations and associations to modernize their capacity, strategy, services, and/or digital capabilities of MSME members.

This RFA is especially seeking e-commerce platforms that can sign up MSMEs (particularly women-owned/run) to: a) sell their products via a website/app; b) link them with digital payment service providers to receive and transfer purchase payments digitally; c) link them with logistics companies that can facilitate delivery of goods sold online; and/or d) link them with after sales service functions such as returns or warranties.

The RFA is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and it is implemented by UNCDF, under its ‘Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era’ strategy. The objective of this RFA is to accelerate economic recovery after COVID-19 and promote an economy and a society more inclusive and resilient to external shocks through preparing MSMEs for digital transformation and accessing digital marketplaces to boost sales.

The applicants’ proposed interventions – irrespective of the country of affiliation – should deploy their solutions in the MSMEs segments in Nepal.

Selected applicants will sign a Performance-Based Agreement with UNCDF. The UNCDF contributions can range from US$ 20,000 to US$ 100,000 depending on the size and reach of the partner. UNCDF will award up to 2-3 applicants (depending on the funding requested), who score the highest in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria, depending on the investment readiness level and outreach potential of the proposed solution. Selected applicants will be expected to fund at least 30 percent of the total project cost in cash (for costs such technical resources, staff, and operational expenses). Candidates can apply independently or in a consortium.

The proposed solution must be implemented by December 2022.

Inquiries to this RFA may be submitted by email to rfa.ide.asia@uncdf.org. For any email inquiries, please include in your subject line: RFA: Leveraging Digital Solutions for MSMEs in Nepal.

All applications must be submitted by 23:59 EST, the New York time zone on 31 January 2022 through the UNCDF Plug-and-Play e-investment platform.

The deadline for applications has been extended to 7 February 2022 from the original 31 January 2022 deadline. All applications must be submitted by 23:59 (EST, the New York time zone) on 7 February 2022 via APPLY.