USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub is Accepting Grant Concept Applications

The Southern Africa Trade Hub (SATH) is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project that seeks to increase international competitiveness, intra-regional trade and food security in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. SATH will realize this through supporting progress on the SADC regional integration agenda and increasing the trade capacity of regional value chains in selected sectors.

SATH is seeking grant concept applications from national and regional organizations to implement activities to support the project objectives of increased international competitiveness, intra-regional trade, and food security in the SADC region. SATH will be looking to fund innovative concepts that clearly demonstrate how proposed regional activities will lead to an increase in international or regional trade across borders in Southern Africa. Concepts should propose activities that will lead to measurable outcomes and results and fit within SATH's objectives.

Applications will be evaluated on a set of criteria which includes project design and strategy, staffing and human resources, management plan, past performance, cost effectiveness and accuracy, gender and environmental considerations and the ability to contribute a cost share of at least 25%. The proposed projects must be sustainable beyond the life of the USAID/SATH Project. Noted SATH grants are offered on costs reimbursements and no advance payments are permitted.

Concepts for proposed grant funding should include short term programs or activities that can be implemented within a one year period – approximately April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013. Concepts that propose longer term activities will not be considered at this time.

Interested applicants should submit a three-page concept paper and supporting budget not exceeding $100,000, to the Grants Manager at okebasitile@satradehub.org. Only selected applicants will be invited to provide a full grant proposal. See www.satradehub.org for information on SATH activities.

The closing date for grants concept papers is April 30, 2012.