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The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

As part of UNCDF strategy ”Leaving no one behind in the digital era”, UNCDF is looking for legally established entities in Uganda that can implement blended finance solutions aimed at enhancing access to affordable finance for refugees and host community members in Isingiro District (Nakivale Refugee Settlement) and Kyegegwa District (Kyaka II Refugee Settlement) in Southwestern Uganda to further sustainable livelihood opportunities for refugees and their host communities.

The focus areas include:

Area 1: Provision of business development skilling (BDS) for refugees and host community members who take loans against the access to finance project in Isingiro district (Nakivale Refugee settlement) and Kyegegwa District (Kyaka II Refugee settlement) of Western Uganda.

This component will focus on developing customized BDS training content with the aim to improve skills and competencies relevant for refugees to start and grow viable and profitable businesses / income generating activities. The intervention will focus on the most relevant BDS content for micro and small businesses, like introduction to entrepreneurship, conducting a market assessment, networking and marketing, limited knowledge on financial services, business planning and management, profitability and projection analysis, bookkeeping, legal and regulatory considerations. The main purpose is to ensure that loans received from financial institutions are effectively invested and minimize loan defaults.

Area 2: Improve financial and digital literacy skills for refugees and host community members taking loans

This focus area aims to engage institutions present in the target geographies. With support from UNCDF the partner will adopt the existing financial and digital literacy curriculums, customized to the needs and context of refugees and host community members. The trainings will target to improve refugees understanding of savings, personal financial management, types of financial services (loan products) available, selection of a business venture, planning and management of income generating activities and understanding of digitally enabled financial services.

The Project is expected to be implemented until 31st May 2025 and will be undertaken in Isingiro District (Nakivale Refugee Settlement) and Kyegegwa District (Kyaka II Refugee Settlement) in Southwestern Uganda.

Candidates should apply for both areas of intervention and should clarify the approach to each intervention area in the proposal.

UNCDF is looking for legally established entities in Uganda that can propose innovative and scalable approaches towards Financial Literacy, digital literacy and business development skilling for refugees to improve their livelihoods through access to finance to start, operate and sustain income generating activities (IGAs). The approaches should be able to create linkages towards sustainable livelihood opportunities for refugees and their host communities in Isingiro District (Nakivale Refugee Settlement) and Kyegegwa District (Kyaka II Refugee Settlement) in Southwestern Uganda

UNCDF will provide a grant and technical assistance to the partner to carry out the activities.

Selected applicants will be signing a Performance-Based Agreement (PBA) with UNCDF.

UNCDF’s contributions can range from 100,000 USD (US Dollars) to 150,000 USD (US Dollars). In the proposal, the applicant shall quote its costs for the project’s operations and management, including providing full-time resources that would engage with UNCDF in supporting the project implementation. The UNCDF contributions are disbursed in UGX equivalent. UNCDF will award the applications depending on the investment readiness level and outreach potential of the solution proposed.

UNCDF will provide a grant and sign a Performance-Based Agreement (PBA) with one applicant who will implement both areas of intervention specified above.

Applications for this Request for Application (RFA) should be submitted online through UNCDF Apply platform no later than the 19th of August 2023 18:00 EAT.

Selected applicants will be expected to fund at least 15% of the total project cost in cash (for costs such technical resources, staff, and operational expenses). Applicants may apply 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 may be submitted by email to uncdf.rfa@uncdf.org cc mildred.wengonzi.b@uncdf.org

Please use in the subject email “Financial Literacy, digital literacy and business development skilling for refugees to improve their livelihoods through access to finance and income generating activities”

All applications must be submitted by 18:00 EAT on 19th August 2023 through UNCDF e-investment platform. However, please visit UNCDF’s Apply platform to check if the deadline has not been extended.