The Mastercard Foundation

Fund for Resilience and Prosperity

APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES

Contents

1. The Application Process for the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity (FRP)
Agribusiness Challenge Fund ....................................................................................................................3
1.1 Stage One: Initial Application ............................................................................................................ 3

1.2 Stage Two: Refinement of Business Plan ......................................................................................... 3

2. Challenge Fund Eligibility .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

3. The Fund for Resilience and Prosperity Challenge Fund Selection Criteria ..............................................4
4. The Application Form .................................................................................................................................6
Introduction ........................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
COMPANY PROFILE .........................................................................................................................................7
PROJECT DETAILS ...........................................................................................................................................9
DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION ..............................................................................................................9
TEAM STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................................10
PROJECT IMPACT ..........................................................................................................................................11
RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS ...........................................................................................................................12
OTHER INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................................12

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1. The Application Process for the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity (FRP)
Agribusiness Challenge Fund

The Agribusiness Challenge Fund is a two-stage competitive process designed to identify and support Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in 20 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Challenge Fund
aims to implement interventions and promote SME-based solutions within agriculture value chains. These
initiatives target the creation of a sustainable framework that generates dignified and fulfilling employment
opportunities for young people, ensuring a lasting impact beyond the program's lifespan.

1.1 Stage One: Initial Application

This stage involves completion of the initial application form setting out the project objectives to the Fund for
Resilience and Prosperity for support.

The first Agribusiness challenge fund harvest period closes on 07 June 2024 at midnight East African time
(+3 GMT). All applications submitted after this date will be considered in the next harvest period scheduled
to open on 10 June 2024.

Please note that additional attachments beyond those specified on the form will not be considered.
The first stage of the competition is evaluated solely on the content of the application form.

Pre-registration for Challenge Fund launch - Application submissions

potential applicants Applicants can register and
apply.

Application ‘harvest’ periods Application selections based on

when applications are selection criteria to proceed to
evaluated. next stage.

Upon submission of your application to the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity, an acknowledgment of
receipt will be sent to the email address provided during registration. Along with this confirmation, you will be
assigned a Unique Project Identification Number, which should be referenced in all future
communications related to the Fund.

The applications will be evaluated based on predefined criteria. Successful will be notified and invited to
proceed to Stage Two. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a notification detailing the primary reasons for
non-selection. They are encouraged to refine their applications and resubmit for consideration in subsequent
harvest periods.

1.2 Stage Two: Refinement of Business Plan

Upon progression to Stage Two, applicants are required to further develop their business plans and provide
supplementary documentation. This includes completing a standardized financial model for your project
which includes profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, and cash flow projections. Collaborating with the
Fund Manager, applicants will refine their business plan, financial projections, and development impact
model. The Selection Committee will review these refined applications, ultimately selecting winners based on
the merit of their submissions.

Business plans refined. Site visits occur at this Selection Committee

stage decisions made on shortlisted
business plans to proceed.

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You may be contacted by a representative of the Fund to provide further information, so please ensure that
the email address indicated on the form is correct.

For any inquiries concerning your application, contact us via email at: [email protected]

Here are the important dates and deadlines for the Agribusiness Challenge Fund in 2024. Additional
competition periods will be announced at a later stage.

Schedule Deadline
Agribusiness Challenge Fund launch 18 March 2024
Agribusiness Challenge Fund - Harvest #1 07 June 2024
Agribusiness Challenge Fund - Harvest #2 30 August 2024
Agribusiness Challenge Fund - Harvest #3 22 November 2024

2. The Fund for Resilience and Prosperity Challenge Fund Selection Criteria
We will evaluate and select the most promising applications based on their alignment with the aims and
objectives of the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity. The following criteria will guide the selection process:

 Project description and objective

o Articulate a compelling and clear project purpose and goal.
o Concise description of the intended outcomes and deliverables.
o Present a well-structured and executable plan for project implementation.
 Alignment with FRP priorities
o Demonstration of how the project aligns with the specific priorities outlined by the fund.
o Explanation of the relevance and contribution of the project to the fund's overarching goals.
 Project Impact
o Evaluation of the potential positive effects and benefits the project will bring.
o Outline a clear plan for tracking progress, measuring key performance indicators (KPIs), and
evaluating the achievement of objectives.
 Financing plan/Matching funds
o Detailed and realistic and well-defined financial projections, including revenue streams, cost
structures, and profitability forecasts. Outlining the budget and how fund resources will be
utilized.
o Identification and commitment of matching funds or other financial contributions from the
applicant or external sources.
 Team structure
o Presentation of a competent and well-organized team structure.
o Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities among team members.
o Highlighting of relevant expertise and experience of key team members.
 Additionality
o Explanation of how the project introduces elements that go beyond business-as-usual,
showcasing its uniqueness and innovation. For instance:
 Gender Integration: Clearly demonstrate how your project promotes gender
equality and empowers young women and young men including the PWD's and
Refugees throughout the agricultural value chain.
 Youth Engagement: Outline strategies for involving young women and men
including the PWD's and Refugees in creating employment and in project activities,
decision-making processes, and capacity building initiatives.
o Assessment of the extent to which the fund's support adds value and enables outcomes that
wouldn't have been possible without its intervention.
o Alignment with local context by demonstrating an understanding of the local agricultural
sector, challenges, and opportunities.
o Long-Term Viability by demonstrating a clear strategy for ensuring the project's sustainability
beyond the funding period.

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3. Type of Support Available

The Fund will provide support to SMEs through four interventions:

 Challenge Fund intervention: Offering direct financial support to selected SMEs.
 Technical Assistance intervention: Adding value beyond financial support through technical
assistance and capacity building.
 Connect intervention:Providing investor readiness support to the portfolio of selected SMEs and
negotiating partnerships with potential financiers.
 Convening and Influencing intervention: Convening relevant stakeholders to encourage an enabling
business environment that drives systematic change and address the issues that impede the
creation of work for young women and men.

4. Funds Available

Applicants are required to submit an application, providing justification for their business to be funded, along
with details on the funding amount and duration. Funding should be earmarked for a specific project in the
target countries, such as scaling up an existing product or service, or expanding to a new market.

Applicants can apply for grant funding ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000 to be disbursed over a 3-
year period, based on the applicant's development stage, scalability, and business model, in accordance
with agreed periodic milestone targets. Funding structure will be determined on a case-by-case basis after
evaluating proposals and organizations. Additional support to successful applicants will include tailored
technical assistance in alignment with FRP objectives over the 3-year period.

5. Matching Funds

FRP requires a matching contribution from the applicant to signify their interest and commitment to the long-
term sustainability of the business. The funding provided by the applicant must constitute a minimum of 30%
of the total project cost, excluding any funding from the Mastercard Foundation. This matching requirement
ensures a collaborative financial investment, reinforcing the dedication of the applicant towards the project's
success and alignment with the goals of the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity.
Matching contributions can be made either entirely in cash or through a combination of cash and/or in-kind
contributions, as outlined below:
• Cash contribution: Refers to actual monetary contributions made to the business to match the FRP
funds. This might include direct financial investments by the lead organization or implementing partners,
equity investments by third parties, bank loans related to the project activities, reinvested profits
generated by the business, etc.
• In-kind contribution: Refers to a non-monetary contribution made to a business. Instead of providing
cash, the business may contribute goods, services, or assets that hold tangible value. These
contributions could include donations of equipment, supplies, professional services, or volunteer hours.
The combination of cash and in-kind will be determined on a case-by-case basis after evaluating the
proposal and business needs.

6. Focus Countries

FRP will focus on the following 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon,
Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria,
Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia

7. Challenge Fund Eligibility

Your SME must meet the following criteria for your application to be considered:

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  Be involved in the sector of focus i.e., Agriculture.
 Be an existing for-profit Small or Medium-sized Enterprise.
 Be implementing the business project in at least one of the 20 focus countries in Africa.
 Be requesting for grant funding ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000 to be disbursed over a
3-year period, based on the applicant's development stage, scalability, and business model, in
accordance with agreed periodic milestone targets.
 Be providing matching contribution of at least 30% of the total project cost.
 Have innovative, practical, and scalable businesses that aim to create work opportunities for young
women and men, young people with disabilities or refugee youth.
 Adhere to fundamental human rights, labour standards, and environmental management laws, both
nationally and internationally, including seed laws/policy.
 Refrain from any involvement in acts of terrorism or support for terrorist activities.

8. The Application Form

Below you will find a guide to help you complete the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity Challenge Fund
Application Form. Please download this document to refer to as you complete your application form.

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INTRODUCTION
Full Legal Company Name
What type of business is the company involved in? *
Do you or any of your implementing partners have Please select
operations in any of the following countries?

COMPANY PROFILE
How did you hear about the Mastercard Foundation Please select
Fund for Resilience and Prosperity?

A1 Brief Summary of the Please provide information about your organization’s current
Business activities. Also include information about the experience your
organization has in this project/business
A2 Physical Address
A3 Address Line
A4 Town/city
A5 State/County
A6 Postcode/Zip code
A7 Company Phone Number
A8 Company Email
A9 Company Website

Primary Company Contact Details

A10 First Name
A11 Last Name
A12 Gender Male, Female, Other, I’d rather not say
A13 Nationality
A14 Job Title / Position
A15 Phone Number
A16 Email
Secondary Contact Details
A17 First Name
A18 Last Name
A19 Gender Male, Female, Other, I’d rather not say
A20 Nationality
A21 Job Title
A22 Phone Number
A23 Email Address

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Details

A24 First Name
A25 Last Name
A26 Gender Male, Female, Other, I’d rather not say
A27 Nationality
A28 Job Title
A29 Phone Number
A30 Email Address

A31 Is the Company Legally

registered?
If selected “Yes”
Country of Registration

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 Year of Registration Enter the year your organization was Registered
Registration Number
Upload your Registration
Certificate
If selected “No”
Describe why your company
is not registered
Is the company registered in Please select
the country of implementation If selected ‘Yes’ – Indicate year of registration and upload
certificate.
If selected ‘No’ – Indicate plan for registration

Is your implementing partner registered in the country of

implementation? Please select

Are there any impediments to

your implementation in the
country of operation

A32 Shareholders
In the case of public limited companies (PLCs) with many shareholders, you need only list the
major shareholders. The purpose of this is for the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity to know
who, if any, major and/or controlling shareholders are. As a guide, it may be appropriate to list
companies or individuals with 15 % or more of issued shares. For private limited companies, the
Fund would like to know who all the shareholders are.
Shareholder 1 0%holding/ age/gender/ nationality
Shareholder 2 0%holding/ age/gender/ nationality
Shareholder 3 0%holding/ age/gender/ nationality
Other shareholders 0%holding/ age/gender/ nationality

A33 Are you implementing the project with a Partner Organization?

If this project will be implemented with partners, what part of the implementation Please select
will you and your partners be responsible for?

If selected ‘Yes’
Partner Organization Name
What is the role of your partner organization in implementing the project
Provide a description of the partner’s current business
Website
Country of registration
Phone Number
How much is the Partner organization contributing towards this project?

A34 Company Past Performance

Make any appropriate brief descriptions, including any implications on the numbers below.
What is your financial year end? Here, please indicate your own financial year, in case it does
not fit with the calendar years stated below
Financial Year FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023
Number of employees directly
contracted by your company
Turnover (excluding grants received, US$0 US$0 US$0
if any) US$
Has your Company raised funds Yes/No
through other means? (Investors,
lending etc.)

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PROJECT DETAILS
Project Overview
B1 Project Title
B2 Does your project focus on a specific
agricultural value chain?
B3 Primary production / Processing & aggregation / Trading &
Main focus of your project?
market linkage / or multiple
B4 Does your company focus on Yes/No
sustainable agriculture practices? Description:
B5 Yes/No
Description:
Has your company integrated any of
the below solutions to this project Climate Adaptation Please select
Climate Mitigation Please select
Digital/Tech
B6 Primary country: Please select
Country of Implementation Focus
Secondary country: Please select
B7 How long has your project existed?
B8 Current stage of the project

DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION

This section is for you to provide concise descriptions of the project that not only gives information on your
innovative project and challenge being addressed, your business case, capacity to implement etc.

C1 What is the specific problem or challenge your project is aiming to solve and how does this
align with FRP objectives? What are the key barriers that are currently preventing this
problem from being solved? (Max 1000 characters)

C2 Describe how your proposed project will contribute to solving this challenge, making sure
to explain the 3-5 main activities that you will undertake.
Note: If you intend to scale your project/agricultural solution, what is your expansions strategy? If
you are piloting a new solution, explain how you will do so. (Max 1000 characters)

C3 How will these activities help to address the challenges you have identified, and hence lead
to increased employment opportunities for young women and men? What is innovative
about your agricultural solution? (Max 1000 characters)

C4 What are the key assumptions that must hold true for your project to be successful? (Max
1000 characters)

C5 Why is your company (or consortium) best placed to implement this project? What unique
experience, resources, footprint etc will you be drawing on? (Max 1000 characters)
Note: What is the competitive edge of your project/agricultural solution?

C6 FRP has ambitious targets around inclusion, aiming to support 70% women and 10% other
marginalized groups. How will your project ensure that women and marginalized groups
(PWD, refugees) will be able to share in the benefits of this project? (Max 1000 characters)

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 C7 With the focus on resilience, FRP has a strong focus on climate adaptation and mitigation.
How has your project integrated these issues into your proposed activities? (Max 1000
characters)

TEAM STRUCTURE
Please describe the capacity of your organization and your organization’s partners (if any) to implement your
project in this section.
 Describe your capabilities to implement the project in terms of the management team and structure
(experience, sustainability, staffing); operational system and facilities; management information
system etc.
 What new capabilities will be needed in your organization to implement?

D1 What is your management and governance structure? (Max 1000 characters)

D2 Describe your capacity to implement the project (human resources; management team;
operations), including any additional recruitments and changes that will be made if funding
is successful. Clearly state which aspects will be implemented by partner organisations.
(Max 1500 characters)

D3 Are there any capacity gaps you have identified that are necessary for the successful
implementation of the project? (Max 1000 characters)

Fund for Resilience and Prosperity Support Details

In the sections below, please provide the summary financial figure for your project in the formats requested.
Please provide the following:

 The total Fund for Resilience and Prosperity support required to implement your project (E2). This
must be no more than 70% of the total project cost.

 Note: The grant requested (E2) MUST be between US$ 500,000 and US $ 2,500,000.

In the table below we ask for information about the matching funds/contribution that your business will invest
into the project. Please note the following points:

 The Fund for Resilience and Prosperity expects you to provide matching funds from your own
resources (including those of your partner organizations) of at least 30% of the total project cost.

 Matching Funds can be either cash investments or in-kind contributions.

• Acceptable cash contributions are (1) a cash/equity investment by the lead organization or
implementing partners; (2) facilities provided by other organizations (e.g., equity investments,
bank loans; (3) reinvested profits; and (4) guarantee facilities intended to support financing of
young women and men. Please provide information about the cash investments in E5.
• Acceptable in-kind contributions are (1) salaries of employees working directly on project
implementation; (2) rental of buildings, offices, and facilities; (3) equipment purchases agreed for
the implementation of the project; (4) travel and consultancies; (5) materials and supplies,
training and workshops, printing and publications; (6) market research and marketing materials;
and (7) projects administrative costs. Please provide information about in-kind contributions in
E6.

 Please calculate the total matching funds by adding up the figures you have given in E5 and E6.
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 Fund for Resilience and Prosperity Support Details (in US$)
E1 What is the total project cost US$0
Indicate the total cost of the overall project
E2 Grant amount requested
E3 How do you intend to utilise the FRP funds on this project
Indicate the activities that the FRP funding will be used on this project
E4 Expected duration of the proposed project

Matching Funds (in US$)

Cash Contribution
E5 New cash investment into the business that your company will provide US$0
from shareholders, bank loans, investors, etc.
In-Kind Contribution
E6 Value of resources that your company, shareholders and other partners US$0
will provide as ‘in-kind’ contributions for your business.
E7 Funding Gap (us$)
E8 How do you intend to close the funding Gap? 0.00

PROJECT IMPACT
The Mastercard Foundation, through the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity, is committed to improving the
lives of young women and men, young people living with disability and refugee youth and believe that job
creation can be used to improve the lives of these groups of people. The Fund seeks to channel direct
support to SMEs with projects that have developmental benefits.

F1 Business impact: What will the impact on your business be if the project is successfully
implemented?

F2 Employment Creation: Please describe how many new jobs for young women and men will
be directly created in your company and those of your partners, as a result of this project?
- Youth living with disabilities.
- Displaced youth.

Please also describe the kinds of jobs that will be created i.e. will they be full-time or
seasonal in nature, will they require specific skills, how many will be created for youth
living with disabilities and refugee youth etc.

F3 Indirect employment creation: In addition to the direct jobs that will be created, how many
additional jobs for young women and men will be created as a result of this project?
- Youth living with disabilities.
- Displaced youth.

These could be smallholder farmers, micro-entrepreneurs etc who directly engage and benefit with
the project in a way that secures their livelihoods, creates self-employment, or places them into
wage employment, but are not directly employed by your company or partners.

Please describe the kinds of jobs that will be created i.e., will they be full-time or seasonal
in nature, will they require specific skills, how many will be created for youth living with
disabilities and refugee youth etc.

F4 Potential Wider Development Impacts: Apart from the business and employment impacts
outlined above, what are the other wider impacts you think your project will have on the
sector / ecosystem that you work in if successfully implemented?

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 F5 Please describe how the results outlined above will be sustained after your FRP-supported
project comes to an end? How do you intend to sustain the business once the Fund for
Resilience and prosperity support ends?

RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS

Please describe the key risks, including any environmental and social risks, and assumptions with respect to
your business and how you intend to mitigate or reduce the potential impact of these risks.

In the table provided below, please list the risks, state how important (impact) you think each risk is (low,
medium, high), what the probability is of each risk occurring (low, medium, high) and then explain how you
intend to reduce the risk to your business (mitigation strategies).

NOTE: The Fund for Resilience and Prosperity encourages innovative businesses. What matters is that you
have identified the potential risks and have/will put plans in place to try and manage these risks.

G Risks and Assumptions Impact Probability of Risk Occurring Mitigation

(L, M, H) (L, M, H) Strategies
Risks and Assumptions
Risks here may relate to the market, operating environment, supply chain, etc. For example, the
introduction of new VAT regulations; the evolution of the market; new competing products/services; etc.
L L

OTHER INFORMATION

Please provide any additional relevant information not included in other sections. (Max 1000
characters)
H

All applicants must accept the Fund for Resilience and Prosperity General Terms and Conditions, which you
will have read during the online registration process, and which are also available as a separate document.

Please click this box to indicate that you have read and accept the Fund for Resilience and
Prosperity General Terms and Conditions*

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