R -- KENYA HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Pre-Solicitation Notice KENYA HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT NOTIFICATION OF FUTURE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) USAID/Kenya announces its intention later this year to invite proposals for the implementation of a new Kenya Horticulture Development Project (KHDP). The goal of the project is to increase the productivity of smallholder horticulture and to improve the efficiency of the value chain, leading to increased rural household incomes. This goal will be achieved through four components: a) increased horticultural productivity; b) increased horticulture trade and access to markets; c) strengthened private sector business development service provision; and d) expanded and strengthened smallholder organizations capabilities to provide services to their member-owners. A range of activities is anticipated under the project as follows: i) introducing appropriate technologies and adding value; ii) improving production and post-harvest handling; iii) strengthening of services for farmers, traders, other actors along the value chain, with an emphasis on private sector providers; iv) facilitating domestic, regional and international marketing; v) developing and strengthening of smallholder farmer organizations; vi) improving policy environment; and vii) developing consumer awareness and public outreach. The KHDP will take into consideration the impact of the proposed activities on the environment and institute mitigation measures to minimize negative impacts. The project is also expected to address gender disparities that prevail in the smallholder horticulture farming across the value chain. The implementing agencies of the KHDP will use a business development services (BDS) approach that develops markets for the demand and supply of identified services across the value chain, and will work through service providers as a facilitator rather than as a direct player in the services market. It is expected that there will be a lead organization that develops a project proposal with a limited consortium of agencies, including Kenyan organizations, to carry out the multiple elements of the project. There will also be very close collaboration with other related USAID projects on dairy, maize, agricultural policy research, BDS, and in particular with relevant Government of Kenya institutions. End of project expected results include increased productivity (kgs/acre), increased value and volume of trade in domestic, Africa region and international markets; strengthened capacity of smallholder and trade associations; improved access to goods and services by formal and informal horticultural enterprises; institutionalized value chain approach; enabling policy environment for horticulture production and markets in place. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is projected to be issued early May 2003. USAID will not entertain questions until after the RFP is issued. It is the responsibility of the party downloading the RFP to ensure that it has been received in its entirety, and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from the transmission or conversion process. When the RFP is issued, any amendments thereof will be posted on the internet, and interested parties should check the website regularly. The publication of this notice or the RFP does not obligate the U.S. Government to make an award.