The CAFI (Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion) project is currently promoting its 3rd Incubation Cycle under the Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub & Seed Financing Facility. This program aims to support enterprises in high-potential sectors through a six-month incubation period, which includes business workshops, coaching, mentorship, and seed fund.
Key Details:
Application Deadline: Applications close on December 24, 2024.
Eligibility: Applicants must choose only one of the five Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) for their incubation.
Information Sessions: Daily sessions will be held from Monday 4th December to Wednesday 24th December 2024 to provide more details about the application process.
CAFI
The business must have a minimum of 3 full-time employees.
The business must demonstrate innovation and have potential for upscaling, including job creation potential.
While open for every enterprise, preference is for women and youth led enterprises to apply.
Call for Proposals: Empowering Youth and Women in Agricultural Enterprises
Development Solutions PTY LTD, an ESO under Lesotho Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed
Financing Facility, is pleased to invite proposals from SMEs or startups actively engaged in the
horticulture value chain. The aim is to identify and support innovative businesses that drive
economic development and promote long-term sustainability in Lesotho.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Reference Letter
* Include a letter from a local authority or industry peer affirming the
organization’s credibility, reliability, and commitment.
- Operational Experience
* Must have operated for at least 1 year as an informal or a formal enterprise.
- Track Record
* Provide work history.
- Strategic Alignment
* Demonstrate alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and the extended National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II).
* Showcase measurable impact, including job creation potential.
* Must demonstrate innovation and have potential for upscaling.
- Inclusivity
While open for every enterprise, preference is for women or youth led enterprises to apply.
Focus Areas Proposals are encouraged in the following areas:
* Horticulture Farming: Sustainable practices, crop diversification, and value addition,
ensuring market access.
* Agribusiness Marketing: Promoting, distributing, or selling agricultural products,
ensuring value addition and market access.
* Information Technology (IT): Leveraging technology to enhance agricultural productivity,
efficiency, or market access (e.g., digital platforms, precision farming).
* Branding: Creating strong, recognizable identities for agricultural products or services,
including packaging, labeling, and marketing campaigns.
* Agricultural Inputs: Production, import or export of tools, pesticides, and manure.
* Agribusiness Processing: Transforming raw agricultural products into finished or value-
added goods (e.g., milling, canning, fermentation).
* Recycling Agricultural Products: Initiatives to recycle agricultural-related materials or by-
products.
* Post-Harvest Handling and Storage: Composting, biofuel production, organic fertilizers,
or other sustainable solutions.
* Transport Business from Rural Areas: Transportation services connecting rural
producers to broader markets.
* Educational Institutions in Agriculture: Offering training, workshops, and courses in
sustainable farming and agribusiness.
Application Process
Applicants can access the application form through the following CAFI website Link (www.cafi.
org.ls) where you can apply through Development Solutions link.
Submission Deadline: 24th December 2024 Only shortlisted enterprises will be contacted for additional processes.
For clarity please send email to developmentsolutions1@gmail.com copy entrephub@cafi.org.ls or call +266 22316948 / 57888186.
NB: All enterprises shall be expected to comply with social and environmental safeguards.
“Information sessions (to give further clarity where needed), will be held every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at (10am-11am for Development Solutions) on a link to be published on the CAFI website. These sessions will run from Monday 4th December up to Friday 24th Dec 2024.