Call for Applications: ABDP Grants Scheme (Kenya)

Deadline: 10 May 2024

Are you a youth group registered as an Aquaculture Support Enterprise (ASE)? Are you a recognised Aquaculture Field School (AFS) engaged in Aquaculture production? Are you a Smallholder Aquaculture Group (SAG) involved in Aquaculture production? ABDP is providing competitive grants to the implementing counties to expand the Aquaculture value chain through strategic partnerships.

ABDP is a joint Programme between the Government of Kenya and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Programme is national in scope but targeting counties with high aquaculture potential including concentrations of aquaculture activity, high production, existing infrastructure (processing, marketing and research), adequate water resources and marketing potential. The Programme goal is set as “reduced poverty and increased food security and nutrition in rural communities” and the corresponding development objective as “to increase the incomes of rural poor households involved in aquaculture in the targeted counties and the food security and nutritional status of the wider communities”.

To broaden and deepen the aquaculture value chain, the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) will issue a number of competitive grants to various beneficiaries. These grants are a strategic component of the Programme’s Public-Private-Producer-Partnerships (PPPPs) approach. The grants aim to promote viable business activities in aquaculture and support the development of smallholder fish producers, as well as small-scale supporting service providers and their rural communities. these grants will enhance the efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of ongoing and new aquaculture activities. Additionally, the grants will prioritize climate resilience and environmentally sustainable forms of production, aligning with the Programme’s focus on climate-smart aquaculture. Ultimately, these grants will contribute to the Programme’s overarching goal of reducing poverty, increasing food security, and improving the nutritional status of rural communities.

Vision Statement

To be a leader in governance and development of aquaculture.

Mission Statement

To facilitate sustainable management and development of aquaculture for accelerated socio- economic development.

Strategic Objectives

The strategic objectives of the Aquaculture Business Development Programme are to:
- Raise the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of ongoing and new aquaculture activities in mixed smallholder farming systems, with associated nutrition activities to improve diet quality and food security of the wider rural communities; and
- Improve the efficiency of the whole aquaculture value chain, with a concentration of Programme effort and resources on operations that either include smallholders directly or demonstrably benefit the mass of small-scale producers.

Programme Components

Component 1: Smallholder aquaculture development aims to raise the efficiency profitability and sustainability of ongoing and new aquaculture activities in mixed smallholder farming systems, with associated nutrition activities to improve diet quality and food security of the wider rural communities.
Component 2: Aquaculture value chain development seeks to improve the efficiency of the whole aquaculture value chain, with a concentration of Programme effort and resources on operations that either include smallholders directly or demonstrably benefit the mass of small-scale producers.

Expected Programme Outcomes

Upgrade aquaculture production base through rehabilitation of existing aquaculture production Introduce new fish farming facilities (ponds and others) focusing on new entrants to the sector (mainly youth and women).
Develop sound practices, training and capacity building for smallholders practicing cage culture and aquaculture in small man-made reservoirs.
Promote the technical and business skills of smallholder fish producers to increase their production and productivity as well as their income and move them from subsistence to commercially oriented production.
Build the capacity for feed cottage industries and fingerling production.
Identify entrepreneurial off-farm opportunities and create skills for off-farm entrepreneurial opportunities.
Promote fish consumption and the production of value-added fish products to advance the nutritional status and food security of the wider communities.
Increase value of fish products marketed by Programme beneficiaries.
Support rural aquaculture related enterprises reporting an increase in profit.
Provide training in business management to persons engaged in aquaculture enterprises.
Increase the number of smallholder households included in out-grower schemes and linked to the market.
Facilitate training and capacity building to county extension officers involved the Programme.
Support formulation of regulations and policies proposed for decision makers for ratification/approval.

Criteria

The Programme’s matching grants and business plan competition grants window is targeting Aquaculture Field Schools (AFS); Smallholder Aquaculture Groups (SAGs); and Youths and Women groups operating as Aquaculture Support Enterprises (ASEs) in 15 counties namely, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Machakos, Kajiado, Migori, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisii, Kakamega and Busia. Total grants to be awarded for the FY 2023/2024 are: