The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the *Investment, Jobs and Income (IJI)* Activity under NOFO No. 72052125RFA00001. The purpose of this five-year, $15 million cooperative agreement is to strengthen Haiti’s private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to improve their performance and access the financing required to grow, create jobs, and foster inclusive economic growth. This initiative builds upon the achievements of USAID’s Haiti INVEST program, which mobilized significant private capital and created jobs by facilitating access to finance for Haitian businesses.

Haiti’s economy faces substantial challenges, including limited access to financing, political instability, weak infrastructure, and increasing crime. Haitian SMEs, which account for over 80% of employment, are significantly underserved, with unmet financing needs estimated at $2.5 billion. Banks in Haiti are conservative and generally unwilling to lend outside established "blue-chip" clients, leaving a gap in support for SMEs. Despite these challenges, Haiti possesses a strong entrepreneurial spirit, favorable geographic positioning, low labor costs, and an engaged diaspora eager to invest in viable business opportunities.

The IJI Activity seeks to mobilize financing for SMEs, strengthen supply chain and trade linkages, and promote job creation. The program aims to catalyze at least $90 million in financing over its five-year period, generating approximately 1,800 new jobs. This will be achieved through activities such as establishing finance provider networks, supporting transaction advisors to build investment pipelines, and integrating supply chains to improve firm performance. Additionally, the program may establish a public-private Advisory Council to address policy constraints and a legacy investment facilitation entity to ensure long-term sustainability of investment support in Haiti.

Eligible applicants include any entity, as eligibility for this award is not restricted. USAID encourages participation from organizations that have not previously received USAID funding, including faith-based and local organizations. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this NOFO. Applications must include a technical proposal outlining the approach to achieving the program's objectives and a cost application presenting the budget in alignment with USAID guidelines.

Applicants are required to register on www.grants.gov and the System for Award Management (SAM) well in advance, as the registration process can take weeks. All applications must comply with the formatting requirements specified in Section D of the NOFO, including single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font, page limits, and submission in Microsoft Word or PDF format for the technical application and Excel format for the budget.

USAID will evaluate applications based on merit review criteria outlined in Section E, including the technical approach, sustainability, management capabilities, and cost-effectiveness. Applications will be reviewed to ensure alignment with USAID’s objectives of fostering locally-driven economic growth and resilience in Haiti. USAID reserves the right to amend the NOFO or issue clarifications in response to questions submitted by the deadline of November 11, 2024. The closing date for applications is December 13, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. local time.

The IJI Activity will operate primarily in Haiti, with its main office and key personnel located in Port-au-Prince. USAID expects substantial involvement in activities such as approval of annual implementation and monitoring plans, review of key personnel, and oversight of performance. Implementers are also expected to integrate USAID’s guiding principles, including private sector engagement, gender and social inclusion, innovative financing solutions, adaptive programming, and a focus on sustainability through local systems strengthening.

By leveraging financing and fostering partnerships, the IJI Activity aims to address Haiti’s economic challenges and unlock the potential of SMEs to drive job creation and economic recovery. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative, context-specific approaches that will contribute to USAID’s strategic objectives in Haiti.