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EU ENPARD Grants – SP5: “Support package to improve food safety condition of women small-scale milk and cheese producers in Georgia”

Purpose of Small Grants: The objective of this support package is to support women small-scale milk and cheese producers improve the food safety condition of their farms and to reduce potential risks for the consumers.

Priority Program Areas: Under this activity, FAO seeks to provide women small-scale milk and cheese producers in Tsalka, Adigeni, Gori and Samtredia municipalities and in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region with a training on food safety and a small grant to purchase food safety related equipment. The grant scheme prioritizes milk and cheese producers already trained by FAO in the target municipalities. Additional training sessions may be organized as the support package is implemented.

ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants
The target beneficiaries under this activity are women primary producers active in milk and cheese production in the targeted regions and holding a legal status. Applications from farmers whose cattle is registered on the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (“NAITS”) will be scored higher during the technical evaluation of applications.  

Milk and cheese producers will be considered eligible if they own a herd of milking cows ranging from six to twenty heads.
To be eligible for a matching grant, applicants will need to have undertaken a FAO food safety training before.

Eligible investments
Under the current grant cycle, the applicants will be asked to apply for one or more of the following equipment from selected suppliers:

For small scale milk producers:

  • Portable milking machine (3 options available)
  • Cooling tank of a maximum capacity of 500 liters (3 options available]

For small scale cheese producers:

  • Portable milking machine (3 options available)
  • Cooling tank of a maximum capacity of 500 liters (3 options available)
  • Pasteurizers of a maximum capacity of 500 liters (3 options available)
  • Portable milk analyzer (2 options available)

For equipment where more than 1 option is available, applicants are asked to select only one.

Photo of the equipment

Model

TM1222 – Dry, single stainless-steel bucket 40 L, silicone liner

Total Price

1,330 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Barbaros – Gold model, dry, single stainless-steel bucket, 40 L, silicone liner

1,480 GEL
Supplier: Roqi

Barbaros – Universal model, oily, double stainless-steel bucket, 30 L, silicone liner

1,600 GEL
Supplier: Roqi

Gidamaksan milk cooling tank 125 liter

7,620 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Gidamaksan milk cooling tank 300 liter

11,450 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Gidamaksan milk cooling tank 500 liter

14,350 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Gidamaksan milk pasteurizer 100 liter

12,170 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Gidamaksan milk pasteurizer 250 liter

15,285 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Gidamaksan milk pasteurizer 500 liter

19,180 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Milktronic Lactoscan S

3,250 GEL
Supplier: Caucasus Genetics

Master Pro milk analyzer

2,750 GEL
Supplier: Roqi

Cost Sharing or Matching
A matching grant representing 70% of the eligible investment, in support of the 30% contribution to be paid by the grantee. 

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

The applicant is expected to fill an application form on the online grant management platform available here: https://enpard-grant.smapply.io/prog/45_support_to_women_small-scale_milk_and_cheese_producers_/

When connecting to the platform, the applicant will be asked to create an account with her email address and a password. Once logged in, she will be able to officially apply to the grant competition, she will have to describe the project, select the equipment for which a matching grant is requested, and attach all supporting documents.

Content of Application
A list of supporting documents is requested from applicants, depending on the legal status:

For companies/ SMEs:

  • Copy of passport or national ID of the director/ chairperson
  • Registration certificate from the “National Agency of Public Registry”
  • Reference from the “Revenue Services” on non-existence of indebtedness/tax debts.
  • Land ownership certificate or lease agreement for the property/land considered in the application
  • Photos/Video materials of the farm

Please note that an application for a SME can only come from either the legal representative of the organization or from someone specifically authorized to apply on behalf of the organization through a signed Power of Attorney.

For cooperatives:

  • Copy of passport or national ID of the cooperative’s representative
  • Registration certificate from the “National Agency of Public registry”
  • Land ownership certificate or lease agreement for the property/land considered in the application
  • Photos/Video materials of the farm

Please note that an application for a cooperative can only come from either the legal representative of the organization or from someone specifically authorized to apply on behalf of the organization through a signed Power of Attorney.

For individual farmers:

  • Copy of passport or national ID
  • Land ownership certificate or lease agreement for the property/land considered in the application
  • Registration as an individual entrepreneur (if not registered yet, the applicant will be asked to register to be able to sign the grant agreement).
  • Photos/Video materials of the farm

APPLICATION REVISION AND SELECTION PROCESS

1/ Eligibility and budget verification: Immediately after the application submission, FAO will review the budget comprised in the application form and the applicant’s eligibility. FAO will also perform a pre-screening of the supporting documentation attached on the platform to make sure all documents have been properly submitted. Shall any clarification be needed, FAO will contact the applicant to confirm the application is in line with the program requirements.

Verification field visit: Following the previous stages, FAO may perform a field visit to the farm to verify the information included in the application.

2/ Technical evaluation and application scoring
Each application will be rated based on the criteria outlined below.

  • The application is complete, coherent and informative
  • The proposed investment is adapted to the farm’s size and activities
  • The premises are suitable for milk and/or cheese production and use of equipment
  • The applicant demonstrates relevant professional background
  • The applicant has a good understanding of food safety risks associated with their business
  • The applicant shows high potential to adopt improved food safety practices
  • No conflict of interest or ethical doubts were identified
  • The grant will have a direct impact on food safety.

3/ Selection of applications: Following a successful technical revision of the application, the Application Review Committee composed of the alternate budget holder, the FAO Project Coordinator, and a technical officer from FAO Georgia will take the granting decision. The committee may select, reject, request additional supporting documentation, propose modifications, or add conditions to the approval.

The award decisions of the selection committee will be documented in a minute signed by all three members. The details of the grant applications as well as the signed minutes will then be shared with the donor and the focal point at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in Georgia for consultation. Both parties will be given a week delay to provide comments or raise concerns about the proposed projects. The questions or concerns raised shall be addressed by the project implementation unit in a timely manner.

If no concerns are raised, the signed minutes will then be shared with FAO project Budget Holder for final approval.

Payment method: If granted, the grantee will be contacted by FAO to prepare a grant agreement to be signed between the grantee and FAO. After signature, the grantee will be asked to pay his/her matching contribution to the selected supplier. The equipment will then be delivered to the farm by the supplier. A field visit may be organized to confirm the equipment delivery, and FAO will then pay the matching grant directly to the supplier.

Monitoring and evaluation: When receiving the grant, the grantee commits to keep and maintain the entire supported equipment (including spare parts) for at least five years following the agreement signature date. The applicant will also commit to an open-door policy and to facilitate visits to his/her premises upon FAO’s request. Finally, a yearly visit will be organized by FAO to ensure the proper usage of the equipment.