Ref #ER DYSO
Date: 25/11/2025
CALL FOR APPLICATION (CFA)
Facilitate strengthening Dairy & Poultry Inputs and Services Market (Concentrated feed, Pullets, small-scale dairy processing equipment, solar energy installation for day-old growers and Extension service) in Mekelle city
1. Introduction
Mercy Corps Ethiopia, through the Economic Recovery for Conflict-Affected Population (ER- CAP) Program, is launching an important market-based intervention in Mekelle City, Tigray Region. The objective is to strengthen and stimulate the local livestock input and services market-specifically for concentrated feed, pullets, small-scale diary processing equipment, Solar energy installation to generate energy for day-old-growers and technical advisory service to dairy and poultry producers affected by the conflict in Mekelle city.
Many dairy and poultry producers in Mekelle city are struggling to access reliable and affordable livestock inputs and services to resume and expand their business. High transportation costs, dependence on distant suppliers, lack of technical guidance, limited access to quality pullets, and inadequate extension services constrain productivity and profitability. These challenges have been exacerbated by the disruptions of conflict and limited operational capacity of local agribusinesses.
To address these barriers, ER-CAP seeks to partner with local feed distribution agents, pullet suppliers, supply of small-scale dairy processing equipment and solar energy for day-old growers willing to expand their outreach, deliver high-quality products and services, and provide embedded extension services to dairy and poultry producers in Mekelle city. This initiative applies to a cost-sharing market stimulation approach that allows smallholder farmers to access locally produced feed products, improve the quality of their herds or flocks, and adopt dairy value- addition practices to minimize raw milk losses during extended fasting periods. It also helps them addressing energy constraints through solar energy installation when raising day-old chicks.
This Call for Application (CFA) invites competent and licensed livestock input suppliers to collaborate with Mercy Corps to deliver improved access to concentrated feed, quality pullets, small scale dairy processing equipment and solar energy installation for day-old chick growers and interested to strengthen extension services to the targets of the project.
2. Background
Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Mercy corps' vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis- affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, WEP and other foundations.
The Economic Recovery for Conflict-Affected Population Project (ER-CAP)
ER-CAP is a five-year initiative led by Mercy Corps, in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and First Consult, with funding from Sweden Government. The program's overarching goal is to enhance the economic adaptation, protection, and recovery of conflict- affected populations, including IDPs, returnees, women, youth, and other vulnerable community members. It employs an integrated, conflict-sensitive, climate-smart, and Market Systems Development (MSD) approach to drive sustainable, systemic changes.
The ER-CAP project is designed to benefit 43,540 conflict-affected individuals across three regions: Afar (Abaala), Tigray (Mekelle), and Amhara (Woldiya). The program works in collaboration with government stakeholders, private sector actors, and the local community to enhance economic resilience and foster sustainable livelihoods for 17,416 individuals in Mekelle city and its surroundings. These efforts aim to empower participants through market-based opportunities, including wage employment, self-employment, and productive agriculture to ensure resilient economic recovery.
Core Program Pillars
ER-CAP's strategy is t on three interconnected pillars:
1. Sustainable Livelihoods & MSMEs: Strengthening the capacity of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including those led by women and youth, by improving essential crop and livestock value chains. This is achieved through facilitating demand-driven skills training, input/output market linkages, and strategic advocacy.
2. Inclusive Financial Services: Facilitating access to affordable financial products and technology for conflict-affected communities and MSMEs. This involves strategic partnerships with Financial Service Providers (FSPs) to streamline Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements, integrate financial literacy training, and expand mobile and agent banking services.
3. Protection and Social Cohesion (GESI): Enhancing protection capacity through establishing protection desks and information hubs, providing access to legal solutions, psychosocial support, and technical coaching. The project actively promotes Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) dialogues to mitigate protection risks and ensure inclusive economic recovery.
ERCAP will be implemented using a market systems development approach
sustainable, systemic change at scale. This will involve partnerships with the private sector and government actors.
Objective of Call for Application:
The main objective of this call is to stimulate and strengthen local livestock/poultry input and service market by facilitating sustainable local supply chain and quality services, including concentrated feed, small- scale dairy processing equipment, quality pullets and solar energy for day-old chick growers and after sales technical support to ensure resilient economic recovery and livelihoods for conflict-affected smallholder farmers.
Specifically, this call will improve the following:
• Promote locally manufactured concentrated feed and facilitate sustainable market linkage
• Improve accessibility, affordability, and adoption of local livestock inputs and services.
• Enhance supply chain of quality pullets by strengthening linkages among market actors
• Strengthening small scale dairy value addition at smallholder farmer levels
• Facilitate the installation of solar energy systems to help DOC growers overcome electricity shortages.
• Facilitate networking and business partnership among dairy/poultry business market actors to contribute to post-conflict economic recovery
• Enhances working capital of program participants through cost share and ensure reliable access
Scope of Partnership and Supplier Responsibilities
Selected partners will be required to contribute to sustainable livestock system strengthening through the following:
• Supply concentrated feed from local manufacturers for dairy and poultry during the pilot phase.
• Ensure supply of quality 45-day pullets
• Supply of small-scale dairy processing equipment
• Installation of solar energy for day old growers
• Will use opportunity to expand extension services and technical assistance on feed utilization, housing and productivity improvement for new market or program participants
• Ensure ethical pricing, transparent communication, and reliable service to conflict- affected households.
• Establish sustainable input and service market linkage based on win-win approach
• Maintain alignment with relevant regional authorities and comply with all regulatory requirements.
5. Benefits of Partnering with Mercy Corps ER-CAP
Selected livestock input and service providers will receive:
•Market Expansion Support: Access to a large pool of dairy and poultry producers in Mekelle.
• Technical Collaboration: Joint training and extension sessions.
• Strengthened Linkages: Formal business connections with local feed manufacturers, and dairy and poultry producer groups.
• Brand Visibility: Recognition as a key partner supporting post-conflict recovery efforts.
• Capacity building: facilitate provision of capacity building
6. Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must meet the following mandatory requirements:
• Must be a legally registered business with valid and renewed trade licenses on the above indicated activities and should provide required legal documents along with application.
• Must be an authorized feed distribution agent or partner of local feed manufacturers and pullets, supplier of small-scale dairy processing equipment and solar energy installation and technical support in Mekelle city
• Demonstrated experiences on providing livestock (dairy and poultry) inputs and services to smallholder farmers in Mekelle city and its surroundings.
• Able to present previous similar intervention agreements entered with government bureaus/NGOs confirming legitimacy and demonstrated experience.
• Commitment to share information related to above stated business operations, with mandated government bodies and Mercy Corps as required.
• Must comply with Mercy Corps' code of ethics, compliance, monitoring and reporting.
• Must have operational base in Mekelle city
7. Duration of Partnership
The partnership period expected for one year based on performance monitoring to strengthening the local livestock input and service market for dairy & poultry producers in Mekelle City and surrounding from December 2025 - November 2026
8. Application Process
8.1 Information Meeting
• Date: 28 November 2025
• Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
• Location: Mercy Corps Office, Mekelle (Hadnet Sub-City, near Kelkel Debri, 100 meters west of Tombola Hotel)
• Contact number for more information: +251 914 746 576
8.2 Preparation of Applications
The application template will be provided during the information meeting and must be completed and submitted on December 5,2025. Completed applications will be accepted in English and must be no more 6 pages in length (not including budget, proof of registration, or other required attachments). A soft copy of the application form will be emailed to interested applicants on request. Mercy Corps will evaluate all Applications based on the criteria described below. All applicants that meet the criteria will be considered; however, Mercy Corps reserves the right to not accept any applicant if none are qualified.
9. Who Can Apply
For this Call for Applications, Mercy Corps seeks to collaborate with:
• Qualified and licensed dairy and poultry input and service providers (concentrated feed, pullets, small scale dairy processing equipment, solar energy for day old growers and technical support) operating in Mekelle city,
10. Submission Requirements
Submit the following:
• Completed application form
• A valid business license, TIN, etc.,
• Proof of feed distribution agreements and a copy of the feed quality certification issued by the feed processor you represent as an agent
• Support letter from relevant regional bureau
• Evidence of past performance with government or NGOs
• Budget for listed inputs/materials
Submission Deadline: 5 December 2025 from 8:00-11:00 AM, Mercy Corps Mekelle Office, by hardcopy
11. Conditions
Issuance of this solicitation in no way constitutes a commitment by Mercy Corps to carry out any agreement or to pay any costs incurred by any applicant in applying. Please note that Mercy Corps will fully respect the confidentiality of all companies involved in the program.