Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme
Market-aligned interventions for cleaner production in the textiles value chain in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Call for Concepts to identify interventions that contribute to reducing waste and manufacturing pollution in the textiles sector in sub-Saharan African and South Asia.
The deadline for applications has now past.
Short overview
The SMEP programme seeks to fund 3 to 6 interventions, across 8 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal), that aim to address manufacturing pollution in the textiles sector.
The procurement is in 2 stages:
- stage 1 Call for Concepts, 12 October 2022 to 31 January 2023
- stage 2 Request for Proposals, March to April 2023
Refer to the Terms of Reference, for more details. A budget of GBP £250,000 to £1 million per pilot will be made available from May 2023.
What the fund will achieve
Concepts should align with 1 of the 4 thematic areas:
- improved knowledge sharing and data production systems
- increased efficiency in wet processing
- addressing excessive amounts of unsold and second-hand garments
- developing and upscaling of more environmentally friendly fibres
Concepts which can also show real potential for direct or indirect Greenhouse Gas (GHG) mitigation are encouraged.
Ideally, the solution proposed should be in response to or be supported by a demand-side market signal (market-aligned) such as having a supplier offtake agreement in place with the manufacturers. Note that the concept should either include proof of such a market alignment or alternatively propose a strategy of how the solution can be integrated into the market to ensure long-term commercial buy-in.
Applicants are requested to propose solutions that are collaborative, specifically bringing together manufacturers operating in the textile value chain (supply-side parties) and customers including retailers (demand-side parties).
Where concepts include the piloting of technological solutions, the SMEP programme calls for solutions that are between technology readiness levels (TRL) 5 to 9 which can be tested, trialled, and developed in the real-world context.
Co-finance is encouraged, particularly from demand-side partners (textile buyers and retailers) and this includes in-kind contributions such as facilitating testing or piloting of concepts.
Pilots should have an implementation period of 18 up to 32 months.
Social and environmental co-benefits are encouraged. Concepts that meet programme objectives and can show potential for co-benefit delivery will be considered favourably. These aspects include wider benefits to human health and the environment as well as creating opportunities for local economic upliftment especially for women and marginalised groups.
Refer to the Terms of Reference, for more detail
Eligibility
Applicants are requested to propose solutions that include collaboration from various actors necessary to ensure ultimate success. Collaboration partners should bring together manufacturers operating in the textile value chain (supply-side parties) and customers, including retailers (demand-side parties). Concepts may bring together different stakeholders, either as individuals or in a consortium, with at least one consortium member being based in the target country, including:
- retailers and retail platforms (demand-side)
- manufacturers (supply-side parties)
- solution providers (these could include technology providers and/or research institutions in the pollution-control and circularity areas
- industry actors
Priority will be given to 8 SMEP target countries across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. Concepts from other ODA countries can also be considered. Providers may elect to work in more than one country in a (sub-)region.
How to apply
Successful applicants will be invited to submit full proposals. It is anticipated successful proposals will begin implementation in May 2023.
Background information on the fund
The Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme, supports innovative solutions that prevent pollution from manufacturing being released into the environment. It includes a focus on generating evidence and practical solutions to address the problem of plastic ocean pollution. The programme has an investment fund of up to £20 million to be disbursed over a 5 year period (2019-2024) with up to £2.75 million of this potentially available for this procurement call.
Contacts
FCDO has appointed a Project Management Agent (PMA) to manage programme delivery. The PMA comprises a consortium partnership between Pegasys and SouthSouthNorth (SSN). More about the implementation team can be found on the SMEP website.
Queries may be sent to Project Manager, Alexa von Geusau: alexa@southsouthnorth.org or the Procurement address: procurement@smepprogramme.org.
Updates to this page
Last updated 10 November 2022 + show all updates
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The deadline has been extended to 1pm GMT on 31 January 2023.
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First published.