The steps for How to Apply for MSME Resilience Support in Lesotho through LEAP assistance
LEAP allows a wide range of eligible expenditures that support MSMEs to improve their productivity or growth, as well as strengthen their resilience to climatic shocks in Lesotho.
FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORM
Please complete the application form (Parts 1 and 2). Part 1 provides basic information on your enterprise. Part 2 outlines the activities or action plan you wish to undertake, along with the impact it will have on your business in terms of sales, revenue, employment growth etc. It also details your request for LEAP assistance directly relevant to your action plan.
Applications that are not prepared or signed by third parties who are not the management of the applicant enterprise will not be accepted.
The Application Form also specifies what supporting documentation must accompany your application. If service providers/consultants are to be employed as part of your action plan, LEAP requires you to source three competitive bids for such service(s).
You should read the Rules and Regulations before submitting your Application Form.
SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FORM
You will receive a formal acknowledgement of the receipt of the Application Form. This will acknowledge the eligibility both of your company and the planned company activities. You will also be advised of the name of your LEAP contact person.
LEAP may seek additional information or clarification and may make an appointment to visit your premises
APPROVAL
The decision of the LEAP approvals authority will be communicated in writing to you as quickly as possible.
If your grant application is approved, you will receive a Letter of Approval. This commits LEAP to pay your grant on a reimbursement basis, i.e. after the agreed action plan has been implemented and paid for by you. It will detail the conditions of the approval and specify the required proof of successful completion of the grant-assisted activities, including the deliverables, which will be required by LEAP before payment of the approved grant. The Letter of Approval will be accompanied by a Letter of Commitment to be signed by you and returned to LEAP. The formal agreement between the two parties will only commence when the Letter of Commitment is received in the LEAP office.
Please note the requirement in the LEAP Rules and Regulations that any changes to the programme must receive the prior written agreement of the Lesotho Enterprise Assistance Programme.
Confidentiality
All information received by LEAP shall be treated as confidential and shall not be communicated to other parties.
What Business Development Activites are eligible for LEAP assistance?
Eligible Activities
- Export or expansion plan preparation
- Approved workshops and seminars
Eligible Costs
- Consultancy fees
- Training expenses
- Airfares’ and inland travel expenses
- Training materials
- Lodging and Boarding expenses
- Selected digital devices
Eligible Activities
- Installation of Quality Management Systems
- Financial and Accounting Systems
- Management Information System (MIS)
- Management and Technical Capacity Building Systems or Training
Eligible Activities
- Assistance in diagnosing production/efficiency problems
- Improved quality control procedures
- More efficient production management and layout
Eligible Costs
- Consultancy fees
- Training expenses
- Airfares and inland travel expenses
- Training materials
- Selected digital devices
- Lodging and Boarding expenses
Eligible Activities
- Export market research
- Domestic market surveys
- Product and prototype testing concepts, labels, taste, smell, etc.
Eligible Costs
- Consultancy fees
- Purchase of market and/or database information
- Airfares and inland travel expenses
- Lodging and Boarding expenses
Eligible Activities
- Space use
- Stand design and construction
- Catalogue entry
- Display of samples
Eligible Costs
- Space rental and construction
- Airfares and inland travel and expenses
- Banners and other stand material
- Catalogues & Brochures
- Transportation of samples
- Lodging and Boarding expenses
Eligible Activities
- Space use
- Stand design and construction
- Catalogue entry
- Display of samples
Eligible Costs
- Consultancy fee
- Testing
- Plate making and/or separations
- Photograph, lay out design and sample package
- Selected digital devices
Eligible Activities
- Advertising and promotion
- Brand promotion
- Point-of-sale material
- In-store display and demonstration
- Direct mail campaigns
- Design origination
- Artwork, photography
- Brochures and other sales literature
- Promotional tools
- Development of websites
- Digital signage incl. on store and on route
Eligible Activities
- Consultancy fees
- Advertising design
- Translation
- In-store demonstrations
- Audio visual production
- Artwork, photography
- Advertorial video production
- Product brochures or catalogues
- Website design and one year’s maintenance
- Selected digital devices
Note: Actual advertising media costs are not covered.
Max. cap for marketing & promotional material M20,000.00.
Max cap. Light box M13,500.00.
Road signage M27,000.00.
Max for website design and hosting M13,500.00
What Business Development Activites are INELIGIBLE for LEAP assistance?
- Isolated activities (that are not part of an integrated plan approved by LEAP)
- Business Plans/ activities that do not support diversification into new products, new markets or expanded sales
- Business Plans/Strategic Reviews that are generalized and of low value, and are consultant-driven rather than genuinely demand-driven
- Salaries/fees of staff
- Activities subsidized by another service or agency
- Activities completed before the application is approved
Non Allowable Activities & Related Costs
- Purchase of vehicles, land and or the construction of buildings
- Architect’s fees for infrastructure projects or replacement works
- Stocks of goods
- Computers, peripherals, software, office supplies, most printed products, etc.
Non Allowable Activities & Related Costs
- Any and all operating expenses and overdraft or bank interest costs
Non Allowable Activities & Related Costs
- Office cleaning, security services and building maintenance
- Transportation services for goods and staff and delivery services
- Book-keeping services, auditing services and tax advisory services
- Contract computing services for pay roll, inventory, etc.
- Accounts, secretarial services, temporary manpower services, etc.
- Royalty fees
Non Allowable Activities & Related Costs
- Plant and equipment upkeep if not acquired through LEAP assistance
Non Allowable Activities & Related Costs
- Legal services, debt collection services
- Real estate agency services, architectural services
- Office and factory building services
- Printing and graphic design for regular ongoing business requirements
- Pollution control activities
- Employment regulations, zoning requirements, performance fees, etc.
Non Allowable Activities & Related Costs
- Recurrent costs for existing advertising activities