USAID Offers Competitive Grants for Development Activities

The DGP offers USAID a unique opportunity to foster partnerships with organizations and communities that have not been direct USG development partners and to collaborate with grant recipients to make contributions to country development objectives, and the U.S. Government (USG)�s priorities and initiatives. The DGP is closely aligned with Agency Initiatives addressing today�s pressing problems of hunger and food security, health impacts of insufficient water resources, and challenges that accompany global climate change, local capacity development, and women and peace-building as well as post-conflict resolution.

This RFA encourages applicants to propose effective, innovative approaches that contribute to the achievement of development objectives in the sectors specified for this third cycle of DGP funding. Funds for the DGP are available for activities in the following three sectors: water (especially water and sanitation), microenterprise and climate change adaptation. Concept papers should only request support for activities that fall under the Agency�s definitions for the three sectors and in particular should comply with the country-specific guidance provided in Attachment 01.

USAID strongly encourages cost sharing with non-USG partners and the creation of innovative alliances, particularly public-private partnerships. An "alliance," in this sense, is a formal agreement between two or more parties created to jointly define and address a development problem. Alliance partners combine resources, risks and rewards in pursuit of common objectives. Alliance partners make financial and/or in-kind contributions to increase the impact and sustainability of development efforts. Both U.S. PVOs and LNGOs are strongly encouraged to consider alliances with private partners and foundations as a means of leveraging the DGP program funding for greater impact and sustainability. For more information about USAID and alliance building, please see: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/gda/tab.html.

USAID may decide to provide awards through either: 1) a Cooperative Agreement (CA) designed to enable USAID to partner with organizations having limited or no experience working directly with USAID or 2) a Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG) which quantifies project milestones and ties disbursements of funds to achievement of those milestones. A Cooperative Agreement provides for substantial USAID involvement during the award to assist the grantee in achieving the supported objectives of the agreement. An explanation of this �substantial involvement� can be found in subsection F below. A Fixed Obligation Grant does not include substantial involvement.

The DGP offers USAID a unique opportunity to foster partnerships with organizations and communities that have not been direct USG development partners and to collaborate with grant recipients to make contributions to country development objectives, and the U.S. Government (USG)’s priorities and initiatives. The DGP is closely aligned with Agency Initiatives addressing today’s pressing problems of hunger and food security, health impacts of insufficient water resources, and challenges that accompany global climate change, local capacity development, and women and peace-building as well as post-conflict resolution.

This RFA encourages applicants to propose effective, innovative approaches that contribute to the achievement of development objectives in the sectors specified for this third cycle of DGP funding. Funds for the DGP are available for activities in the following three sectors: water (especially water and sanitation), microenterprise and climate change adaptation. Concept papers should only request support for activities that fall under the Agency’s definitions for the three sectors and in particular should comply with the country-specific guidance provided in Attachment 01.

USAID strongly encourages cost sharing with non-USG partners and the creation of innovative alliances, particularly public-private partnerships. An "alliance," in this sense, is a formal agreement between two or more parties created to jointly define and address a development problem. Alliance partners combine resources, risks and rewards in pursuit of common objectives. Alliance partners make financial and/or in-kind contributions to increase the impact and sustainability of development efforts. Both U.S. PVOs and LNGOs are strongly encouraged to consider alliances with private partners and foundations as a means of leveraging the DGP program funding for greater impact and sustainability. For more information about USAID and alliance building, please see: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/gda/tab.html.

USAID may decide to provide awards through either: 1) a Cooperative Agreement (CA) designed to enable USAID to partner with organizations having limited or no experience working directly with USAID or 2) a Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG) which quantifies project milestones and ties disbursements of funds to achievement of those milestones. A Cooperative Agreement provides for substantial USAID involvement during the award to assist the grantee in achieving the supported objectives of the agreement. An explanation of this “substantial involvement” can be found in subsection F below. A Fixed Obligation Grant does not include substantial involvement.

Awards funded under this RFA will support activities for a period of performance of up to five (5) years unless otherwise specified in the Mission-Specific Information listed in Attachment 01.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a concept paper or an application. In addition, final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal USAID procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified that all potential awards are subject to the availability of funds. Concept papers and applications are submitted at the risk of the Applicant. All preparation and submission costs incurred are at the Applicant’s expense. This RFA may be amended by USAID as necessary, e.g., to revise deadlines, expand Mission participation or update sector information.