Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 003453
Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 003453
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.324 Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 23, 2011 and posted on Jun 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $14,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only land grant institutions are eligible to receive AAEP awards. Eligible land grant institutions include all 1862, 1890, and 1994 land grant institutions. All consortia members must be land grant institutions. The lead institution and consortium members may subcontract to organizations/institutions not eligible to apply provided such organizations/institutions are necessary for the conduct of the project.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP) was a FY 2011 U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), in coordination with the Foreign Agricultural Service, to strengthen Afghanistan's agricultural extension system. The opportunity invited U.S. land-grant universities to apply for a cooperative agreement to support Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) in delivering more effective, demand-driven extension services to farmers and rural communities in selected regions. The central idea was to improve how agricultural knowledge and practical, research-based guidance reached producers, while also increasing public confidence in MAIL as a credible provider of essential services.
The project placed a heavy emphasis on professional development for extension staff, especially at the provincial and district levels where most direct interaction with farmers occurs. Rather than focusing mainly on short-term inputs, AAEP aimed to build extension capacity through training that improves both technical expertise and the methods staff use to communicate, demonstrate, and adapt technologies to local needs. This included developing training modules and educational materials tailored to high-priority needs, so that extension personnel could deliver consistent, useful, and field-relevant information over time.
AAEP also highlighted broader system-building outcomes. Anticipated results included: a strengthened cadre of extension professionals capable of transferring knowledge effectively; increased public access to and use of government extension services; stronger pipelines for future extension personnel through targeted support to agricultural universities, vocational high schools, and technical institutes; and better services for women working in the agricultural sector. Another key theme was promoting a pluralistic extension approach, meaning the project sought better coordination among the various groups providing extension-related services while still grounding recommendations in research-based technologies and recognizing farmer-led innovation already present in Afghanistan.
Funding for the opportunity was estimated at about $14,000,000 total in FY 2011, with an expectation of a single award. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility was limited to U.S. land-grant institutions (including 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions). Consortia were allowed, but every consortium member had to be a land-grant institution; however, the lead institution and consortium members could subcontract to non-eligible organizations when necessary to carry out the work.
Key administrative details included the funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-EXCA-003453 and CFDA 10.324. The opportunity was posted June 1, 2011, and the application deadline was July 15, 2011 (with the archive date listed as August 14, 2011). All project funds had to be spent and all activities completed by September 30, 2014, setting a firm end date for deliverables and closeout. To support applicants, NIFA hosted an informational teleconference on June 16, 2011, provided a way to submit questions in advance by email, and posted responses and summaries on NIFA's global engagement website. For technical access issues, applicants were directed to the NIFA Help Desk during standard business hours.
Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP) FAQs
1) What is the Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP)?
The Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP) was a FY 2011 U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), coordinated with the Foreign Agricultural Service, to strengthen Afghanistan's agricultural extension system.
2) What was the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal was to improve how agricultural knowledge and practical, research-based guidance reached producers in Afghanistan, while increasing public confidence in Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) as a credible provider of essential services.
3) What type of award was offered?
The opportunity invited applicants to apply for a cooperative agreement.
4) Who was the primary Afghan government partner supported by the project?
The project was intended to support Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) in delivering more effective, demand-driven extension services.
5) What did "demand-driven extension services" mean in the context of AAEP?
Based on the opportunity description, "demand-driven" referred to extension services that respond to farmers' and rural communities' needs and priorities, with information and recommendations that are useful, consistent, field-relevant, and grounded in research-based technologies while recognizing farmer-led innovation.
6) What kinds of activities or approaches were emphasized?
AAEP emphasized capacity building and system strengthening, particularly professional development for extension staff. The focus was on improving both technical expertise and the practical methods staff use to communicate, demonstrate, and adapt technologies to local needs.
7) Which extension staff were a priority for training and professional development?
The project placed heavy emphasis on professional development for extension staff at the provincial and district levels, where most direct interaction with farmers occurs.
8) Was AAEP focused on short-term agricultural inputs?
No. The project description explicitly emphasized building extension capacity through training and development (including modules and educational materials), rather than focusing mainly on short-term inputs.
9) What kinds of materials were expected to be developed?
The opportunity highlighted developing training modules and educational materials tailored to high-priority needs, so extension personnel could deliver consistent and useful information over time.
10) What outcomes were anticipated from AAEP?
Anticipated results included a strengthened cadre of extension professionals capable of transferring knowledge effectively; increased public access to and use of government extension services; stronger pipelines for future extension personnel through support to agricultural universities, vocational high schools, and technical institutes; improved services for women working in the agricultural sector; and better coordination among groups providing extension-related services through a pluralistic extension approach.
11) What is meant by a "pluralistic extension approach" in AAEP?
In this opportunity, a pluralistic approach meant improving coordination among the various groups that provide extension-related services, while still grounding recommendations in research-based technologies and recognizing farmer-led innovation already present in Afghanistan.
12) Did AAEP include a focus on women in agriculture?
Yes. One of the stated system-building outcomes was better services for women working in the agricultural sector.
13) Did AAEP address longer-term workforce development for extension?
Yes. The opportunity anticipated strengthening pipelines for future extension personnel through targeted support to agricultural universities, vocational high schools, and technical institutes.
14) What was the estimated total funding amount for FY 2011?
Estimated funding for the opportunity was about $14,000,000 total in FY 2011.
15) How many awards were expected?
The opportunity stated an expectation of a single award.
16) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
17) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to U.S. land-grant institutions, including 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions.
18) Were consortia allowed?
Yes. Consortia were allowed under this opportunity.
19) If applying as a consortium, do all members need to be eligible land-grant institutions?
Yes. The opportunity specified that every consortium member had to be a land-grant institution.
20) Could the lead institution or consortium members involve non-eligible organizations?
Yes. While consortium membership was restricted to land-grant institutions, the lead institution and consortium members could subcontract to non-eligible organizations when necessary to carry out the work.
21) What was the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number was USDA-NIFA-EXCA-003453.
22) What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number was 10.324.
23) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 1, 2011.
24) What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was July 15, 2011.
25) What was the archive date?
The archive date was listed as August 14, 2011.
26) What was the required project end date for spending funds and completing activities?
All project funds had to be spent and all activities completed by September 30, 2014, which served as a firm end date for deliverables and closeout.
27) Did NIFA provide any pre-application support or an informational event?
Yes. NIFA hosted an informational teleconference on June 16, 2011.
28) How could applicants submit questions before the informational teleconference?
Applicants were provided a way to submit questions in advance by email.
29) Where were the teleconference summary and responses to applicant questions posted?
Responses and summaries were posted on NIFA's global engagement website.
30) Who should applicants contact for technical access issues?
For technical access issues, applicants were directed to the NIFA Help Desk during standard business hours.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Education Food and Nutrition
Next opportunity: DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award
Previous opportunity: FY 2011 CVISN Funding
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 003453
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA EXCA 003453", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.