Opportunity Information: Apply for 306 08 027 RFI
Apply for 306 08 027 RFI
- The Thailand USAID Bangkok in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alternative Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 22, 2008 and posted on Jul 22, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a pre solicitation notice. The full request for applications with a closing date will be published in late August 2008.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
USAID announced a pre-solicitation notice for a large, competitively awarded Alternative Development Program aimed at expanding legal, commercially viable agriculture-based livelihoods for rural Afghans in order to substantially reduce, and ultimately eliminate, poppy cultivation across Afghanistan. The planned award is structured as a five-year Cooperative Agreement and is designed to be strongly outcomes-based, meaning the implementing partner is expected to focus on measurable results rather than simply delivering activities. The program is intended to support licit economic growth that can compete with the incentives of the illicit economy, benefiting both farmers and non-farmers through job creation and stronger market systems.
Geographically, USAID indicates the program will concentrate on provinces in northern, eastern, and western Afghanistan where poppy eradication has shown progress, security constraints are comparatively lower, and economic opportunities are more feasible. The notice lists example priority provinces such as Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman in the east, and Badakhshan and Takhar in the north, while leaving room for adjustments based on conditions and available funding. This provincial focus signals an intention to build on areas where momentum already exists, rather than starting from scratch in the most insecure or poppy-dependent locations.
Programmatically, the opportunity emphasizes building agricultural value chains and rural enterprises that can generate sustainable income. USAID highlights expected results such as creation of full-time and part-time employment (including both year-round and seasonal work), increased sales and market activity, stronger producer or business associations, increased exports, and improved access to services. In practical terms, this points toward interventions that connect farmers and rural businesses to inputs, finance, processing, storage, transport, standards, and buyers, while also strengthening collective organizations that help small producers compete and negotiate in the marketplace.
A key requirement is alignment with Afghanistan’s national priorities, specifically the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). Applicants are also asked to integrate cross-cutting issues throughout the program design, including revenue generation and cost recovery (so interventions do not depend indefinitely on donor subsidies), anti-corruption safeguards, gender considerations, local governance, and “Afghanization.†Afghanization is described as increasing the use of Afghan staff, local firms, and Afghan NGOs; encouraging local ownership; and sourcing goods and services locally when possible. In effect, USAID is signaling that the program should be implemented in a way that strengthens Afghan institutions and markets, not just deliver short-term outputs.
USAID also makes clear that while it will communicate objectives and desired outcomes, it will not prescribe a specific methodology. That opens space for applicants to propose innovative, cost-effective technical and business approaches tailored to local conditions. At the same time, prevailing regulations prohibit applicants from offering direct monetary incentives, though applicants may propose other incentive structures or enabling conditions that encourage participation and success, so long as they comply with applicable rules.
From a competition and eligibility standpoint, the solicitation is described as full and open competition, with eligibility listed as unrestricted (meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to any further clarifications in the eventual full announcement). USAID specifically encourages Afghan and regional organizations to apply either independently or in partnership with other entities, which suggests partnerships, consortia, or subcontracting relationships may be particularly relevant for combining international technical capacity with strong local presence and legitimacy.
The application package is expected to include a Program Description, a Performance Metrics and Measurement Plan, and a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). Together, these requirements reinforce that USAID expects a clear theory of change, a credible monitoring and evaluation approach with defined indicators, and a concrete plan for assuring quality and oversight during implementation.
In terms of funding, the notice lists an estimated total of up to USD 150,000,000 with an award ceiling of USD 150,000,000, an expected number of awards of one, and no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The funding opportunity number is 306-08-027 (RFI), under CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas), and the activity category is Agriculture. This notice is explicitly a pre-solicitation; the full request for applications and a firm closing date were expected to be released in late August 2008. The point of contact provided is Fedon Capas, Senior Acquisition Assistance, USAID (Bangkok), with phone and email included for access issues or questions about the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this USAID funding opportunity about?
This is a USAID pre-solicitation notice for a large, competitively awarded Alternative Development Program in Afghanistan. The goal is to expand legal, commercially viable agriculture-based livelihoods for rural Afghans in order to substantially reduce, and ultimately eliminate, poppy cultivation across Afghanistan.
2) What type of award is USAID planning to make?
USAID plans to make a five-year Cooperative Agreement. The notice also indicates the program will be strongly outcomes-based, meaning USAID is expecting measurable results rather than activity delivery alone.
3) How much funding is anticipated?
The notice lists an estimated total of up to USD 150,000,000, with an award ceiling of USD 150,000,000.
4) How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID expects to make one award.
5) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
6) Is this the final Request for Applications (RFA)?
No. This is explicitly a pre-solicitation notice. The full request for applications and a firm closing date were expected to be released in late August 2008.
7) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is 306-08-027 (RFI). The CFDA number is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The activity category is Agriculture.
8) Where in Afghanistan will the program focus?
USAID indicates the program will concentrate on provinces in northern, eastern, and western Afghanistan where poppy eradication has shown progress, security constraints are comparatively lower, and economic opportunities are more feasible.
9) Which provinces are mentioned as examples of priority areas?
The notice lists example priority provinces including Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman in the east, and Badakhshan and Takhar in the north. USAID also signals there is room for adjustments based on conditions and available funding.
10) What kinds of results does USAID expect from the program?
USAID highlights expected results such as creation of full-time and part-time employment (including year-round and seasonal work), increased sales and market activity, stronger producer or business associations, increased exports, and improved access to services.
11) What program approaches are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes building agricultural value chains and rural enterprises that can generate sustainable income, and supporting licit economic growth that can compete with the incentives of the illicit economy. This includes benefits for both farmers and non-farmers through job creation and stronger market systems.
12) What does "outcomes-based" implementation mean in this notice?
USAID describes the planned award as strongly outcomes-based. Practically, that means the implementing partner is expected to focus on measurable results (for example, employment, sales, exports, strengthened associations, and access to services) rather than simply completing a list of activities.
13) Will USAID prescribe the exact methodology or implementation model?
No. USAID states it will communicate objectives and desired outcomes, but it will not prescribe a specific methodology. Applicants are expected to propose approaches that are tailored to local conditions and are innovative and cost-effective.
14) Are direct monetary incentives allowed for participants?
The notice says prevailing regulations prohibit applicants from offering direct monetary incentives. Applicants may propose other incentive structures or enabling conditions that encourage participation and success, as long as they comply with applicable rules.
15) What national policy alignment is required?
Applicants are required to align with Afghanistan's national priorities, specifically the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS).
16) What cross-cutting issues must be integrated into the program design?
The notice asks applicants to integrate cross-cutting issues throughout the program design, including revenue generation and cost recovery, anti-corruption safeguards, gender considerations, local governance, and Afghanization.
17) What does "revenue generation and cost recovery" mean in this context?
USAID signals that interventions should not depend indefinitely on donor subsidies. Applicants are expected to incorporate revenue generation and cost recovery concepts so the supported systems and services can be sustained over time.
18) What does "Afghanization" mean for this opportunity?
Afghanization is described as increasing the use of Afghan staff, local firms, and Afghan NGOs; encouraging local ownership; and sourcing goods and services locally when possible. The intent is to strengthen Afghan institutions and markets rather than only delivering short-term outputs.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
The competition is described as full and open, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply (subject to any further clarifications in the eventual full announcement).
20) Does USAID encourage Afghan or regional organizations to apply?
Yes. USAID specifically encourages Afghan and regional organizations to apply either independently or in partnership with other entities.
21) Are partnerships or consortia relevant for this program?
The notice encourages Afghan and regional organizations to apply independently or in partnership. This suggests partnerships, consortia, or subcontracting relationships may be relevant for combining technical capacity with strong local presence and legitimacy.
22) What application components are expected in the package?
The notice states the application package is expected to include a Program Description, a Performance Metrics and Measurement Plan, and a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).
23) Why does USAID require a Performance Metrics and Measurement Plan?
The requirement reinforces that USAID expects a credible monitoring and evaluation approach with defined indicators to track progress toward the stated outcomes.
24) What is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) expected to cover?
Based on the notice, the QASP is intended to provide a concrete plan for assuring quality and oversight during implementation, consistent with the program's outcomes-based design.
25) What is the main economic logic behind the program?
USAID frames the program as supporting licit economic growth that can compete with the incentives of the illicit economy by strengthening agricultural value chains, rural enterprises, and market systems that create jobs and sustainable income opportunities.
26) Who is the point of contact for questions or access issues?
The point of contact listed is Fedon Capas, Senior Acquisition Assistance, USAID (Bangkok). The notice includes phone and email for access issues or questions about the announcement.
27) What is the time horizon of the planned program?
The planned award is structured as a five-year Cooperative Agreement.
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