Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 623 14 000002
Apply for RFA 623 14 000002
- The East Africa USAID Kenya in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Call for Partnership Concept Papers in Support of Power Africa Initiative under Existing Global Development Alliance Annual Program Statement APS No..APS OAA 14 000001" 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 Apr 10, 2014 and posted on Apr 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 13, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $7,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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.
- USAID/East Africa/Power Africa Trade Africa welcomes applications from many types of organizations including U.S. and non U.S. private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, U.S. and non U.S. Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), faith based organizations, international organizations, U.S. and non U.S. colleges and universities, civic groups, regional organizations, etc. All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law. An individual cannot apply as an applicant. In addition, for the following groups the criteria below also apply U.S. and Non U.S. Non Profit Organizations Qualified U.S. and non U.S. private non profit organizations may apply for USAID funding under this APS. U.S. and Non U.S. For Profit Organizations In accordance with 22 CFR 226.81 and 22 CFR 226.5 and U.S. and Non U.S. Colleges and Universities Qualified U.S. and non U.S. colleges and universities may apply for funding under this APS
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity is a USAID call for Partnership Concept Papers designed to support the Power Africa Initiative by building public-private partnerships that can accelerate energy access and power-sector development in priority African countries. Rather than seeking traditional standalone projects funded solely by the U.S. government, the announcement emphasizes collaboration through the Global Development Alliance (GDA) model, where USAID works with private sector partners and other stakeholders to combine financing, technical expertise, and on-the-ground resources to achieve shared development outcomes. In practical terms, applicants are being asked to propose partnership ideas that help Power Africa meet its goals by mobilizing additional capital and capabilities beyond what USAID could provide on its own.
The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-623-14-000002 and is tied to an existing Global Development Alliance Annual Program Statement (APS No. APS OAA-14-000001). The funding instrument is a grant, and the program area is categorized under Energy. USAID anticipated making about three awards under this call, with an estimated total funding amount of $7,500,000. The award ceiling is also listed as $7,500,000, indicating that while total funding across awards is capped at that amount, specific award sizes could vary depending on the strength of the concept, the level of partner engagement, and the final negotiated scope.
A key feature of the call is that cost sharing or matching is required. That requirement reflects the partnership nature of the activity: USAID is explicitly looking for partners who will bring real resources to the table, such as cash contributions, in-kind support, staff time, data, technology, operational capacity, or other tangible assets. The central expectation is that the proposed activity will “pool funds, talent, and resources†from USAID, other U.S. government agencies where relevant, and private sector entities, aligning everyone around a joint plan that advances Power Africa priorities.
Eligibility is broad and essentially unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organization types can apply as long as they are legally recognized entities (individuals cannot apply). USAID signals that it welcomes concept papers from U.S. and non-U.S. private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, international organizations, colleges and universities, civic groups, and regional organizations. Both nonprofit and for-profit entities may apply, and the notice references applicable regulatory frameworks for for-profit participation. This breadth is consistent with the GDA approach, which often relies on commercial actors, financiers, utilities, developers, and service providers working alongside civil society and public institutions.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on April 10, 2014, with an original and final closing date of November 13, 2015, and it was archived on December 13, 2015. The CFDA number listed is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The issuing entity is USAID in East Africa (USAID Kenya is named in the agency fields), and the opportunity is framed as supporting Power Africa, with references to USAID’s Bureau for Africa, USAID/Washington offices, and USAID Missions in priority Power Africa countries. That structure suggests the resulting partnerships could involve cross-mission coordination and may be designed to scale across markets or address region-wide constraints, depending on the concept proposed.
Conceptually, applicants should understand this as an invitation to propose partnership-driven solutions that help unlock generation, transmission, distribution, and/or enabling environment improvements, with the specific focus being whatever most directly supports Power Africa’s targets and country priorities. While the synopsis does not list specific sub-sectors or required technical focus areas, the repeated emphasis on partnering with the private sector and pooling resources strongly implies that concepts should be practical, implementable, and designed to leverage additional investment or operational capacity. Strong concept papers under a call like this typically explain the development challenge being addressed, the proposed partnership structure, what each partner contributes (including cost share), why the collaboration is necessary, what results are expected, and how the activity advances Power Africa goals in measurable ways.
For organizations that could not access the full announcement electronically, the contact person listed is Michael Makosala, identified as an A&A Specialist, with a phone number of +254 20 8622000.
FAQs: USAID Power Africa Partnership Concept Papers (RFA-623-14-000002)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USAID call for Partnership Concept Papers intended to support the Power Africa Initiative. The focus is on building public-private partnerships that accelerate energy access and power-sector development in priority African countries.
2) Is this a traditional grant for a standalone USAID-funded project?
No. The announcement emphasizes collaboration rather than a traditional standalone project funded solely by the U.S. government. Proposals are expected to follow the Global Development Alliance (GDA) model, where USAID and partners combine financing, technical expertise, and other resources to achieve shared development outcomes.
3) What is the GDA (Global Development Alliance) model in this context?
In this call, the GDA model means USAID is looking for partnerships that "pool funds, talent, and resources" from USAID, potentially other U.S. government agencies (as relevant), and private sector entities and other stakeholders. The partnership should be organized around a joint plan that advances Power Africa priorities.
4) What should applicants submit?
Applicants are being asked to submit partnership concept papers (partnership ideas). These concepts should describe a practical, implementable partnership approach that mobilizes additional capital and capabilities beyond what USAID could provide alone.
5) What program area does this opportunity support?
The program area is categorized under Energy and is specifically framed as supporting the Power Africa Initiative.
6) What kinds of energy activities are expected to be relevant?
The synopsis indicates concepts may address generation, transmission, distribution, and/or enabling environment improvements, depending on what most directly supports Power Africa targets and country priorities. The synopsis does not list specific sub-sectors or required technical focus areas.
7) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-623-14-000002.
8) Is this connected to another USAID solicitation or umbrella program?
Yes. It is tied to an existing Global Development Alliance Annual Program Statement (APS No. APS OAA-14-000001).
9) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
10) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making about three awards under this call.
11) What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount is $7,500,000.
12) What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is listed as $7,500,000. This indicates the total funding across awards is capped at that amount, while individual award amounts could vary based on the concept, partner engagement, and the final negotiated scope.
13) Does this opportunity require cost share or matching?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required.
14) What kinds of cost share contributions are expected?
USAID is explicitly looking for partners that bring real resources, which can include cash contributions, in-kind support, staff time, data, technology, operational capacity, or other tangible assets. The expectation is that the partnership will combine resources from multiple parties.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and essentially unrestricted, as long as the applicant is a legally recognized entity. Individuals cannot apply.
16) What types of organizations does USAID say it welcomes?
USAID indicates it welcomes concept papers from U.S. and non-U.S. private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, international organizations, colleges and universities, civic groups, and regional organizations.
17) Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. Both nonprofit and for-profit entities may apply. The notice references applicable regulatory frameworks for for-profit participation.
18) Is this opportunity limited to U.S.-based organizations?
No. The notice explicitly welcomes both U.S. and non-U.S. private businesses and reflects broad eligibility for legally recognized entities.
19) Which USAID office is issuing or associated with this opportunity?
The issuing entity is USAID in East Africa (USAID Kenya is named in the agency fields). The opportunity also references USAID's Bureau for Africa, USAID/Washington offices, and USAID Missions in priority Power Africa countries.
20) Does USAID expect cross-country or cross-mission coordination?
The structure described suggests resulting partnerships could involve cross-mission coordination and may be designed to scale across markets or address region-wide constraints, depending on the concept proposed.
21) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on April 10, 2014. The original and final closing date was November 13, 2015. It was archived on December 13, 2015.
22) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
23) What is USAID looking for in a strong concept paper (based on the synopsis)?
Based on the synopsis, strong concepts typically explain: the development challenge being addressed; the proposed partnership structure; what each partner contributes (including cost share); why collaboration is necessary; what results are expected; and how the activity advances Power Africa goals in measurable ways.
24) Who is the contact person if an organization cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The contact person listed is Michael Makosala, an A&A Specialist. Phone: +254 20 8622000.
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