Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 674 16 000002
Apply for RFA 674 16 000002
- The USAID-SAF 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 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): 98.011.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 19, 2015 and posted on Nov 19, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 01, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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:
This opportunity is a special USAID call for partnership concept papers designed to accelerate the Power Africa initiative by building Global Development Alliances (GDAs) under an existing USAID Annual Program Statement (APS-OAA-14-000001). The basic idea is to bring together USAID (including Power Africa, the Bureau for Africa, other USAID/Washington offices, and USAID Missions across sub-Saharan Africa) with private sector partners and other development actors to jointly design activities that combine funding, expertise, and operational capacity. Rather than acting as a traditional standalone grant program, the emphasis is on collaboration and co-investment, where multiple parties contribute resources and share responsibility for delivering measurable power-sector results.
USAID is looking for concept papers that propose alliance-based projects supporting Power Africa goals across sub-Saharan Africa. The program is meant to catalyze practical, implementable partnerships that can help move power generation and electrification efforts forward, especially where coordination across organizations and transactions is complex. The resulting alliances are expected to coordinate efforts among many stakeholders involved in expanding generation and new power sources, and to help align private sector activity, public sector reforms, and development finance toward shared outcomes.
The call highlights seven priority areas where proposed alliances are expected to concentrate. These include: (1) financing strategies for power production, such as approaches that unlock capital, improve deal viability, or structure investments for generation projects; (2) late-stage power sector transaction support, which typically involves helping projects that are already far along to reach financial close, complete negotiations, or resolve final technical, legal, or commercial hurdles; (3) small-scale power and rural electrification support, including mini-grids and distributed solutions that can reach underserved communities; (4) regulatory and institutional strengthening and policy reform, aimed at improving the enabling environment so utilities, regulators, and ministries can support sustainable investment and reliable service; (5) training, mentoring, networking, and internships to build the workforce and institutional capacity needed for long-term sector performance; (6) risk mitigation strategies that reduce perceived or real investment risks, such as off-taker risk, regulatory uncertainty, or project development risk; and (7) development or piloting of innovative energy technologies, where new technical approaches can be tested and scaled if proven effective.
Eligibility is broadly open, meaning the competition is not restricted to a narrow applicant type. USAID anticipates alliances that include multiple partners, such as businesses, universities, NGOs, government institutions, and foundations, as long as they are working in sub-Saharan Africa and can contribute meaningfully to the partnership. The funding mechanisms listed include cooperative agreements, grants, and other instruments, reflecting that USAID expects substantial engagement with partners during design and implementation (a common feature of cooperative agreements), alongside flexible structures suited to alliance-based programming.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by USAID-SAF (USAID Bureau for Africa) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA 674 16 000002, categorized under the Energy funding activity area (CFDA 98.011). The posting and creation date is November 19, 2015, and the concept paper closing date is April 1, 2016. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards in the provided data, which often signals that award size and quantity may depend on the strength of proposed partnerships, the level of leveraged resources, and USAID priorities and available funds at the time of selection.
In practical terms, a strong concept paper under this call would typically show a clear Power Africa-aligned problem statement, a credible partnership structure with defined partner roles and contributions, a plan for pooling or leveraging funds and expertise, and a pathway to results that are feasible within the power sector context (including regulatory realities, transaction timelines, and implementation capacity). The overall purpose is to use USAID's convening power and targeted support to unlock larger, partner-driven efforts that expand electricity access and strengthen the systems that make new generation and electrification sustainable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this USAID opportunity?
This is a special USAID call for partnership concept papers intended to accelerate the Power Africa initiative by forming Global Development Alliances (GDAs) under an existing USAID Annual Program Statement (APS-OAA-14-000001). The focus is on designing alliance-based activities where USAID and multiple partners jointly plan and deliver measurable power-sector results in sub-Saharan Africa.
Is this a traditional standalone grant program?
No. The emphasis is on collaboration and co-investment rather than a single-entity, standalone grant. USAID expects multiple parties to contribute resources (funding, expertise, operational capacity) and share responsibility for outcomes.
What is a Global Development Alliance (GDA) in this context?
In this call, a GDA is an alliance structure that brings together USAID (including Power Africa, the Bureau for Africa, other USAID/Washington offices, and USAID Missions) with private sector partners and other development actors to co-design and coordinate activities that advance Power Africa goals.
What is the primary goal of the alliances proposed under this call?
The primary goal is to catalyze practical, implementable partnerships that help move power generation and electrification forward in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly where coordination across organizations and complex transactions is a major barrier.
What geographic area does this opportunity target?
This opportunity targets sub-Saharan Africa. Proposed alliances are expected to support Power Africa goals across the region.
Who is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by USAID-SAF (USAID Bureau for Africa).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and classification information?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA 674 16 000002. The funding activity area is Energy, and the CFDA listing provided is 98.011.
What is being requested: a full application or a concept paper?
This call requests concept papers for partnership/alliance ideas under the referenced USAID APS.
What is the concept paper deadline?
The concept paper closing date is April 1, 2016.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting and creation date is November 19, 2015.
Who is eligible to submit under this call?
Eligibility is broadly open. The competition is not restricted to a narrow applicant type, and USAID anticipates alliances that may include businesses, universities, NGOs, government institutions, and foundations, as long as they are working in sub-Saharan Africa and can contribute meaningfully to the partnership.
Does USAID expect proposals from single organizations or partnerships?
USAID is looking for alliance-based projects and anticipates partnerships that include multiple partners with defined roles and contributions.
What kinds of partners does USAID expect to be involved?
The call anticipates a mix of partners such as private sector entities, universities, NGOs, government institutions, and foundations, alongside USAID stakeholders (Power Africa, the Bureau for Africa, USAID/Washington offices, and USAID Missions).
What types of funding instruments might be used?
The notice lists cooperative agreements, grants, and other instruments. This reflects an expectation of substantial engagement by USAID during design and implementation (commonly associated with cooperative agreements), alongside flexible structures suited to alliance-based programming.
What are the priority areas for proposed alliances?
The call highlights seven priority areas where alliances are expected to concentrate:
- Financing strategies for power production (unlocking capital, improving deal viability, structuring investments for generation projects)
- Late-stage power sector transaction support (helping advanced projects reach financial close and resolve final technical, legal, or commercial issues)
- Small-scale power and rural electrification support (mini-grids and distributed solutions for underserved communities)
- Regulatory and institutional strengthening and policy reform (improving the enabling environment for sustainable investment and reliable service)
- Training, mentoring, networking, and internships (building workforce and institutional capacity)
- Risk mitigation strategies (reducing off-taker risk, regulatory uncertainty, and project development risk)
- Development or piloting of innovative energy technologies (testing and scaling new technical approaches)
What does "financing strategies for power production" mean in this call?
It refers to approaches that unlock capital, improve deal viability, or structure investments for generation projects, with the intent of accelerating power production outcomes aligned with Power Africa.
What does "late-stage power sector transaction support" mean?
It generally involves helping projects that are already far along to reach financial close, complete negotiations, or resolve final technical, legal, or commercial hurdles.
What does the call mean by small-scale power and rural electrification support?
It includes support for mini-grids and distributed solutions designed to reach underserved communities, advancing electrification where large grid expansion may be difficult or slow.
What is included under regulatory, institutional, and policy reform work?
This priority area focuses on strengthening utilities, regulators, and ministries and improving the enabling environment so the sector can support sustainable investment and reliable service.
How does workforce development fit into this opportunity?
The call includes training, mentoring, networking, and internships as a priority area to build the workforce and institutional capacity needed for long-term power-sector performance.
What types of risks does USAID expect alliances to mitigate?
The notice highlights reducing perceived or real investment risks, including off-taker risk, regulatory uncertainty, and project development risk.
Does the opportunity support innovation and new technologies?
Yes. One of the priority areas is the development or piloting of innovative energy technologies, where new technical approaches can be tested and scaled if proven effective.
What kinds of results is USAID looking for?
The call emphasizes delivering measurable power-sector results and aligning private sector activity, public sector reforms, and development finance toward shared outcomes.
How does USAID describe the role it will play?
USAID is positioned as a partner and convener, working with Power Africa, the Bureau for Africa, USAID/Washington offices, and USAID Missions. The intent is to use USAID's convening power and targeted support to unlock larger, partner-driven efforts.
How important is co-investment and leveraged resources?
Co-investment is central to this call. The opportunity stresses that multiple parties contribute resources and share responsibility, and it notes that award size and quantity may depend on leveraged resources, partnership strength, and USAID priorities and available funds.
Is the award ceiling or number of expected awards provided?
No. The provided notice data does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards. This can indicate that award size and quantity may depend on the strength of proposed partnerships, leveraged resources, USAID priorities, and available funds at the time of selection.
What should a strong concept paper include, based on the notice?
Based on the description provided, a strong concept paper would typically include:
- A clear Power Africa-aligned problem statement
- A credible partnership structure with defined partner roles and contributions
- A plan for pooling or leveraging funds and expertise
- A feasible pathway to results that reflects power-sector realities (regulatory environment, transaction timelines, and implementation capacity)
How is coordination across stakeholders addressed in this call?
The call expects alliances to coordinate efforts among many stakeholders involved in expanding generation and new power sources, and to help align private sector activity, public sector reforms, and development finance toward shared outcomes.
What is the underlying purpose of the call?
The overall purpose is to accelerate Power Africa by using alliance-based programming to expand electricity access and strengthen the systems that make new generation and electrification sustainable.
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