Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 12 000021
Apply for RFA OAA 12 000021
- The Agency for International Development in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Democracy Grant and Fellowships Program (DGF)" 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 Jun 19, 2012 and posted on Apr 27, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2012 The close date for this opportunity has been extended to 6/20/2012 at 400pm Eastern Standard Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $33,146,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $33,146,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Have managerial, technical, and institutional capacities to achieve the results outlined in this program description. Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in all subawards issued under this Cooperative Agreement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Democracy Grant and Fellowships Program (DGF) is a USAID funding opportunity designed to strengthen democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) work by investing in people, partnerships, and applied learning. The project aims to provide technical assistance to USAID's Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, with a strong emphasis on building and sustaining a pipeline of professionals working in democracy, conflict, and humanitarian assistance. A central theme is creating and supporting opportunities for junior, mid-level, and senior professionals to develop expertise and practical experience that can directly improve the quality and effectiveness of USAID-supported DRG programming.
At its core, the opportunity is meant to deepen the relationship between USAID and external knowledge institutions such as universities, think tanks, and research organizations. By doing that, USAID is trying to bridge the gap between research and practice, encouraging evidence-based program design and more innovative solutions to DRG challenges. The program is positioned not just as a training or fellowship mechanism, but as a structured way to bring fresh analysis, research capacity, and practitioner experience into the day-to-day work of USAID and its broader partner ecosystem. In practical terms, the intent is to cultivate a ready pool of qualified professionals while also generating research and learning products that can inform future DRG strategies and implementation choices.
This opportunity was released by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement by the agency during implementation compared with a standard grant. The funding activity category is listed as Education, reflecting the program's emphasis on professional development, fellowships, and capacity building. USAID anticipated making a single award under this announcement, indicating the agency likely intended to select one prime recipient to manage and coordinate the overall program, potentially through subawards or partnerships.
From a funding standpoint, the estimated total funding was $33,146,000, and the award ceiling matched that amount, with no stated award floor. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute additional funds as a condition of eligibility. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas), which generally covers overseas assistance activities funded through USAID.
Eligibility was open to a range of organizational types, including private and public institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and other applicants as clarified in the full announcement. Beyond organizational type, applicants were expected to demonstrate that they have the managerial, technical, and institutional capacity needed to achieve the results described in the program description. The announcement also highlights a key compliance requirement: U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibit providing resources or support to individuals or organizations associated with terrorism, and recipients are legally responsible for ensuring compliance. Importantly, that compliance language must be included in all subawards made under the cooperative agreement, signaling that the prime recipient would need strong compliance systems not only internally but across any partner network.
Key timeline details show the opportunity was posted April 27, 2012, created June 19, 2012, and initially closed May 31, 2012, with the deadline later extended to June 20, 2012 at 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. The archive date is July 15, 2012, indicating it is no longer an active solicitation. For support accessing the full announcement, the listed contact was Isidore Emmanuel, an Agreement Specialist at USAID, with a provided phone number (202-567-5286) and an email reference.
Overall, DGF can be summarized as a large, single-award USAID cooperative agreement focused on building DRG talent and strengthening USAID's connections to academic and research institutions, while encouraging research-driven and innovative approaches to democracy, human rights, and governance programming. The program combines professional development objectives with institutional partnership goals, and it places a clear expectation on recipients to manage complex coordination, technical assistance functions, and strict legal compliance across any subawarded activities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Democracy Grant and Fellowships Program (DGF)
1) What is the Democracy Grant and Fellowships Program (DGF)?
The Democracy Grant and Fellowships Program (DGF) is a USAID funding opportunity designed to strengthen democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) work by investing in people, partnerships, and applied learning. It is structured to build professional expertise and practical experience that can improve the quality and effectiveness of USAID-supported DRG programming.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to provide technical assistance to USAID's Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, with a strong emphasis on building and sustaining a pipeline of professionals working in democracy, conflict, and humanitarian assistance. The opportunity also aims to deepen USAID's relationship with external knowledge institutions and strengthen evidence-based DRG programming.
3) Who is the sponsoring agency for DGF?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
4) What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary award made using a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.
5) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Education, reflecting the program's emphasis on professional development, fellowships, and capacity building.
6) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making a single award under this announcement, meaning one prime recipient would likely manage and coordinate the overall program (potentially including subawards or partnerships).
7) What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding is $33,146,000.
8) What is the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling is $33,146,000 (matching the estimated total funding). No award floor is stated.
9) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, meaning applicants were not required to contribute additional funds as a condition of eligibility.
10) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
11) What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was open to a range of organizational types, including private and public institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and other applicants as clarified in the full announcement.
12) Were there non-financial expectations for applicants beyond basic eligibility?
Yes. Applicants were expected to demonstrate managerial, technical, and institutional capacity to achieve the results described in the program description.
13) What is the program trying to build in terms of workforce and talent?
A central theme is creating and supporting opportunities for junior, mid-level, and senior professionals to develop DRG-related expertise and practical experience. The intent is to cultivate a ready pool of qualified professionals for democracy, conflict, and humanitarian assistance work.
14) How does DGF connect USAID with universities and research organizations?
DGF is positioned to deepen relationships between USAID and external knowledge institutions such as universities, think tanks, and research organizations. The goal is to bridge the gap between research and practice by encouraging evidence-based program design and innovative solutions to DRG challenges.
15) Is this program only about training and fellowships?
No. The program is described as more than a training or fellowship mechanism. It is intended as a structured way to bring fresh analysis, research capacity, and practitioner experience into USAID's day-to-day work and its broader partner ecosystem.
16) What kinds of outputs or products does the opportunity emphasize?
In addition to professional development goals, the program is intended to generate research and learning products that can inform future DRG strategies and implementation choices.
17) What compliance requirement related to terrorism is included in the announcement?
The announcement notes that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibit providing resources or support to individuals or organizations associated with terrorism. Recipients are legally responsible for ensuring compliance.
18) Does the compliance language apply to subawards as well?
Yes. The compliance language must be included in all subawards made under the cooperative agreement. This signals the prime recipient would need strong compliance systems across any partner network.
19) When was the opportunity posted, and what were the deadlines?
The opportunity was posted on April 27, 2012. It initially closed on May 31, 2012, and the deadline was later extended to June 20, 2012 at 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
20) Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date is July 15, 2012, indicating the solicitation is no longer active.
21) What key administrative dates are listed for the opportunity?
Key dates provided include: posted April 27, 2012; created June 19, 2012; initial close May 31, 2012; extended deadline June 20, 2012; archive date July 15, 2012.
22) Who was the listed contact for accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact was Isidore Emmanuel, an Agreement Specialist at USAID. The provided phone number is (202) 567-5286, and an email reference was included in the announcement.
23) What would the prime recipient likely be responsible for under a single-award structure?
Because USAID anticipated a single award, the prime recipient would likely manage and coordinate the overall program and may do so through subawards or partnerships. The description also indicates the recipient would need to manage technical assistance functions, coordination across partners, and compliance requirements across any subawarded activities.
24) What is the overall focus area of DGF in one sentence?
DGF is a large, single-award USAID cooperative agreement focused on building DRG talent and strengthening USAID connections to academic and research institutions, while promoting research-driven and innovative approaches to democracy, human rights, and governance programming.
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