Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 12 000024
Apply for RFA OAA 12 000024
- The Agency for International Development in the business and commerce community development education energy environment food and nutrition health regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development and expansion of economic assistance programs that fully utilize cooperatives and credit unions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2012 and posted on Jun 1, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 13, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements 1. Be either a U.S. cooperative or an organization with substantial membership and/or financial links to recognized U.S. cooperatives and/or their associations. 2. Demonstrate a track record of not less than five years in the planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of overseas cooperative development programs. Note Applications from U.S. and non U.S. cooperatives will be considered if they include evidence of a binding agreement with an eligible CDO.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
This USAID grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA OAA 12 000024) supports the development and expansion of economic assistance programs that make full, practical use of cooperatives and credit unions as engines for inclusive growth and community-level development. The solicitation comes from the Agency for International Development, specifically the Office of Innovation and Development Alliances, Local Sustainability Division (IDEA/LS). The central idea is to fund programs that strengthen the ability of cooperative and cooperative-linked institutions to serve their members and communities through better systems, stronger policies, improved technical approaches, and upgraded organizational skills. USAID frames this as part of a long-running effort: IDEA/LS and predecessor offices have funded PVOs, NGOs, cooperative development organizations, and cooperatives for roughly four decades, and this opportunity continues that tradition while aligning it with current USAID priorities and the office's strategic direction.
The award type is a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect a more substantial, collaborative relationship with USAID than under a standard grant, including ongoing engagement around implementation, learning, and results. The opportunity is categorized as an earmark and is broad in its development scope. While the title emphasizes economic assistance through cooperatives and credit unions, the listed activity areas show the work can cut across multiple sectors, including business and commerce, community development, education, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, and regional development. That wide set of categories signals that USAID is open to cooperative-based and credit-union-based approaches in many contexts, as long as the proposed activities clearly advance development outcomes and fit the agency's strategic priorities.
Funding for the overall opportunity is estimated at $4,250,000 with an expectation of up to 12 awards. The notice lists an award ceiling and floor as $0, which typically indicates that specific award sizes may vary and will be determined through the application review and negotiation process rather than being preset in the announcement summary. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should be prepared to bring partner resources to the table, whether through cash, in-kind contributions, or other allowable forms of match consistent with the award terms. The posting date was June 1, 2012, with an original and current closing date of July 13, 2012, indicating this was a time-bound competition during that period.
Eligibility is specialized and focused on organizations connected to the U.S. cooperative sector and experienced in overseas cooperative development. Applicants must either be a U.S. cooperative or be an organization with substantial membership and/or financial links to recognized U.S. cooperatives and/or their associations. In addition, applicants must demonstrate at least five years of experience planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating overseas cooperative development programs. The notice also clarifies that applications from both U.S. and non-U.S. cooperatives may be considered, but if a cooperative is not itself an eligible cooperative development organization (CDO), it must include evidence of a binding agreement with an eligible CDO. In practice, this points to a preference for entities that not only understand cooperative models domestically but can also credibly implement and measure cooperative development programming internationally, with established governance, fiduciary controls, and monitoring and evaluation capacity.
Operationally, the opportunity is designed to support partners that can help cooperatives and credit unions become more effective development actors by improving enabling environments and institutional performance. That can include strengthening internal management systems, expanding technical skills, improving service delivery to members, reinforcing policy and regulatory frameworks where relevant, and building sustainable linkages that help cooperative and credit union networks scale their impact. The solicitation explicitly notes that the direction of IDEA/LS support has evolved over time as development priorities and partner capacities have changed, and that applicants should ground proposals in the Office of Innovation and Development Alliances strategic direction and in broader USAID priorities, which serve as the key guiding documents for what will be funded and how success will be judged.
For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Suhaib Khan, Contracting Officer, at (202) 567-5059 or sukhan@usaid.gov.
FAQs: USAID Cooperative and Credit Union Economic Assistance (RFA OAA 12 000024)
What is this USAID funding opportunity?
This is a USAID grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA OAA 12 000024) to support the development and expansion of economic assistance programs that make full, practical use of cooperatives and credit unions as engines for inclusive growth and community-level development.
Which USAID office is issuing this solicitation?
The solicitation is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Innovation and Development Alliances, Local Sustainability Division (IDEA/LS).
What is the main purpose or goal of the funding?
The goal is to fund programs that strengthen the ability of cooperatives and cooperative-linked institutions to serve their members and communities. The emphasis is on improving systems, policies, technical approaches, and organizational skills so cooperatives and credit unions can deliver stronger development outcomes.
What type of award is USAID offering?
The award type is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates a more collaborative relationship with USAID than a standard grant, including more ongoing engagement around implementation, learning, and results.
How does a cooperative agreement differ from a standard grant in this opportunity?
Based on the notice, recipients should expect substantial USAID involvement through ongoing collaboration during implementation, as well as engagement on learning and results, rather than a more hands-off grant relationship.
What kinds of activities or sectors can proposed programs focus on?
While the title emphasizes economic assistance through cooperatives and credit unions, the activity areas listed indicate the work can span multiple sectors. Examples named in the notice include business and commerce, community development, education, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, and regional development. The common thread is that the approach should leverage cooperatives and/or credit unions to advance development outcomes and align with USAID priorities.
Is this opportunity limited only to traditional "economic development" projects?
No. The categories listed in the opportunity show USAID is open to cooperative-based and credit-union-based approaches across a broad development scope, as long as the activities clearly advance development outcomes and fit USAID strategic priorities.
What is the total estimated funding amount for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding is $4,250,000.
How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID expects to make up to 12 awards under this opportunity.
Is there a minimum or maximum award size?
The notice lists an award ceiling and floor as $0. This typically means award sizes are not preset in the summary and may vary, with final amounts determined through application review and negotiation.
Does cost sharing or matching apply?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should be prepared to contribute partner resources. The notice indicates match may include cash, in-kind contributions, or other allowable forms consistent with the award terms.
What is the funding opportunity number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA OAA 12 000024.
What does it mean that the opportunity is categorized as an "earmark"?
The opportunity is categorized as an earmark and described as broad in development scope. The notice does not provide additional detail beyond that categorization.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date listed is June 1, 2012.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date listed is July 13, 2012, indicating it was a time-bound competition during that period.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is specialized. Applicants must either be a U.S. cooperative or be an organization with substantial membership and/or financial links to recognized U.S. cooperatives and/or their associations.
Is experience in overseas cooperative development required?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate at least five years of experience planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating overseas cooperative development programs.
Can non-U.S. cooperatives apply?
The notice clarifies that applications from both U.S. and non-U.S. cooperatives may be considered. However, eligibility is still tied to the requirements stated in the announcement.
What if a cooperative is not an eligible cooperative development organization (CDO)?
If a cooperative is not itself an eligible cooperative development organization, it must include evidence of a binding agreement with an eligible CDO.
What kinds of organizations has USAID funded in this space historically?
The notice states IDEA/LS and predecessor offices have funded PVOs, NGOs, cooperative development organizations, and cooperatives for roughly four decades, and that this opportunity continues that tradition while aligning with current USAID priorities and the office's strategic direction.
What kinds of improvements is USAID looking to support within cooperatives and cooperative-linked institutions?
The opportunity emphasizes strengthening the ability of cooperative and cooperative-linked institutions to serve members and communities. Examples mentioned include improving internal management systems, building technical skills, improving service delivery to members, strengthening policies and regulatory frameworks where relevant, and building sustainable linkages that help cooperative and credit union networks scale impact.
How should applicants align their proposals with USAID expectations?
The solicitation notes that applicants should ground proposals in the Office of Innovation and Development Alliances (IDEA/LS) strategic direction and broader USAID priorities, which are described as the key guiding documents for what will be funded and how success will be judged.
Who is the point of contact for questions or access to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact is Suhaib Khan, Contracting Officer, reachable at (202) 567-5059 or sukhan@usaid.gov.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Business and Commerce Community Development Education Energy Environment Food and Nutrition Health Regional Development
Next opportunity: FY 2012 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO Programs Benefiting Malian Refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger
Previous opportunity: Program to Support Criminal Law Reform in Moldova
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 RFA OAA 12 000024
[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 "RFA OAA 12 000024", 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.