Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 391 14 000004
Apply for RFA 391 14 000004
- The Pakistan USAID Islamabad in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP)" 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 Feb 13, 2014 and posted on Dec 24, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 14, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Please refer to Section II ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA of the RFA.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP) is a USAID-funded grant opportunity aimed at boosting jobs and long-term economic prospects in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Structured as a four-year, multi-million dollar initiative, the program is designed to tackle economic challenges from multiple angles at once, focusing both on strengthening agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods and on expanding micro and small enterprises. The overall intent is to increase household incomes and local employment by improving productivity, rebuilding and upgrading market linkages, and encouraging stronger local business activity in a region that has historically faced limited economic infrastructure and fewer formal opportunities.
From an agriculture and livestock perspective, ESP emphasizes practical improvements at the farm level. The program plans to build farmers' skills through training and technical support, while also improving access to higher-quality agricultural inputs. These inputs can include improved seeds, better tools, and other production-related resources that directly affect yields and farm efficiency. Beyond skills and inputs, the program also aims to increase the agricultural resource base, which points to efforts like improving land and water-related productivity, strengthening the supporting systems that farmers rely on, and generally expanding the capacity of local agriculture to sustain larger and more consistent output over time.
Equally important, ESP is not limited to farm production. Off-farm support is a major component, reflecting an understanding that job creation and economic resilience often require diversified income sources. In practice, this includes helping establish and grow micro and small enterprises, improving the supply chains that connect producers to buyers, and rehabilitating or strengthening local market infrastructure. Market infrastructure can include facilities and systems that make it easier to store, transport, aggregate, and sell goods, reducing waste and transaction costs while increasing the ability of local producers and businesses to reach larger markets. The program also intends to support the development of local business and trade associations, which can help organize stakeholders, represent business interests, set shared standards, and sustain progress after the project ends.
Administratively, this opportunity was issued by USAID Pakistan (Islamabad) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA 391 14 000004, titled "FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP)." The opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the government expects substantial involvement during implementation rather than simply providing funds with minimal engagement. The funding is listed under CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The award ceiling is up to USD 50,000,000, with an award floor of USD 0, indicating that awards could vary significantly depending on the final scope and selection decisions. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants would need to contribute resources or funds as defined in the solicitation.
The posting date for the opportunity was December 24, 2013, with a creation date of February 13, 2014, and a closing date of February 14, 2014. The archive date is March 16, 2014, meaning it is no longer an open competition. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with applicants directed to Section II (Eligibility Criteria) of the RFA for specific requirements. For assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed contact is Saadi Akhtar, Acquisition Assistance Specialist, reachable by phone at 92512081288 or by email at sakhtar@usaid.gov.
FAQs: FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP) - USAID Pakistan
What is the FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP)?
The FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP) is a USAID-funded grant opportunity designed to boost jobs and long-term economic prospects in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It is described as a four-year, multi-million dollar initiative focused on increasing household incomes and local employment.
What are the main goals of ESP?
The program aims to increase household incomes and local employment by improving productivity, rebuilding and upgrading market linkages, and encouraging stronger local business activity in FATA, a region noted as having historically limited economic infrastructure and fewer formal opportunities.
How long is the program expected to run?
ESP is structured as a four-year initiative.
Which geographic area does this opportunity focus on?
The opportunity focuses on Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
What sectors or activities does ESP support?
ESP addresses economic challenges through two major tracks: (1) strengthening agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods and (2) expanding micro and small enterprises, including improvements to supply chains and local market infrastructure.
What kinds of agriculture and livestock support are included?
From an agriculture and livestock perspective, ESP emphasizes practical farm-level improvements. This includes training and technical support to build farmers' skills, improving access to higher-quality agricultural inputs (such as improved seeds and better tools), and increasing the agricultural resource base to support larger and more consistent output over time.
What does "improving access to higher-quality agricultural inputs" mean in this program?
Based on the description, higher-quality inputs can include improved seeds, better tools, and other production-related resources that directly affect yields and farm efficiency.
What does the program mean by "increasing the agricultural resource base"?
The description points to efforts that improve land and water-related productivity, strengthen supporting systems that farmers rely on, and expand the capacity of local agriculture to sustain increased and more consistent production over time.
Does ESP fund activities beyond farm production?
Yes. Off-farm support is described as a major component. The program intends to help establish and grow micro and small enterprises, improve supply chains that connect producers to buyers, and rehabilitate or strengthen local market infrastructure.
What types of off-farm businesses does ESP aim to support?
The opportunity states that it will support the establishment and growth of micro and small enterprises. It does not provide a specific list of business types in the summary provided.
What are "market linkages" and why are they important in this opportunity?
Market linkages refer to the connections between producers and buyers. ESP aims to rebuild and upgrade these linkages so goods can move more efficiently through supply chains, helping local producers and businesses reach larger markets while reducing waste and transaction costs.
What is meant by "local market infrastructure" in the ESP description?
Market infrastructure is described as facilities and systems that make it easier to store, transport, aggregate, and sell goods. Improving this infrastructure can reduce waste and transaction costs and increase the ability of local producers and businesses to reach broader markets.
Will ESP support business or trade associations?
Yes. The program intends to support the development of local business and trade associations, which can organize stakeholders, represent business interests, set shared standards, and help sustain progress after the project ends.
Who is the issuing agency for this grant opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by USAID Pakistan (Islamabad).
What is the official title and funding opportunity number?
The title is "FATA Economic Stabilization Program (ESP)." The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA 391 14 000004.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that this is a Cooperative Agreement?
The summary explains that a Cooperative Agreement means the government expects substantial involvement during implementation rather than only providing funds with minimal engagement.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The listing is under CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is up to USD 50,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
The award floor is listed as USD 0, which indicates awards could vary significantly depending on the final scope and selection decisions.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants would need to contribute resources or funds as defined in the solicitation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others." Applicants are directed to Section II (Eligibility Criteria) of the RFA for the specific eligibility requirements.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility criteria?
The summary directs applicants to Section II (Eligibility Criteria) of the RFA.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date is December 24, 2013. The closing date is February 14, 2014.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date is March 16, 2014, and the closing date has passed, so it is no longer an open competition.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The key dates provided are: posting date (December 24, 2013), creation date (February 13, 2014), closing date (February 14, 2014), and archive date (March 16, 2014).
Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact is Saadi Akhtar, Acquisition Assistance Specialist.
What contact details are provided for the point of contact?
Phone: 92512081288. Email: sakhtar@usaid.gov.
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