Financial Services Implementation Grant Program | Apply Online

Financial Services Implementation Grant Program (USAID) - FAQs

1) What is the Financial Services Implementation Grant Program?

It is a USAID discretionary funding opportunity focused on expanding access to housing-related financial services for low-income households in developing countries, with a specific emphasis on the poor and very poor. The program centers on practical financial products (especially housing microfinance) that help families improve homes over time and aims to strengthen the broader housing microfinance sector so approaches can be replicated and scaled beyond a single project.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is designed to achieve two connected outcomes: (1) improve housing conditions by implementing financial service solutions that reach underserved populations, and (2) generate learning that can be used beyond the individual grant through a learning network that supports documentation and sharing of replicable tools, processes, and methodologies.

3) Who is the program intended to benefit?

The primary intended beneficiaries are low-income households in developing countries, with a specific emphasis on the poor and very poor, particularly those who are underserved by existing housing-related financial services.

4) What types of financial services or products does the program emphasize?

The program points to targeted housing-related financial services, especially housing microfinance. Examples implied by the description include small and affordable housing improvement loans, financing aligned with incremental construction, and related products that match how low-income families typically build or upgrade housing in stages.

5) Is this grant only about delivering loans or financial services?

No. In addition to delivering services that improve housing conditions, recipients are expected to build evidence and learning that others can use. This includes refining models, documenting what works, and producing practical guidance that can be adopted by other institutions and countries.

6) What are the two key expected outcomes for applicants?

Applicants are expected to: (1) implement financial service solutions that improve housing conditions for underserved, low-income populations, and (2) participate in a learning network to document and share replicable processes, tools, and methodologies that support scaling housing microfinance beyond the individual project.

7) What does participation in a learning network involve?

Based on the opportunity description, participation involves documenting and sharing experiences and results, and producing replicable processes, tools, and methodologies. The aim is to create usable learning that can help scale housing microfinance in other settings, beyond the grant-funded activities themselves.

8) What funding mechanism does USAID expect to use?

Funding is expected to be awarded through cooperative agreements. This typically means USAID anticipates substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.

9) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?

Subject to the availability of funds, USAID anticipated making about 4 to 8 awards.

10) What is the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?

Individual awards were expected to range from $400,000 (award floor) to $1,200,000 (award ceiling).

11) What is the estimated total funding for the program?

The estimated total program funding level was $4,000,000.

12) How long is the performance period?

The performance period for funded activities is three years.

13) Is USAID required to fund every application submitted?

No. USAID explicitly reserved the right to fund all, some, or none of the applications submitted.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S. nongovernmental organizations and non-U.S. nongovernmental organizations, provided they meet the specific requirements laid out in the Request for Applications (RFA).

15) Are for-profit companies eligible to apply?

The opportunity description states eligibility is limited to U.S. and non-U.S. nongovernmental organizations that meet RFA requirements. No other organization types are described as eligible in the information provided.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should expect to contribute a portion of project resources from non-USAID sources, consistent with the RFA terms.

17) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on January 23, 2008. The application closing date was March 25, 2008. It was archived on October 31, 2008.

18) Is this opportunity still open?

Based on the information provided, it is not open. The application closing date was March 25, 2008, and the announcement was later archived on October 31, 2008.

19) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is M-OAA-EGAT-EMD-08-250.

20) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 59.050.

21) Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The listed agency is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

22) Who is the point of contact for administrative or access issues?

For administrative or access issues tied to the full announcement, the contact provided is Linda Reed, Contract Specialist, at 202-712-1797.

23) What kinds of implementation approaches does the program seem to encourage?

The description suggests approaches that fit the reality of incremental housing improvement among low-income families, such as affordable, small-scale housing improvement loans and incremental construction financing. It also encourages approaches that can be documented, tested, refined, and shared so they can be scaled and replicated.

24) What is meant by scaling or replicating under this program?

Scaling and replication refer to spreading successful housing microfinance approaches beyond a single project or country setting. The program emphasizes creating evidence and practical guidance (processes, tools, methodologies) that other institutions and countries can adopt.

25) What does it mean that USAID will have "substantial involvement" under a cooperative agreement?

The opportunity notes that cooperative agreements typically involve more involvement by USAID during implementation than a standard grant. The specific form of that involvement is not detailed in the information provided, but the mechanism signals a closer working relationship during the project period.