Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS FFPR 15
Apply for USDA FAS FFPR 15
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture food and nutrition regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food for Progress Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.606 Food for Progress.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 24, 2014 and posted on Sep 29, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 15, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $250,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Private Voluntary Organizations, Cooperatives, Intergovernmental Organizations, Foreign Governments
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Opportunity Summary:
The Food for Progress Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant opportunity designed to support agricultural and broader rural economic development in developing countries and emerging democracies. The core idea is to use U.S. agricultural commodities as a catalyst for long-term improvements in agriculture-led growth, especially in countries that are working to introduce or expand free enterprise within their agricultural economies. Rather than functioning only as short-term food relief, the program is structured to help countries strengthen markets, improve productivity, build institutions, and create the conditions for sustainable private-sector participation in agriculture.
A defining feature of this program is how the donated commodities are used. Commodities provided by the United States are typically "monetized," meaning they are sold in the recipient country’s local market. The revenue generated from those sales then becomes the primary funding source for on-the-ground agricultural development activities. In practice, those activities can cover a wide range of interventions, including agricultural processing development, farming systems improvements, and agricultural knowledge and capacity-building efforts. The funding activity categories listed for this opportunity emphasize agriculture, food and nutrition, and regional development, with a strong international development and food assistance orientation.
This specific opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA FAS FFPR 15) was offered as a discretionary program using a cooperative agreement funding instrument. Cooperative agreements generally indicate that the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement in the project’s implementation or oversight compared with a standard grant. The total estimated funding level for the opportunity was approximately $250,000,000, and the agency anticipated making around 8 awards. The program is associated with CFDA number 10.606 (Food for Progress), and it did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower the barrier to participation for qualified organizations.
Eligibility was open to a defined set of applicant types involved in international development and agricultural programming, including Private Voluntary Organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments. The announcement notes that eligibility details should be confirmed in the additional eligibility information in the full solicitation, and applicants were directed to the posted web resources for complete proposal guidance, submission instructions, and supporting documentation.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted on September 29, 2014, with key dates indicating an original closing date of September 30, 2014, later extended to a current closing date of January 15, 2015, and an archive date of February 2, 2015. These dates matter because they reflect the application window and when the opportunity was formally closed and archived in the system.
For applicants or stakeholders needing assistance accessing the full announcement or clarifying requirements, the point of contact listed was Nicola Sakhleh, Branch Chief, reachable by phone at 202-720-4221, with an email account designated for all inquiries and questions. The announcement also referenced an external link where the full solicitation package and electronic submission information could be found, indicating that key operational details were housed on the program website rather than entirely within the summary listing.
Food for Progress Program (USDA FAS) - FAQs
What is the Food for Progress Program?
The Food for Progress Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant opportunity intended to support agricultural and broader rural economic development in developing countries and emerging democracies. It is designed to use U.S. agricultural commodities as a catalyst for long-term, agriculture-led growth rather than serving only as short-term food relief.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The main purpose is to promote sustainable improvements in agriculture and rural economies by strengthening markets, improving productivity, building institutions, and helping create conditions for long-term private-sector participation in agriculture, particularly in countries working to introduce or expand free enterprise in their agricultural economies.
Who runs or administers this opportunity?
The program is administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA FAS FFPR 15.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 10.606 (Food for Progress).
What type of funding instrument is used?
This opportunity was offered using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates that the federal agency expects substantial involvement in the project implementation and/or oversight compared with a standard grant.
Is this a discretionary program?
Yes. The announcement described this opportunity as a discretionary program.
How does the program use U.S. agricultural commodities?
Donated U.S. agricultural commodities are typically monetized, meaning the commodities are sold in the recipient country's local market. The revenue from those sales then becomes the primary funding source for agricultural development activities carried out on the ground.
What does "monetization" mean in the context of this program?
Monetization refers to selling the donated U.S. commodities in the recipient country's local market, generating revenue that finances program activities.
What kinds of activities can be supported with monetization proceeds?
Based on the description provided, funded activities can include agricultural processing development, farming systems improvements, and agricultural knowledge and capacity-building efforts. The listed emphasis areas include agriculture, food and nutrition, and regional development, with an international development and food assistance orientation.
Is the program intended primarily for short-term food relief?
No. While it involves food commodities, the program is structured to support longer-term agricultural and rural economic development outcomes rather than functioning only as short-term relief.
What is the estimated total funding level for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding level was approximately $250,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The agency anticipated making around 8 awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was open to certain applicant types involved in international development and agricultural programming, including Private Voluntary Organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments.
Where should applicants confirm detailed eligibility requirements?
The announcement indicated that eligibility details should be confirmed in the additional eligibility information in the full solicitation.
Where were applicants directed to find full proposal guidance and submission instructions?
Applicants were directed to posted web resources and an external link where the full solicitation package and electronic submission information could be found, since key operational details were housed on the program website rather than entirely in the summary listing.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 29, 2014.
What were the application closing dates?
The announcement reflected an original closing date of September 30, 2014, and a later extended (current) closing date of January 15, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed was February 2, 2015.
Why do the posted, closing, and archive dates matter?
These dates indicate the application window and when the opportunity was formally closed and archived in the system.
Who was the point of contact for questions?
The listed point of contact was Nicola Sakhleh, Branch Chief.
How can the point of contact be reached?
The phone number provided was 202-720-4221. The announcement also referenced an email account designated for all inquiries and questions.
What should applicants do if they need help accessing the full announcement?
The summary indicated that applicants or stakeholders could use the listed point of contact for assistance accessing the full announcement or clarifying requirements, and could also use the referenced external link to obtain the full solicitation package and electronic submission information.
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