Innovations in Gender Equality (IGE) to Promote Household Food Security | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Innovations in Gender Equality (IGE) to Promote Household Food Security (USAID)

1) What is the Innovations in Gender Equality (IGE) to Promote Household Food Security opportunity?

This USAID funding opportunity supports the testing of practical, high-impact ideas that advance gender equality in agriculture while improving household-level food security. The focus is on piloting bold interventions and generating solid evidence by documenting measurable results, particularly in settings where women face persistent barriers that affect productivity, decision-making power, and nutrition outcomes for themselves and their children.

2) What is the central goal of the program?

The central goal is twofold: (1) implement promising approaches that can advance gender equality in agriculture, and (2) pilot innovative interventions and produce evidence of measurable outcomes tied to food security and nutrition at the household level.

3) What types of innovations are USAID looking to fund under this APS?

The opportunity emphasizes innovations that expand womens leadership and influence in agriculture, improve womens access to and use of productivity-enhancing technologies, reduce womens time and labor burdens through labor-saving technologies, and test approaches that strengthen gender equality through policy and systems change (including land rights and credit access). Nutrition improvements for women and children are an explicit part of the goal.

4) How does the opportunity define or prioritize womens leadership and influence?

Priority areas include efforts that help women take stronger roles in producer organizations, agribusinesses, value chain governance, community decision-making, and other leadership spaces connected to farming and food systems.

5) What is meant by improving womens access to and effective use of technologies?

This includes tools, services, and information systems that help women raise agricultural productivity, reduce losses, or improve market participation. The emphasis is on addressing real-world constraints that women often face when trying to access extension services, inputs, mobile platforms, or training.

6) Are labor-saving technologies a specific focus?

Yes. The APS explicitly highlights labor-saving technologies because time and physical labor burdens can restrict womens ability to expand production, engage in markets, and invest in childcare and nutrition. Projects are expected to explore ways to reduce workload associated with farming and household responsibilities to support improved productivity and well-being.

7) Does the opportunity support policy and systems change work?

Yes. A key emphasis is policy and systems change to strengthen gender equality in enabling policies and practices, especially around land rights, credit access, and other factors that shape womens ability to own or control land, secure financing, access inputs, or benefit equitably from agricultural programs and institutions.

8) Is nutrition part of the program, or is it only about agriculture?

Nutrition outcomes are explicitly included. Applicants are expected to connect agricultural and gender interventions to measurable improvements in nutrition, especially for women and children. Examples mentioned include better diet quality, improved access to diverse foods, and strengthened household decision-making that supports maternal and child nutrition.

9) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The solicitation is an Assistance Program Solicitation (APS) issued by USAID. Awards are expected to be made through cooperative agreements, which means USAID anticipates substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.

10) How many awards does USAID anticipate making?

USAID anticipated making up to 9 awards under this opportunity.

11) What is the total estimated funding available?

The estimated total funding amount is $5,000,000.

12) What is the expected size of individual awards?

Individual awards could range from a floor of $50,000 to a ceiling of $1,500,000. This range indicates support for both smaller pilot projects and larger multi-component demonstration efforts.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants were expected to plan to contribute resources and/or identify third-party support as part of overall project financing.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations could apply, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement.

15) When was the APS posted and what were the key dates?

The APS was originally posted in October 2011 and later reposted to extend and adjust concept paper deadlines. The final closing date is reflected as October 31, 2012, and the archive date is November 30, 2012.

16) Were applicants allowed to resubmit concept papers?

Yes. The solicitation notes that previously submitted concept papers could be resubmitted during the extended window.

17) Who is the USAID point of contact for this opportunity?

The listed contact is G. Serapis Irby, Contract/Agreement Specialist.

18) How can someone contact the listed USAID point of contact?

Phone: 202-567-5047
Email: girby@usaid.gov

19) What does "cooperative agreement" imply for project implementation?

The opportunity states that cooperative agreements involve substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. Applicants should be prepared for closer collaboration and engagement with USAID during the project period.

20) What kinds of results are projects expected to document?

Projects are expected to document measurable results and generate solid evidence of what works. The description emphasizes measurable outcomes related to reducing barriers women face, improving agricultural productivity and decision-making power, strengthening food security, and improving nutrition outcomes for women and children.