Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 121 14 000010
Apply for RFA 121 14 000010
- The Agency for International Development in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "LEADERSHIP IN ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE (LEV) program in Ukraine" 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 Jul 9, 2014 and posted on Jun 13, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- See SECTION III ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION in the RFA
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Opportunity Summary:
The LEADERSHIP IN ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE (LEV) program in Ukraine is a USAID-funded initiative designed to improve the country s business enabling environment by working through capable local organizations that already have strong technical expertise and local credibility. The core idea is to strengthen these organizations so they can spot weaknesses in economic policy and regulation, propose practical corrections, and push for concrete institutional reforms. In practice, the program is meant to help Ukraine build a more predictable, transparent, and market oriented economic governance system that makes it easier to start and run a business, encourages investment, and supports long term private sector growth.
A central focus of the opportunity is making market oriented policies and regulations actually work in day to day government practice, not just on paper. The program emphasizes sustainable public private dialogue at both national and local levels, with a particular intent to support small and medium enterprise (SME) growth. This means creating or improving the channels through which businesses, business associations, and civil society can engage government institutions on regulatory barriers, licensing and inspections, taxation issues, and other rules that shape the cost and risk of doing business. By strengthening these communication and feedback loops, the program aims to ensure reforms reflect real constraints faced by firms and are maintained over time rather than being one off changes.
Another major element is improving the capacity of local analytical and advocacy organizations to shape the public discussion around economic integration, including alignment with European standards. The opportunity highlights the importance of a regulatory environment that approximates EU norms and practices, signaling that Ukraine s gradual integration with European and global markets is a strategic goal. In practical terms, that points to support for policy analysis, evidence based advocacy, regulatory impact thinking, and reform messaging that can help decision makers and the public understand the benefits and tradeoffs of aligning domestic rules with widely accepted international and EU approaches.
The grant description also stresses that reducing corruption in the business enabling environment is especially urgent in the near term. Corruption is framed not only as a governance problem but as a direct drag on entrepreneurship and investor confidence. By targeting the systems that enable corruption such as discretionary licensing, unclear rules, unpredictable enforcement, or opaque regulatory decision making the program intends to make the environment more rules based and less dependent on informal payments or personal connections. This anti corruption emphasis is linked to the broader objective of increasing private sector resilience and competitiveness, since firms operating in a cleaner and more predictable system can invest, hire, and expand with less risk.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary USAID opportunity offered through a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the agency expects substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity was categorized under Business and Commerce and planned to make a single award. The total estimated funding was $5,000,000, and both the award ceiling and floor were set at $5,000,000, indicating an expectation of one full size project rather than multiple smaller grants. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement listed. Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to many entity types, though applicants were instructed to consult the formal eligibility section of the RFA for any specific conditions.
Key dates show the announcement was posted June 13, 2014, created July 9, 2014, and closed July 28, 2014, with an archive date of August 27, 2014. The funding opportunity number is RFA 121 14 000010, and it falls under CFDA 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas. For access issues or questions, the listed point of contact was Patrick Robison, Contracting Officer, phone 380445215226.
Overall, the LEV program is best understood as a governance and competitiveness effort aimed at making Ukraine s economic policy and regulatory system more transparent, more consistent, and more aligned with market principles and EU oriented standards. By empowering credible local institutions to analyze problems, convene stakeholders, and press for implementation of reforms, USAID intended to support lasting improvements in the business climate, strengthen SMEs, reduce corruption pressures, and help position Ukraine for deeper integration into European and global economic systems.
FAQs: USAID Leadership in Economic Governance (LEV) Program - Ukraine
What is the LEADERSHIP IN ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE (LEV) program?
The LEV program is a USAID-funded initiative in Ukraine focused on improving the business enabling environment by working through capable local organizations with strong technical expertise and local credibility. The program is intended to strengthen these organizations so they can identify weaknesses in economic policy and regulation, propose practical fixes, and push for concrete institutional reforms.
What is the overall goal of this funding opportunity?
The overall goal is to help Ukraine build a more predictable, transparent, and market-oriented economic governance system that makes it easier to start and run a business, encourages investment, and supports long-term private sector growth.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
Based on the description, the program aims to support lasting improvements in the business climate by strengthening local institutions to analyze policy and regulatory problems, convene stakeholders, and advocate for implementation of reforms. The intended results include improved transparency and consistency in economic governance, reduced corruption pressures, stronger support for SMEs, and progress toward alignment with EU-oriented standards.
How does the program approach reform (policy vs. implementation)?
A central focus is making market-oriented policies and regulations work in day-to-day government practice, not just on paper. The program emphasizes implementation and institutional change, including making reforms sustainable rather than one-off adjustments.
What role do local organizations play in LEV?
The program is designed to work through local organizations that already have strong technical capacity and credibility. USAID intended to strengthen these organizations so they can spot weaknesses in economic policy and regulation, propose practical corrections, and support concrete institutional reforms.
What is meant by "sustainable public-private dialogue" in this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes improving or creating channels through which businesses, business associations, and civil society can engage government institutions on issues that affect the cost and risk of doing business. The intent is to build durable communication and feedback loops that keep reforms grounded in real business constraints and maintained over time.
Which business issues are highlighted for public-private dialogue?
The description highlights engagement around regulatory barriers, licensing and inspections, taxation issues, and other rules that shape the cost and risk of doing business.
Does the opportunity focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs)?
Yes. The program specifically indicates an intent to support SME growth, including by strengthening public-private dialogue at national and local levels so SMEs and other market actors can raise and resolve practical regulatory constraints.
How does LEV relate to economic integration and European standards?
The opportunity highlights improving the capacity of local analytical and advocacy organizations to shape public discussion around economic integration, including alignment with European standards. It emphasizes a regulatory environment that approximates EU norms and practices as part of Ukraine's gradual integration with European and global markets.
What types of activities are implied by the focus on EU alignment?
The description points to support for policy analysis, evidence-based advocacy, regulatory impact thinking, and reform messaging to help decision makers and the public understand the benefits and tradeoffs of aligning domestic rules with international and EU approaches.
Is anti-corruption a major focus of the program?
Yes. Reducing corruption in the business enabling environment is described as especially urgent in the near term. Corruption is framed as a direct drag on entrepreneurship and investor confidence.
What kinds of systems or issues does the program associate with corruption risk?
The opportunity points to systems that enable corruption, such as discretionary licensing, unclear rules, unpredictable enforcement, and opaque regulatory decision-making. The program aims to make the environment more rules-based and less dependent on informal payments or personal connections.
What funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
This was a discretionary USAID opportunity offered through a Cooperative Agreement. The description notes that a Cooperative Agreement typically involves substantial involvement by the agency during implementation compared to a standard grant.
How many awards were planned under this opportunity?
The opportunity planned to make a single award.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The total estimated funding was USD $5,000,000.
What were the award ceiling and award floor?
Both the award ceiling and the award floor were set at USD $5,000,000, indicating an expectation of one full-size project rather than multiple smaller grants.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to many entity types. Applicants were instructed to consult the formal eligibility section of the RFA for any specific conditions.
What category was this funding opportunity listed under?
The opportunity was categorized under Business and Commerce.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA 121 14 000010.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity falls under CFDA 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
When was the opportunity posted, and when did it close?
The announcement was posted on June 13, 2014. It closed on July 28, 2014.
What other key dates are provided (created and archive dates)?
The record was created on July 9, 2014, and the archive date was August 27, 2014.
Who was the listed point of contact for access issues or questions?
The listed point of contact was Patrick Robison, Contracting Officer.
What phone number was provided for the point of contact?
The phone number provided was 380445215226.
What is the program ultimately trying to change for businesses in Ukraine?
The program is intended to help make the business environment more predictable, transparent, and market-oriented by improving how regulations are designed and implemented, strengthening feedback channels between the private sector and government, reducing corruption-enabling discretion, and supporting reforms aligned with EU-oriented norms and practices.
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