Opportunity Information: Apply for USAID NICARAGUA RFA 524 10 001
Apply for USAID NICARAGUA RFA 524 10 001
- The Nicaragua USAID Managua in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Market based Opportunities for Conservation and Sustainable Tourism in Nicaragua" 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 Dec 9, 2009 and posted on Dec 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 15, 2010. (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 $13,000,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The USAID/Nicaragua grant opportunity titled "Market based Opportunities for Conservation and Sustainable Tourism in Nicaragua" is a discretionary funding opportunity intended to support a single large-scale project under a cooperative agreement. The program sits within USAID foreign assistance programming and is designed to use sustainable tourism as a practical economic development tool, with a clear emphasis on ensuring that tourism growth reaches less advantaged populations rather than remaining concentrated among larger or more established actors. The activity is framed around expanding the economic benefits of tourism through three connected avenues: strengthening small business growth, protecting Nicaragua's environment and natural resources, and improving public education and outreach related to sustainable tourism and conservation.
At the center of the opportunity is a market-driven approach to ecotourism, meaning the project is expected to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) grow by connecting them to real tourism demand and functioning value chains, not just providing isolated training or one-off promotions. The announcement highlights ecotourism development and linkage programs, cluster activities, and environmental protection as key strategies. In practice, this signals work that could include building or strengthening tourism clusters in and around priority destinations, helping local businesses coordinate services and standards, linking community-based and small private operators to tour operators and other buyers, and improving the ability of local enterprises to compete while meeting environmental expectations. The development goal is explicitly tied to poverty reduction, with the underlying idea that better market access and stronger local tourism ecosystems can generate income and jobs for communities that have historically been left out of tourism growth.
The conservation side of the activity is not treated as separate from economic growth, but as a core requirement of what "responsible" tourism should look like. USAID describes the relevant funding activity category as supporting the effective management of selected areas that have significant biological or historical importance while promoting responsible economic growth. Interventions are expected to focus on conservation and the managed use of biodiversity, water, forests, and other natural and cultural resources within the targeted activity areas. In other words, the project is expected to strengthen how priority sites are managed and protected, while simultaneously leveraging those places as anchors for sustainable tourism that does not degrade the very resources tourism depends on.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, USAID anticipated making one award, with an estimated funding range from $10 million (floor) to $13 million (ceiling). The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the funding agency in shaping implementation and monitoring performance compared to a standard grant. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall program financing. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating that the competition was broadly open to different types of entities, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice.
Key dates show the opportunity was posted in early December 2009, with an application closing date of January 15, 2010, and an archive date of February 14, 2010, indicating it is a historical opportunity rather than an active solicitation. The opportunity was issued by USAID in Managua, Nicaragua, under Funding Opportunity Number USAID NICARAGUA RFA 524 10 001, and is associated with CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Ms. Karla Vanessa Morales in the Office of Acquisition and Assistance, reachable by phone at 50522527804.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this USAID/Nicaragua funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Market based Opportunities for Conservation and Sustainable Tourism in Nicaragua."
What is the main purpose of the opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to use sustainable tourism as a practical economic development tool in Nicaragua, with a strong focus on ensuring that tourism growth benefits less advantaged populations rather than remaining concentrated among larger or more established actors.
What type of project is USAID expecting to fund?
USAID anticipated supporting a single large-scale project under a cooperative agreement.
How many awards was USAID expecting to make?
USAID anticipated making one award.
What is the funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated funding range was $10 million (floor) to $13 million (ceiling).
What funding instrument will be used?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply in this context?
A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial involvement by the funding agency in shaping implementation and monitoring performance, compared to a standard grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall program financing.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, indicating the competition was broadly open to different types of entities, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice.
What is the overall approach USAID is emphasizing?
The activity is framed as a market-driven approach to ecotourism, meaning the project is expected to connect micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to real tourism demand and functioning value chains, rather than relying only on isolated training or one-off promotions.
What are the three main avenues the activity is structured around?
The program emphasizes expanding the economic benefits of tourism through three connected avenues: strengthening small business growth, protecting Nicaragua's environment and natural resources, and improving public education and outreach related to sustainable tourism and conservation.
What kinds of tourism businesses or enterprises are a focus of the program?
The opportunity explicitly highlights support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with an emphasis on helping them grow within real tourism markets and value chains.
What strategies does the announcement highlight for ecotourism development?
The announcement highlights ecotourism development and linkage programs, cluster activities, and environmental protection as key strategies.
What are "cluster activities" in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description, cluster activities could include building or strengthening tourism clusters in and around priority destinations, helping local businesses coordinate services and standards, and improving the ability of local enterprises to compete while meeting environmental expectations.
How does the opportunity connect tourism development to poverty reduction?
The development goal is explicitly tied to poverty reduction, based on the idea that better market access and stronger local tourism ecosystems can generate income and jobs for communities that have historically been left out of tourism growth.
Is conservation treated as separate from economic growth in this program?
No. Conservation is presented as a core requirement of responsible tourism, not as a separate track from economic growth.
What kinds of conservation-related work does USAID expect?
Interventions are expected to focus on conservation and the managed use of biodiversity, water, forests, and other natural and cultural resources within targeted activity areas. The activity category is described as supporting effective management of selected areas with significant biological or historical importance while promoting responsible economic growth.
What are the targeted areas or sites expected to be like?
The description indicates the project would work in selected areas that have significant biological or historical importance, with a focus on strengthening management and protection while leveraging these places as anchors for sustainable tourism.
How is environmental protection linked to tourism in this opportunity?
The opportunity frames environmental protection as essential to sustainable tourism, emphasizing that tourism should not degrade the natural and cultural resources it depends on, and that improved management and protection of priority sites should go hand-in-hand with tourism-related economic growth.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted in early December 2009.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was January 15, 2010.
Is this an active funding opportunity?
No. The opportunity shows an archive date of February 14, 2010, indicating it is a historical opportunity rather than an active solicitation.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USAID NICARAGUA RFA 524 10 001.
Which USAID office issued the opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by USAID in Managua, Nicaragua.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
Who was the listed point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was Ms. Karla Vanessa Morales in the Office of Acquisition and Assistance.
What contact information was provided for the point of contact?
The phone number provided for Ms. Karla Vanessa Morales was 50522527804.
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