Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS MGD 11
Apply for USDA FAS MGD 11
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture education other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "McGovern Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.608 Food for Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 6, 2013 and posted on May 6, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 2, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative run through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) that supports school-age children in developing countries by pairing donated U.S. agricultural commodities with grant-funded financial and technical assistance. The core purpose is to improve education outcomes, food security, and health, with a strong emphasis on benefits for girls, who are often disproportionately affected by hunger, barriers to schooling, and poor health. In practice, the program is commonly associated with school feeding and food-for-education activities, where meals or nutrition support help increase enrollment, attendance, and learning, while also addressing short- and longer-term nutrition needs.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA FAS MGD 11) is a discretionary grant program, and it falls under the Agriculture, Education, and related international development and food assistance categories. The official CFDA listing is 10.608 (Food for Education). Unlike some federal grant programs, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated for this competition, which can lower the barrier to participation for eligible organizations.
A defining feature of McGovern-Dole is that it includes commodity donation as part of the assistance package, not just cash support. USDA makes agricultural commodities available for donation through formal agreements, and the implementing partner is responsible for carrying out the approved activities in-country. Alongside the commodities, the program can provide resources and expertise to strengthen implementation, such as program design and oversight, logistics and distribution systems, nutrition and health components, and education-related supports that help translate food assistance into improved school participation and child well-being.
Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to specific types of organizations that can operate internationally and manage commodity-based assistance programs. Eligible applicants include Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments. These entities typically need the capacity to plan and administer large-scale food assistance interventions, coordinate with schools and local authorities, manage supply chains and storage, ensure proper targeting and monitoring, and track outcomes tied to education and nutrition goals.
Key dates in the posted announcement show that it was published on May 6, 2013, with an application closing date of August 2, 2013, and an archive date of September 1, 2013. The administering agency is USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. For full requirements, proposal format expectations, and detailed guidance, applicants were directed to the McGovern-Dole Program Announcement and Proposal Guidance hosted on USDA's Food Assistance website. For access issues or questions, the notice lists a point of contact: Debra Pfaff, Branch Chief, at 202-720-4221, with an email account referenced as the channel for all inquiries and questions.
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (USDA FAS MGD 11) - FAQs
What is the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program?
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative, administered through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), that supports school-age children in developing countries. It does this by pairing donated U.S. agricultural commodities with grant-funded financial and technical assistance to improve education outcomes, food security, and health.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is to improve education outcomes, food security, and health for school-age children in developing countries. The program is often implemented through school feeding and food-for-education activities designed to increase enrollment, attendance, and learning while addressing short- and longer-term nutrition needs.
Does the program emphasize support for any specific group of children?
Yes. The program places a strong emphasis on benefits for girls, who are described as often disproportionately affected by hunger, barriers to schooling, and poor health.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is USDA FAS MGD 11.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant program?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA listing provided is 10.608 (Food for Education).
What categories does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under Agriculture, Education, and related international development and food assistance categories.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is indicated for this competition in the information provided.
What makes McGovern-Dole different from cash-only grant programs?
A defining feature is that it includes a commodity donation component, not just cash support. USDA makes agricultural commodities available for donation through formal agreements, and the implementing partner carries out approved activities in-country.
What types of support are provided besides donated commodities?
Alongside commodities, the program can provide grant-funded financial and technical assistance. The technical and support elements described include resources and expertise related to program design and oversight, logistics and distribution systems, nutrition and health components, and education-related supports intended to translate food assistance into improved school participation and child well-being.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to organizations capable of operating internationally and managing commodity-based assistance programs. Eligible applicants include Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments.
What kinds of capabilities are implied for eligible applicants?
Eligible entities typically need the capacity to plan and administer large-scale food assistance interventions, coordinate with schools and local authorities, manage supply chains and storage, ensure proper targeting and monitoring, and track outcomes tied to education and nutrition goals.
Who administers the program?
The administering agency is USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What are the key dates for this posted announcement?
The announcement was published on May 6, 2013. The application closing date listed is August 2, 2013. The archive date listed is September 1, 2013.
Where were applicants directed to find full requirements and proposal guidance?
Applicants were directed to the McGovern-Dole Program Announcement and Proposal Guidance hosted on USDA's Food Assistance website for full requirements, proposal format expectations, and detailed guidance.
Who is the point of contact for access issues or questions?
The notice lists Debra Pfaff, Branch Chief, as the point of contact. The phone number provided is 202-720-4221, and the notice references an email account as the channel for all inquiries and questions.
What types of activities is the program commonly associated with?
The program is commonly associated with school feeding and food-for-education activities, where meals or nutrition support are used to help increase enrollment, attendance, and learning while addressing nutrition needs.
Where do the supported activities take place?
The implementing partner is responsible for carrying out approved activities in-country, supporting school-age children in developing countries.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| McGovern Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Apply for USDA FAS MGD 15 Funding Number: USDA FAS MGD 15 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Education Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| McGovern Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Apply for USDA FAS MGD 16 Funding Number: USDA FAS MGD 16 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Education Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Commodity Partnerships Program Apply for USDA RMA RME 2008 01 Funding Number: USDA RMA RME 2008 01 Agency: Risk Management Agency Category: Agriculture Education Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Targeted States Program Apply for USDA RMA RME 2008 02 Funding Number: USDA RMA RME 2008 02 Agency: Risk Management Agency Category: Agriculture Education Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $754,000 |
| Commodity Partnerships Small Sessions Program Apply for USDA RMA RME 2008 03 Funding Number: USDA RMA RME 2008 03 Agency: Risk Management Agency Category: Agriculture Education Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
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