Opportunity Information: Apply for USAID PANAMA 525 10 003 APS
Apply for USAID PANAMA 525 10 003 APS
- The Panama USAID Panama City in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "MERIDA Small Grant Program for Community Youth at Risk (CYAR)" 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 Feb 4, 2010 and posted on Feb 4, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 4, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
- 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 MERIDA Small Grant Program for Community Youth at Risk (CYAR) is a USAID/Panama discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USAID PANAMA 525 10 003 APS) focused on community development activities that support youth who are considered at risk. It was issued by USAID in Panama City under CFDA 98.001, which covers USAID foreign assistance programs overseas. The opportunity was posted and created on February 4, 2010, and it originally closed (and ultimately remained) on August 4, 2010, with the archive date listed as September 3, 2010. The solicitation references an Annual Program Statement (APS), meaning applications were expected to align with the broader program framework described in that statement while proposing specific, localized projects.
Funding for the program was relatively small and structured to support multiple modest awards rather than a single large project. The estimated total funding available was $100,000, and the maximum award size (award ceiling) was $10,000 per grant. Given that ceiling, the program was likely designed to fund several community-level interventions, potentially spread across different neighborhoods or partner organizations, rather than concentrating resources in one place. The funding instrument type is listed as a grant, which generally indicates financial assistance to carry out a public purpose authorized by U.S. law, with the recipient taking the lead role in implementing the proposed activities.
A key requirement of this opportunity is cost sharing or matching, which is explicitly marked as “Yes.” In practical terms, that means applicants needed to contribute a portion of project resources from non-USAID sources. This match can sometimes be cash contributions, in-kind support (such as staff time, donated space, volunteer hours, materials, or services), or a combination, depending on how the APS defines acceptable cost share and how it must be documented. Cost share requirements are commonly used in small grant programs to increase local ownership, stretch donor dollars, and ensure that the applicant and community have tangible investment in the project’s success.
Eligibility is described as “Unrestricted,” meaning it was broadly open to many types of entities, subject to any clarifications in the APS or in the “Additional Information on Eligibility” section of the full announcement. In similar USAID APS-based small grants, eligible entities can include local and international nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, and sometimes private entities, as long as they meet the program’s conditions and USAID’s standard compliance requirements. Because eligibility is “unrestricted,” the deciding factors typically shift toward technical merit, feasibility, cost realism, demonstrated community ties, and the applicant’s ability to manage funds and report results.
The opportunity is titled “MERIDA Small Grant Program for Community Youth at Risk (CYAR),” which indicates a focus on preventive, protective, and development-oriented interventions for young people facing elevated vulnerability. While the summary details provided do not list specific eligible activities, “Community Youth at Risk” programs commonly support initiatives like youth leadership and life-skills development, community-based violence prevention, mentoring and supervised after-school programming, support for school retention, job readiness or basic employability training, constructive recreation and sports tied to positive youth development, and community engagement efforts that reduce risk factors while strengthening protective factors. The “community development” activity category suggests an emphasis on locally grounded solutions and partnerships rather than purely institutional or national-level reforms.
For applicants seeking the complete announcement but experiencing access issues, the listed point of contact is Maria Eugenia Solis, Procurement Agent, reachable by phone at (507) 207 7056 or by email at cyar2010@usaid.gov. The notice also points to an “Additional Information Link” labeled “Annual Program Statement,” which is where the full scope, application instructions, evaluation criteria, cost share details, and reporting requirements would typically be defined.
FAQs: MERIDA Small Grant Program for Community Youth at Risk (CYAR)
What is the MERIDA Small Grant Program for Community Youth at Risk (CYAR)?
The MERIDA Small Grant Program for Community Youth at Risk (CYAR) is a USAID/Panama discretionary grant opportunity that supports community development activities focused on youth who are considered at risk.
Who is the issuing agency for this grant opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by USAID in Panama City (USAID/Panama).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USAID PANAMA 525 10 003 APS.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The program is listed under CFDA 98.001, which covers USAID foreign assistance programs overseas.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant, meaning it is financial assistance to carry out a public purpose authorized by U.S. law, with the recipient taking the lead role in implementing the proposed activities.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $100,000.
What is the maximum award amount per grant?
The award ceiling (maximum award size) was $10,000 per grant.
Does this program fund one project or multiple projects?
Given the $10,000 award ceiling and the estimated total funding of $100,000, the program was structured to support multiple modest awards rather than one large project.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is explicitly marked as required for this opportunity.
What does “cost sharing/matching required” mean in practice?
It means applicants needed to contribute a portion of the project resources from non-USAID sources. The description notes that match can sometimes include cash, in-kind support (such as staff time, donated space, volunteer hours, materials, or services), or a combination, depending on what the Annual Program Statement specifies and how cost share must be documented.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as “Unrestricted,” meaning the opportunity was broadly open to many types of entities, subject to any clarifications in the Annual Program Statement or the “Additional Information on Eligibility” section of the full announcement.
What kinds of organizations might be eligible under an “unrestricted” eligibility description?
The description indicates that, in similar USAID APS-based small grants, eligible entities can include local and international nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, and sometimes private entities, as long as they meet program conditions and USAID compliance requirements.
What is an Annual Program Statement (APS), and why does it matter here?
This solicitation references an Annual Program Statement (APS). That means applications were expected to align with the broader program framework described in the APS while proposing specific, localized projects. The APS is also where the full scope, application instructions, evaluation criteria, cost share details, and reporting requirements would typically be defined.
What types of activities was the program intended to support?
The opportunity focuses on community development activities that support youth considered at risk. While the summary does not list specific eligible activities, it notes that “Community Youth at Risk” programs commonly support initiatives such as youth leadership and life-skills development, community-based violence prevention, mentoring and supervised after-school programming, support for school retention, job readiness or basic employability training, constructive recreation and sports tied to positive youth development, and community engagement efforts that reduce risk factors while strengthening protective factors.
What does the “community development” focus suggest about the kind of projects sought?
It suggests an emphasis on locally grounded solutions and partnerships, rather than purely institutional or national-level reforms.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted and created on February 4, 2010.
When did the application period close?
The opportunity originally closed on August 4, 2010, and it ultimately remained closed as of that date.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is listed as September 3, 2010.
Who is the point of contact for questions or access issues?
The listed point of contact is Maria Eugenia Solis, Procurement Agent.
How can the point of contact be reached?
By phone at (507) 207 7056 or by email at cyar2010@usaid.gov.
Where would applicants typically find the full application instructions and requirements?
The notice points to an “Additional Information Link” labeled “Annual Program Statement,” which is where the full scope, application instructions, evaluation criteria, cost share details, and reporting requirements would typically be defined.
What factors might be important in selection if eligibility is unrestricted?
The description indicates that when eligibility is broad, the deciding factors typically shift toward technical merit, feasibility, cost realism, demonstrated community ties, and the applicant’s ability to manage funds and report results.
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