Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 523 11 000001
Apply for RFA 523 11 000001
- The El Salvador USAID San Salvador in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mexicos Reduces Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation" 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 Mar 8, 2011 and posted on Feb 14, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000,000.00 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.
- The following list of potential partners is for illustrative purposes because our eligibility criteria are wide. We welcome other new types of partners. Potential partners include foundations, U.S. and non U.S. NGOs, faith based organizations, U.S. and non U.S. private businesses, business and trade associations, international organizations, U.S. and non U.S. colleges and universities, U.S. cities and states, other U.S. Government agencies, civic groups, other donor governments, host country governments, regional organizations, host country parastatals, philanthropic leaders including venture capitalists, public figures, advocacy groups, pension funds and employee welfare plans, etc. It is important to note that NGOs do not need to be registered Private Voluntary Organizations to submit an application. Potential for profit applicants should note that USAID policy prohibits the payment of fee/profit to the prime recipient under assistance instruments. Forgone profit does not qualify as cost sharing or leveraging. In addition, all prospective partners must be organizations with a reputation for integrity and the highest standard of conduct, and a proven track record in their particular areas of expertise. They should be able to demonstrate a respect for human rights, gender sensitivity, integration of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, decent work conditions, environmental protection, and community involvement in their operational practices. They should also be able to provide evidence of a strong commitment to the proposed alliance and, ideally, experience in working in partnership with others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The USAID grant opportunity titled "Mexicos Reduces Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA 523 11 000001) is a discretionary environment-focused funding announcement to support a new five-year initiative in Mexico aimed at REDD, meaning the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation. The central goal is to help Mexico reduce forest-related emissions by strengthening the enabling conditions that make REDD workable over the long term, not just through isolated pilot activities. The project is framed as a national support effort that is meant to reinforce Mexico's ability to plan, govern, implement, and sustain REDD approaches at scale.
The purpose of the program is threefold. First, it seeks to help Mexico establish, improve, or reinforce public policies connected to REDD, which typically includes the legal, regulatory, and strategic frameworks that guide forest protection, land use planning, conservation incentives, and climate-related forest governance. Second, it is intended to build institutional and technical capacity, meaning the project would support stronger government and partner institutions, better-trained personnel, improved systems for planning and coordination, and technical capabilities that are commonly needed for REDD programs, such as monitoring and data management. Third, it aims to support the creation of a "financial architecture" for REDD, which refers to the funding systems, mechanisms, and structures required to sustainably finance REDD activities over time, including the ability to mobilize resources, manage funds transparently, and direct incentives to the actors responsible for maintaining or improving forest outcomes.
USAID planned to make one award under this opportunity, using a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument. A cooperative agreement signals that the funder expects substantial involvement during implementation, so the recipient would likely coordinate closely with USAID on planning, execution, reporting, and adaptive management. The estimated total funding for the award was $30,000,000, with an anticipated award range from $25,000,000 (floor) to $30,000,000 (ceiling). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, which means applicants were not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of eligibility, although programs like this often still value leveraging partnerships and complementary resources.
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, open to essentially any type of entity subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation. USAID also provided an illustrative, non-exhaustive list of potential partners that could apply, including U.S. and non-U.S. NGOs, faith-based organizations, private companies and business associations, international organizations, universities, state and local governments, other U.S. government entities, civic groups, other donor governments, host country governments, regional organizations, parastatals, philanthropic leaders and investors, advocacy groups, and even pension funds and employee welfare plans. A notable point is that NGOs did not need to be registered as Private Voluntary Organizations to apply. For-profit applicants were allowed, but USAID policy prohibits paying fee or profit to the prime recipient under assistance instruments, and "forgone profit" cannot be counted as cost share or leverage. Across all applicant types, USAID emphasized expectations around integrity and strong conduct, demonstrated track record, and operational practices aligned with human rights, gender sensitivity, inclusion of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, decent work conditions, environmental protection, and community involvement, along with a clear commitment to partnership.
Key timeline details included a posted date of February 14, 2011, an original and current closing date of March 31, 2011, and an archive date of July 1, 2011. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 98.001, labeled as USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas. The listing identified the agency name as "El Salvador USAID San Salvador," while the project description itself is clearly directed at USAID/Mexico and work to be performed in Mexico, suggesting the administrative or procurement point of contact was handled through the referenced office. For access issues with the full announcement, the contact listed was Ileana Parraga, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, reachable by phone at 503 25013327 or by email at iparraga@usaid.gov. An additional information link was provided in the source data, though it appears to be formatted incorrectly ("htttp/www/grants.gov"), implying applicants would normally retrieve the full package through Grants.gov using the opportunity number and title.
In practical terms, this opportunity was designed to fund one major implementer (or a lead organization managing a consortium) to help Mexico put in place the policy foundations, institutional readiness, technical systems, and financial mechanisms needed to carry out REDD in a durable way over five years. The scale of the award and the cooperative agreement structure suggest an expectation of national-level coordination, strong stakeholder engagement, and a sustained, systems-building approach rather than short-term on-the-ground conservation alone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title of this USAID funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Mexicos Reduces Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA 523 11 000001.
What type of grant opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary, environment-focused funding announcement from USAID.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central goal is to help Mexico reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with deforestation and forest degradation by strengthening the enabling conditions needed to make REDD workable over the long term.
What does REDD mean in the context of this opportunity?
REDD refers to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation.
What is the intended duration of the initiative?
The announcement describes a new five-year initiative in Mexico.
Is this meant to fund small pilot projects or something broader?
The program is framed as a national support effort focused on long-term, systems-building work (policy, capacity, financing mechanisms) rather than isolated pilot activities.
What are the three main purposes of the program?
The purpose is threefold: (1) strengthen public policies connected to REDD, (2) build institutional and technical capacity, and (3) support creation of a sustainable REDD financial architecture.
What kinds of public policy work does the program expect to support?
The description points to establishing, improving, or reinforcing policy frameworks connected to REDD, which typically includes legal, regulatory, and strategic frameworks that guide forest protection, land use planning, conservation incentives, and climate-related forest governance.
What does "institutional and technical capacity" mean for this program?
It refers to strengthening government and partner institutions, improving staff skills, enhancing planning and coordination systems, and building technical capabilities commonly needed for REDD programs, such as monitoring and data management.
What does USAID mean by a "financial architecture" for REDD?
It refers to the funding systems and mechanisms required to finance REDD activities sustainably over time, including the ability to mobilize resources, manage funds transparently, and direct incentives to actors responsible for maintaining or improving forest outcomes.
How many awards did USAID plan to make under this opportunity?
USAID planned to make one award.
What funding instrument will USAID use for the award?
USAID planned to use a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply for implementation?
A cooperative agreement indicates USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation, so the recipient would likely coordinate closely with USAID on planning, execution, reporting, and adaptive management.
What is the estimated total funding amount for the award?
The estimated total funding was $30,000,000.
What is the anticipated award range (floor and ceiling)?
The anticipated range was $25,000,000 (floor) to $30,000,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed.
Does the absence of required cost share mean partnerships and leveraged resources do not matter?
The announcement states cost sharing was not required, but it also notes that programs like this often still value leveraging partnerships and complementary resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, open to essentially any type of entity, subject to clarifications in the full solicitation.
What types of organizations were listed as potential applicants or partners?
USAID provided an illustrative (non-exhaustive) list including U.S. and non-U.S. NGOs, faith-based organizations, private companies and business associations, international organizations, universities, state and local governments, other U.S. government entities, civic groups, other donor governments, host country governments, regional organizations, parastatals, philanthropic leaders and investors, advocacy groups, and pension funds and employee welfare plans.
Do NGOs need to be registered as Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) to apply?
No. The announcement states NGOs did not need to be registered as Private Voluntary Organizations to apply.
Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
Yes, for-profit applicants were allowed.
Can a for-profit prime recipient earn a fee or profit under this assistance award?
No. USAID policy prohibits paying fee or profit to the prime recipient under assistance instruments.
Can "forgone profit" be counted as cost share or leverage?
No. The announcement indicates "forgone profit" cannot be counted as cost share or leverage.
What general expectations did USAID emphasize for applicants?
USAID emphasized integrity and strong conduct, a demonstrated track record, and operational practices aligned with human rights, gender sensitivity, inclusion of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, decent work conditions, environmental protection, community involvement, and a clear commitment to partnership.
Where is the work intended to be performed?
The project description is directed at work to be performed in Mexico, supporting a national-level REDD effort.
Why does the listing show "El Salvador USAID San Salvador" if the work is in Mexico?
The listing identifies the agency name as "El Salvador USAID San Salvador," while the opportunity description is clearly focused on USAID/Mexico and work in Mexico. This suggests the administrative or procurement point of contact may have been handled through the referenced office.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 98.001, labeled as USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posted date was February 14, 2011.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date was March 31, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 1, 2011.
How were applicants expected to access the full announcement package?
Applicants would normally retrieve the full package through Grants.gov using the opportunity number and title. The source data includes an additional information link that appears to be formatted incorrectly ("htttp/www/grants.gov").
Who is the contact person for access issues with the full announcement?
The contact listed for access issues is Ileana Parraga, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist.
How can the listed contact be reached?
Phone: 503 25013327. Email: iparraga@usaid.gov.
Does this opportunity suggest a single implementer or a consortium approach?
The description indicates one major implementer would be funded, which could be a lead organization managing a consortium, to support national-level coordination and systems-building over five years.
What kind of overall approach does the award size and structure suggest?
The scale of funding and the cooperative agreement structure suggest national-level coordination, strong stakeholder engagement, and sustained work to build policy foundations, institutional readiness, technical systems, and financial mechanisms for REDD.
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