Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 492 12 000031
Apply for RFA 492 12 000031
- The Philippines USAID Manila in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Philippine American Fund for Entrepreneurship and Local Assistance for Development (PAUNLAD) Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.004 Non Governmental Organization Strengthening (NGO).
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 8, 2012 and posted on Aug 31, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This RFA is cancelled effective immediately.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Any locally registered Philippine organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Philippine American Fund for Entrepreneurship and Local Assistance for Development (PAUNLAD) Project was a USAID/Philippines funding opportunity designed to create a locally managed grant-making facility that would channel seed funding to Philippine organizations working in two main areas: economic growth through entrepreneurship and improved governance through citizen-led accountability efforts. The core idea was to set up one implementing entity, a local non-governmental organization, that would administer a fund on USAID's behalf and then make sub-grants to other local NGOs. Through these sub-grants, the project aimed to help launch and strengthen business start-ups, encourage innovation and new enterprise development, and support initiatives that push for stronger public accountability, transparency, and integrity.
The opportunity was issued as a discretionary award under a Cooperative Agreement, indicating that USAID anticipated an active partnership role with the selected implementer rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The activity category was listed as "Other" because the central deliverable was not a single direct-service program but the establishment and operation of a grant-making mechanism. The selected organization would have been responsible for overseeing the fund, managing competitive grant processes, monitoring sub-awards, and ensuring that funded activities aligned with USAID/Philippines objectives across entrepreneurship promotion and governance reform. In practical terms, the implementer would function as a hub that identifies promising local initiatives, provides them with start-up capital or program funds, and ensures proper financial management and performance reporting across multiple sub-grantees.
Funding for PAUNLAD was substantial, with an estimated total of USD 15,000,000 and an award ceiling of USD 15,000,000, implying that USAID expected to make a single award at the full amount. Only one award was anticipated. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated, which typically lowers the barrier to entry for local organizations that may not have large reserves or donor networks. Eligibility was open to locally registered Philippine organizations, reinforcing the intent to place leadership and implementation capacity within the Philippines rather than relying on international contractors or foreign NGOs.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on August 31, 2012, with an original closing date of October 15, 2012, and a creation date of October 8, 2012. However, the solicitation was later cancelled effective immediately, and the record was archived on April 15, 2013. The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity was 98.004, categorized under Non-Governmental Organization Strengthening, which aligns with the facility model: building local civil society capacity by funding and organizing a pipeline of locally driven entrepreneurship and governance projects.
For questions at the time, USAID Manila provided a point of contact: Maria Belinda De La Torre, Senior Acquisition Assistance Specialist, reachable by phone at +63 2 552 9924, particularly for applicants who had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.
PAUNLAD Project (USAID/Philippines) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What was the PAUNLAD Project?
The Philippine American Fund for Entrepreneurship and Local Assistance for Development (PAUNLAD) Project was a USAID/Philippines funding opportunity intended to establish a locally managed grant-making facility. The facility would channel seed funding to Philippine organizations working on (1) economic growth through entrepreneurship and (2) improved governance through citizen-led accountability efforts.
2) What was USAID trying to accomplish through this opportunity?
The main goal was to set up one local implementing entity that could manage a fund on USAID's behalf and then provide sub-grants to other local NGOs. Through those sub-grants, the project aimed to help launch and strengthen business start-ups, encourage innovation and new enterprise development, and support initiatives that promote public accountability, transparency, and integrity.
3) What type of award was this?
This was described as a discretionary award under a Cooperative Agreement. That structure indicates USAID expected to play an active partnership role with the selected implementer, rather than taking a purely hands-off approach.
4) Why was the activity category listed as "Other"?
The activity category was listed as "Other" because the central deliverable was not a single direct-service project. Instead, the primary output was the establishment and ongoing operation of a grant-making mechanism that would fund multiple local initiatives through sub-grants.
5) Who was supposed to implement PAUNLAD?
USAID anticipated selecting one implementing organization, specifically a local non-governmental organization (NGO), to administer the fund and manage the full grant-making cycle on USAID's behalf.
6) What would the selected implementer have been responsible for?
Based on the description, the selected implementer would have been responsible for:
- Establishing and operating the grant-making facility
- Running competitive grant processes to select sub-grantees
- Issuing and overseeing sub-grants to local NGOs
- Monitoring sub-awards and ensuring proper financial management
- Ensuring performance reporting across multiple sub-grantees
- Making sure funded activities aligned with USAID/Philippines objectives for entrepreneurship and governance reform
7) What kinds of activities were expected to be funded through sub-grants?
The opportunity centered on two main areas:
- Entrepreneurship and economic growth: initiatives that help launch and strengthen business start-ups, and efforts that support innovation and new enterprise development.
- Governance and accountability: citizen-led accountability efforts and initiatives that push for stronger public accountability, transparency, and integrity.
8) How much funding was available?
The estimated total funding amount was USD 15,000,000. The award ceiling was also USD 15,000,000, suggesting USAID expected a single award at the full amount.
9) How many awards did USAID expect to make?
Only one award was anticipated.
10) Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was stated in the information provided.
11) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was open to locally registered Philippine organizations. This aligned with the intent to place leadership and implementation capacity within the Philippines.
12) Was this opportunity meant for international organizations or foreign NGOs?
The eligibility language emphasized locally registered Philippine organizations, reflecting an intent to rely on Philippine leadership rather than international contractors or foreign NGOs.
13) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA listing was 98.004.
14) What did CFDA 98.004 represent in this context?
It was categorized under Non-Governmental Organization Strengthening, which fits the facility approach described: building local civil society capacity by organizing and funding a pipeline of locally driven entrepreneurship and governance projects.
15) When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was posted on August 31, 2012. The original closing date was October 15, 2012.
16) What were the creation and archive dates listed for the record?
The creation date listed was October 8, 2012. The record was archived on April 15, 2013.
17) What happened to the solicitation?
The solicitation was later cancelled effective immediately, according to the information provided.
18) Who was the point of contact for questions at the time?
USAID Manila listed Maria Belinda De La Torre, Senior Acquisition Assistance Specialist, as the point of contact for questions.
19) How could applicants contact the listed point of contact?
Applicants could reach Maria Belinda De La Torre by phone at +63 2 552 9924, especially if they had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.
20) What was the basic operating model envisioned for PAUNLAD?
The model was to create a hub organization that identifies promising local initiatives, provides start-up capital or program funds through sub-grants, and manages compliance and reporting across multiple sub-grantees, while coordinating closely with USAID under a Cooperative Agreement.
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