Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 14 000061
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000061
- The Agency for International Development in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Seed Grants for Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention" 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 6, 2014 and posted on Feb 4, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the United States Government USG), as represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Science and Technology (OST) and the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance invites applications for funding from qualified U.S. and non U.S., nonprofit or for profit non governmental organizations (NGOs), and international organizations (PIO or IO).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Seed Grants for Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention opportunity was a USAID discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-OAA-14-000061) designed to move promising atrocity-prevention technology concepts toward real-world implementation. It was created as a follow-on to the Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention, a prize competition jointly run by USAID and Humanity United that gathered innovative technology ideas to address specific, practical barriers in atrocity prevention and response. In effect, the prize contest surfaced solutions and approaches, and the seed grants were meant to help translate the most useful ideas into applied tools, pilots, or operational capabilities that could support broader prevention or response efforts.
The underlying Tech Challenge focused on five problem areas tied to how atrocities can be anticipated, documented, and disrupted. These included: (1) identifying and drawing attention to intentional or unintentional third-party enablers of atrocities (for example, intermediaries, suppliers, or networks that help make abuses possible even if they are not the direct perpetrators), (2) improving models or forecasts that estimate the likelihood of atrocity events, (3) safely documenting and transmitting evidence of atrocities in ways that protect sources and preserve integrity, (4) enabling secure communication within and between at-risk communities, and (5) obtaining and verifying information in hard-to-access environments where direct observation is dangerous or impossible. Collectively, these themes point to technology-enabled approaches in areas like early warning and risk analytics, secure data capture and chain-of-custody practices, privacy-preserving communications, and remote verification methods.
To run the original Tech Challenge, USAID and Humanity United used multiple solver platforms to reach different communities of innovators. Separate component challenges were hosted through OpenIDEO, InnoCentive, and TopCoder. Most of the components were ideation challenges that solicited concepts rather than working prototypes, while one component specifically sought and tested algorithms. Winners were selected by external judges. Monetary prizes were paid to winners for four of the five challenges through the platforms, typically recognizing first-, second-, and third-place entries, while the remaining platform recommended against cash awards. The seed grants then built on this pipeline by offering additional support aimed at implementation rather than just recognition.
From a funding perspective, the program anticipated making about five awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $150,000. Individual awards could be as high as $50,000, and the stated award floor was $0, meaning USAID retained flexibility regarding final award sizes and selections. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowered the barrier for applicants that might not have substantial co-funding available. The funding instrument type was a grant, and the activity category was listed under Humanities (with reference to Cultural Affairs in CFDA), while the CFDA number provided was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
Eligibility was broad and included both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. USAID invited applications from qualified nonprofit and for-profit non-governmental organizations as well as public international organizations or international organizations. The sponsoring USAID offices were the Office of Science and Technology (OST) and the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, signaling that the program sat at the intersection of technical innovation and human rights and governance outcomes, with an emphasis on practical tools that can be used in challenging, high-risk environments.
Key dates indicate that the opportunity was posted on February 4, 2014, created in the system on March 6, 2014, and initially set to close March 10, 2014, with a revised closing date of March 17, 2014. It was later archived on April 9, 2014. For administrative and access questions, the listed point of contact was Ebony Fultz, Agreement Specialist, at 202-567-5034.
FAQs: Seed Grants for Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention (USAID)
What is the Seed Grants for Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention opportunity?
It was a USAID discretionary grant program designed to help move promising atrocity-prevention technology concepts toward real-world implementation. The program is identified by Funding Opportunity Number (FON) RFA-OAA-14-000061.
How did this seed grant program relate to the original Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention?
The seed grants were a follow-on to the Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention, a prize competition jointly run by USAID and Humanity United. The prize competition surfaced innovative technology ideas, and the seed grants were intended to help translate the most useful ideas into applied tools, pilots, or operational capabilities.
What was the overall purpose of offering seed grants instead of only prizes?
The prize contest primarily recognized promising solutions and approaches, while the seed grants were meant to support implementation. In other words, the seed grants aimed to help turn concepts into practical, usable capabilities that could contribute to broader prevention or response efforts.
What problem areas did the underlying Tech Challenge focus on?
The underlying Tech Challenge focused on five practical problem areas tied to anticipating, documenting, and disrupting atrocities:
- Identifying and drawing attention to intentional or unintentional third-party enablers of atrocities (such as intermediaries, suppliers, or networks).
- Improving models or forecasts that estimate the likelihood of atrocity events.
- Safely documenting and transmitting evidence of atrocities in ways that protect sources and preserve integrity.
- Enabling secure communication within and between at-risk communities.
- Obtaining and verifying information in hard-to-access environments where direct observation is dangerous or impossible.
What kinds of technology approaches were implied by these problem areas?
The themes pointed toward technology-enabled approaches such as early warning and risk analytics, secure data capture and chain-of-custody practices, privacy-preserving communications, and remote verification methods for hard-to-access environments.
How was the original Tech Challenge run?
USAID and Humanity United used multiple solver platforms to reach different communities of innovators. Separate component challenges were hosted through OpenIDEO, InnoCentive, and TopCoder.
Were the original Tech Challenge submissions expected to be prototypes?
Most components were ideation challenges that solicited concepts rather than working prototypes. One component specifically sought and tested algorithms.
How were winners selected in the original Tech Challenge?
Winners were selected by external judges.
Did the original Tech Challenge include cash prizes?
Yes. Monetary prizes were paid to winners for four of the five challenges through the platforms, typically recognizing first-, second-, and third-place entries. The remaining platform recommended against cash awards.
What was the anticipated number of seed grant awards?
The program anticipated making about five awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the seed grants?
The estimated total funding amount was $150,000.
What was the maximum possible amount for an individual award?
Individual awards could be as high as $50,000.
What does it mean that the award floor was listed as $0?
The stated award floor was $0, which indicated USAID retained flexibility regarding final award sizes and selections.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument type was a grant.
How was the activity category classified?
The activity category was listed under Humanities (with reference to Cultural Affairs in CFDA).
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad. USAID invited applications from qualified nonprofit and for-profit non-governmental organizations as well as public international organizations or international organizations.
Could non-U.S. entities apply?
Yes. Eligibility included both U.S. and non-U.S. entities.
Which USAID offices sponsored the program?
The sponsoring USAID offices were the Office of Science and Technology (OST) and the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance.
What did the involvement of these USAID offices suggest about the program?
It signaled the program sat at the intersection of technical innovation and human rights and governance outcomes, with an emphasis on practical tools usable in challenging, high-risk environments.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 4, 2014.
When was the opportunity created in the system?
It was created in the system on March 6, 2014.
What was the original closing date, and was it extended?
The opportunity was initially set to close on March 10, 2014, and the closing date was revised to March 17, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on April 9, 2014.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number was RFA-OAA-14-000061.
Who was the listed point of contact for administrative and access questions?
The listed point of contact was Ebony Fultz, Agreement Specialist.
What phone number was provided for the point of contact?
The phone number provided was 202-567-5034.
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