Opportunity Information: Apply for 2012 STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES FUND
Apply for 2012 STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES FUND
- The Forest Service in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) of the Sustainable and Thriving Environments for West African Regional Development (Steward) Program, Phase III" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.684 International Forestry Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 13, 2012 and posted on Apr 16, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2012 N/A. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- 3.4 Partnership Eligibility Criteria Potential applicants, which are eligible to submit applications individually or in partnership with other institutions, may be local or international organizations including universities, non governmental organizations (non profit), and other educational institutions. Local organizations must be registered in Liberia or Ivory Coast. To be considered a local organization, the applicant must meet the relevant test for its type of organization below Not for profit entity 1) Must be legally organized and recognized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in Liberia or Ivory Coast 2) Must be at least 51 beneficially controlled by individuals who are citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of Liberia or Ivory Coast, or by entities that are local partners under this paragraph or paragraph 3.4 (a) and 3) At least 51 of the entity s senior staff (i.e. managerial and professional personnel) must be citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of Liberia or Ivory Coast. In addition, international organizations must be legally registered under the laws of Liberia or Ivory Coast in order to hire local staff, manage a local office (if applicable), and implement activities on the ground. Partnerships are encouraged, especially those that draw upon various sources of expertise. Applicants must demonstrate an initial track record of success must be open to not just replicating an existing model,but to refining the model so that it can be effectively adopted and must be open to rigorous performance and impact evaluation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) opportunity is a U.S. Government funding call linked to Phase III of the Sustainable and Thriving Environments for West African Regional Development (STEWARD III) Program. It is managed through a partnership between USAID West Africa and the U.S. Forest Service, International Programs (USFS/IP). The overall purpose is to expand STEWARD III, a regional effort that connects forest conservation with sustainable livelihoods in the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem, spanning Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. The program is organized around transboundary Priority Zones (PZs), and this invitation is specifically focused on Priority Zone 3 (PZ3), which includes Liberia's Grebo National Forest, Ivory Coast's Tai National Park, and neighboring community lands. The call is framed as an invitation to submit an application in line with an attached Terms of Reference (ToR) for organizations interested in becoming implementing partners in PZ3.
From a funding and award structure standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity with support expected to be provided through cooperative agreements and possibly procurement contracts. The total estimated funding across the opportunity is listed as $1,000,000, with an anticipated 20 awards, though no specific award ceiling or floor is stated. The CFDA listing is 10.684 (International Forestry Programs). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which generally means applicants are not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of eligibility, although proposed budgets still need to be realistic and justified. The announcement was posted April 16, 2012, with an application closing date of May 14, 2012, and an archive date of June 13, 2012.
The geographic and technical focus is clearly environmental and natural resources management, but with a strong livelihoods component. STEWARD III is positioned as both a conservation initiative and a development program, concentrating on forest landscapes that cross national borders and require coordinated action among governments, protected area authorities, and surrounding communities. The PZ3 landscape is highlighted as an area where the applicant organization has been identified as a potential partner, suggesting the fund is meant to catalyze or scale targeted on-the-ground activities that align with the program's priorities in this particular transboundary corridor.
Eligibility is fairly broad but includes specific local partner criteria. Applications can be submitted by local or international organizations, either individually or in partnership. Eligible entities may include universities, non-governmental organizations (nonprofit), and other educational institutions. For local organizations, registration in Liberia or Ivory Coast is required, and to qualify as a local not-for-profit entity the organization must be legally organized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in, Liberia or Ivory Coast; be at least 51 percent beneficially controlled by Liberian or Ivorian citizens or permanent residents (or by qualifying local entities); and have at least 51 percent of senior staff who are Liberian or Ivorian citizens or permanent residents. International organizations are not excluded, but they must be legally registered under the laws of Liberia or Ivory Coast in order to hire local staff, operate a local office if needed, and implement activities on the ground. The solicitation explicitly encourages partnerships, particularly those that combine different types of expertise and capacities.
In terms of expectations for applicants, the opportunity emphasizes performance and learning, not just implementation. Applicants are expected to show an initial track record of success, demonstrate openness to refining and adapting models rather than simply replicating an existing approach, and accept rigorous performance and impact evaluation. In practice, that typically means proposals should be clear about what will be done, why it should work in the PZ3 context, how results will be measured, and how lessons will be used to improve approaches over time. While the short description does not list specific activities, the framing around forest conservation and sustainable livelihoods in a transboundary protected area and community landscape implies interventions may involve community-based natural resource management, livelihood diversification, governance or enforcement support, sustainable land use planning, and cross-border coordination, as further defined in the ToR.
The announcement also provides procedural notes and caveats that affect applicants. Questions seeking clarification about the ToR had to be submitted in writing by email to Stephanie Otis (srotis@fs.fed.us) no later than April 30, 2012 at 1700 EDT. Importantly, the invitation is not a guarantee of funding: it does not constitute an award, does not commit the U.S. Government to cover proposal preparation costs, and any final cooperative agreement depends on funds being fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal USFS/IP procedures. Applicants are explicitly told they assume the risk and cost of applying if circumstances prevent an award.
Overall, SAF under STEWARD III is essentially a competitive funding mechanism intended to bring in additional partners and activities to strengthen conservation and community livelihood outcomes in key Upper Guinean transboundary forest zones, with this particular call centered on the Grebo-Tai landscape and surrounding communities in Liberia and Ivory Coast.
Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) - STEWARD III (Priority Zone 3) FAQs
1) What is the Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) opportunity?
The Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) is a U.S. Government funding opportunity linked to Phase III of the Sustainable and Thriving Environments for West African Regional Development (STEWARD III) Program. It is an invitation for organizations to submit applications (per an attached Terms of Reference, or ToR) to become implementing partners for activities that expand and strengthen STEWARD III.
2) Who manages or supports this funding call?
The opportunity is managed through a partnership between USAID West Africa and the U.S. Forest Service, International Programs (USFS/IP).
3) What is the overall purpose of STEWARD III?
STEWARD III aims to connect forest conservation with sustainable livelihoods across the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem. The program is designed as both a conservation initiative and a development program, emphasizing coordinated action across forest landscapes that span national borders.
4) What region and countries does STEWARD III cover?
STEWARD III spans the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem across Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast.
5) What are Priority Zones (PZs) in this program?
STEWARD III is organized around transboundary Priority Zones (PZs). These are cross-border forest landscapes where coordinated conservation and livelihood activities are concentrated.
6) Which Priority Zone is this invitation focused on?
This invitation is specifically focused on Priority Zone 3 (PZ3).
7) What geographic area is included in Priority Zone 3 (PZ3)?
PZ3 includes Liberia's Grebo National Forest, Ivory Coast's Tai National Park, and neighboring community lands. The call is centered on the Grebo-Tai landscape and surrounding communities in Liberia and Ivory Coast.
8) Is this a grant, a contract, or something else?
This is described as a discretionary opportunity where support is expected to be provided through cooperative agreements and possibly procurement contracts.
9) What is the total estimated funding amount for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding across the opportunity is listed as $1,000,000.
10) How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipates approximately 20 awards.
11) Is there a minimum or maximum award size (floor/ceiling)?
No specific award ceiling or floor is stated in the provided information.
12) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 10.684 (International Forestry Programs).
13) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants are generally not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of eligibility, though budgets still need to be realistic and justified.
14) What is the primary technical focus of the opportunity?
The focus is environmental and natural resources management with a strong sustainable livelihoods component, specifically tying forest conservation outcomes to community development outcomes in a transboundary landscape.
15) What types of activities are likely to fit this call?
The short description does not list specific activities. However, based on the framing (forest conservation plus sustainable livelihoods in protected areas and community lands within a transboundary corridor), activities may involve community-based natural resource management, livelihood diversification, governance or enforcement support, sustainable land use planning, and cross-border coordination, as further defined in the ToR.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Applications may be submitted by local or international organizations, either individually or in partnership. Eligible entities may include universities, non-governmental organizations (nonprofit), and other educational institutions.
17) What are the requirements for local organizations?
For local organizations, registration in Liberia or Ivory Coast is required. To qualify as a local not-for-profit entity, the organization must be legally organized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in, Liberia or Ivory Coast; be at least 51 percent beneficially controlled by Liberian or Ivorian citizens or permanent residents (or by qualifying local entities); and have at least 51 percent of senior staff who are Liberian or Ivorian citizens or permanent residents.
18) Can international organizations apply?
Yes. International organizations are not excluded. However, they must be legally registered under the laws of Liberia or Ivory Coast in order to hire local staff, operate a local office if needed, and implement activities on the ground.
19) Are partnerships encouraged?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly encourages partnerships, particularly those that combine different types of expertise and capacities.
20) What does the opportunity expect from applicants beyond implementation?
The opportunity emphasizes performance and learning. Applicants are expected to demonstrate an initial track record of success, show openness to refining and adapting models (rather than simply replicating an approach), and accept rigorous performance and impact evaluation.
21) What does "rigorous performance and impact evaluation" imply for proposals?
Based on the description, proposals should clearly explain what will be done, why it should work in the PZ3 context, how results will be measured, and how lessons learned will be used to improve approaches over time.
22) Where are the detailed requirements and instructions described?
The invitation is framed as a request to submit an application in line with an attached Terms of Reference (ToR). The ToR is the referenced source for the detailed scope and application expectations.
23) What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The announcement was posted on April 16, 2012. The application closing date was May 14, 2012. The archive date was June 13, 2012.
24) How could applicants submit questions or request clarification about the ToR?
Questions seeking clarification about the ToR had to be submitted in writing by email to Stephanie Otis at srotis@fs.fed.us no later than April 30, 2012 at 1700 EDT.
25) Does an invitation to apply guarantee funding?
No. The invitation is not a guarantee of funding. It does not constitute an award and does not commit the U.S. Government to fund any application.
26) Are proposal preparation costs reimbursed?
No. The announcement states it does not commit the U.S. Government to cover proposal preparation costs. Applicants assume the risk and cost of applying.
27) What conditions could affect whether an award is ultimately made?
Any final cooperative agreement depends on funds being fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal USFS/IP procedures. The announcement notes that circumstances could prevent an award even after applications are submitted.
28) What is the specific intent of SAF within STEWARD III for PZ3?
SAF under STEWARD III is positioned as a competitive mechanism to bring in additional partners and activities to strengthen conservation and community livelihood outcomes in the PZ3 transboundary corridor (Grebo-Tai landscape and surrounding communities).
29) Does the call indicate that certain organizations were already identified as potential partners?
Yes. The description notes that the PZ3 landscape is highlighted as an area where the applicant organization has been identified as a potential partner, suggesting the fund is meant to catalyze or scale targeted on-the-ground activities aligned with the program's priorities in that corridor.
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