Opportunity Information: Apply for APS 663 14 000003
Apply for APS 663 14 000003
- The Ethiopia USAID Addis Ababa in the disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Innovation Fund for Improving Food Security in Ethiopia (IFSE)" 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 Sep 24, 2014 and posted on Aug 1, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2015 Issuance Date August 1, 2014 Deadline for Receipt of Questions August 15, 2014, 1600 hours Addis Ababa time Closing Date for Submissions of First Round of Concept Papers September 15, 2014 1600 hours Addis Ababa time Closing Date for Annual Program Statement July 31, 2015 1600 hours Addis Ababa time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Innovation Fund for Improving Food Security in Ethiopia (IFSE) is a USAID/Ethiopia grant opportunity released as an Annual Program Statement (APS No. 663-14-000003) aimed at finding, testing, and scaling practical innovations that can reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in Ethiopia. The fund is designed to bring in private sector actors and education and research institutions (both Ethiopian and international), along with other organizations that can partner with them, to develop cost-effective solutions that can realistically expand beyond a pilot stage. While USAID frames the program as focused on innovation, the core expectation is that proposed ideas should lead to measurable improvements for chronically food insecure households and have a credible pathway to scale.
This opportunity is not a traditional Request for Applications (RFA) or Request for Proposals (RFP). Instead, it uses a two-stage process. Interested applicants first submit a concept paper describing the innovation and the proposed collaboration. USAID then reviews those concept papers and, if an idea is considered promising and aligned with the APS requirements, invites the applicant to submit a full application. Concept papers were accepted on a rolling basis for up to one year, and USAID planned to make decisions on a biannual basis based on the submissions received. A first-round concept paper deadline was set to create an initial review batch, with the possibility of a second round if the first set did not yield acceptable concepts.
The APS emphasizes partnership and collaboration, particularly encouraging nontraditional partners and private sector entities to engage directly with USAID and with each other before applying. USAID also explicitly invites other organizations to team with private sector stakeholders, reinforcing the program model of forming alliances that are results-oriented and high-impact. For administrative clarity within the announcement, USAID notes that the term "grant" is used interchangeably with "cooperative agreement," "grantee" with "recipient," and "grant officer" with "agreement officer." The authority for the APS is tied to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
In terms of funding, USAID anticipated setting aside approximately USD 2,000,000 total over a three-year period, subject to the availability of funds. Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of USD 150,000 to a ceiling of USD 500,000, with an estimated total of about six awards. The period of performance for any resulting awards was expected to be at least two years and no more than three years. Cost sharing or matching was not required. USAID also made clear that publishing the APS does not guarantee an award, does not obligate the U.S. Government to fund any application, and does not reimburse applicants for proposal preparation costs. USAID reserved the right to fund any, all, or none of the submissions.
Eligibility was broadly described as unrestricted (open to many entity types), with a clear focus on the private sector and research/education institutions, plus organizations that can work with them. Applicants that had never received USAID funding before were flagged for additional scrutiny: they could be subject to a pre-award audit to assess fiscal responsibility, confirm adequate financial controls, and establish an indirect cost rate where applicable. Awards would be made to responsible applicants whose submissions best met the APS requirements and evaluation criteria.
Key dates included an issuance date of August 1, 2014, a deadline for written clarification questions of August 15, 2014 (1600 Addis Ababa time), and a first-round concept paper deadline of September 15, 2014 (1600 Addis Ababa time). The overall APS remained open until July 31, 2015 (1600 Addis Ababa time). Questions were directed by email to caddis@usaid.gov, copying designated USAID staff contacts listed in the announcement, and USAID indicated that significant clarifications would be shared through formal amendments, with applicants responsible for monitoring updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Innovation Fund for Improving Food Security in Ethiopia (IFSE)
1) What is the Innovation Fund for Improving Food Security in Ethiopia (IFSE)?
The Innovation Fund for Improving Food Security in Ethiopia (IFSE) is a USAID/Ethiopia grant opportunity released under an Annual Program Statement (APS No. 663-14-000003). It is intended to identify, test, and scale practical innovations that can reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in Ethiopia, with a strong emphasis on measurable improvements for chronically food insecure households and a credible pathway to scale beyond a pilot.
2) Is this opportunity an RFA or an RFP?
No. IFSE was released as an Annual Program Statement (APS), not as a traditional Request for Applications (RFA) or Request for Proposals (RFP). The APS format uses a staged approach and is designed to encourage engagement, partnerships, and iterative review through concept papers and invitations for full applications.
3) What is the application process under this APS?
The APS uses a two-stage process: (1) applicants submit a concept paper describing the innovation and the proposed collaboration; (2) USAID reviews concept papers and, if a submission is considered promising and aligned with APS requirements, the applicant may be invited to submit a full application.
4) Are concept papers accepted on a rolling basis?
Yes. Concept papers were accepted on a rolling basis for up to one year, while USAID planned to review submissions and make decisions on a biannual basis based on the concept papers received.
5) What were the key dates for this APS?
The APS listed the following key dates: issuance on August 1, 2014; deadline for written clarification questions on August 15, 2014 at 1600 Addis Ababa time; first-round concept paper deadline on September 15, 2014 at 1600 Addis Ababa time; and the APS open period running until July 31, 2015 at 1600 Addis Ababa time.
6) Does the APS allow for multiple review rounds of concept papers?
Yes. A first-round concept paper deadline was established to create an initial batch for review, and the APS noted the possibility of a second round if the first set of submissions did not yield acceptable concepts.
7) What types of innovations is USAID looking for?
Based on the APS description, USAID is seeking practical innovations that can reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in Ethiopia. While framed as innovation-focused, the core expectation is that proposed ideas produce measurable improvements for chronically food insecure households and include a realistic, credible pathway to scale beyond a pilot stage.
8) Who is the opportunity intended to attract or prioritize?
The fund is designed to bring in private sector actors and education and research institutions (both Ethiopian and international), as well as other organizations that can partner with them. The APS emphasizes nontraditional partners and private sector entities engaging directly with USAID and with each other.
9) Is partnership or collaboration required or encouraged?
Partnership and collaboration are strongly emphasized. The APS particularly encourages private sector engagement and explicitly invites other organizations to team with private sector stakeholders, reinforcing a results-oriented alliance model.
10) What is the total amount of funding USAID anticipated for IFSE?
USAID anticipated setting aside approximately USD 2,000,000 total over a three-year period, subject to the availability of funds.
11) What is the expected award size for individual grants/cooperative agreements?
Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of USD 150,000 to a ceiling of USD 500,000.
12) How many awards did USAID expect to make?
The APS estimated a total of about six awards.
13) What is the expected period of performance for resulting awards?
The period of performance was expected to be at least two years and no more than three years.
14) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The APS stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.
15) Does publication of the APS guarantee funding or an award?
No. USAID stated that publishing the APS does not guarantee an award, does not obligate the U.S. Government to fund any application, and does not reimburse applicants for proposal preparation costs.
16) Can USAID choose to fund none of the submissions?
Yes. USAID reserved the right to fund any, all, or none of the submissions.
17) What does USAID mean by using the term "grant" in the APS?
For administrative clarity, the APS notes that the term "grant" is used interchangeably with "cooperative agreement," "grantee" with "recipient," and "grant officer" with "agreement officer."
18) What is the legal authority cited for the APS?
The APS authority is tied to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as broadly unrestricted (open to many entity types). However, the APS clearly focuses on bringing in private sector actors and education/research institutions, along with other organizations that can partner with them.
20) Are first-time USAID recipients treated differently during review?
Applicants that had never received USAID funding before were flagged for additional scrutiny and could be subject to a pre-award audit to assess fiscal responsibility, confirm adequate financial controls, and establish an indirect cost rate where applicable.
21) How will award decisions be made?
Awards would be made to responsible applicants whose submissions best met the APS requirements and evaluation criteria.
22) How and where could applicants submit clarification questions?
Questions were directed by email to caddis@usaid.gov, copying designated USAID staff contacts listed in the announcement. The deadline for written clarification questions was August 15, 2014 at 1600 Addis Ababa time.
23) How does USAID communicate changes or important clarifications?
USAID indicated that significant clarifications would be shared through formal amendments, and applicants were responsible for monitoring updates.
24) What time zone applies to the deadlines listed in the APS?
The APS specified deadlines using Addis Ababa time (for example, 1600 Addis Ababa time for the questions deadline and the concept paper deadline).
25) How long did the APS remain open for concept paper submissions?
The overall APS remained open until July 31, 2015 at 1600 Addis Ababa time.
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