Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 114 15 000014

  • The Georgia USAID Tbilisi in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The ZRDA Activity in Georgia" 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 Aug 17, 2015 and posted on Aug 17, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 14, 2015 Closing Time 1000 AM Local Tbilisi 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 $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: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for RFA 114 15 000014

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Opportunity Summary:

The ZRDA Activity in Georgia is a USAID grant opportunity designed to boost inclusive and sustainable economic growth in selected regions of Georgia, with an emphasis on making local communities more resilient and improving day-to-day livelihoods. "Zrda" literally means "growth" in Georgian, and the program is framed around practical economic improvements that reach smaller businesses and rural households rather than concentrating benefits only in major urban centers or large firms.

At the core of the activity is a set of linked objectives that build toward stronger regional economies. First, the program aims to improve the development and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which typically serve as major sources of local jobs and income. Second, it targets increased productivity among rural households, which suggests support for better farming practices, improved inputs, or more efficient household-level production methods. Third, it focuses on connecting producers with buyers through stronger market linkages, addressing a common bottleneck where communities can produce goods but struggle to reach consistent markets, negotiate fair prices, or meet buyer requirements. Fourth, it seeks to promote local economic development by establishing networks, pointing to coordinated local systems such as business associations, producer groups, public-private partnerships, or other collaborative structures that help local actors share information, coordinate services, and expand opportunities.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity funded through USAID under CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning the implementer would typically work closely with USAID during implementation, with substantial involvement from the agency compared to a standard grant. USAID expected to make one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000 and an award ceiling of $15,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, lowering barriers for applicants that may not be able to contribute significant non-federal resources.

The opportunity was posted on August 17, 2015, and the application deadline was October 14, 2015 at 10:00 AM local Tbilisi time. It was later archived on April 14, 2016. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility details that might have been included in the full announcement. The issuing office was USAID/Georgia in Tbilisi. For questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Maya Chelidze, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, reachable by phone at 202-216-6272 ext. 4203 or by email at mchelidze@usaid.gov.

Overall, the opportunity reflects a regional economic development approach: strengthening small businesses and rural producers, improving productivity, and making local economies function better by improving connections among producers, buyers, and local institutions, all with the aim of increasing income stability and community resilience in targeted parts of Georgia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USAID ZRDA Activity in Georgia

What is the ZRDA Activity in Georgia?

The ZRDA Activity in Georgia is a USAID grant opportunity focused on boosting inclusive and sustainable economic growth in selected regions of Georgia. It is designed to strengthen local economies in practical ways that improve day-to-day livelihoods and help communities become more resilient.

What does "Zrda" mean?

"Zrda" literally means "growth" in Georgian. The activity name reflects the program's focus on regional economic growth that reaches smaller businesses and rural households.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The opportunity is framed around practical economic improvements in targeted regions of Georgia, with an emphasis on inclusive growth, stronger community resilience, and improved livelihoods. It prioritizes benefits for MSMEs and rural households rather than concentrating benefits only in major urban centers or large firms.

What are the core objectives of the ZRDA Activity?

The activity is built around linked objectives that aim to strengthen regional economies, including:

  • Improving the development and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
  • Increasing productivity among rural households
  • Strengthening market linkages to better connect producers with buyers
  • Promoting local economic development by establishing networks and coordinated local systems

What types of businesses or groups does the activity focus on?

Based on the stated objectives, the activity focuses heavily on MSMEs and rural households. It also emphasizes local networks and linkages, which can involve producer groups, business associations, and other local economic actors that help connect communities to markets.

How does the activity support MSME development and growth?

The opportunity explicitly aims to improve the development and growth of MSMEs, recognizing them as major sources of local jobs and income. The specific approaches are not detailed in the summary provided, but the objective indicates support intended to strengthen small business performance and expansion in the selected regions.

What does "increased productivity among rural households" imply?

The objective suggests support for improving household-level production, potentially through better farming practices, improved inputs, or more efficient production methods. The summary describes the intent but does not list specific interventions.

What are "market linkages" in the context of this activity?

Market linkages refer to stronger connections between producers and buyers. The activity aims to address common challenges where communities can produce goods but struggle to reach consistent markets, negotiate fair prices, or meet buyer requirements.

What does it mean to "promote local economic development by establishing networks"?

This objective points to coordinated local systems such as business associations, producer groups, public-private partnerships, or other collaborative structures. These networks can help local actors share information, coordinate services, and expand economic opportunities.

Which regions of Georgia are included?

The summary states the activity targets "selected regions of Georgia," but it does not specify which regions. Any regional scope details would typically appear in the full announcement.

Who is the funder for this opportunity?

The funder is USAID (the United States Agency for International Development), through USAID/Georgia in Tbilisi.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is funded under CFDA 98.001, titled "USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas."

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This generally means the implementer is expected to work closely with USAID during implementation, with substantial involvement from the agency compared to a standard grant.

How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding amount is $15,000,000, and the award ceiling is also $15,000,000.

How many awards did USAID expect to make?

USAID expected to make one award for this opportunity.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which can reduce barriers for applicants that cannot contribute significant non-federal resources.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The summary describes it as a discretionary opportunity funded through USAID.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility details that may have been included in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on August 17, 2015.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was October 14, 2015 at 10:00 AM local Tbilisi time.

Is the opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on April 14, 2016, and the application deadline passed in 2015.

Which USAID office issued this opportunity?

The issuing office was USAID/Georgia in Tbilisi.

Who was the point of contact for questions?

The listed point of contact was Maya Chelidze, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist.

How could applicants contact the point of contact?

The contact details provided were:

  • Phone: 202-216-6272 ext. 4203
  • Email: mchelidze@usaid.gov

What kinds of issues could the point of contact help with?

The point of contact was listed for questions or access issues related to the full announcement.

What is the overall approach behind the ZRDA Activity?

The overall approach is regional economic development: strengthening MSMEs and rural producers, improving productivity, and making local economies function better through stronger connections among producers, buyers, and local institutions to increase income stability and community resilience.

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