Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 14 000043

  • The Agency for International Development in the regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 in Central and South America" 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 15, 2014 and posted on Sep 15, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 15, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses.
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000043

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Opportunity Summary:

The Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 in Central and South America funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA OAA 14 000043) was a USAID call for concept papers aimed at reducing tropical deforestation tied to major agricultural commodity supply chains in Latin America. Issued as an addendum to USAID's FY2014 Global Development Alliance (GDA) Annual Program Statement (APS OAA 14 000001), the opportunity focused on building public-private partnerships that could combine USAID support with private sector capabilities and resources. The central idea was to mobilize expertise, talent, funding, and operational reach from companies, NGOs, and other partners to push sustainable business practices across production, sourcing, and related land-use decisions, with an explicit timeline aligned to the TFA 2020 target year.

Programmatically, the opportunity emphasized deforestation drivers associated with a set of globally significant commodities: palm oil, soy, beef, and pulp and paper. The underlying premise was that commodity-driven land conversion is a major cause of forest loss in the region, and that meaningful reductions require interventions that go beyond small pilot conservation projects and instead reshape how markets and supply chains function. Proposals were expected to reflect this market-facing orientation, meaning initiatives could involve approaches such as improving traceability and transparency in sourcing, promoting deforestation-free procurement and production standards, shifting incentives for producers, strengthening implementation of sustainability commitments, supporting jurisdictional or landscape-level collaboration, or addressing bottlenecks that prevent sustainable practices from scaling. Because it was framed under the GDA model, the opportunity was fundamentally partnership-driven, seeking initiatives where private sector engagement was not incidental but essential to delivering outcomes.

From a funding standpoint, USAID listed an award floor of $2,500,000 and an award ceiling of $8,000,000, signaling interest in fairly substantial efforts rather than small grants. The funding activity category was described as regional development, and the CFDA number was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). While the GDA approach often involves shared commitments, this particular notice stated that there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduced a common barrier for applicants while still leaving room for leveraged resources and co-investment as part of the partnership concept.

Eligibility was limited to certain organizational types: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. In practical terms, this framed the competition around organizations positioned to execute large-scale, multi-actor initiatives, including NGOs with conservation and supply-chain experience and larger private sector entities capable of influencing commodity production and sourcing practices. The instrument type and opportunity category were both labeled as "Other," reflecting that it was being offered under the broader GDA APS structure rather than a standard standalone grant program.

Timing details show the opportunity was posted and created on September 15, 2014, with an original and current closing date of December 15, 2014, and an archive date of January 14, 2015. Applicants were instructed to submit concept papers, which typically serve as an initial screening step under APS-style solicitations before any invitation to develop full applications. For technical or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Sharon Baker, Agreement Specialist, reachable by phone at 202-567-5098, with an email field noted in the posting for TFA 2020-related inquiries.

In short, this opportunity was designed to catalyze practical, investable partnerships in Central and South America that could measurably curb commodity-driven deforestation by changing business practices and supply-chain behavior for palm oil, soy, beef, and pulp and paper, using USAID support to help convene partners and accelerate sustainable approaches at meaningful scale.

Funding Opportunity FAQs: Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 in Central and South America (USAID)

What is this funding opportunity?

This was a USAID funding opportunity that invited concept papers for initiatives designed to reduce tropical deforestation linked to major agricultural commodity supply chains in Latin America. The opportunity is identified as the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 in Central and South America funding opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number RFA OAA 14 000043.

What was the main goal of the program?

The main goal was to catalyze partnerships that could measurably curb commodity-driven deforestation by changing business practices and supply-chain behavior, rather than relying on small, isolated conservation pilots. The emphasis was on shifting how markets and supply chains function across production, sourcing, and land-use decisions.

Which geographic regions were targeted?

The focus was Central and South America, with the broader framing described as reducing tropical deforestation tied to commodity supply chains in Latin America.

Which commodities were specifically emphasized?

The opportunity emphasized deforestation drivers associated with palm oil, soy, beef, and pulp and paper.

What types of activities or approaches were proposals expected to include?

Proposals were expected to take a market-facing, supply-chain-oriented approach. Examples mentioned in the opportunity included improving traceability and transparency in sourcing, promoting deforestation-free procurement and production standards, shifting incentives for producers, strengthening implementation of sustainability commitments, supporting jurisdictional or landscape-level collaboration, and addressing bottlenecks that prevent sustainable practices from scaling.

Was this a traditional standalone grant program?

No. It was issued as an addendum to USAID's FY2014 Global Development Alliance (GDA) Annual Program Statement (APS OAA 14 000001). The instrument type and opportunity category were labeled as "Other," reflecting its placement under the broader APS/GDA structure rather than a standard standalone grant solicitation.

What is the partnership model behind this opportunity?

The opportunity was fundamentally partnership-driven under the Global Development Alliance model. It aimed to build public-private partnerships that combine USAID support with private sector capabilities and resources, mobilizing expertise, talent, funding, and operational reach from companies, NGOs, and other partners to advance sustainable business practices at scale.

How large were the anticipated awards?

USAID listed an award floor of $2,500,000 and an award ceiling of $8,000,000, indicating an interest in substantial efforts rather than small grants.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Even without a match requirement, did the opportunity still expect leveraged resources?

The opportunity did not require cost share, but it was designed around public-private partnerships that combine USAID support with private sector capabilities and resources. That structure leaves room for leveraged resources and co-investment as part of the partnership concept.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to (1) nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education, and (2) for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

Were universities eligible?

No. The eligibility description explicitly excluded institutions of higher education from the nonprofit 501(c)(3) category.

Were small businesses eligible?

No. The eligible for-profit category was described as "for-profit organizations other than small businesses."

What kind of submission was requested: a full proposal or a concept paper?

Applicants were instructed to submit concept papers. Concept papers typically serve as an initial screening step under APS-style solicitations before any invitation to develop a full application.

What is the timeline for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted and created on September 15, 2014. The original and current closing date was December 15, 2014. The archive date was January 14, 2015.

How does "TFA 2020" relate to the program timeline?

The opportunity referenced an explicit timeline aligned to the Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 target year, meaning the overall framing and ambition were tied to progress by 2020.

What was the funding activity category and CFDA number?

The funding activity category was described as regional development. The CFDA number listed was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).

What problem was USAID trying to address through this call?

The underlying premise was that commodity-driven land conversion is a major cause of forest loss in the region, and that meaningful reductions require interventions that reshape markets and supply chains tied to major commodities.

What types of partners were envisioned for these public-private partnerships?

The opportunity described mobilizing companies, NGOs, and other partners, combining USAID support with private sector capabilities and resources. Private sector engagement was expected to be essential rather than incidental.

Who was the point of contact for questions or technical access issues?

The listed point of contact was Sharon Baker, Agreement Specialist. The phone number provided was 202-567-5098. The posting also noted an email field for TFA 2020-related inquiries.

What is the relationship between this opportunity number and the broader APS?

This opportunity (RFA OAA 14 000043) was issued as an addendum to USAID's FY2014 Global Development Alliance (GDA) Annual Program Statement, APS OAA 14 000001.

What does it mean that the instrument type and opportunity category were both labeled "Other"?

Based on the notice, "Other" indicates the opportunity was offered under the broader GDA APS structure rather than as a standard standalone grant program with a typical instrument label.

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