Funding Wizard

a. OverviewThe Food for Progress (FFPr) Program provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities to developing countries and emerging democracies committed to introducing and expanding free enterprise in the agricultural sector. The commodities are generally sold on the local market and the proceeds are used to support agricultural development activities.b. ObjectivesFood for Progress has two high-level strategic objectives: (1) increase agricultural productivity and (2) expand trade of agricultural products (domestically, regionally, and internationally).c. PrioritiesIn FY 2023, USDA has prioritized the following technical areas for the FFPr Program:1. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA): USDA seeks to strengthen FFPr Program projects to align with the USDA Climate initiatives. FAS is requiring Applicants for awards under the FFPr Program to incorporate climate smart agricultural components into all their projects wherever appropriate and respond to the increasing risks which climate change presents both to farmers and to a livable global environment.2. Trade Enabling Environment (TEE): USDA seeks to continue its work through the FFPr Program in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), food safety, and trade facilitation including the simplification modernization, and harmonization of processes for the export, import, and transit of agricultural goods. To ensure long lasting impact of their proposed agricultural development interventions, Applicants should: (a) consider agricultural sectors with end market opportunities which require consistent safety and quality measures, and (b) seek to assure that their work in SPS and Trade Facilitation is science-based and contributes to the three pillars of food security in target countries (access to, affordability of, and utilization of safe and nutritious food).3. Strengthening Food Security: USDA contributes to the global poverty and hunger initiative of the U.S. Government (USG) by aligning USDA’s international food assistance with the USG’s Feed the Future (FTF) initiative. The Global Food Security Act of 2016 and corresponding FTF initiative affirm the United States’ commitment to ending global hunger, poverty, and child malnutrition. Through the FFPr Program, USDA will continue its work in food security by assisting farmers to increase their income through diversification, stronger market linkages and adoption of good agriculture practices. Applicants are encouraged to align proposed interventions with the objectives found in the FTF results framework, where appropriate, and are required to ensure that proposed activities are complementary and not duplicative.In addition, USDA supports the recommendations proposed by the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products. All proposals for country and priority areas in the NOFO that are identified in the U.S. Department of Labor’s report—List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor—must include a child and/or forced labor analysis. The distinct NOFO Country Guidance sections will provide further direction on how the proposals should address the technical areas and country specific goals.

The QSP is designed to encourage the development and expansion of export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by assisting U.S. entities in providing commodity samples to potential foreign importers to promote a better understanding and appreciation for the high quality of U.S. agricultural commodities. The QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). QSP participants will be responsible for procuring (or arranging for the procurement of) the commodity samples, exporting the samples, and providing the on–site technical assistance necessary to facilitate successful use of the samples by importers. Participants that are funded under thisPage 2 of 20announcement may seek reimbursement from FAS for the sample purchase price and for the cost of transporting the samples domestically to the port of export and then to the first foreign port or point of entry. No other expenses will be reimbursed through the program, including the transportation costs from the first foreign port or point of entry to the final destination are not eligible for reimbursement. FAS will also not reimburse the costs incidental to purchasing and transporting samples, such as: inspection or documentation fees, certificates of any kind, tariffs, demurrage, etc. Although providing technical assistance is required for all projects, the costs of providing such technical assistance are not reimbursable under the program. The program operates on a reimbursement basis.

The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

The Cooperator program is designed to maintain and develop foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities and products through cost–share assistance. Financial assistance under the Cooperator program will be made available on a competitive basis and applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained herein and in the Cooperator program regulations. Applicants should refer to and have a common understanding of the Cooperator program regulations, 7 CFR Part 1484, and the definitions contained within to fully understand this opportunity. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration.

The EMP is established to develop, maintain, or expand markets for exports of United States agricultural commodities and to promote cooperation and exchange of information between agricultural institutions and agribusinesses in the United States and emerging markets. The EMP assists U.S. entities in developing, maintaining, or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products by funding activities that enhance emerging markets’ food and rural business systems, including reducing trade barriers. The EMP is intended primarily to support export market development efforts of the private sector, but EMP resources may also be used to assist public organizations. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

Under the MAP, FAS enters into assistance agreements with eligible Participants to share the cost of certain marketing and promotion activities designed to foster healthy exports and market diversification by encouraging the development, maintenance, and expansion of diverse commercial export markets for United States agricultural commodities and products. Assistance may be provided for either generic or brand promotion activities. While activities generally take place overseas, reimbursable activities may also take place in the United States. Financial assistance under the MAP is made available on a competitive basis, and applications are reviewed against the evaluation criteria contained herein. FAS endeavors to enter into agreements with eligible Participants to cover as broad an array of agricultural commodity sectors as possible and to maximize the likelihood that benefits generated will be available throughout the relevant agricultural sectors and that no single entity gains an undue advantage or sole benefit from program activities. All U.S. agricultural commodities, except tobacco, are eligible for consideration. Applicants should refer to and have a common understanding of the MAP programmatic regulations,7 CFR Part 1485, and the definitions contained within to fully understand this opportunity.

A. Program DescriptionThis program will support the design and delivery of training activities for university professors in Veterinary Science from the Philippines and Vietnam. Veterinary training design and training under the FEP must include a curriculum that addresses science based Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) issues that connect to international trade.Training programs are designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, USDA, and other government agencies. The FEP emphasizes the development of improved and updated courses and curricula, teaching and student assessment methods, exposure to current research techniques, and practical field experiences while the Fellows study in the United States. In addition, the FEP includes follow-up visits by U.S. host professors (the Mentors) to their Fellow’s home country. While visiting the participants' universities, U.S. faculty members are expected to assess progress on the implementation of courses developed during the U.S. based portion of the program and should continue to encourage collaboration between U.S. and participating universities.BackgroundFEP began in 1995 to bring junior or mid-level university professors from countries in the Former Soviet Union to the United States for one semester to increase their knowledge of, and ability to, teach agricultural economics, marketing, and agribusiness management at their home institutions. Between 2002-2012, the program evolved to also include an Agricultural Science area, which focused on subjects such as animal health, food quality, food inspection, phytosanitary measures, and grades and standards, and involved scientists from Africa and Central America in addition to Eastern Europe and Eurasian countries. Starting in 2016, the FEP narrowed its geographic focus solely to Africa, and to the area of Veterinary Science. Since 2016, this Veterinary Science area of the program has hosted 71 early to mid-career instructors at Colleges of Veterinary Science and Medicine from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.FEP further expanded in 2021 to host early to mid-career instructors at Colleges of Veterinary Science and Medicine from all of Africa, including new participant countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Morocco. For the 2022 program, the FEP shifted focus to veterinary medicine in Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam and the Philippines. In 2023 the FEP will continue to program in Southeast Asia, again with a specific focus on Vietnam and the Philippines.ObjectivesThe purpose of the FEP is to assist developing countries with improvements to their university agricultural education, research, and extension programs by providing a one-semester training program at U.S. Land Grant Agricultural Universities. Participants upgrade their technical knowledge in their subject area, learn new teaching methods through class observation, and new research methods through experience in the lab, short courses, and/or one-on-one instruction. Lastly, assist Fellows in researching additional public/private grants/funding opportunities as well as proposal writing.During this FY 2023 FEP programming cycle, it is expected that each participant from the Philippines and Vietnam revise and modernize their class outlines for introduction at their home university after they return. Participants should travel to laboratories, farms, agribusinesses, and government offices to gain an understanding of how the veterinary science and animal health systems operate in the United States. Faculty Mentors should visit each participant in their home country 3-9 months after the conclusion of the U.S based program to provide follow-on support and advice. USDA/FAS will select Fellows based on their experiences and expertise in their field and will place them in two groups of up to ten Fellows. Each group will be hosted by a selected Land Grant University for the program.ExpectationsDuration:The U.S.-based training will be 4-5 months within the full period of performance (one semester). All Fellows from the Philippines and Vietnam should participate in the program at the same time as a cohort. Ideally, this period would align with the Fall session of classes at the respective host university.Location:The implementing institution is expected to host the Fellows at a research facility on their campus in the United States. The Mentors are expected to make reciprocal visits of up to 2 weeks to the Fellows’ home institutions in the Philippines and Vietnam. In addition, the implementing institution is expected to conduct pre and post visits for the Fellows to Washington, DC to be greeted at USDA’s Washington, DC headquarters and participate in meetings and presentations organized by the USDA/FAS Fellowship Programs team.Funding Opportunity NumberUSDA-FAS-10613-0700-10.-23-0001Assistance Listing Number10.613 Faculty Exchange ProgramAuthorizing LegislationNational Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, PL 95-113, as amended, 7 USC §§ 3291 and 3319a

Overview:The International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program (IAEFP), in coordination with 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA), will provide opportunities to eligible U.S. citizens to assist developing countries in establishing school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs. The IAEFP’s purpose is to connect United States agriculturalists to the demand for experiential, school-based agricultural education in developing countries. The IAEFP was first implemented in Ghana during calendar year 2021-2022. The IAEFP allows United States agriculturalists the opportunity to develop a global mindset, help collaboratively meet the food and fiber needs of the domestic population of eligible countries, and help strengthen and enhance trade linkages between eligible countries and the United States agricultural industry.The IAEFP emphasizes positive youth development and agricultural skill transfer to youth in beneficiary country secondary schools. It also encourages community-based agricultural extension and teacher training as well as development of 4-H clubs for strong sustainability of the program. Application submission should include, but is not limited to, program outlines that involve classroom instruction, field demonstrations, entrepreneurship projects, and leadership development. The application should address the identified country’s receptiveness of the IAEFP and what, if any, country policies and procedures will be necessary to incorporate into the project work plan for strong program implementation and sustainability. The country’s government, agriculture community, and local authorities should demonstrate support and commitment to collaborate on the implementation and execution of the IAEFP.FAS will consider applications from all eligible organizations, including current recipients and new organizations.Objectives:For this opportunity, the IAEFP will focus on any low to middle income country as defined by The World Bank. The USDA anticipates issuing up to 2 awards in this program cycle. Each award is expected to support up to nine (9) Fellows. The Fellowship is expected to last 8-9 months in concurrence with the priority country’s secondary school academic year. Fellows participating in the IAEFP are required to hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an agriculture-related field and be U.S. Citizens.Although each Fellow should be assigned to a specific site within the proposed country, they are expected to participate as a cohesive cohort. All applications must demonstrate that security considerations have been assessed and address all measures that would be implemented to ensure the safety and security of participating U.S. Fellows.Award recipients should coordinate with the USDA/FAS IAEFP Team, and relevant FAS overseas offices and/or appropriate U.S. Embassy personnel on programmatic issues, such as priority country partnerships, site selection and Fellow placement, and security measures. Additionally, a strong social media presence displaying the ongoing activities of the IAEFP is encouraged. Finally, regular updates on program implementation should also be provided to USDA/FAS Washington, D.C. and FAS overseas office representatives as requested.Place of Performance:Applicants may submit multiple applications for different countries; and all will be considered. All applications must address the safety and security situation in proposed country and the regions within the country where Fellows will be placed. All applications should address where the IAEFP can work in conjunction with the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program, the Cochran Fellowship Program, the Food for Progress Program, the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program, the Local and Regional Procurement Program, and with Peace Corps, USAID, and/or other USG programming.All applications should recognize and demonstrate incorporation of any priority country government requirements to allow for smooth implementation of this program. Program implementation must be focused on program sustainability and collaboration with the host government to help build/enhance the country’s agricultural education curriculum. This may include formal registration with the government in the country. Applicants should determine if the proposed country requires registration to work there. If registration is required, applicants must clearly state their registration status in the proposed country or detail plans for the registration process should they be selected. The timeline for any registration processes will be considered in the proposed timeline of the IAEFP.Issuance of this funding opportunity does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the United States Government (USG) to make awards, nor does it commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a concept note or full application.Each application must be country-specific and tailored to the context of that country. Depending on ever-changing security situations in eligible low to middle income countries, the USDA selecting official may elect not to award or fund applications for certain proposed locations. In addition, the USDA may elect to negotiate applications. The USDA selecting official may also select applications out of rank order in consideration of strategic program priorities, such as geographical distribution, incorporation of minority-serving institutions, congressional directive, or other documented considerations. These determinations are final and cannot be appealed.Lastly, the implementing institution is expected to conduct a post-program visit for the Fellows to Washington, DC to be greeted at USDA’s Washington, DC headquarters, participate in meetings organized by the FAS Fellowship Programs team, and provide a debriefing of their Fellowship experiences to USDA/FAS leadership.

The Cochran Fellowship Program’s Latin America and Caribbean Region is requesting the design and delivery of a training program for a cohort of up to seven Fellows from Peru, currently consisting of (and subject to change): (1) Architect and Real Estate Supervisor for Fondo Mivienda S.A. (My Housing Fund)(1) Project Manager for Andina Proyectos (company)(1) CEO of Proycon Contratistas SAC(1) General Manager and Owner of Huayruro Furniture, Design, and Remodeling(1) Dean of Faculty for Architecture, Urbanism and Arts of Antenor Orrego Private University (1) CEO for the Peru Green Building Council(1) Executive President of National Construction Industry Training Service (SENCICO)BACKGROUNDSince 1984, the U.S. Congress has made funds available to the Cochran Fellowship Program for training agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Training opportunities are for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas. Individuals selected for Cochran trainings come from both the public and private sectors. All training occurs in the United States. Training programs are designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, USDA and other government agencies, agribusinesses, and consultants. The Cochran Fellowship Program is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. Since its start in 1984, the Cochran Fellowship Program has provided U.S.-based training for over 19,250 international participants from 127 countries worldwide.SCOPEGovernment officials, academia, and architects in Peru need to strengthen their knowledge of technical science-based wood housing building codes and structures. This program on U.S. Softwoods for Structural Material should provide training on the technical science-based standards used for U.S. wood housing building codes and introduce participants to U.S.softwoods and engineered woods and their uses and qualities for building construction. The Fellows should have opportunities to visit softwood plantations, sawmills, wood grading, and standardization facilities, and to see examples of wood housing construction. The Fellows should also meet with representatives of the U.S. lumber industry, including the Softwood Export Council, Southern Wood Products Association, and Engineered Wood Association (APA) as well as with architects, engineers, and wood construction companies. The objective of the program is to build demand for U.S. softwood and engineered wood products in Peru. The goal of the program is to increase the Fellows’ capacity for agricultural research, extension, and teaching.LEARNING OBJECTIVESThe recipient will ensure that the Fellows increase their knowledge in the following areas:Overview of U.S. lumber:Types of U.S. lumber: classification, grades, and sizes (nominal vs. actual)ASTM standards development processPhysical and mechanical properties, including resistance capacityProduction of sawn woodProduction of pressure treated wood, including pressure treated wood studsTechnology used for selecting lumber, treatments for preservation, and wood testingEngineered woods: wood-plastic composites, cross-laminated timber (CLT), and plywood OSB beamsUses and characteristics of engineered woods for construction, including fire resistanceWood housing construction:Benefits of building with lumber over other materialsPractical wood frame design, balloon framing, and wood flooringUsing lumber in large scale constructionU.S. standard construction standards, practices, and safety codesConstruction for tropical climates, rural housing, and structure reinforcement forearthquakesGreen building: tiny houses, energy efficiency, low ecological impact, and reducingwasteWood construction solutions for social housing, including multifamily buildingsPrefabricated house constructionWood trailer constructionImproving building speed: pre-fabrication and tools for increasing efficiencyMarketing wood construction:Strategies for advertising advantages and sustainability of wood buildings and explaining benefits to clients

The principal objectives of the McGovern-Dole Program are to carry out: 1) preschool and school food for education programs in foreign countries to improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and primary education, particularly with respect to girls; and 2) maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and children who are five years of age or younger.Funding Opportunity Numbers by Priority Country. (Refer to Appendix B - Country Guidance for more information)USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(510) CameroonUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(124) HaitiUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(558) MozambiqueUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(646) NepalUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(130) NicaraguaUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(688) Sri LankaUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(578) TogoUSDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(000) Non-priority country applicationsThe Related Documents tab has the full announcement, details on how to apply, instructions on accessing the Food Aid Information System, weekly responses to questions, and other important information.