(CLOSED) AVOP RFA 2019-2 - USAID & Partners of the Americas Farmer-to-Farmer Agriculture Volunteer Opportunity Project (AVOP) Small Grants Program

Webinar: Partners of Americas will be hosting a live webinar and Q&A on June 28, 2019, 2:00 PM EST. Details will be posted on the AVOP RFA 2019-2: Questions/Answers.

Partners, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from parties interested in the F2F AVOP Small Grants Program. This RFA will be conducted in two phases:

Phase I: Competitive Concept Paper (described in the RFA)
Phase II: Collaborative Development of Full Application (details provided to organizations who are selected to advance to Phase II)

The F2F Program goal is to generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector through voluntary technical assistance. A secondary goal is to increase the U.S. public’s understanding of international development issues and programs and international understanding of the U.S. and U.S. development programs. F2F introduces innovation and develops local capacity for more productive, profitable, sustainable and equitable agricultural systems while providing opportunity for people-to-people interaction in agricultural development activities. Programs build institutions and transfer technology and management expertise to link small farmers with markets that exploit comparative advantages in production, processing and marketing. Activities are varied and conform to country needs and strategic objectives. Specific F2F projects align with or support USAID Mission strategies and objectives or those of other USG programs in a given country.
Applicants responding to this RFA should propose projects that focus on one or more of the four main objectives of F2F:

● Increase agricultural sector productivity and profitability;
● Improve conservation and sustainable use of environmental and natural resources;
● Expand agricultural sector access to financial services; and/or
● Strengthen agricultural sector institutions.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their concept papers and proposals tie into larger US Government development strategies, including but not limited to those listed below:

● Feed the Future Initiative (FTF)
● USAID Country Strategies
● US Government Global Food Security Strategy
● The U.S. Farm Bill

Applicants should consider planned results and impacts, as well as unintended consequences, especially as they may relate to USAID policy issues of importance to the F2F programs. Issues requiring special attention by the Applicant include:

● Gender: The Applicant shall provide systematic consideration of gender issues and impacts in the proposed program and shall seek to promote gender equity.
● Environment: The Applicant shall ensure systematic consideration of the implications of proposed program activities on environmental and natural resources and should seek to mitigate any adverse impacts.
● Restricted Sub-sectors and Activities: The Applicant shall not propose a program that supports activities that are restricted by USG policies and regulations. USAID policies and regulations restrict support for certain activities involving: tobacco production and processing; African oil palm production or processing; degradation or conversion of tropical forests; agricultural products in surplus on world markets; assistance to activities or projects of communist countries; assistance to military, police or prisons; luxury goods; alcoholic beverage production or marketing; export of U.S. jobs, relocation of U.S. businesses or restrictions on internationally recognized workers’ rights; or production of agricultural products that compete with U.S. products in international markets.