The USAID-funded John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Agricultural Volunteer Opportunity Program (AVOP) provides small grant funding available for international development programs focused on expert volunteer technical assistance.
F2F emphasizes achieving economic impact and measurable results by concentrating volunteer assignments in specific geographic areas, commodities programs and service sectors. Programs go beyond simply placing volunteers on an individual basis and focus on developing specific market chains for which overall impact can be evaluated. Programs build institutions and transfer technology and management expertise to link smallholder farmers with markets that make use of comparative advantages in production, processing and marketing. Volunteers typically work with medium and small agro-enterprises, cooperatives, individual producers, agricultural extension and research agencies, and financial institutions. Major areas of program focus are: horticulture, dairy and livestock, staple food crops, producer organization development, financial services, marketing and processing, agricultural education and training, and natural resources management. A key component of F2F programs is that they are demand-driven by local host organizations and their evolving needs.
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.
Entities eligible to receive U.S. federal grant awards under this RFA include: non-profit organizations, for-profit firms, cooperatives, colleges and universities. In addition, applicants must meet the criteria below:
- Must be a U.S.-based organization
- Is not currently a Core Implementer under the F2F program (as prime)
- Does not hold a current sub-award under the AVOP program
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Must be at least one (may be more than one) of the following:
- A minority-serving institution/organization (see below for more information)
- A woman-led organization/business (see below)
- Has not held a F2F small grant in the past seven years (2014-2021).
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: [Last name]_F2F_2021.pdf) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
1. Cover Page (1 page):
- Organization Name
- Organization Business Status (non-profit, for profit, PVO, etc.)
- Principal Investigator’s (PI's) names and departmental affiliation
- Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
- A list of possible participating organizations, if applicable
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Qualification as either:
- A minority-serving institution/organization
- A woman-led organization/company
- New implementer (has never held a F2F small grant or sub-award)
2. Project Description (no more than 6 pages, pdf) Applicants should refer to the Concept Paper evaluation criteria specified in the RFP
- Project overview and Description of Problem/Demand
- Objective(s) and Proposed Activities
- Sources and Management of U.S. Volunteers
3. 2-page CV's of Key Personnel
Formatting Guidelines:
Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
Spacing: single spaced
Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)