The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has opened the USADF Community Development Institutions Program for African organizations seeking to build their capacity in community development. The program requires organizations that have the expertise and experience to provide technical assistance and project management support to grassroots groups and small and medium-sized enterprises that are applying for or receiving funding from USADF to apply.
Program Description
The USADF Community Development Institutions Program aims to assist local development institutions in enhancing their support for community-based and other activities that benefit the poor. The USADF requests applications from organizations to bolster their capacity in community development and be proficient in rendering technical assistance and project management support to grassroots groups and SMEs receiving funding from USADF.
The USADF is a self-ruling Federal agency under the United States Government committed to supporting African driven solutions that address grassroots economic and social challenges. Its mission and structure make it possible for USADF to administer development actions in isolated and highly underserved regions in Africa.
Benefits
The USADF supports farmers’ cooperatives, private businesses, associations, and different community-based organizations that work to benefit underserved communities. Additionally, the USADF primarily targets those working in the off-grid energy sector and individual early-stage entrepreneurs engaging in economic and social development activities.
The program targets projects with an average size of $250,000 with activities focused on agro-processing, irrigated agriculture, fishing, livestock, dairy, youth entrepreneurship, and off-grid renewable energy.
Eligibility for USADF Community Development Institutions Program – Africa
The USADF provides funds to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and community-based groups in the following African countries – Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The program targets those that benefit women and youth and those operating in the off-grid energy sector, seeking technical, managerial, and marketing assistance to enhance internal capacity and sustainability of economic and social development activities. Funding criteria emphasize the principles of community participation and ownership, significant economic and social impact on low-income communities, and impact commensurate with the level of investment, sustainability, and potential for replication of activities.
How the Partner Works with USADF
- The partner organizations work with USADF Headquarters staff in Washington, DC, to support projects that USADF has financed.
- USADF Partners should be nonprofit organizations and for-profit firms with the required core competencies and experience necessary to assist community-based economic interest groups and small enterprises in designing, implementing, monitoring, and assessing development projects in that country.
- The applicant must have experience in providing training and technical assistance, possess strong organizational management, business development, monitoring and evaluation, marketing analysis, production and planning skills.
- The prospective partner organization of USADF Community Development Institutions Program must have an office in Lusaka. USADF awards cooperative agreements to local organizations to ensure that funding grantees have access to technical and advisory services they may need to design and implement their self-help development activities.
- The Program is established in support of a public purpose, not the acquisition by USADF of services.
- The USADF reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications received in response to the RFA. USADF anticipates awarding one 9-month cooperative agreement for the first year, which is renewable with up to four additional 12-month cooperative agreements for up to four years after completion of the first award. The cooperative agreement will be awarded in U.S. dollars.
Application Instructions
To apply for the USADF Community Development Institutions Program:
- Financial statements for the last two years, registration document and a completed grant application form must be submitted in English or French.
- Applications must be in sectors identified above for each country.
- Applications can be no more than US$250,000.
- Submit all documents in one email by June 30, 2023, to the email address found in your country’s call for proposal.
- More information about the program and the application form are available on the website.
The application deadline varies with country.
Conclusion
The USADF Community Development Institutions Program is an ideal opportunity for organizations that specialize in community development and have the expertise and experience to provide technical assistance and project management support to grassroots groups and small and medium-sized enterprises. Selected organizations can build their capacity in community development while benefiting local communities and underserved regions in Africa.
The program is an excellent initiative that aims to enhance community-based and other activities that benefit the poor and supports private businesses, farmers’ cooperatives, associations, and various community-based organizations. Furthermore, the program prioritizes those operating in the off-grid energy sector and individual early-stage entrepreneurs engaged in economic and social development activities.
The USADF Community Development Institutions Program promotes development initiatives in isolated and highly underserved regions in Africa, amplifying development efforts and uplifting communities towards a better future.