Fiscal Year 2020 Request for Applications for Development Food Security Activities in Ethiopia | 72DFFP20RFA00006

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72DFFP20RFA00006

The Fiscal Year 2020 Request for Applications (RFA) for Development Food Security Activities (DFSA) in Ethiopia is a USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP) funding opportunity that was released in draft form for public review and comment, not for immediate application submission. The draft RFA is meant to share USAID/FFP's preliminary plans for large-scale food security and nutrition programming in Ethiopia and to gather feedback that could shape the final solicitation. Because it is a draft, USAID emphasizes that details may change before the final RFA is issued, including the number of awards, the total funding level, and even the funding sources used.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity and would be implemented through cooperative agreements, which typically means the awardee and USAID will have substantial ongoing collaboration during program design refinement and implementation. The funding activity category is food and nutrition under CFDA 98.007. USAID indicates an expected total of up to four awards, with an overall award ceiling listed at $550,000,000, signaling a major multi-award investment rather than a small, single-project grant. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full RFA materials, implying that the detailed eligibility rules (for example, whether international NGOs, local organizations, consortia, universities, or private voluntary organizations can apply) are spelled out in the attachments rather than in the summary notice.

A central point of this announcement is process: USAID/FFP is explicitly not requesting applications at this time. Instead, they are soliciting consolidated comments and questions on the draft RFA package, with all programmatic background and instructions contained in the draft document itself and its referenced attachments. This is essentially a market and stakeholder feedback step, allowing potential applicants and other interested parties to flag unclear requirements, suggest improvements, and identify practical issues that could affect competition and implementation.

The notice also reflects the timing of the release in early 2020, when COVID-19 disruptions were emerging globally. USAID/FFP specifically invites commenters to describe challenges that the pandemic could create for application preparation (for example, constraints on in-person partner consultations, limited access to field sites for assessments, staffing disruptions, or difficulties collecting baseline data) and to propose realistic mitigation measures. This indicates USAID was looking not only for technical comments on the RFA language, but also for operational feedback that could make the eventual competition fairer and more feasible under pandemic conditions.

To support transparency and improve shared understanding of the draft requirements, USAID/FFP planned a virtual public solicitation briefing while the RFA remained in draft form, with the exact date to be announced later. At the same time, USAID made clear that prospective applicants should not contact USAID/FFP officers or field representatives directly about the draft materials. All inquiries and comments were to be submitted by email to FY20-DFSA-RFA-Ethiopia@usaid.gov, reinforcing a controlled and documented question-and-comment channel intended to maintain procurement integrity.

Key dates and identifying details include the Funding Opportunity Number 72DFFP20RFA00006, an initial posting/creation date of April 6, 2020, and a comment deadline of May 15, 2020 at noon Eastern Daylight Time. USAID also cautioned commenters not to wait until the last day, and requested consolidated submissions, which typically helps the agency manage feedback volume and reduces repetitive or fragmented questions. Overall, this notice is best understood as an invitation to shape the final Ethiopia DFSA solicitation through structured feedback on a draft RFA for large, multi-year food security and nutrition activities funded and overseen by USAID's Food for Peace office.

• The Agency for International Development in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2020 Request for Applications for Development Food Security Activities in Ethiopia" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.007.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2020 Comments on the draft FY 2020 DFSA RFA for Ethiopia are due on May 15, 2020 at noon (Eastern Daylight Time).. (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 $550,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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