USAID's Development Grants Program for NGOs

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Office of Development Partners (ODP), Division of Private and Voluntary Cooperation (PVC) is seeking applications from indigenous, local NGOs or US-based private and voluntary organizations under its Development Grants Program (DGP). This is a “small grants program for development activities that respond to overall USAID priorities and support selected USAID Missions’ strategic objectives and sector priorities.” USAID has allocated over US $40 million for this program.

The purpose of the program is to create new partnership opportunities with local NGOs, which have had limited or no prior funding from and experience of working directly with USAID. For more information about eligibility, visit this link. The specific sectors to be funded under this program are microenterprise, which includes microfinance, water sector activities including water supply, sanitation and hygiene, dairy development for increasing food security and climate change adaptation. Organizations requesting funding under the program are encouraged to adopt innovative and effective approaches, outlined in their proposed project proposals. Sharing of project costs with other organizations especially through a public-private partnership is encouraged. For geographic focus of the funding, DGP guidelines say:

“The DGP is a worldwide program with selected USAID Mission participation from Africa, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. A list of USAID Mission participation by sector is provided in Appendix E [of the DGP RFA document]. Applicants should take into account Mission supplemental information when designing proposals. Activities in all countries are subject to legal and policy restrictions that may change without prior notice. Some countries are legally restricted from receiving U.S. Government funded assistance.”

The deadline to submit concept papers is 12 February 2010. Based on their review, selected applicants will be requested for full applications or proposals. Concept papers have to be submitted both to ODP/PVS through grants.gov electronically and by mail/post to the local USAID Mission in the country.