Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0026
The Animal Health Systems Facilitating Trade within the African Union grant opportunity is a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) cooperative agreement designed to help African Union institutions, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and AU Member States (MS) strengthen animal health systems in ways that directly support trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The program is rooted in the fact that AfCFTA took effect on January 1, 2021, creating a massive 54-country free trade area, and that its Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) commitments, especially Annex 7, require countries to rely more consistently on risk-based, science-driven rules that align with international standards to safely move animals and animal products across borders.
The opportunity aligns with two major African Union policy pillars adopted by heads of state in February 2020: the AU SPS Policy Framework (developed under AU-DARBE) and the Animal Health Strategy for Africa (AHSA) (led by AU-IBAR). Together, these documents provide a practical pathway for implementing the SPS chapter of AfCFTA and for building animal health systems that match international expectations, including standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). AU-IBAR, housed within the African Union Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (AU-DARBE), plays a coordinating role across livestock, fisheries, and wildlife sectors, and also represents continental Africa at the OIE, which makes it central to harmonization and standard-setting conversations.
The main goal of the grant is to improve the ability of African animal health authorities to prevent, detect, and manage animal diseases and zoonoses, while also accounting for pressures like climate change and disasters that can destabilize production and increase outbreak risks. By strengthening these systems and making SPS processes more consistent across countries and regions, the program aims to expand access to regional and international markets for African animals and animal products. In practical terms, the grant focuses on harmonizing SPS approaches at continental, regional, and bilateral levels so that trade is not blocked by inconsistent rules, unclear procedures, or gaps in regulatory capacity.
FAS expects the awardee to provide technical agricultural assistance that supports training, research, and outreach for RECs and Member States. A major emphasis is building understanding and use of international standards, improving scientific collaboration, and encouraging harmonized SPS rules and procedures across borders. The recipient is expected to conduct collaborative research and actively share and publicize scientific findings so that lessons learned translate into better policies and day-to-day regulatory decisions.
Key activities described include technical assistance to support AHSA implementation and the development of policy guidelines that help RECs and MS apply measures consistent with AfCFTA SPS Annex 7. The program also calls for designing and delivering workshops, virtual meetings, technical assistance engagements, online tools, and other platforms to familiarize African regulators with both U.S. and international animal health regulations and procedures, while building the skills of REC and MS technical experts. In coordination with USDA, the recipient is expected to provide expertise to AU-IBAR, RECs, and Member States on priority animal health and trade-related issues.
The priority technical themes spelled out in the opportunity include promoting the development and adoption of risk-based regulatory measures that facilitate trade and are grounded in OIE standards; improving transparency and encouraging collaborative exchange of good regulatory practices across RECs and Member States; harmonizing biosecurity measures by building on existing standard methods and procedures (including SMP-AH and related programs); supporting access to, uptake of, and good governance around animal production technologies; and preventing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the animal production sector, reflecting the growing global importance of AMR as both an animal health and trade concern.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by USDA FAS Global Programs under CFDA 10.960, using a cooperative agreement instrument (meaning substantial involvement from the funding agency is expected). Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status). The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $1,000,000, with the original closing date of August 13, 2021, and it was created on July 14, 2021. Overall, the grant is structured to translate continental strategies and AfCFTA SPS commitments into practical regulatory capacity, shared standards, and coordinated animal health actions that make trade safer and easier across Africa.Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0026
- The Global Programs in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Animal Health Systems Facilitating Trade within the African Union" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-08-13. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Animal Health Systems Facilitating Trade within the African Union grant?
This opportunity is a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) cooperative agreement intended to strengthen animal health systems across African Union (AU) institutions, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and AU Member States in ways that directly support safe, rules-based trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
2. Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The program is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), under FAS Global Programs.
3. What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding is provided through a cooperative agreement. This indicates substantial involvement from the funding agency (USDA FAS) in carrying out the program.
4. What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to improve the ability of African animal health authorities to prevent, detect, and manage animal diseases and zoonoses, while accounting for pressures such as climate change and disasters. By strengthening animal health systems and making Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) processes more consistent across countries and regions, the program aims to expand access to regional and international markets for African animals and animal products.
5. How does this grant connect to AfCFTA?
AfCFTA took effect on January 1, 2021, creating a 54-country free trade area. The grant focuses on supporting AfCFTA SPS commitments, especially Annex 7, which calls for more consistent reliance on risk-based, science-driven measures aligned with international standards to safely move animals and animal products across borders.
6. Which AU strategies and policy frameworks does the grant align with?
The opportunity aligns with two AU policy pillars adopted in February 2020: the AU SPS Policy Framework (developed under AU-DARBE) and the Animal Health Strategy for Africa (AHSA) (led by AU-IBAR). Together, they provide a pathway to implement the SPS chapter of AfCFTA and strengthen animal health systems to meet international expectations.
7. What role does AU-IBAR play in this opportunity?
AU-IBAR is described as playing a coordinating role across livestock, fisheries, and wildlife sectors and representing continental Africa at the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Because of that role, AU-IBAR is central to harmonization and standard-setting discussions tied to animal health and trade.
8. What is meant by “harmonizing SPS approaches,” and why does it matter?
Harmonizing SPS approaches means aligning rules, procedures, and regulatory practices across countries and regions so that trade is not blocked by inconsistent requirements, unclear procedures, or gaps in regulatory capacity. The program emphasizes continental, regional, and bilateral harmonization to make cross-border trade in animals and animal products safer and easier.
9. What kinds of support is the awardee expected to provide?
USDA FAS expects the awardee to provide technical agricultural assistance that supports training, research, and outreach for RECs and AU Member States. The awardee is also expected to improve understanding and use of international standards, strengthen scientific collaboration, and encourage harmonized SPS rules and procedures across borders.
10. Is research required under this program?
Yes. The recipient is expected to conduct collaborative research and actively share and publicize scientific findings so that lessons learned inform policies and day-to-day regulatory decisions.
11. What delivery formats are mentioned for program activities?
The opportunity describes designing and delivering workshops, virtual meetings, technical assistance engagements, online tools, and other platforms to build knowledge and skills among African regulators and technical experts.
12. What kind of regulatory content will trainings and tools focus on?
The program calls for familiarizing African regulators with both U.S. and international animal health regulations and procedures, alongside building the skills of REC and Member State technical experts.
13. What is the expected relationship with USDA during implementation?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, USDA FAS anticipates substantial involvement. The opportunity also notes that, in coordination with USDA, the recipient is expected to provide expertise to AU-IBAR, RECs, and Member States on priority animal health and trade-related issues.
14. What are the priority technical themes for this grant?
The opportunity highlights these priority themes: (1) promoting risk-based regulatory measures grounded in OIE standards that facilitate trade; (2) improving transparency and encouraging collaborative exchange of good regulatory practices across RECs and Member States; (3) harmonizing biosecurity measures by building on existing standard methods and procedures, including SMP-AH and related programs; (4) supporting access to, uptake of, and good governance around animal production technologies; and (5) preventing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the animal production sector.
15. What does “risk-based, science-driven” SPS regulation mean in this program context?
In this opportunity, risk-based, science-driven SPS regulation refers to measures that are consistent with international standards and grounded in scientific approaches to managing animal health and zoonotic risks, supporting safe movement of animals and animal products while reducing unnecessary trade barriers.
16. Why is the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) referenced?
OIE is referenced because the program emphasizes aligning regulatory measures with international animal health standards. The opportunity explicitly notes that AU-IBAR represents continental Africa at the OIE, tying the program to harmonization and standard-setting.
17. How does the program address climate change and disasters?
The program recognizes that climate change and disasters can destabilize production and increase outbreak risks. Strengthening prevention, detection, and management capacity is positioned as a way to improve resilience while also supporting trade.
18. Why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) included as a priority theme?
The opportunity treats AMR as an increasingly important animal health and trade issue globally and includes preventing AMR in the animal production sector as a specific technical priority.
19. Who is eligible to apply for this cooperative agreement?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status).
20. What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.960.
21. What is the maximum award amount mentioned?
The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000.
22. What were the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on July 14, 2021, and the original closing date listed was August 13, 2021.
23. What is the intended impact on trade?
The grant is structured to translate AU strategies and AfCFTA SPS commitments into practical regulatory capacity, shared standards, and coordinated animal health actions, reducing barriers created by inconsistent rules and strengthening access to regional and international markets for animals and animal products.
24. What kinds of institutions or governance levels does the program aim to support?
The program is designed to support AU institutions, RECs, and AU Member States, with work occurring at continental, regional, and bilateral levels to improve alignment and consistency in SPS implementation.
25. What is SMP-AH as referenced in the opportunity?
The opportunity references harmonizing biosecurity measures by building on existing standard methods and procedures, including SMP-AH and related programs. No further definition is provided in the supplied description.
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