Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS FFPR 17
The Food for Progress Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative, administered through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), that supports agricultural development in developing countries and emerging democracies that are working to introduce or expand free enterprise in their agricultural sectors. The core approach is commodity-based assistance: the program donates U.S. agricultural commodities to eligible partner countries, and those commodities are typically "monetized," meaning they are sold in the recipient country's local market. The revenue generated from those sales is then used to finance on-the-ground agricultural development activities. In practice, this structure is designed to turn a commodity donation into longer-term investments that strengthen agricultural systems, improve productivity, and support market-oriented reforms.
This particular opportunity was offered as a discretionary funding opportunity under a Cooperative Agreement, which usually signals an award structure where the federal agency expects substantial involvement during implementation (for example, coordination on planning, monitoring, and compliance). The funding opportunity title is Food for Progress Program, and it was published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA FAS FFPR 17, with a CFDA number of 10.606. The posting indicates an original closing date of January 19, 2017, and a creation date of October 24, 2016. While the award ceiling is not listed in the provided details, the opportunity anticipated making about six awards.
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes organizations and entities typically positioned to manage international development projects tied to agriculture and markets. Specifically, eligible applicants include private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments, grouped under the eligibility label "Others." This reflects the program's practical needs: implementing organizations must be able to handle commodity logistics and local-market monetization arrangements, while also designing and delivering development activities that align with the program's policy goals around agricultural commercialization and free enterprise.
In terms of focus areas, the opportunity is categorized across several related domains: Agriculture, Community Development, Employment, Labor and Training, Food and Nutrition, and Regional Development. That mix hints at the kinds of projects Food for Progress often supports, such as strengthening agricultural value chains, improving agribusiness skills and farmer training, expanding access to markets, supporting producer organizations or cooperatives, and building institutions that help agriculture function more competitively. Because the development funding in many cases comes from monetization proceeds, projects are generally structured to connect commodity sales with measurable investments in the agricultural economy, rather than functioning only as short-term food assistance.
Overall, this grant opportunity can be understood as a development-oriented commodity donation program: U.S. commodities are provided to partner countries with reform-minded agricultural agendas, sold locally to generate funds, and then the proceeds are reinvested into activities meant to modernize and expand market-based agriculture. The intended outcome is not just increased production, but stronger agricultural markets and institutions that support private enterprise and longer-term economic development.Apply for USDA FAS FFPR 17
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture, community development, employment, labor and training, food and nutrition, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food for Progress Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.606.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Food for Progress Program (USDA FAS) - FAQs
1) What is the Food for Progress Program?
The Food for Progress Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative, administered through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), that supports agricultural development in developing countries and emerging democracies. It is designed to help partner countries introduce or expand free enterprise within their agricultural sectors while strengthening agricultural systems and markets over the longer term.
2) What is the main approach used by this program?
The program uses commodity-based assistance. USDA donates U.S. agricultural commodities to eligible partner countries. Those commodities are typically monetized, meaning they are sold in the recipient country's local market, and the sales revenue is then used to finance agricultural development activities on the ground.
3) What does "monetization" mean in this opportunity?
Monetization refers to selling the donated U.S. agricultural commodities in the recipient country's local market. The funds raised through those local sales are then used to pay for program activities intended to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen institutions, and support market-oriented reforms.
4) How does a commodity donation turn into development funding?
In practice, the donated commodities are sold locally and the revenue from those sales becomes the financing mechanism for development work. This structure is meant to convert an in-kind commodity donation into longer-term investments that modernize and strengthen agricultural systems and markets.
5) Is this opportunity focused on short-term food assistance?
Based on the description provided, the emphasis is development-oriented rather than short-term food relief. Activities are generally structured to connect commodity sales with measurable investments in the agricultural economy, including improvements in productivity, market access, and institutions that support competitive agriculture.
6) Who administers this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) under the Food for Progress Program.
7) What is the funding opportunity number and program identifier?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FAS FFPR 17, and the CFDA number listed is 10.606.
8) What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary funding opportunity under a Cooperative Agreement. A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial federal involvement during implementation, such as coordination on planning, monitoring, and compliance.
9) What does "substantial involvement" under a Cooperative Agreement usually imply?
It generally means the federal agency expects to be actively engaged during implementation. Examples mentioned include coordination on planning, monitoring, and compliance, rather than a fully hands-off relationship after award.
10) When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The creation date listed is October 24, 2016, and the original closing date is January 19, 2017.
11) How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making about six awards.
12) Is an award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
No. The provided details state that the award ceiling is not listed.
13) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments. These are grouped under the eligibility label "Others" in the posting.
14) Why are these types of organizations considered eligible?
The program structure typically requires implementers that can handle commodity logistics and local-market monetization arrangements, while also designing and delivering agricultural development activities aligned with the program's goals around commercialization and free enterprise.
15) What types of projects or activities does the program generally support?
Based on the focus areas listed, projects commonly align with agricultural and market development goals. The description suggests support for efforts such as strengthening agricultural value chains, improving agribusiness skills, providing farmer training, expanding market access, supporting producer organizations or cooperatives, and building institutions that help agriculture operate more competitively.
16) What are the focus areas or categories associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized across Agriculture, Community Development, Employment, Labor and Training, Food and Nutrition, and Regional Development.
17) What outcomes is the program intended to achieve?
The intended outcomes include stronger agricultural systems, improved productivity, expanded and more competitive agricultural markets, and institutions that support private enterprise and longer-term economic development in partner countries pursuing agricultural commercialization and reforms.
18) How does this opportunity relate to free enterprise in agriculture?
The program supports developing countries and emerging democracies that are working to introduce or expand free enterprise in their agricultural sectors. The monetization-plus-reinvestment model is described as supporting market-oriented reforms and commercialization, not only increases in production.
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