Opportunity Information: Apply for 720FDA19APS00002
The East and Central Africa Rapid Response Fund for Acute Humanitarian Needs Resulting from New Internal Displacement is a USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funding opportunity designed to support fast, flexible humanitarian action when new internal displacement creates urgent needs in East and Central Africa. The core idea is to put a mechanism in place that can quickly direct resources to sudden-onset or rapidly deteriorating displacement situations, where delays in financing can translate into gaps in lifesaving assistance. USAID is looking for a qualified organization (or consortium, if allowed under the full notice) that can operate a rapid response fund and use it to address acute humanitarian needs linked specifically to newly displaced populations within their own countries, rather than cross-border refugee movements.
This opportunity is issued as a discretionary award under a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. In practice, that typically implies closer collaboration with USAID on strategic direction, approvals, monitoring expectations, and potentially the pacing or targeting of disbursements as displacement dynamics evolve. The funding activity category is Disaster Prevention and Relief, and it falls under CFDA 98.001, which is commonly associated with USAID humanitarian assistance programming. The solicitation emphasizes that applicants should read the Notice of Funding Opportunity carefully because it lays out the specific program model USAID wants, along with the required application components and the selection process.
USAID anticipates making a single award, but the notice clearly reserves the agency's discretion to fund one, multiple, or none of the applications submitted. That language matters because it signals a competitive process where award is not guaranteed even if proposals meet basic compliance requirements. The award ceiling is listed as $5,000,000, which sets the maximum amount USAID expects to obligate under this opportunity (subject to the final negotiated budget, period of performance, and USAID priorities). The eligible applicant category is listed as unrestricted, which generally indicates a broad range of entities may apply, but the notice also points applicants to Section C for the definitive eligibility requirements. In other words, while the top-line eligibility looks open, the detailed criteria in the full announcement still control and may include additional conditions related to organizational capacity, registration, past performance, financial controls, or compliance readiness.
The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number 720FDA19APS00002, published by the Agency for International Development, with a creation date of July 2, 2019, and an original closing date of August 27, 2019. The emphasis on "rapid response" and "acute humanitarian needs" suggests the fund is meant to be nimble and operationally ready, supporting quick mobilization for immediate lifesaving sectors typically associated with emergency response, such as emergency health services, water and sanitation, shelter and non-food items, protection, and other urgent assistance tailored to displacement-driven crises. The implementing partner would be expected to demonstrate an ability to move quickly, coordinate with humanitarian actors, and maintain strong accountability systems suitable for fast-turnaround funding in complex environments.
Overall, this grant opportunity seeks an experienced humanitarian organization capable of managing a responsive funding mechanism in East and Central Africa, with the goal of reducing the time between the onset of internal displacement and the delivery of critical assistance. The application would need to show both technical capacity to run rapid humanitarian interventions and the operational, financial, and compliance systems required to administer funds responsibly under a cooperative agreement with USAID OFDA.Apply for 720FDA19APS00002
- The Agency for International Development in the disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "East and Central Africa Rapid Response Fund for Acute Humanitarian Needs Resulting from New Internal Displacement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-07-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-08-27. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the East and Central Africa Rapid Response Fund opportunity?
It is a USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funding opportunity to establish and operate a rapid response fund that can quickly support humanitarian action when new internal displacement creates urgent needs in East and Central Africa. The goal is to reduce delays in financing so lifesaving assistance can reach newly displaced people faster.
2. What problem is this fund intended to solve?
The opportunity is designed to address the gap that can occur between the onset of sudden or rapidly worsening internal displacement and the availability of funding to respond. The fund is meant to be fast and flexible so resources can be directed quickly to acute needs tied to new displacement events.
3. What types of displacement does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is on newly displaced populations within their own countries (internal displacement). It is specifically described as distinct from cross-border refugee movements.
4. What geographic area does this opportunity cover?
The fund is intended for East and Central Africa, targeting acute humanitarian needs resulting from new internal displacement in that region.
5. What is the funding mechanism (grant type) for this opportunity?
It is described as a discretionary award under a cooperative agreement. This indicates USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant, often including closer collaboration on strategic direction, approvals, monitoring expectations, and potentially how disbursements are paced or targeted as the situation changes.
6. What does USAID "substantial involvement" typically mean in this context?
Based on the description provided, it generally implies closer collaboration between USAID and the implementing partner during implementation. This may include alignment on strategic direction, obtaining approvals, meeting monitoring expectations, and adjusting the timing or focus of disbursements as displacement dynamics evolve.
7. What is the program area or activity category for this funding?
The activity category is Disaster Prevention and Relief.
8. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001, which is commonly associated with USAID humanitarian assistance programming.
9. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 720FDA19APS00002.
10. Which agency is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is published by the Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically referencing the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).
11. How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID anticipates making a single award. However, the notice reserves USAID's discretion to fund one, multiple, or none of the applications submitted.
12. Is an award guaranteed if an application is compliant?
No. The opportunity language indicates a competitive process, and USAID explicitly reserves the discretion to fund one, multiple, or none of the submissions, even if proposals meet basic compliance requirements.
13. What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is listed as $5,000,000, which is the maximum amount USAID expects to obligate under this opportunity, subject to final negotiated budget, period of performance, and USAID priorities.
14. Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed as unrestricted, suggesting a broad range of entities may apply. However, the description emphasizes that applicants must refer to Section C of the full notice for definitive eligibility requirements, which may include additional conditions related to capacity, registration, past performance, financial controls, or compliance readiness.
15. Can a consortium apply?
The description notes that USAID is looking for a qualified organization (or a consortium, if allowed under the full notice). Whether a consortium is permitted depends on the terms in the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity.
16. What is USAID looking for in an implementing partner?
An experienced humanitarian organization capable of managing a responsive funding mechanism in East and Central Africa, including the ability to move quickly, coordinate with humanitarian actors, and maintain strong accountability systems suitable for fast-turnaround funding in complex environments.
17. What kinds of humanitarian needs is the fund expected to address?
The emphasis on "rapid response" and "acute humanitarian needs" suggests support for immediate lifesaving sectors typically associated with emergency response. The description provides examples such as emergency health services, water and sanitation, shelter and non-food items, protection, and other urgent assistance tailored to displacement-driven crises.
18. What is meant by "rapid response" in this opportunity?
"Rapid response" refers to the ability to mobilize and direct resources quickly to sudden-onset or rapidly deteriorating internal displacement situations, minimizing the time between displacement and delivery of critical assistance.
19. Why does the notice emphasize reading the Notice of Funding Opportunity carefully?
Because it lays out the specific program model USAID wants, along with required application components and the selection process. The summary also notes that Section C contains definitive eligibility requirements.
20. What accountability or systems capacity is implied for applicants?
The description indicates the implementing partner should have strong operational, financial, and compliance systems to administer funds responsibly, particularly given the fast-turnaround nature of a rapid response fund and the cooperative agreement structure.
21. When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The creation date is July 2, 2019, and the original closing date is August 27, 2019.
22. What is the overall objective of this opportunity?
To reduce the time between the onset of internal displacement and the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance by putting a nimble funding mechanism in place for East and Central Africa.
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