U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Afghanistan has issued an Annual Program Statement (APS) soliciting applications from prospective private sector partners to assist in carrying out priority development programs by complementing the existing activities of the USAID.
USAID is committed to improving the ways in which it executes its foreign assistance programs through broader collaboration with new partners. The Agency seeks, through the establishment of public-private alliances, where appropriate, to stimulate private-sector-led development and increased private sector investment in Afghanistan.
USAID is particularly interested in innovative approaches that can have a significant impact on a major development challenge. Alliance partners are expected to bring significant new resources, ideas, technologies and/or partners to address priority development problems and challenges. Prospective alliance partners will be able to clearly articulate the value that they bring to a particular development challenge or USAID initiative, for example, by helping to increase the scale, efficiency,effectiveness, and/or sustainability of an initiative.
Areas of Interest
This APS supports the foreign assistance priorities of the U.S. Government (USG) as reflected in USAID/Afghanistan’s programs and projects. By pursuing opportunities to partner with USAID, your organization can make an important contribution to development objectives in Afghanistan. USAID/Afghanistan is interested in engaging local, regional and international organizations and non-governmental organizations on innovative ways to achieve common objectives.
USAID is particularly interested in good concept papers that favorably impact one of the following development initiatives in the provinces of Bamyan and Panjshir, and the cities of Mahtarlam, Herat, Mazar, Kabul and Lashkar Gah.
Economic Stability:
Agriculture Value Chain Development USAID/Afghanistan’s agricultural assistance strategy focuses on creating agriculture jobs and increasing rural incomes by implementing programs that improve productivity, regenerate agri-business, improve distribution channels, increase irrigation, diversify crops and strengthen government services to this industry.
Economic Growth:
If you believe your organization has the product, and/or the innovative idea or otherwise possesses the capability to significantly impact economic growth in Afghanistan in partnership with USAID, please submit a concept paper.
Workforce Development:
You are invited to use this APS to submit concept paper that illustrate how your organization can make a significant impact on further development of the education sector in Afghanistan in partnership with USAID.
Activities may focus on the specific and unique needs of women or ensure leading roles for women in broader country concerns. In every case, setting targets for women’s engagement or capacity building at the outset is encouraged.
Science & Technology: Through this APS, USAID/Afghanistan is seeking ideas and concepts to utilize existing technologies in innovative ways that will positively impact the development programs.
Potential partners for USAID/Afghanistan are invited to use this APS to submit concept papers for alliances that address development-focused scientific research, improved monitoring and evaluation, new technology adoption approaches, or other entrepreneurial approaches that demonstrate how science, technology and innovation can have a significant impact on a particular grand development challenge.
Last date for submitting the concept notes is October 31, 2012.
For more information, visit this link and search by the Funding Opportunity Number APS-306-12-013
