Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA 2021 003
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Office of Global Programs and its International Food Assistance Division, issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Solicitation of Input from Stakeholders on the priority country selection under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program" (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA 2021 003; CFDA: 10.608). This announcement is not a funding opportunity, not a call for grant applications, and not a request for proposals. Instead, it is a public comment process intended to shape how USDA selects "priority countries" for potential future projects under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
The core purpose of the RFI is to gather evidence-based input from stakeholders on the factors USDA should weigh when identifying countries where McGovern-Dole school feeding and child nutrition investments are most likely to be effective, sustainable, and capable of eventually transitioning to local ownership. USDA specifically highlights three related themes for input: effective governance, host-government commitment to school feeding programs, and "graduation" (the idea that countries and programs should develop the capacity and political will to sustain school feeding without continued external support). The agency is looking for as much detailed supporting material as possible, including data, research findings, country examples, and practical recommendations that could help inform future annual priority country selection and improve the odds of achieving lasting results at scale.
In practical terms, USDA is asking contributors to explain what "good governance" and genuine government commitment look like in the context of school feeding, how to measure those concepts, and how those conditions should influence whether a country is prioritized for McGovern-Dole support. Stakeholders are encouraged to suggest indicators, decision rules, and evidence that connect governance and commitment to program performance, such as whether national policies exist, whether budget lines are funded and executed, whether procurement and supply chains are transparent, whether education and agriculture ministries coordinate effectively, and whether the enabling environment supports accountability and continuity across political cycles. The RFI also invites ideas on what a credible graduation pathway should involve, including milestones that show increasing domestic financing, institutional capacity, and system readiness (for example, national standards, monitoring systems, and reliable procurement mechanisms) so that school feeding can continue after donor support tapers off.
Eligibility to respond is broadly open (listed as "unrestricted"), meaning any interested organization or individual can submit comments, subject to any clarifications in the full text. Because this is an RFI with an award ceiling of $0 and expected awards of 0, the output USDA wants is guidance and information rather than project proposals or budgets. Responses are meant to help USDA design future programming choices and selection criteria, including how to identify places where McGovern-Dole can catalyze "transformative breakthroughs" in governance, strengthen national commitment, and support sustainable transitions.
The comment deadline was September 17, 2021, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time to be assured of consideration. Submissions were requested via email to PPDED@usda.gov with the subject line "McGovern-Dole Request for Information - August 2021." The program’s legislative authority is linked in the notice (7 U.S.C. section 1736o-1), providing the statutory basis for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and helping commenters align recommendations with the program’s legal framework and objectives.Apply for USDA 2021 003
- The Department of Agriculture, McGovern-Dole Food for Education 10.608 in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solicitation of Input from Stakeholders on the priority country selection under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.608.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Written comments must be received by 500 pm EST on September 17, 2021 to be assured of consideration.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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FAQs: USDA FAS RFI on Priority Country Selection for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program (USDA 2021 003; CFDA 10.608)
1) What is this USDA announcement?
This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Office of Global Programs, International Food Assistance Division. The RFI is titled "Solicitation of Input from Stakeholders on the priority country selection under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program."
2) Is this a funding opportunity or a grant application notice?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a funding opportunity, not a call for grant applications, and not a request for proposals. It is a public comment process meant to gather stakeholder input.
3) What is the purpose of the RFI?
The purpose is to collect evidence-based input to help USDA shape how it selects "priority countries" for potential future projects under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. USDA is seeking recommendations, indicators, decision rules, and supporting evidence that can improve future annual priority country selection and increase the likelihood of sustainable results.
4) What program is this RFI related to?
The RFI relates to the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which focuses on school feeding and child nutrition investments.
5) What are the main themes USDA is asking stakeholders to address?
USDA highlights three connected themes for input: (1) effective governance, (2) host-government commitment to school feeding programs, and (3) "graduation" (building the capacity and political will to sustain school feeding without continued external support).
6) What does USDA mean by "effective governance" in this context?
Based on the notice, USDA is asking stakeholders to describe what "good governance" looks like for school feeding and child nutrition systems, how it can be measured, and how governance conditions should influence whether a country is prioritized for McGovern-Dole support.
7) What does USDA mean by "host-government commitment" to school feeding?
USDA is looking for stakeholder input on what genuine government commitment looks like and how to measure it. Examples referenced include whether national policies exist, whether budget lines are funded and executed, and whether government systems support accountability and continuity across political cycles.
8) What is "graduation" and why is it emphasized?
"Graduation" refers to the idea that countries and programs should develop the capacity and political will to sustain school feeding without continued external support. USDA is inviting ideas on what a credible graduation pathway should include and what milestones demonstrate readiness for a transition to local ownership.
9) What kinds of evidence and supporting materials does USDA want?
USDA asks for as much detailed supporting material as possible, including data, research findings, country examples, and practical recommendations. The intent is to connect governance and commitment to program performance and long-term sustainability.
10) What types of indicators or decision factors does the RFI mention?
The notice points to potential factors such as: the existence of national policies; funded and executed budget lines; transparent procurement and supply chains; effective coordination between education and agriculture ministries; and an enabling environment that supports accountability and continuity.
11) What kinds of "graduation pathway" milestones are mentioned?
The RFI references milestones such as increasing domestic financing, strengthened institutional capacity, and system readiness, including national standards, monitoring systems, and reliable procurement mechanisms so programs can continue after donor support tapers off.
12) Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?
Eligibility to respond is listed as "unrestricted," meaning any interested organization or individual may submit comments, subject to any clarifications in the full RFI text.
13) How many awards will be made under this announcement?
None. This RFI is not an awarding action. The expected number of awards is 0, and the award ceiling is $0.
14) What should a submission focus on (and what should it avoid)?
Submissions should focus on guidance and information that helps USDA refine priority country selection criteria, especially around governance, commitment, and graduation. Because this is not a grant competition, it is not requesting project proposals, budgets, or implementation plans for funding.
15) How will USDA use the information submitted?
USDA intends to use submissions to inform future programming choices and selection criteria, including how to identify where McGovern-Dole can most effectively support sustainable school feeding systems and transitions to local ownership.
16) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number referenced in the notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA 2021 003, and the CFDA number is 10.608.
17) When was the deadline to submit comments to be assured of consideration?
The deadline was September 17, 2021, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time to be assured of consideration.
18) How were comments requested to be submitted?
Submissions were requested via email to PPDED@usda.gov with the subject line "McGovern-Dole Request for Information - August 2021."
19) What is the legislative authority associated with this RFI?
The notice links the program authority to 7 U.S.C. section 1736o-1, which provides the statutory basis for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
20) What is the overall outcome USDA is trying to achieve through this RFI process?
The RFI is intended to improve how USDA identifies priority countries where McGovern-Dole investments are most likely to be effective, sustainable, and capable of transitioning to local ownership, including the potential to catalyze "transformative breakthroughs" in governance and national commitment.
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