The food for progress program provides for the donation of U.S. Commodities to developing countries and emerging democracies that are committed to introducing or expanding free enterprise in their…

The Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Kansas City Commodity Office awarded a Cooperative Agreement of $9.115 million to Lutheran World Relief Inc. on September 23, 2025, under the Food for Progress program (CFDA 10.606) to support agricultural productivity and trade expansion in Nepal through March 31, 2029.

Lutheran World Relief Inc., a Baltimore-based nonprofit, will implement the award across Nepal with five sub-recipients managing regional execution. The Rural Region and Agro-Forestry Development Centre will implement programming in seven municipalities across Bara (west side) and Parsa Districts, with provincial-level activities in Madesh Province. Multi-Dimensional Action For Development (Made), Nepal will cover 16 municipalities across Chitwan, Parasi, and Rupandehi Districts, managing provincial activities in Bagmati, Lumbini, and Gandaki Provinces. JAN Jagaran Youth Club will execute work in 15 municipalities across Sarlahi, Rautahat, and the east side of Bara Districts, with Madesh Province provincial activities. Community Family Welfare Association will cover 16 municipalities across Siraha, Dhanusha, and Mahottari Districts in Madesh Province. FORWARD will implement activities in 12 municipalities across Morang and Sunsari Districts with Koshi Province provincial-level activities. All sub-awards were executed on December 23, 2025.

The Food for Progress program provides U.S. agricultural commodity donations to developing countries and emerging democracies committed to free enterprise expansion in their agricultural sectors. Recipient countries sell donated commodities locally, with proceeds supporting agricultural, economic, or infrastructure development.

The food for progress program provides for the donation of U.S. Commodities to developing countries and emerging democracies that are committed to introducing or expanding free enterprise in their agricultural economies. The program has two primary strategic objectives: (1) increase agricultural productivity and (2) expand trade of agricultural products.