Amendment 2 NOFO-FARMER TO FARMER-LWA.pdf

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ISSUE DATE: December 27, 2017 AMENDMENT 2: January 23, 2018 QUESTION DUE DATE: January 16, 2018 at 12:00 PM (local time - Washington D.C.)

RESPONSE DUE DATE: February 12, 2018 at 12:00 PM (local time - Washington D.C.)

SUBJECT: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) No. 7 2 0 0 A A 1 8 B 0 0 0 0 2 for the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program

Dear Sir/Madam:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Food Security (BFS) under the management of the Office of Country Strategy and Implementation (CSI) is continuing USAID’s long-term support for the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program. This NFO is issued to solicit applications to manage F2F volunteer programs under Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreements (LWAs). The LWAs resulting from this NFO will enable USAID to continue its support for US voluntary assistance for economic growth in the agricultural sector at regional and country levels. The LWA mechanism will facilitate USAID Mission funding to expand volunteer assistance and impact on agricultural program element objectives.

Issuance of this NFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and/or submission of an application. Applicants who come under consideration for an award that have never received USAID funding will be subject to a pre-award audit to determine fiscal responsibility, ensure adequacy of financial controls, and establish an indirect cost rate (if applicable). For the purposes of this NFO, the term “Grant” is synonymous with “Cooperative Agreement”; "Grantee" is synonymous with "Recipient;" and "Grant Officer" is synonymous with "Agreement Officer". The authority for this NFO is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

USAID intends to award up to eight (8) Leader with Associate Awards in the form of Cooperative Agreements with Leader Award programs amounts in the range of $4-16 million, subject to the availability of funds. Each Leader Award will have a period of performance of up to five (5) years.

Applicants may propose implementation periods of less than five (5) years (cost efficiencies and project effectiveness should be considered) but no more than five (5) years. Additional associate award(s) may be placed at a future time under LWA mechanisms through separate NFO processes.

Projects proposed with an implementation period of more than five (5) years will not be considered.

Competition under this NFO will be conducted in two phases:

• Phase I: Concept Note

• Phase II: Full Application ii

Each applicant shall initially provide USAID with a Concept Note. The Concept Note shall be competitively evaluated against the pre-determined evaluation criterion. The most highly technically qualified Concept Notes will be invited to submit Part II Full Applications under this NFO. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in a timely manner.

Prospective applicants shall submit all Concept Notes in writing via email ONLY to aoussantidja@usaid.gov no later than the time and date specified above. DO NOT SUBMIT

CONCEPT NOTES VIA GRANTS.GOV, THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The preferred method of distribution of USAID assistance information is via the Internet. This NFO contains all necessary information, web links, and materials to submit a complete concept note. Any additional information regarding this NFO will be furnished through an amendment(s) and will be communicated through Grants.gov. This NFO and any future amendments can be downloaded from the World Wide Web Address at http://www.grants.gov. Additionally, in order to submit a full application, organizations must have a current registration in SAM.GOV. If an organization is currently not registered in SAM.GOV, Applicants are advised to begin the registration process IMMEDIATELY upon the issuance of this NFO.

Thank you for your interest in this USAID initiative. USAID looks forward to your organization’s participation.

Sincerely, Paul Burford M/OAA/BFS Agreement Officer mailto:mohahmed@usaid.gov http://www.grants.gov/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS LIST ......................................................................................... v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. vii

SECTION I: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Background

A.1 The Development Problem

A.2 Strategy Framework

A.3 Local Capacity Development

A.4 F2F Theory of Change B. F2F Core Country LWA Program Description

B.1 F2F Program Goal and Objective

B.2 Farmer-to-Farmer Program Approach

B.3 Farmer-to-Farmer Leader Award Program Structure

B.4 Geographic Focus: Countries and Regions

B.5 Associate Awards C. F2F Program Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

C.1 Program performance and impact indicators

C.2 F2F Learning and Community of Practice

C.3 Expected Results D. F2F Program Implementation Requirements

SECTION II: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. Number of Awards, Funding, and Performance Periods B. Type of Award C. Substantial Involvement D. Anticipated Award Schedule E. Authorized Geographic Code

SECTION III: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements B. Country Eligibility Requirements C. Leverage & Cost Share D. Other Eligibility Criteria

SECTION IV: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Technical Application Process B. Phase I - Concept Note Instructions C. Phase II – Full Application Instructions

SECTION V: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. NFO Phase I - Concept Note Evaluation

B. Phase II – Full Application Evaluation iv

SECTION VI: FEDERAL AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Authority to Obligate the Government

C. Standard Provisions

D. Key Personnel

E. Planning and Reporting Requirements

F. Environmental Compliance

SECTION VII: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION VIII: OTHER INFORMATION

A. NFO ATTACHMENT A: FARMER-TO-FARMER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ISSUES

AND APPROACH

B. NFO ATTACHMENT B: SUMMARY OF USAID MISSION INPUT TO FOR COUNTRY

F2F ACTIVITY PLANNING

C. NFO attachment C: John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FY2019-23) Pesticide Evaluation Report-Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP)

D. NFO ATTACHMENT D: JOHN OGONOWSKI FARMER-TO-FARMER PROGRAM

GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES

E. NFO ATTACHMENT E: ILLUSTRATIVE FORMAT FOR TABLES FOR REPORTING

ON STANDARD F2F PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT INDICATORS

F. PAST PERFORMANCE REFERENCE SHEET

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ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS LIST

The following acronyms and definitions are particular to this NFO:

ADS Automated Directives System. USAID’s operating manual

AET Agricultural education and training

AOR A USAID employee designated by the Agreement Officer to oversee a cooperative agreement on behalf of USAID

BFS Bureau for Food Security

CIB Contract Information Bulletin

Client/Customer USAID lexicon for a beneficiary, with emphasis on making sure that the beneficiary actually wants what the volunteer seeks to provide

Country F2F Project A development activity focused on a sub-sector and that has defined goals, objectives, strategy, and budget

Country Partner A local organization in core countries under the F2F Program that serves as an intermediary and helps the volunteer program Implementing Partner connect with hosts and with local organizations/individuals that can benefit from the volunteer. They may or may not have a sub- contract with the Implementing Agency.

CSI Office of Country Strategy and Implementation

Direct beneficiary An individual that benefits (usually economically) as a result of working directly with a volunteer; usually as a host or member of a host organization. Also called a customer or a client.

F2F John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer Program

F2F Implementer/ F2F Implementing Partner

The Cooperative Agreement Recipient organization implementing an F2F Program.

FAF Foreign Assistance Framework

Field staff Staff of implementing agencies located in developing countries receiving volunteers

Focus Area Term sometimes used in the F2F Program for a Country F2F Project or sub-sector project receiving F2F volunteer assistance

Flexible assignment A volunteer assignment to carry out a scope of work outside of the targeted Country F2F Projects

GFSS U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy

Host An individual or organization that receives technical assistance services and serves as the focus of the volunteer’s work. Examples include an individual farmer, a cooperative, a bank, an agribusiness, or a department in the local ministry of agriculture.

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Host Country A developing country in which an F2F program has activities

IEE Initial Environmental Examination

Indirect beneficiary An individual that benefits as a result of volunteer assignments, but does not work directly with the volunteer

IPM Implementing Partners Meeting or Integrated Pest Management

LOP Life of project or program

LWA Leader with Associates, a USAID assistance mechanism that may be either a grant or cooperative agreement. The leader award establishes the agreement relationship under which associates may be awarded without further competition.

Mission A formally organized USAID unit in a developing country led by a Mission Director or a Country Representative

MSI Minority Serving Institution

MSME Micro, small or medium enterprise

NGO Non-governmental organization

NFO Notice of Funding Opportunity (USAID procurement document)

PVO Private voluntary organization (a USAID registered NGO)

SOW Scope of Work

SPS Sanitary and phyto-sanitary

Sub-sector Under the F2F Program, an agricultural commodity or services area in which F2F programs focus volunteer assignments to achieve measurable objectives. Commodity sub-sectors may be defined as dairy, horticulture, wheat, etc; services sub-sectors may be financial services, extension, certification, input supply, etc.

SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis

ToC Theory of Change

USAID United States Agency for International Development

Volunteer An individual who provides technical assistance under a volunteer program, receiving no direct salary from the assignment

Volunteer program An implementing agency’s sub-sector plan and budget for volunteers in a specific country or region that has been approved by the funding agency vii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Food Security (BFS), Office of Country Strategy and Implementation (CSI)

Funding Opportunity Title: Request for Application (NFO): Farmer-to-Farmer Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity No.: 7200AA18B00002

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 98.009

NFO Dates: All specified times in this NFO are Washington, D.C. time.

Competition under this NFO has two phases, Phase I Concept Note and Phase II Full Application (full application to be submitted upon invitation only). Target dates are best estimates and may change depending on circumstances.

Phase I - Concept Note:

NFO Phase I Issuance Date: December 27, 2017 NFO Phase I Questions Due: January 16, 2018, 12:00 PM Applicants’ Conference: January 22, 2018 NFO Concept Notes Due: February 12, 2018, 12:00 PM Notification to Successful/Unsuccessful Applicants: March 12, 2018 5:00 PM

Phase II:

Invitation for Full application sent to Successful Applicants: March 12, 2018 5:00 PM NFO Part II Questions Due: March 19, 2018, 12:00 PM NFO Part II Full Applications Due: April 12, 2018 12:00 PM NFO Full Application Revisions Request: May 4, 2018 NFO Part II Full Application Revisions Due: May 18, 2018 12:00 PM NFO Full Application Notification To Successful/Unsuccessful Applicants Provided: June 29, 2018 5:00 PM

Note: Applicants interested in participating in an Applicants’ Conference for the industry for summary presentation and questions on the NFO should inform Abibou Oussantidja, Agreement Officer, M/OAA/BFS (aoussantidja@usaid.gov) by 5:00 PM January 15, 2018 to obtain information as to the physical location or call-in information for the meeting. No more than two representatives per organization may participate in the meeting.

Funding

Funding for the F2F Program may be affected by future budget levels, policy decisions, and the U.S. Farm Bill. Funding for LWAs is subject to USAID policies establishing ceiling levels for funding of these awards.

Leader Award budget: The Recipient shall plan to implement a five-year Leader Award vii program. Applicants may propose programs in the range of $4 to 16 million. USAID estimates that a typical awards will be at a level $8.25 million, but may fund exceptionally strong technical proposals at higher levels and others at or below the $8.25 million level. USAID expects to provide core funding for each Recipient F2F Program with an initial obligation of approximately $1.4 million in FY18 and the remaining funding in approximately equal tranches over four years (FY19-22). This is a projection for planning purposes only. Any and all funding for the F2F Program is subject to the availability of funding to USAID for this purpose.

Associate Award Budget: Associate Awards will be subject to the needs, priorities and funding available to USAID Missions and offices. Funding for Associate Award Agreements will be subject to USAID Mission and other USAID operating unit budget levels and strategies. Based on previous experience with F2F LWA programs, there may be considerable interest from USAID Missions reflected in Requests for Associate Award Applications for a variety of types of volunteer technical assistance-based agricultural and rural development projects. Recipients must be prepared to respond appropriately to such requests from Missions and applications should demonstrate capacity and planned procedures for responding with applications for and implementing Associate Awards, if any materialize. Associate Awards may run for up to five years from date of award and may extend beyond the period for the Leader Award.

LWA Funding Ceilings: Each F2F LWA Cooperative Agreement will carry two funding ceiling restrictions:

1. Total of Leader Award: The ceiling for a Leader Award will be from $4.0 million to $16.0 million. Within each total Leader Award ceiling, $1.0 million will be a ceiling for Mission Buy-ins to the Leader Award and will be dependent on Mission interest and funding availability for buy-ins.

2. Total of Associate Awards: The ceiling for all related Associate Awards under a given Leader award will be equal to three times the level of ceiling for the Leader Award.

Regional Award Categories

Applicants shall propose programs for core country programs in specific geographic areas as listed below. Approximately two-thirds of the funding will be allocated to programs in the first four listed regions. A program of up to approximately $8.25 million would be expected to be appropriate to a regional program. Applications may cover multiple regional programs or larger thematic programs of over $8.25 million in a given region. Regional program categories are listed below:

1. East Africa

2. Southern Africa

3. West Africa

4. Caribbean Basin

5. Other – may include Country F2F Programs in core countries in: a) Middle East & North

Africa; b) Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia; c) Latin America; d) Asia; or e) countries across multiple regions. (Note: Programs with core countries across multiple regions are fully acceptable, but require a statement justifying or explaining the rationale for this approach.)

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It is expected that no Recipient will be awarded more than one LWA Cooperative Agreement.

USAID reserves the following rights in making LWA Cooperative Agreement awards under this

NFO:

• Not to issue an award in one or more, or in any, of the competitive groups.

• To make awards in amounts greater than or less than the $4-16 million planning range proposed.

• To make additional awards at a later date, if funding permits.

• To make multiple awards for activities within a geographic region, though multiple awards for activities within an individual country are not expected.

• To request applicants to extend the validity of their applications and to make awards until

9/30/19.

Eligible Applicants

The F2F Cooperative Agreements will be fully competed among eligible organizations. Eligible applicants must be either: a US Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) registered with USAID (a PVO may be in the registration process during the NFO Phase I Concept Note stage, however must be fully registered before NFO Phase II Full Application stage); a U.S. nonprofit agricultural organization; a US agricultural cooperative; a private U.S. agribusiness or agriculturally-related business or consulting firm; private organization (including grassroots organizations with an established and demonstrated capacity to carry out such a bilateral exchange program), private corporation, or a college, university or foundation maintained by a college or university. Moreover, applicants must have within the past five (5) years a minimum of two (2) years’ experience in planning, managing, monitoring and reporting on international agricultural development programs. For profit businesses must waive profits and/or fees to be eligible to submit a Concept Note.

USAID strongly encourages applications from new US partners. The paper “Managing International Volunteer Programs: A Farmer-to-Farmer Program Manual” shares lessons learned and good practice for managing Farmer-to-Farmer Programs and should be useful to potential new implementing organizations. See http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org/resources/2016-f2f-good-practices-manual.

Additionally, pursuant to 2 CFR 200 Subpart E, it is USAID policy not to award profit under assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allowable and allocable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the Agreement program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (2CFR200, OMB Circular A-122 for non-profit organization, OMB Circular A- 21 for universities, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 31 for for-profit organizations), may be paid under the agreement.

Final award of any resultant Cooperative Agreement)s) cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal USAID procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award. The Agreement Officer is the only individual who may legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds. No costs chargeable to the proposed Agreement may be incurred before receipt of either a fully x executed Agreement or a specific, written authorization from the Agreement Officer.

Points of Contact and Questions

The Agency points of contact for this NFO are as follows:

Primary Point of Contact: Abibou Oussantidja, Agreement Officer, M/OAA/BFS (aoussantidja@usaid.gov) Alternate Point of Contact: Paul Burford, Agreement Officer, M/OAA/BFS (pburford@usaid.gov) mailto:(aoussantidja@usaid.gov mailto:pburford@usaid.gov

SECTION I: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Background

The F2F Program was first authorized by the U. S. Congress in 1985 to provide for the transfer of knowledge and expertise of U. S. agricultural producers and businesses on a voluntary basis to middle-income countries and emerging democracies. Since that time, the Program has earned respect for the high-quality technical services it provides to developing country host institutions. The U.S. Congress authorized the current phase of the F2F Program (funded FY2013-17, implemented largely FY2014-18) in the 2014 Farm Bill, designating it the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter F2F Program in honor of one of the pilots killed September 11, 2001 and former Congressman Bereuter.

The 2014-18 F2F Program consists of eight core projects implemented under Leader With Associate (LWA) Cooperative Agreements and one Cooperative Agreement for a Special Programs Support Project (SPSP). The Program implements in 65 Country F2F Projects in 29 core countries, as well as a number of small grant projects and individual assignments, providing about 3,600 volunteer technical assistance assignments averaging three weeks duration. The F2F Program implementing organizations work closely with USAID Missions and local partner organizations, supporting a variety of development programs aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating sustainable and broad-based economic growth. Major areas of current program volunteer activities are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: FY14-18 Farmer-to-Farmer Programs

Project/Region Countries F2F Focus Area Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia

Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia

Producer Organization Development, Rural Enterprises, Ag Education, Rural Financial Services

West Africa Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo

Staple Crops, Ag Education & Research, Horticulture, Youth in Ag, Livestock, Millet, Environmental Conservation, Poultry/Aquaculture

East Africa Ethiopia, Kenya , Tanzania, Uganda

Grains, Horticulture, Livestock, Dairy, Oilseeds

Southern Africa Malawi, Mozambique, Angola

Horticulture, Legumes

Middle East and North Africa

Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco Food Safety & Quality, Rural Finance, Environmental Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture

Caribbean Basin Nicaragua, Haiti, DR, Guatemala

Livestock & Dairy, Women & Youth, Rural Enterprise Development, Climate Change Adaptation, Horticulture

Agricultural Education and Training (AET)

Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal Formal AET, Informal AET

Asia Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal AET, Youth Entrepreneurship, Rural Development Special F2F Program Support

Jamaica, Colombia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mali, India, Madagascar, Mongolia, Kosovo

Sustainable Farm Enterprise, Food Hub Development, Food Safety Systems, Syndromic Surveillance for Livestock Health, Vanilla Cooperative Enterprise, Sustainable Animal Herding, Ag Sustainability

Program evaluations have consistently found that the F2F programs provide high quality technical assistance services from volunteers. Since program initiation, volunteers have completed over 17,000 assignments in over 100 countries. The total value of volunteers’ services provided is estimated at $160 million (current 2016 $). Approximately 1.52 million farmer families (representing about six million people) have been direct beneficiaries of the F2F Program. Volunteers have assisted an estimated 7,480 host organizations to adopt new technologies, build local institutions and linkages, and address rural local problems. Recently about 30 percent of all volunteers and about 40 percent of all individuals trained by F2F volunteers have been women. In addition, the returned volunteers engage in public awareness activities in their communities to share their experiences and promote better understanding of international development issues and objectives.

Volunteers typically work with medium and small agro-enterprises, cooperatives, individual producers, agricultural extension and research agencies, and financial institutions. Programs build institutions and transfer technology and management expertise to link small farmers with markets that exploit comparative advantages in production, processing, and marketing.

The F2F Program has evolved, placing increased emphasis on economic impact and obtaining measurable results by concentrating volunteer assignments in specific geographical areas, commodity programs, and support sectors. New programs go beyond simply arranging individual volunteer assignments, but rather focus on development of specific sub-sectors— agricultural support services, geographic regions or market chains—for which overall impact can be evaluated. Programs build institutions and transfer technology and management expertise to link small farmers with markets that exploit comparative advantages in production, processing, and marketing. Additional information on the F2F Program, including project implementation reports, evaluations, and other materials, may be found at: http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org. Final reports from past F2F projects can be found at: https://dec.usaid.gov.

F2F Program implementing partners are separately responsible for carrying out their individual projects, but voluntarily collaborate in an informal community of practice that supports program outreach and sharing of good practice in agricultural volunteer programs. The community of practice collaboration involves an outreach committee, an M&E committee, annual implementing partner meetings, seminars, and other activities. The group has completed and updated a manual on good practice in agricultural volunteer program implementation, available at: http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org/resources/2016-f2f-good-practices-manual.

Recipients of awards under this NFO will be encouraged, but not required, to follow practices outlined in this manual and to contribute to future updates. Applicants should also review the 2017 F2F Program Evaluation found at: http://farmer-to-farmer.org/resources/mid-term-theory-change-and-impact-learning-evaluation-usaid-f2f-program.

Congress periodically reauthorizes the F2F Program under USDA Farm Bills for five year periods. The 2014 Farm Bill provisions are expected to extend through 9/30/18. A new Farm Bill is expected in 2018 and may reauthorize and continue funding for the F2F Program over the next five years. However, because of the uncertainty as to provisions in a new Farm Bill, F2F Program funding and the level of funding beyond Year One are uncertain. Awards made under this NFO will include various provisions that allow flexibility for any changes required due to provisions of the new Farm Bill.

A.1 The Development Problem

Promoting economic growth in rural areas, where most of the world’s poor live, is essential to http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org/ http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org/ https://dec.usaid.gov/ http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org/resources/2016-f2f-good-practices-manual http://farmer-to-farmer.org/resources/mid-term-theory-change-and-impact-learning-evaluation-usaid-f2f-program http://farmer-to-farmer.org/resources/mid-term-theory-change-and-impact-learning-evaluation-usaid-f2f-program meeting Millennium Development Goals. Agricultural development is a critically important base for global food security, sustainable rural economic development, broad-based increase in incomes, and sustainable management of natural resources. Agricultural development and farm livelihoods in different countries are constrained by: lack of appropriate production, marketing, processing and support services technologies (inputs, management systems, production systems); poor or unsustainable management of environmental and natural resources; limited rural and agricultural financial services; and weak sector institutions (farmer cooperatives and associations, agribusinesses, research and extension services, etc).

Such constraints occur throughout the agricultural sector—at the farm production-level, in input-supply or sector support institutions, or in agribusinesses and markets that provide the demand for farmers’ products.

A related issue is the limited public understanding of international development and foreign food and agricultural issues. This is frequently mirrored in a poor understanding of development and agricultural issues by Americans, and of Americans and American foreign assistance by peoples in the countries where USAID works. The F2F Program is well suited to address these problems, specifically:

The need for technical assistance to introduce new technologies and innovation and to develop local capacity for more productive, profitable, sustainable, and equitable agricultural systems; and

The need for people-to-people interaction to promote better international understanding of international agricultural issues and USG development programs.

A.2 Strategy Framework

F2F Program activities are varied and conform to local country needs and strategic objectives. The F2F country project areas align with or support USAID Mission Strategies and objectives or those of other USG programs. Activities are fully demand-driven, responding to requests and needs of local organizations that request and host volunteers to address specific scopes of work. The program is consistent with the USAID strategy framework. F2F Program development objectives are shaped by authorizing legislation and the hierarchy of initiatives, policies, and institutional arrangements framing the strategies, goals, and objectives for US foreign assistance programs. These are summarized here, as they shape development priorities and activities at the country level.

Global Food Security Strategy: F2F Program activities may address the various areas of priority for investment in global food security (see Figure 1, below) under the major investment objectives: improving agricultural productivity; expanding markets and trade;

increasing economic resilience in vulnerable rural communities; and improving nutritional status. F2F volunteer programs contribute to nearly all investment priorities identified for the Feed the Future initiative, with priorities established by country and regional program in consultation with USAID staff. Activities are aligned with the U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) and its theory of change. Figure 1 (below) illustrates the GFSS theory of change Results Framework with three objectives for: Inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth; Strengthened resilience among people and systems; and Well-nourished population. The F2F Program contributes most directly to Interim Results Nos. 1 through 7.

Figure 1: Global Food Security Strategy Results Framework

USAID Agricultural Strategy: The F2F Program contributes to the four strategic themes in the USAID Agricultural Strategy, with focus on increasing agricultural productivity and smallholder participation in markets under four strategic themes: to expand trade opportunities and improve the trade capacity of producers and rural industries; to improve the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture; to mobilize science and technology and foster capacity for innovation; and to strengthen agricultural training and education, outreach, and adaptive research.

US Farm Bill: The U.S. Farm Bill authorizes the F2F Program to assist developing countries, middle-income countries, and emerging markets in increasing farm production and farmer incomes. The Farm Bill mandates that F2F:

• Assist in the achievement of increased food production and distribution, and improved effectiveness of the farming and marketing operations of agricultural producers;

• Assist in the improvement of agricultural and agribusiness operations, including improving animal care and health, field crop cultivation, fruit and vegetable growing, livestock operations, food processing and packaging, farm credit, marketing, inputs, and agricultural extension; and

• Strengthen cooperatives and other agricultural groups.

The Farm Bill goals for F2F Programs in sub-Saharan African and Caribbean Basin countries are to:

• Expand small agricultural operations into agribusiness enterprises by increasing

U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy Results Framework

Objective 1 Inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth

Objective 2 Strengthened resilience among people and systems

Objective 3 A well-nourished population, especially among women and children

IR 1

Strengthened inclusive agriculture systems that are productive and profitable

IR 2

Strengthened and expanded access to markets and trade

IR 3

Increased employment and entrepre-neurship

IR 4

Increased sustainable productivity, particularly through climate-smart approaches

IR 5

Improved proactive risk reduction, mitigation, and management

IR 6

Improved adaptation to and recovery from shocks and stresses

IR 7

Increased consumption of nutritious and safe diets

IR 8

Increased use of direct nutrition interventions and services

IR 9

More hygienic household and community environments

Complementary Results Long-term food security efforts benefit from and contribute to complementary work streams that promote:

Economic growth in complementary sectors Healthy ecosystems and biodiversity Stable, democratic societies that respect human rights and the rule of law A reduced burden of disease Well-educated populations

CC IR 1 Strengthened global commitment to investing in food security CC IR 4 Increased youth empowerment and livelihoods CC IR 2 Improved climate risk, land, marine, and other natural resource management CC IR 5 More effective governance, policy, and institutions CC IR 3 Increased gender equality and female empowerment CC IR 6 Improved human, organizational, and system performance

Cross-Cutting Intermediate Results (IR)

Effective response to emergency food security needs

Goal: Sustainably reduce global hunger, malnutrition, and poverty access to credit for agricultural producers through the development and use of village banking systems and the use of agricultural risk insurance pilot products;

• Provide training to agricultural producers to enhance local food security and help mitigate and alleviate hunger;

• Provide training to agricultural producers in groups to encourage participants to share and pass on knowledge to other agricultural producers in the home communities of the participants; and

• Maximize the number of beneficiaries.

USAID Mission Strategies: At a minimum, F2F programs must have concurrence of the USAID Mission to operate in any particular country. The Farm Bill specifically stipulates that F2F should coordinate with other U.S. foreign assistance programs and activities. In some cases, F2F country activities have been programmed very closely with Mission activities. In still other cases, F2F has been an effective economic growth complement to other Mission programs and objectives. F2F programs also have operated successfully where the USAID bi-lateral program has almost no agricultural or economic growth program activities or objectives. In fact, the Farm Bill stipulates that F2F should work in middle income countries that have developed economically to the point that they do not receive bilateral development assistance from the United States.

BFS solicited USAID Missions for comment and input to development of this NFO. Mission responses and interests in the F2F Program are summarized in Attachment B of Section VIII of this NFO. F2F Programs, when supporting USAID Mission strategies, should have clear and independent objectives and not be simply a source of additional free technical assistance for other free-standing projects.

Other Strategies and Initiatives: USAID implements various other foreign assistance strategies and initiatives to which F2F programs may contribute. A number of policies and strategic initiatives guide USAID programs and planning. The Feed the Future Program described above is the most obviously relevant current initiative, but Global Climate Change, Youth in Development, USAID Forward, Gender Equity, and others may be important in specific country contexts for F2F programs. Specialized strategy development and reporting may be required when F2F programs are supportive of other USAID special initiatives and strategies. While multiple strategies and initiatives define objectives for the F2F Program, these are generally quite compatible.

The F2F Program remains very relevant to global agricultural sector development needs. This is reflected in the 2008 World Development Report, which states: “An emerging vision of agriculture for development redefines the roles of producers, the private sector, and the state.

Production is mainly by smallholders, who often remain the most efficient producers, in particular when supported by their organizations. But when these organizations cannot capture economies of scale in production and marketing, labor-intensive commercial farming can be a better form of production, and efficient and fair labor markets are the key instrument to reducing rural poverty. The private sector drives the organization of value chains that bring the market to smallholders and commercial farms. The state—through enhanced capacity and new forms of governance—corrects market failures, regulates competition, and engages strategically in public-private partnerships to promote competitiveness in the agribusiness sector and support the greater inclusion of smallholders and rural workers. In this emerging vision, agriculture assumes a prominent role in the development agenda.”

By building capacities of smallholder organizations, private farms and firms, and public support agencies, the F2F Program can be an extremely effective development tool.

A.3 Local Capacity Development

Capacity development is at the heart of efforts to enhance global food security. A stable, competent, and well-educated workforce that effectively applies professional competencies;

effective organizations (research systems, producer organizations, private sector firms, government policy units, irrigation agencies, etc.); and a more enabling operating environment are all essential to the long-term sustainability and success of development program interventions. In addition, capacity development is vital for building resilience in individuals, organizations, and communities so that they are better able to respond to stresses, shocks, and changing future conditions, thus reducing their vulnerability. F2F volunteers contribute directly and substantively to human and institutional capacity development in the host organizations with which they work. Improved human, institutional, and system performance is a cross-cutting intermediate result for the global food security program.

Figure 2 highlights some of the strategic areas for capacity development in agriculture:

policy and regulatory systems;

research and development;

extension and advisory services;

education and training; financial services systems; producer and community organizations; land, water and natural resource management systems; and markets and agribusinesses.

These are elements of the agricultural innovation system— the development and deployment of new technologies—which is key to global improvements in food and agriculture.

A.4 F2F Theory of Change

The F2F theory of Change (ToC) recognizes the tiered nature of the overall Program with Country F2F Project-specific strategies and individual host interventions. Recipient projects may also have a specific ToC, though these are generally the aggregation of the individual Country F2F Projects.

The general F2F Program ToC is reflected in the logframe aligning volunteer and associated support services to provide hosts with training, technical recommendations and specific

Figure 2: Agricultural Innovation System deliverables that lead to adoption of innovations which in turn result in productivity, profitability, and sustainability improvements in the agricultural sector.

Inputs:

Volunteer technical assistance with additional local staff support ….leading to….

Outputs:

Volunteer recommendations, training, and deliverables for the host with local staff facilitation and follow up …leading to…

Outcomes:

Adoption of recommendations and host change in behavior, management practices and technologies (innovation) with broader dissemination of recommendations and experience …leading to …

Impacts:

Productivity & income increases Improved social, human, & environmental capital

At the Country F2F Project level, the Implementing Partners identify specific sub-sector objectives and key constraints or opportunities to be targeted by volunteer assistance. This country level analysis defines the subsector strategy and ToC, which may vary widely by Country F2F Project. The ToC is documented in a Country F2F Project Description that serves to guide host selection and volunteer activities programmed to achieve the sub-sector objectives. These collectively contribute to the broader program level ToC.

Discrete strategies exist also at the host level, where host objectives vary and needs for volunteer assistance are defined by the unique host constraints or opportunities. The host strategies and objectives are documented in volunteer Scopes of Work and/or Host Development Strategies. Volunteer support activities with hosts and host strategies vary widely, but all contribute to achieving the objective established for the relevant Country F2F Project.

In all cases the volunteer services are the major input to achieving the host, country F2F Project and overall F2F Program objectives. Country F2F staff provide a critical support to ensure productive short term volunteer assistance. Country staff are substantively involved in identifying sub-sector constraints and opportunities, identifying appropriate hosts, planning and facilitating volunteer assignments, networking within the defined sub-sectors, following up with hosts to monitor innovations and facilitate their up-take and dissemination. Other resources (financing, inputs, continuing technical assistance, etc.) are often required for innovations, but these are the responsibility of the host. Volunteers and country F2F staff facilitate host access to such resources to the extent possible.

The secondary objective of the F2F Program to increase public understanding of development issues and international understanding of the U.S. is achieved as a by-product of the successful collaboration by volunteers and hosts in their development activities.

The F2F Program supports developing countries to build the human and institutional capital base needed for dynamic agriculture and rural development across the varied elements of the agricultural innovation system. Priorities for capacity development in different sub-sectors will vary by country. In-country capacity is critical to addressing global hunger and food insecurity and will assist countries to mitigate and adapt to global environmental changes, as well as promoting economic growth and broader participation in global market systems. While volunteers work at the field level with host organizations and individuals and work toward specific short term objectives, the aggregate of volunteer efforts contributes to substantive capacity development in the targeted sub-sectors in which they work. Volunteer scopes of work are typically closely aligned with other USAID, country, or other donor initiatives— integrating the volunteer services with other support to a defined sub-sector objective, working independently toward the same sub-sector objective, or working in a different sub-sector to complement other USAID activities.

The F2F Program by its nature must remain flexible to respond to different country situations, USAID Mission strategies, and host organization needs. Past F2F volunteer and country activities reflect the Program’s volunteer capabilities and country needs and are likely to remain relevant for Recipient projects funded under this NFO. Still, in responding to evolving human and institutional capacity needs in the agricultural sector, applicants may wish to consider the following relatively new directions for the F2F Program:

Supporting mechanization and applications of ICT to agricultural production and marketing systems;

Focusing on youth in development through programs oriented toward expanding opportunities for youth employment and social participation;

Strengthening conservation and sound management of environmental and natural resources;

Increasing availability of rural financial services for small farmers and the agricultural sector;

Strengthening agricultural education and training programs, especially for vocational and technical training;

Strengthening nutritional and food quality programs and activities, including processing and post- harvest handling and storage; and Providing opportunities for longer term volunteers, possibly in program management and support activities.

None of the above are required for Concept Notes and all Recipient programs will be subject to final review and approval in consultation with USAID country Mission clearances and Work plan approvals.

B. F2F Core Country LWA Program Description

The purpose of this NFO is to identify U.S. implementing organizations that are results-oriented, can develop and implement innovative and cost-effective programs, and have the capacity to field highly qualified volunteers to support international agricultural development, with an emphasis on improving private agricultural operations. Recipients of funding under this NFO may implement programs relating to all aspects of agricultural production and post-harvest activities, such as processing, marketing, credit and input supply, as well as improved agribusiness management, environmental conservation, rural development, and improved policy and regulatory regimes. It is expected that selected portions of the following section and of NFO Attachment A will be incorporated into the Recipient Award Agreement Program Description.

B.1 F2F Program Goal and Objective

The Recipient’s F2F Program goal should be to generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth in the agricultural sector. A secondary goal should be to increase the American public’s understanding of international development issues and programs and international understanding of the U.S. and U.S. development programs.

The Recipient’s F2F Program objective (or purpose) should be to introduce innovation and develop local capacity for more productive, profitable, sustainable, and equitable agricultural systems while providing opportunity for people-to-people interaction in agricultural development activities. The Recipient’s F2F Program should focus on one or more of the following objectives:

a) Increase agricultural sector productivity and profitability;

b) Improve conservation and sustainable use of environmental and natural resources;

c) Expand agricultural sector access to financial services; and

d) Strengthen agricultural sector institutions.

The Recipient’s F2F Program need not address all four of the above F2F Program objective but must address at least one of these and must be able to respond to any of these, as required.

In furthering the secondary goal of increasing public understanding and involvement in international development efforts and improved international understanding, Recipient F2F Programs should design volunteer assignments and scopes of work to maximize opportunities for volunteer work and interactions with rural people in the host countries.

However, assignments often may involve work with urban-based host organizations and interaction with rural beneficiaries may not always be possible.

Recipient F2F Program objectives shall be pursued through strategies consistent with the broader USAID strategies described above.

B.2 Farmer-to-Farmer Program Approach

Through the F2F Program, USAID facilitates delivery of a broad range of U.S. agricultural expertise, using American volunteers who work with farmers, agricultural support systems and agribusinesses in developing countries. Volunteers’ work helps to improve the quality of the agricultural sector workforce through training and advisory services provided to farmers, private agribusinesses, cooperatives, services providers, and government leaders.

Volunteer assignments are designed to improve farm and agribusiness operations and agricultural systems, including animal care and health, field crop cultivation, fruit and vegetable growing, livestock operations, food processing and packaging, farm credit, marketing, inputs, agricultural extension, and the strengthening of cooperatives and other farmer organizations.

F2F has been an effective, low cost program that blends two goals—providing technical services to enhance sustainable economic development and opportunities for good people-to-people level exchanges. As F2F has learned since its founding in 1985, a rewarding cross-cultural experience for American agriculturalists abroad is made even more satisfying when the assignments are well designed to have a permanent development impact. The success of an F2F program depends on two key steps: first, identifying and structuring good assignments; and second, identifying the right volunteers to respond to the needs of the hosts/customers/clients. Strong technically qualified country staff and home office support staff are also essential to strong programs. A set of operating principles (Box 1, below) has guided much of the Program’s activities.

Box 1: Past Farmer-to-Farmer Program Operating Principles

Two critical determinants of success in the F2F program lie in processes and procedures for host selection and support and volunteer selection and support. Applicants must demonstrate a sound approach to selection and support to hosts that are motivated and can effectively use volunteer assistance and to recruitment of well-qualified volunteers with specialized expertise aligned with needs of diverse hosts and situation.

The F2F volunteer program by nature involves a number of fundamental trade-offs that must be balanced in implementation. These are summarized in NFO Attachment A in Section VIII of this NFO.

Many of the lessons learned from past F2F programs are summarized in “Managing International Volunteer Programs: A Farmer-to-Farmer Program Manual”. This summarizes the F2F approach and draws on examples from F2F Program implementation to provide advice on economic growth volunteer program planning and implementation. This manual is not a part of the NFO but may be a useful reference for applicants. The manual and other documents relevant to good practice in programming volunteers for agricultural development may be found at: http://www.farmer-to-farmer.org/.

The following operating principles have been common to past F2F programs. While none are inherent in all F2F programs, they have generally stood the test of time for work in over 100 countries.

• Working directly with or in support of private sector,…