Implementer-led Design, Evidence, Analysis, and Learning (IDEAL) | 72DFFP18RFA00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72DFFP18RFA00001

The Implementer-led Design, Evidence, Analysis, and Learning (IDEAL) opportunity is a USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP) funding announcement aimed at strengthening how food security and nutrition programs are designed, evaluated, and improved over time. Issued by USAID within the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA), the opportunity is structured to support a single, large, cross-cutting award that can generate and share practical evidence to improve Food for Peace-funded activities and related humanitarian and development programming. In plain terms, the goal is to put implementers and real-world program experience at the center of design and learning, so that what works (and what does not) is documented, analyzed, and fed back into better programming decisions.

USAID intends to make one award under a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the Agency expects to be substantially involved during implementation (for example, collaborating on priorities, learning agendas, methods, and dissemination). The funding instrument is also framed as a Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement. A Leader award establishes an overarching mechanism and core set of activities, and it can be paired with future “Associate Awards” that fund related work in specific countries or regions under the same umbrella. This structure is commonly used when USAID wants a central platform that can adapt over time and respond to emerging needs and learning questions across multiple contexts.

The award falls under the Food and Nutrition activity category (CFDA 98.005) and is labeled as a discretionary opportunity. Eligibility is described as “unrestricted,” meaning any type of entity may apply as long as it meets the requirements and any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation text. The announcement indicates USAID is seeking “qualified institutions,” which generally signals a preference for organizations with strong technical capacity in food security, nutrition, monitoring and evaluation, applied research, and knowledge management, as well as the administrative ability to manage a complex, large-scale cooperative agreement.

Financially, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $30,000,000 and anticipates making one award. The solicitation was created on March 5, 2018, with an original closing date of May 7, 2018. Because only one award is expected, the selection is likely intended to create a single central “learning and evidence” platform rather than multiple parallel efforts. The central recipient would typically be responsible for coordinating studies, supporting implementers with evidence-based design, producing analyses, capturing lessons, and sharing knowledge products that can be used across Food for Peace programs.

The core emphasis of IDEAL, based on the title and the brief synopsis provided, is implementer-led learning: improving program design and decision-making by generating credible evidence from field implementation, conducting analysis that answers operational questions, and building systems for continuous learning. In practice, opportunities like this often support activities such as evaluation and learning agendas, operational research, development of tools and guidance for program teams, synthesis of existing evidence, and dissemination to practitioners and policymakers. The notice itself points applicants to the full Request for Applications (RFA) 72DFFP18RFA00001 for the detailed scope, requirements, and submission instructions, which would include the specific objectives, expected outcomes, reporting requirements, and the criteria USAID will use to assess applications.

• The Agency for International Development in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementer-led Design, Evidence, Analysis, and Learning (IDEAL)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.005.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 05, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2018. (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 $30,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• 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.

Apply for 72DFFP18RFA00001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: