Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0014
This grant opportunity, titled African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), is a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) cooperative agreement focused on strengthening plant health systems across Africa through teaching, research, and extension activities carried out in close collaboration with the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), which sits under the African Union Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA). The overarching purpose is to help African national and regional plant protection actors better understand, apply, and harmonize phytosanitary measures in line with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and its International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), while avoiding unnecessary trade barriers. The need for this work is tied closely to expanding intra-African and international trade under major continental initiatives, especially the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
AU-IAPSC is described as Africa’s Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) and the body that represents the continent at the IPPC level. Its mandate is continental advocacy and capacity building, with a central role in harmonizing regulatory and management approaches for emerging pest and plant health threats. The funding notice highlights persistent structural constraints that limit effectiveness: weak national and regional coordination frameworks, underfunded and under-equipped National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) that struggle to implement international standards, and insufficient scientific and research capacity to support SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) implementation across the continent. In practical terms, these gaps can translate into inconsistent pest risk decisions, uneven inspection and certification practices, slower adoption of modern tools like electronic certification, and trade friction both within Africa and with external partners.
FAS is looking for a single partner organization that can mobilize and coordinate technical expertise from the United States, Africa, and when useful, third-country specialists. The partner is expected to support AU-IAPSC with applied technical assistance that bridges research, training, and on-the-ground implementation. A major emphasis is helping AU-IAPSC update and operationalize its Plant Health Strategy using current research and practical implementation planning. The notice points to strategy support that includes monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and may also include reviewing phytosanitary legislation in AU Member States to identify gaps in implementation and enforcement that matter under AfCFTA-driven trade expansion.
A second major workstream is building human capacity through coordinated curriculum development and training. The selected partner is expected to collaborate with African NPPOs to identify shared phytosanitary needs and then develop a teaching curriculum in coordination with AU-IAPSC. The grant also specifically encourages the use of virtual and distance-learning tools, including a suite of 14 Plant Health Distance Learning Modules developed by USDA and USAID in partnership with CABI and Texas A&M University. These modules are intended to provide NPPO staff a solid foundation in ISPM-related topics and core regulatory functions, helping standardize baseline knowledge and reduce uneven capacity across countries.
The opportunity also targets harmonization and best-practice sharing at the regional level, particularly through Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Activities can include documenting and expanding understanding of REC best practices for pest risk analysis (PRA), inspection, and other phytosanitary procedures, then using those lessons to strengthen broader continental alignment. In addition, the partner is expected to provide technical support to finalize AU-IAPSC pesticide and biopesticide regulatory guidelines and, importantly, to connect pesticide/biopesticide work with plant health regulatory efforts so that harmonization does not happen in silos. The intent is a more coherent regulatory ecosystem where plant health measures, pest management tools, and trade rules reinforce each other.
Another key component is stakeholder engagement and policy alignment. The partner will assist USDA in preparing for consultation meetings with RECs and AU Member States focused on plant health. These consultations are meant to raise awareness of the African Union SPS Policy Framework and clarify how it links to broader agendas such as AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, and CAADP. The work is not limited to policy discussion; it is meant to translate into practical adoption and implementation steps across national, regional, and continental levels.
Finally, the notice highlights modernizing phytosanitary certification through electronic systems. The partner is expected to facilitate meetings and workshops with USDA to support Member States in adopting Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates (e-Phyto). The rationale is straightforward: e-Phyto can reduce transaction costs, speed up clearance processes, improve traceability and trust between trading partners, and ultimately make trade in plants and plant products more efficient both within Africa and internationally.
In terms of grant mechanics, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 10.960, categorized under agriculture, and funded as a cooperative agreement. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). The opportunity anticipated one award with an award ceiling of $750,000. The NOFO was created April 22, 2021, with an original application deadline of May 21, 2021 at 11:59 PM EDT. Overall, the grant is designed to strengthen AU-IAPSC’s ability to drive consistent phytosanitary capacity, harmonized standards, and practical implementation support, ultimately enabling safer agricultural production and smoother trade flows across Africa and beyond.Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0014
- The Department of Agriculture, Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960 in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 22, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2021 May 21, 2021 at 1159PM EDT. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC).
2) Who is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), through a cooperative agreement.
3) What type of funding instrument is this?
This is a cooperative agreement under a discretionary funding opportunity.
4) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.960.
5) What is the main purpose of the grant?
The main purpose is to strengthen plant health systems across Africa through teaching, research, and extension activities, implemented in close collaboration with AU-IAPSC, to improve understanding, application, and harmonization of phytosanitary measures aligned with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), while avoiding unnecessary trade barriers.
6) Why is this work a priority now?
The need is closely tied to expanding intra-African and international trade under major continental initiatives, especially the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Stronger, more consistent phytosanitary capacity helps support safe trade and reduces friction caused by uneven implementation of standards.
7) What is AU-IAPSC and what role does it play?
AU-IAPSC is described as Africa's Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) and represents the continent at the IPPC level. Its mandate includes continental advocacy and capacity building, and it plays a central role in harmonizing regulatory and management approaches to emerging pest and plant health threats.
8) What challenges is the grant trying to address?
The notice highlights structural constraints such as weak national and regional coordination frameworks, underfunded and under-equipped National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), limited ability to implement international standards, and insufficient scientific and research capacity to support sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) implementation across Africa.
9) What practical problems can these constraints cause for trade and plant health?
These gaps can lead to inconsistent pest risk decisions, uneven inspection and certification practices, slower adoption of modern tools like electronic certification, and trade friction within Africa and with external trading partners.
10) How many awards does USDA FAS expect to make?
The opportunity anticipated one award.
11) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)).
13) Is USDA looking for multiple partners or a single partner organization?
USDA FAS is looking for a single partner organization to mobilize and coordinate technical expertise.
14) What kind of expertise is the selected partner expected to mobilize?
The partner is expected to mobilize and coordinate technical expertise from the United States, Africa, and, when useful, third-country specialists.
15) What does "bridging research, training, and implementation" mean in this notice?
It refers to applied technical assistance that connects scientific/research inputs and training with practical, on-the-ground implementation by AU-IAPSC, NPPOs, RECs, and other plant protection actors.
16) What is a major emphasis related to AU-IAPSC strategy?
A major emphasis is helping AU-IAPSC update and operationalize its Plant Health Strategy using current research and practical implementation planning.
17) Does the opportunity mention monitoring and evaluation (M&E)?
Yes. Strategy support is described as including monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
18) Does the grant involve reviewing phytosanitary legislation?
It may. The notice indicates activities may include reviewing phytosanitary legislation in AU Member States to identify gaps in implementation and enforcement that matter under AfCFTA-driven trade expansion.
19) What is the second major workstream described in the notice?
The second major workstream is building human capacity through coordinated curriculum development and training.
20) Who does the partner collaborate with to identify training needs?
The selected partner is expected to collaborate with African NPPOs to identify shared phytosanitary needs.
21) What training products are expected?
The partner is expected to develop a teaching curriculum in coordination with AU-IAPSC.
22) Does the opportunity encourage virtual or distance learning?
Yes. The grant specifically encourages the use of virtual and distance-learning tools.
23) What specific distance-learning materials are referenced?
The notice references a suite of 14 Plant Health Distance Learning Modules developed by USDA and USAID in partnership with CABI and Texas A&M University.
24) What are the distance-learning modules intended to accomplish?
They are intended to provide NPPO staff a solid foundation in ISPM-related topics and core regulatory functions, helping standardize baseline knowledge and reduce uneven capacity across countries.
25) How does the opportunity address regional harmonization?
It targets harmonization and best-practice sharing at the regional level, particularly through Africa's Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
26) What kinds of REC-related activities are included?
Activities can include documenting and expanding understanding of REC best practices for pest risk analysis (PRA), inspection, and other phytosanitary procedures, and using those lessons to strengthen broader continental alignment.
27) Does the scope include pesticide and biopesticide regulation?
Yes. The partner is expected to provide technical support to finalize AU-IAPSC pesticide and biopesticide regulatory guidelines.
28) Why does the notice connect pesticide/biopesticide work to plant health regulation?
The intent is to ensure harmonization does not happen in silos, supporting a more coherent regulatory ecosystem where plant health measures, pest management tools, and trade rules reinforce each other.
29) What stakeholder engagement and policy alignment activities are included?
The partner will assist USDA in preparing for consultation meetings with RECs and AU Member States focused on plant health.
30) What is the purpose of these consultations?
They are meant to raise awareness of the African Union SPS Policy Framework and clarify how it links to broader agendas such as AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, and CAADP, with an emphasis on translating discussions into practical adoption and implementation steps at national, regional, and continental levels.
31) Does the opportunity include work on electronic phytosanitary certification (e-Phyto)?
Yes. The partner is expected to facilitate meetings and workshops with USDA to support Member States in adopting Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates (e-Phyto).
32) What benefits of e-Phyto are described in the notice?
The notice states e-Phyto can reduce transaction costs, speed up clearance processes, improve traceability, strengthen trust between trading partners, and make trade in plants and plant products more efficient within Africa and internationally.
33) What is the funding category or subject area?
The opportunity is categorized under agriculture.
34) When was the NOFO created?
The NOFO was created on April 22, 2021.
35) What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was May 21, 2021 at 11:59 PM EDT.
36) What is the overall intended long-term outcome of this grant?
The grant is designed to strengthen AU-IAPSC's ability to drive consistent phytosanitary capacity, harmonized standards, and practical implementation support, enabling safer agricultural production and smoother trade flows across Africa and beyond.
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