Scaling Sustainability and Resilience of Community Conservancies in Northern Rangelands and Coastal Ecosystems of Kenya program | 72061521RFA00022

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72061521RFA00022

The USAID "Scaling Sustainability and Resilience of Community Conservancies in Northern Rangelands and Coastal Ecosystems of Kenya" program is a U.S. government grant opportunity issued by USAID/Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA) to support environmental and conservation-focused development work in Kenya, specifically targeting community conservancies in the northern rangelands and coastal ecosystems. The intent is to strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of these community conservancies by adopting and scaling innovative solutions that address development challenges identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO). USAID signals that it is interested in either launching new partnerships or expanding existing ones, with an emphasis on maximizing development impact and using resources efficiently across priority geographic and thematic areas described in the full program document.

This opportunity is structured as an assistance award using a grant mechanism (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) and is categorized under the Environment activity area (CFDA 98.001). Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning USAID is open to concept papers from any qualified entity type, provided applicants meet any additional eligibility conditions laid out in the NFO itself. USAID anticipates making up to two awards (Expected Awards: 2). The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in the public summary and applicants need to rely on the full NFO for any funding range, ceiling guidance, or budgeting expectations.

A key feature of this solicitation is its three-phase selection process, designed to narrow applicants and refine program design before full proposals are submitted. Phase 1 requires submission of a concept paper. USAID will screen concept papers for responsiveness to the NFO purpose and then evaluate them using merit review criteria described in Section E of the NFO. Applicants that score well and are considered successful at this stage may be invited to Phase 2, which is a co-creation workshop process. This co-creation step is invitation-only and is intended to help USAID and selected applicants collaboratively refine approaches, strengthen partnerships (including potentially forming consortia), and sharpen the final activity design prior to full application submission. USAID also reserves the right to skip co-creation for any apparently successful applicant and invite them directly to Phase 3, where a full application is requested. After co-creation (if conducted), the organizations and/or consortia that move forward will submit full applications that are again evaluated against the Section E criteria, with final award decisions also subject to a risk assessment.

Operationally, the opportunity was posted on Grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 72061521RFA00022, with a creation date of August 12, 2021 and an original closing date of September 13, 2021. Because USAID notes the announcement may be amended, applicants are responsible for monitoring Grants.gov to ensure they are working from the most current version of the NFO and have all attachments and instructions. USAID explicitly disclaims responsibility for transmission or conversion errors when downloading the notice, and it directs applicants who have technical trouble accessing the NFO or registering for notifications to contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov).

On compliance and registration, USAID highlights that no award will be made unless the applicant has satisfied unique entity identifier and registration requirements, including DUNS and the System for Award Management (SAM), as detailed in Section D of the NFO. Since registration can take weeks, applicants are encouraged to start early to avoid being disqualified on administrative grounds. The solicitation also provides a formal questions process: applicants must submit questions to the points of contact listed in Section D by the stated deadline, and USAID will share responses with all potential applicants via an amendment posted to Grants.gov to keep the competition fair and consistent.

Finally, USAID emphasizes standard federal grant conditions that matter for planning and budgeting: the notice does not represent a commitment to fund any applicant, and it does not obligate the U.S. government to pay for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a concept paper, participating in co-creation, or developing a full application. All proposal development costs are borne by the applicant, and applications are submitted at the applicant's own risk.

• The Agency for International Development, East Africa USAID-Kenya in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Scaling Sustainability and Resilience of Community Conservancies in Northern Rangelands and Coastal Ecosystems of Kenya program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 13, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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 72061521RFA00022

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