Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 0700 10608 S
The Food for Education grant opportunity is offered under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), specifically through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), as part of the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (CFDA 10.608). It is a discretionary funding opportunity that uses a cooperative agreement structure, meaning USDA-FAS remains meaningfully involved in the project during implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The overall purpose of the program is to reduce hunger and improve education outcomes in low-income, food-deficit countries by linking food assistance with school attendance and learning, with a strong emphasis on improving literacy and educational access for girls.
At its core, the McGovern-Dole program supports school feeding and related education activities by donating U.S. agricultural commodities and pairing those commodities with financial and technical assistance. The program is designed to help countries improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and strengthen primary education systems. In addition to school-based programming, it also supports maternal, infant, and child health and nutrition interventions that target pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and young children up to age five. This reflects the program's broader child nutrition mission, recognizing that early-life nutrition and maternal health have direct impacts on learning, school readiness, and long-term development.
A key structural requirement embedded in the program is the inclusion of a "graduation" plan, as required by the legislation authorizing McGovern-Dole. In practice, this generally refers to a transition strategy that helps ensure benefits and program functions can be sustained locally over time, such as shifting responsibility to host governments, communities, or other systems once external assistance tapers down. The expectation is that supported countries and implementing partners build capacity and develop pathways for continuity rather than creating indefinite reliance on donated commodities or external operational support.
This particular Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is focused less on launching brand-new projects and more on providing additional support to existing, active McGovern-Dole agreements. The stated funding priority is to add freight, commodity, and/or administrative resources to ongoing programs when circumstances have created shortfalls or disruptions. The announcement highlights several common reasons additional funding may be needed, including natural disasters, lower-than-expected proceeds from monetization (where allowed under a program design), unexpected freight-rate changes, political instability that delays key activities and timelines, breaks in the commodity pipeline that interrupt school feeding, and losses of commodities. In other words, the funding is intended to stabilize and keep existing program delivery on track when external conditions threaten continuity.
From the opportunity details provided, the award ceiling is listed at up to $5,000,000, with an expected number of awards around 10. The opportunity was originally posted on April 22, 2020, with an original closing date of August 1, 2020. Eligibility is summarized as "Others" with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice, which typically means the program may be open to specific categories of organizations such as non-profits, NGOs, international organizations, or other qualified entities involved in implementing McGovern-Dole agreements, depending on the exact criteria in the full NOFO.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted, problem-solving funding for active McGovern-Dole projects that are facing logistical, cost, or operational pressures. It reinforces the program's central goals: using school meals and related support to improve attendance and learning, advancing literacy (particularly for girls), addressing hunger and food insecurity, and supporting maternal and early childhood nutrition for improved long-term outcomes.Apply for USDA FAS 0700 10608 S
- The Department of Agriculture, McGovern-Dole Food for Education 10.608 in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food for Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.608.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 22, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2020. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Food for Education (McGovern-Dole) Grant Opportunity FAQs
1) What is the Food for Education grant opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (CFDA 10.608). The program links food assistance with education activities to reduce hunger and improve education outcomes in low-income, food-deficit countries.
2) Which USDA office administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
3) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is identified as CFDA 10.608.
4) What is the overall purpose of the McGovern-Dole program?
The purpose is to reduce hunger and improve education outcomes by connecting food assistance to school attendance and learning. The program emphasizes improving literacy and expanding educational access for girls in low-income, food-deficit countries.
5) What kinds of activities does the program support?
The program supports school feeding and related education activities. It also supports maternal, infant, and child health and nutrition interventions for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and young children up to age five.
6) How does the program provide assistance?
It donates U.S. agricultural commodities and pairs those commodities with financial and technical assistance to support school feeding and related objectives.
7) Why does the program include maternal and early childhood nutrition components?
The program recognizes that early-life nutrition and maternal health directly affect learning, school readiness, and long-term development. These components align with the broader child nutrition mission of McGovern-Dole.
8) What is the funding structure (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement structure. That means USDA-FAS remains meaningfully involved during project implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.
9) Is this NOFO intended for brand-new McGovern-Dole projects?
No. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is described as being focused less on launching new projects and more on providing additional support to existing, active McGovern-Dole agreements.
10) What is the main priority of this NOFO?
The stated funding priority is to add freight, commodity, and/or administrative resources to ongoing programs when shortfalls or disruptions occur.
11) What kinds of problems is this funding meant to address?
The NOFO highlights situations such as natural disasters, lower-than-expected proceeds from monetization (where allowed under a program design), unexpected freight-rate changes, political instability that delays activities and timelines, breaks in the commodity pipeline that interrupt school feeding, and losses of commodities.
12) What does "monetization" mean in this context?
In the context provided, monetization refers to a program approach (where allowed under a program design) in which proceeds may be generated and used to support program activities. This NOFO notes that lower-than-expected proceeds can create shortfalls that additional funding may help address.
13) What does a "break in the commodity pipeline" refer to?
It refers to interruptions in the flow or delivery of donated commodities that can disrupt school feeding operations. The NOFO indicates this type of interruption as a reason additional support may be needed.
14) What is a "graduation plan" and is it required?
A graduation plan is a transition strategy required by the legislation authorizing McGovern-Dole. It generally means planning for how benefits and program functions will be sustained locally over time, such as shifting responsibility to host governments, communities, or other systems as external assistance tapers down.
15) Why does the program require a graduation plan?
The expectation is to build capacity and create pathways for continuity so that countries and implementing partners do not become indefinitely reliant on donated commodities or external operational support.
16) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as up to $5,000,000.
17) How many awards are expected?
The expected number of awards is around 10.
18) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was originally posted on April 22, 2020.
19) What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was August 1, 2020.
20) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice. This typically suggests the program may be open to specific categories of organizations (such as non-profits, NGOs, international organizations, or other qualified entities) involved in implementing McGovern-Dole agreements, depending on the criteria in the full NOFO.
21) What is this funding best used for, based on the description?
It is best understood as targeted, problem-solving funding meant to stabilize existing McGovern-Dole program delivery when logistical, cost, or operational pressures threaten continuity.
22) How does this opportunity connect to education outcomes?
The program links food assistance with school attendance and learning. It places strong emphasis on literacy and on improving educational access for girls.
23) How does this opportunity connect to hunger and food security goals?
The program is designed to improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and strengthen primary education systems by supporting school feeding and related activities using donated commodities plus financial and technical assistance.
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