Food for Progress Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Fiscal Year 2025

Background
The Food for Progress Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS), aims to support agricultural development in emerging democracies and developing countries. The program facilitates the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities, which are sold on local markets to fund agricultural development activities. The overarching goals are to increase agricultural productivity and expand trade of agricultural products both domestically and internationally.

Grant Details
The program has six specific objectives:
1) Provide farmers access to private, competitive markets;
2) Establish market pricing for eligible commodities to incentivize food production;
3) Create market-determined foreign exchange rates;
4) Ensure timely availability of production inputs like seeds and fertilizers;
5) Facilitate access to appropriate technologies for agricultural development;
6) Construct necessary facilities and distribution systems for perishable products.

Applications are prioritized for specific countries including Kenya, Colombia, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. Non-priority country applications are also accepted with justification. The funding opportunity anticipates awarding between 6 to 10 grants ranging from $5 million to $35 million each, with a total available federal funding of $208 million.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include governments of emerging agricultural countries, intergovernmental organizations, private voluntary organizations, nonprofit agricultural organizations or cooperatives, non-governmental organizations, colleges or universities, and other private entities. All applicants must have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM) before the application submission deadline.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for awarded projects is expected to last approximately 36 to 60 months, starting from October 1, 2025.

Grant Value
Total available federal funding is $208 million with individual grant awards expected to range from $5 million to $35 million.

Place of Performance
The grant activities will be performed in priority countries including Kenya, Colombia, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.