FY2025 McGovern-Dole International Food For Education and Child Nutrition Program

Background
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), International Food Assistance Division, McGovern-Dole Branch announces this funding opportunity to support the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole). This program aims to improve food security, reduce hunger, and enhance literacy and primary education, particularly for girls, through the procurement of agricultural commodities and provision of financial and technical assistance.

The USDA/FAS anticipates entering into multiple cooperative agreements totaling no more than $240,000,000, subject to funding availability, for projects lasting approximately five years.

Grant Details
The McGovern-Dole program focuses on two strategic objectives: 1) Improved Literacy of School-Aged Children; 2) Increased Use of Health, Nutrition and Dietary Practices. Projects will provide school feeding through a combination of U.S.-donated and locally procured commodities. Activities may include maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs, teacher training, government capacity-building, and health- and nutrition-sensitive activities such as micronutrient-fortified products and school gardens.

Applicants must allocate approximately 10% of the total proposed federal award amount for local and regional procurement (LRP) of commodities. The program prioritizes sustainability in efforts to reduce poverty and food insecurity.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include Private Voluntary Organizations, Cooperatives, Intergovernmental Organizations, Governments of developing countries and their agencies, and other organizations including Higher Education Institutions. 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 is approximately 60 months with projected start dates around October 1, 2025.

Grant Value
Total available federal funding is up to $240 million with individual awards expected to range from $10 million to $29 million.

Place of Performance
Projects are expected to be implemented in low-income food-deficit countries globally with priority given to countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Honduras, Mozambique, Pakistan, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.