Program Goal
The overall goal is to substantially improve the efficacy and impact of USAID’s programs and policies by harnessing the power of universities and other research institutions as centers of innovation for development. Through this program, the Agency seeks to be better stewards of public and private funds by increasing the efficiency, efficacy and impact of our policies and programs.
Program Activities and Outcomes
The Centers will help USAID and the larger development community:
(1) better define development problems and constraints to their solution,
(2) identify, test, and create potential and existing solutions to those problems, and
(3) then encourage entrepreneurship, experimentation, and innovation in addressing those problems, with the overall goal of improving the
effectiveness of the Agency’s development efforts.
The Centers will provide the Agency, and the larger development community, with data and analysis in support of development policy and programming. They will apply science and technology and engineering for development – supporting experimentation, creativity, and the
incubation of new solutions and new technologies for addressing global problems. And finally, the Centers will provide a venue for students, faculty and the broader academic community to engage in development around critical global problems and encourage problem-focused, multidisciplinary approaches to development.
Eligibility
- All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law.
- The following types of organizations may apply for funding under this RFA:
- Colleges and Universities
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- For-Profit Organizations
- Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs)
How much funding will USAID apply this effort?
Total funding will depend in part on the number and quality of proposals received.
While we have not finalized the award levels, based on expectations of available funding, institutions would be eligible at two award levels:
1) single centers funded at up to $1-2 million annually for five years; and
2) consortia centers funded at up to $5 million annually for five years. Consortia would consist of three to four academic institutions
and/or other partners, and can include developing country partners. This will be a significant program that USAID expects will have
strong positive effects in reducing the cost and increasing the reliability of delivering development results.
Deadline: 22 March 2012
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