Opportunity Information: Apply for 72038623RFA00001
Innovations for Reducing Plastics for a Cleaner Environment in India (inREPLACE) is a USAID/India funding opportunity designed to cut plastic pollution in India, including leakage into rivers and the marine environment. The activity focuses on practical improvements in how plastic and other solid waste is handled, while also pushing longer-term market and policy shifts that support a circular economy for plastics. In other words, the program is not only about collecting and disposing of waste better, but also about reducing the overall life cycle impacts of plastics by keeping materials in use longer, recovering value through reuse and recycling, and encouraging systems that prevent plastics from becoming waste in the first place.
USAID/New Delhi plans to work in partnership with the Government of India to tackle the plastic pollution challenge through two main pathways. The first pathway is strengthening plastic and solid waste management planning, infrastructure, and services in selected regions of India. This can include improving how local and regional authorities plan for waste flows, expanding or upgrading collection and segregation systems, strengthening transport and processing capacity, and improving service delivery so that less waste is mismanaged or dumped. The second pathway is advancing a plastics circular economy by addressing impacts across the full life cycle of plastics and other materials. This typically involves interventions that improve recovery and recycling outcomes, support circular business models, increase demand for recycled content, and create enabling conditions such as better standards, incentives, data systems, and coordination among public agencies and private actors.
The award is offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally means USAID expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity is listed under the Environment funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 98.001. It is categorized as an earmark opportunity and was published by the U.S. Agency for International Development, India (USAID-New Delhi).
In terms of scale and competition structure, USAID anticipated making one award with a ceiling of up to USD 30,000,000. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is described as three-phased, indicating a staged approach to selection and/or implementation, where applicants may need to progress through defined phases with specific deliverables or decision points. A major requirement is cost share or leveraged funding: the applicant must leverage 50 percent of the award amount from sources outside the U.S. Government. Practically, this means the implementing partner is expected to bring significant non-U.S. Government resources to the table, which could include private sector investment, foundation support, government contributions from India, in-kind support, or other third-party funding aligned with the program objectives.
Eligibility is not limited to a single applicant type in the basic listing; it is shown as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full opportunity document. Key dates from the listing show the opportunity was created on December 16, 2022, with an original closing date of February 15, 2023, under funding opportunity number 72038623RFA00001.Apply for 72038623RFA00001
- The Agency for International Development, India USAID-New Delhi in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovations for Reducing Plastics for a Cleaner Environment in India (inREPLACE) Activity." 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 Dec 16, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 15, 2023. (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 $30,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the inREPLACE funding opportunity?
Innovations for Reducing Plastics for a Cleaner Environment in India (inREPLACE) is a USAID/India funding opportunity focused on cutting plastic pollution in India, including plastic leakage into rivers and the marine environment. It supports both practical improvements in how plastic and other solid waste is handled and longer-term market and policy shifts that enable a circular economy for plastics.
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The activity targets plastic pollution and mismanaged solid waste in India, with particular attention to how waste can leak into waterways and the marine environment. It emphasizes reducing overall life cycle impacts of plastics by keeping materials in use longer and preventing plastics from becoming waste in the first place.
Is the program only about waste collection and disposal?
No. While it includes practical improvements in collection, segregation, transport, processing, and service delivery, it also aims to shift markets and policies toward a circular economy. That includes reuse, recycling, recovering value, and creating systems that reduce plastic waste generation.
Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was published by the U.S. Agency for International Development, India (USAID-New Delhi).
What kind of award is being offered?
The award is offered as a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
How will USAID work on this effort in India?
USAID/New Delhi plans to work in partnership with the Government of India to tackle plastic pollution through two main pathways: (1) strengthening plastic and solid waste management planning, infrastructure, and services in selected regions; and (2) advancing a plastics circular economy by addressing impacts across the full life cycle of plastics and other materials.
What are the two main pathways supported by the program?
The first pathway focuses on strengthening plastic and solid waste management planning, infrastructure, and services in selected regions of India. The second pathway focuses on advancing a plastics circular economy through life cycle interventions and enabling conditions that improve recovery, recycling, and circular business models.
What kinds of activities fit under the waste management pathway?
Examples described include improving local and regional planning for waste flows, expanding or upgrading collection and segregation systems, strengthening transport and processing capacity, and improving service delivery so less waste is mismanaged or dumped.
What kinds of activities fit under the circular economy pathway?
The listing describes interventions that improve recovery and recycling outcomes, support circular business models, increase demand for recycled content, and build enabling conditions such as improved standards, incentives, data systems, and coordination among public agencies and private actors.
Does the opportunity address plastics only, or other materials too?
While plastics are central, the description also references plastic and other solid waste, and it notes impacts across the full life cycle of plastics and other materials.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Environment funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing is associated with CFDA number 98.001.
How is the opportunity categorized in the listing?
It is categorized as an earmark opportunity.
How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID anticipated making one award.
What is the maximum (ceiling) funding amount?
The ceiling is up to USD 30,000,000.
What does it mean that the NOFO is "three-phased"?
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is described as three-phased, indicating a staged approach to selection and/or implementation. Applicants may need to progress through defined phases that include specific deliverables or decision points.
Is cost share or leveraged funding required?
Yes. A major requirement is cost share or leveraged funding: the applicant must leverage 50 percent of the award amount from sources outside the U.S. Government.
What does "leverage 50 percent of the award amount from sources outside the U.S. Government" mean in practice?
It means the implementing partner is expected to bring significant non-U.S. Government resources aligned with the program objectives. The listing notes examples such as private sector investment, foundation support, contributions from the Government of India, in-kind support, or other third-party funding sources.
Who is eligible to apply?
In the basic listing, eligibility is shown as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full opportunity document.
What is the funding opportunity number for this NOFO?
The funding opportunity number shown is 72038623RFA00001.
When was this opportunity created?
The listing shows the opportunity was created on December 16, 2022.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date shown in the listing is February 15, 2023.
What geographic focus does the program emphasize?
The activity is designed to address plastic pollution in India, including leakage into rivers and the marine environment, and it references strengthening systems in selected regions of India.
What outcomes is USAID trying to drive beyond immediate waste handling improvements?
Beyond better waste handling, the opportunity emphasizes longer-term market and policy shifts that support a circular economy for plastics, including reuse and recycling, maintaining materials in productive use longer, recovering value, and preventing plastics from becoming waste.
Does the program mention coordination among stakeholders?
Yes. The circular economy pathway description includes enabling conditions such as coordination among public agencies and private actors.
Where can applicants find more detailed eligibility and requirements?
The listing indicates additional eligibility details are provided in the full opportunity document (the NOFO).
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