USAID East Africa Private Sector Engagement in Support of Prosper Africa | 72062320R00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72062320R00001

The opportunity titled "USAID East Africa Private Sector Engagement in Support of Prosper Africa" (Funding Opportunity Number 72062320R00001) is a USAID/Kenya and East Africa (USAID/KEA) initiative out of the Office of Economic Growth and Integration that is focused on strengthening two-way trade and investment between the United States and countries in Africa, with a particular regional emphasis on East Africa. The concept is framed as support to the Prosper Africa initiative, which is meant to accelerate commercial ties by reducing barriers, connecting businesses to partners and opportunities, and encouraging investment flows in both directions. In practical terms, the intent is to work with the private sector and organizations that can mobilize or represent it, so that trade and investment activity becomes more frequent, larger in scale, and easier to execute across borders.

This notice is not a funding solicitation. It is explicitly issued as a Request for Information (RFI) and a request for public comments on a proposed concept, meaning USAID is still in the design phase and is gathering input to shape what a future program might look like. USAID emphasizes that responses are voluntary, non-binding, and used for planning purposes only. Submitting comments does not create any commitment from the U.S. Government to release a future Notice of Funding Opportunity or to make an award, and USAID will not reimburse any costs associated with preparing or submitting responses. Just as importantly, choosing not to respond to the RFI does not disqualify any organization from participating later if USAID ultimately issues a formal Request for Applications.

From an implementation perspective, USAID signals that it is looking broadly across potential partners, including private companies, implementing partners, business and industry associations, and other interested organizations that can help facilitate trade and investment linkages. The listed eligibility is "Unrestricted," which suggests that a wide range of applicant types could participate if the RFI eventually turns into a formal competition. The anticipated mechanism noted in the source data is a Cooperative Agreement under a Regional Development activity category (CFDA 98.001), which typically implies substantial involvement by USAID in shaping or collaborating on program activities if an award is later made.

Key administrative details included in the posting provide context on scope and timing. The opportunity is associated with USAID in Nairobi (Agency Name: Kenya USAID-Nairobi). The original closing date for the RFI comments was October 21, 2019, and the posting was created on October 7, 2019. The data also references an award ceiling of $3,000,000, which can be read as an indicative upper bound for a potential future award rather than a guaranteed funding amount, since the document is not an RFA and USAID states it may or may not move forward with a formal solicitation. The "ExpectedAwards" field is blank/unspecified, reinforcing that this is exploratory planning rather than an active grant competition with defined award counts.

Overall, the notice communicates that USAID/KEA is exploring a program that would use partnership models to unlock more U.S.-Africa commercial engagement, and it is inviting the public to provide feedback that could improve the eventual design. Organizations that operate in trade facilitation, investment promotion, business matchmaking, sector-specific value chains, financial services, or policy and regulatory improvement (especially those with networks spanning U.S. and East African markets) would be the types of stakeholders most naturally positioned to provide useful concept feedback and to compete later if a formal funding opportunity is released.

• The Kenya USAID-Nairobi in the regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID East Africa Private Sector Engagement in Support of Prosper Africa" 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 2019-10-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-21. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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