U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID), (G/EGAD/AFS), Room 2.11-082, RRB, Washington, D.C. 20523-2110

R -- 1997 DAIRY INITIATIVE SOL G/EGAD/AFS-97-A-001 POC Contact Point: Joyce Turk, Tel: (202) 712-1424 Pursuant to USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) Series 303.5.5, this announcement contains information on the 1997 Diary Directive which is managed by G/EGAD/AFS. Application deadline is January 15, 1998. NOTE: NO SEPARATE REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) WILL BE ISSUED -- ALL INFORMATION NECESSARY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION IS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. In the 1997 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, the House and Senate have issued a statement which recommends that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continue funding for dairy development. The directive for FY97 totals $2.0 million. Originally the primary purpose of the Dairy Directives was to develop dairy cooperatives internationally. In the last three years, this broadened to macro-dairy development - -- production, processing, marketing, and cooperative or producer association building. Most importantly, the directive enables the U.S. dairy industry to develop and expand its export market globally, and to generate greater employment for U.S. producers, processors, and agribusinesses. The U.S. dairy industry accounts for approximately 11% of agricultural GDP or $20 billion annually. Between 1986-94, annual Dairy Directive funding totalled $5 million for each grant period of three years. Funding decreased to $3.5 million in 1995 and remained at that level until this year although the grant period remains three years for each award. This low level of funding severely limits the number of awards that can be made, as well as the level of U.S. technical assistance that can be provided. CRITERIA AND PROPOSAL FORMAT. The criteria and proposal format include new factors that strengthen areas less well documented in previous years. Proposals which address dairy development in high value localities (those which are indicative of quantifiable economic returns to U.S. investments) are encouraged, as are those which include partnerships and/or consortia. Proposals may be new projects or those which build on current activities. 1997 PROPOSAL FORMAT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (one page). PROPOSAL. Objectives -- statement addressing developmental need addressing specifically defined constraints. Methodology. Expected impacts: -- indicators -- leveraged funding. Integration with Mission's Strategic Objectives (SOs). Validation of sufficient management for effective project implementation. Verification of strong HC counterpart commitment. Plans for follow-on/transition phase of technical assistance and phase-out for investments/services. Description of proposer's experience in dairy development overseas. How proposer will leverage other funding. Letters of endorsement and level of support from Missions. Letters of contractual arrangements with other partners. CRITERIA. Proposals will be evaluated and ranked according to the following criteria. These criteria have been grouped into three categories: developmental impact, management capability, and procedural organization. DEVELOPMENTALIMPACT (60 points). 1. Statement addressing developmental need addressing specifically defined constraints and how proposal reflects purpose of dairy directive (20 points). 2. Plan for follow-on or transition phase of technical assistance (10 points). 3. Verification of strong HC counterpart commitment (10 points). 4. Phase-out plans for investments/services to show sustainability (10 points). 5. Leverage other funding and description of expected impact of leveraged funding (10 points). MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY (20 points). 6. Demonstrate expected impact by listing appropriate indicators (10 points). 7. Demonstrated international dairy development experience and validation of sufficient management to implement project effectively (10 points). PROCEDURAL ORGANIZATION (20 points). 8. Letters of endorsement from Missions, level of Mission support, and how proposal integrates with Missions SOs (20 points). TOTAL 100 points. Please send ten copies of any proposal to: Joyce M. Turk, G/EGAD/AFS, USAID/W, 2.11-082, RRB, Washington, DC 20523-2110. (0339)

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