USAID Feed the Future Demand And Supply for Safe, Healthy Diets (FTF DASHED) | 7200AA24RFA00017

FAQs: USAID Feed the Future Demand And Supply for Safe, Healthy Diets (FTF DASHED)

1. What is the FTF DASHED funding opportunity?

FTF DASHED is a discretionary funding notice from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) inviting organizations to submit Concept Notes for a single, performance-based Leader Award Cooperative Agreement. The activity focuses on improving diets by addressing both the demand for safe, healthy diets and the supply of foods that are safe, affordable, accessible, and diverse.

2. What does FTF DASHED stand for?

FTF DASHED stands for Feed the Future Demand And Supply for Safe, Healthy Diets.

3. Which agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

4. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 7200AA24RFA00017.

5. What type of award is being competed?

USAID intends to make a single Leader Award Cooperative Agreement under this announcement.

6. What does it mean that this is a Leader Award?

A Leader Award is designed to have broader applicability beyond a single country context. It often supports approaches, tools, evidence generation, and learning that can be adapted across multiple settings rather than being limited to one location.

7. What does it mean that the award will be a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant, meaning USAID is likely to be more actively engaged as the activity is carried out.

8. What does "performance-based" mean in this opportunity?

The solicitation is explicitly performance-based, meaning progress and results are expected to be central to implementation and assessment. Applicants should be prepared to propose clear, measurable outcomes and an approach that can demonstrate impact in improving access to and consumption of safe, healthy diets.

9. What is the program trying to achieve?

The program focuses on improving diets by working on both sides of the food system: demand (what people want, choose, and are able to consume) and supply (what foods are available, safe, affordable, and accessible). The title also signals a strong emphasis on food safety and the overall healthfulness and nutrition quality of diets.

10. What technical area or sector is this opportunity associated with?

The activity is categorized under Food and Nutrition and aligns with Feed the Future priorities related to improving diets.

11. What is meant by addressing the demand side of safe, healthy diets?

Demand-side work relates to what people want, choose, and are able to consume. This can include how consumer behavior, preferences, and the food environment influence diet choices and consumption patterns.

12. What is meant by addressing the supply side of safe, healthy diets?

Supply-side work relates to what foods are available and reachable for households, including whether foods are safe, affordable, accessible, and diverse. It also points to the broader food system that delivers those foods.

13. How does food safety fit into this opportunity?

The opportunity highlights improving the safety of diets, which typically involves attention to food safety practices alongside nutrition quality and the systems that provide food to households.

14. How many awards does USAID expect to make?

USAID anticipates making one award under this announcement.

15. What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling for this opportunity is $25,000,000.

16. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant types may apply as long as they meet standard U.S. government requirements for assistance awards.

17. What is being requested at this stage: a full proposal or something else?

At this stage, USAID is asking for a Concept Note rather than a full application.

18. What should a Concept Note generally include for this opportunity?

Based on the information provided, a Concept Note would typically be a concise but well-argued summary of the proposed technical approach, theory of change, expected results, and the applicant's capabilities and relevant past performance.

19. What kinds of approaches are likely to be responsive to the activity focus?

Concept notes are likely to be strongest when they show an understanding of how nutrition outcomes are shaped by food environments, consumer behavior, market systems, food safety, and affordability, and how a program can influence these factors in a measurable way at scale.

20. When is the submission deadline?

The original closing date for submissions is July 9, 2024.

21. When was the opportunity posted or created?

The opportunity was created on June 10, 2024.

22. What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?

The CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity is 98.001, which is USAID's broad foreign assistance listing.

23. How does this opportunity align with Feed the Future?

The activity aligns with Feed the Future priorities around improving diets by addressing both demand and supply factors that influence whether households can access and consume safe, healthy diets.

24. What does "beyond a single country context" imply for proposed activities?

Because it is a Leader Award, the activity is intended to generate approaches, tools, evidence, and learning that can be adapted across multiple settings rather than being designed for only one country context.

25. What does USAID appear to value in this solicitation?

Based on the description provided, USAID appears to value measurable outcomes, a clear theory of change, demonstrated ability to deliver results, and a strong understanding of how to improve diets by working across food systems, including nutrition quality, food safety, affordability, and consumer behavior.