Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 685 19 MN
The Markets and Nutrition (M&N) opportunity is a USAID/Sahel Regional Office (SRO) Request for Information (RFI) issued out of USAID Dakar (Senegal). It is not a funding competition yet. Instead, it is an early, pre-solicitation step meant to gather feedback from stakeholders on a draft design document for a new activity called Markets and Nutrition (M&N). USAID is essentially asking partners, implementers, and other interested parties to review the draft approach, identify gaps, and offer practical suggestions that can strengthen the final activity design before formal solicitations are released.
USAID indicates it plans to issue two separate solicitations for two five-year activities, one focused on Niger and the other focused on Burkina Faso. The anticipated size is substantially different by country: Niger is expected to be in the range of USD 34 to 37 million over five years, while Burkina Faso is expected to be in the range of USD 18 to 19 million over five years. Even though there will be two awards/activities, USAID expects them to follow the same overall technical approach described in the RFI and the attached draft design. Because of that shared approach, USAID is using a single, joint RFI process to collect input that can inform both country solicitations.
From a program positioning standpoint, M&N is described as the lead markets development activity supporting two broader USAID initiatives in the Sahel: Resilience in the Sahel II (RISE II) and the Sahel Development Partnership (SDP). That framing signals that the activity is meant to connect market systems work with resilience objectives, and that it will likely be expected to coordinate closely with other resilience, livelihoods, food security, and development investments operating under those larger umbrellas. In other words, M&N is being set up as the primary mechanism through which USAID advances market development goals as part of its wider Sahel resilience strategy.
In terms of logistics and engagement, USAID scheduled a pre-solicitation conference for Thursday, June 13, 2019, hosted at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar from 14:30 to 17:00 local time (GMT). To broaden access beyond those able to attend in person, USAID also planned webinar and conference call options. Interested parties were directed to the opportunity materials (the "Related Documents" section) to access the full RFI and the draft design document that USAID wanted comments on. The original closing date for submitting input in response to the RFI was July 29, 2019.
The source listing classifies the instrument type associated with the eventual activity as a Cooperative Agreement, and it places the work under the Agriculture funding activity category (CFDA 98.001). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally implies a broad range of applicants could compete once the formal solicitations are released, assuming they meet whatever requirements appear in the final funding announcements. The posted award ceiling is shown as zero, which is typical for an RFI because it is not itself making an award; it is simply collecting information and feedback to shape the subsequent procurements.
Overall, the key takeaway is that this notice is an invitation to influence USAID's final design for a significant market development and nutrition-linked activity in the Sahel, with substantial planned investments in Niger and Burkina Faso over five years. Stakeholders were encouraged to use the RFI process and the pre-solicitation conference to help USAID refine the scope, approach, and practical implementation considerations before the agency moved forward with issuing the two country-level solicitations.Apply for RFI 685 19 MN
- The Senegal USAID-Dakar in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Markets and Nutrition (M&N)" 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 2019-05-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID Markets and Nutrition (M&N) RFI
1) What is the Markets and Nutrition (M&N) opportunity?
Markets and Nutrition (M&N) is a USAID/Sahel Regional Office (SRO) Request for Information (RFI) issued out of USAID Dakar (Senegal). It is a pre-solicitation request designed to gather stakeholder feedback on a draft design document for a planned activity called Markets and Nutrition (M&N).
2) Is this a funding opportunity or grant competition right now?
No. This notice is an RFI, not a funding competition. USAID is not making awards through the RFI. The purpose is to collect comments and suggestions to improve the activity design before any formal solicitation is released.
3) Why is USAID issuing an RFI for M&N?
USAID is asking partners, implementers, and other interested parties to review the draft design approach, identify gaps, and provide practical recommendations that can strengthen the final activity design ahead of the official solicitations.
4) Who is issuing this RFI?
The RFI is issued by USAID Dakar (Senegal) on behalf of USAID's Sahel Regional Office (SRO).
5) What is USAID planning to do after this RFI?
USAID indicates it plans to issue two separate solicitations for two five-year activities: one focused on Niger and another focused on Burkina Faso. The RFI is a joint input process intended to inform those future country solicitations.
6) Why is there one joint RFI if there will be two separate country activities?
Even though USAID anticipates two separate awards/activities, USAID expects them to follow the same overall technical approach described in the RFI and the attached draft design document. Because the approach is shared, USAID is using a single RFI process to gather feedback relevant to both Niger and Burkina Faso.
7) What countries will M&N cover?
USAID plans for two country-focused activities: Niger and Burkina Faso.
8) How long are the planned M&N activities expected to last?
Each planned activity is expected to be five years long.
9) What is the anticipated funding range for Niger?
USAID indicates the Niger activity is expected to be in the range of USD 34 to 37 million over five years.
10) What is the anticipated funding range for Burkina Faso?
USAID indicates the Burkina Faso activity is expected to be in the range of USD 18 to 19 million over five years.
11) Are the Niger and Burkina Faso budgets the same?
No. USAID describes substantially different anticipated funding ranges by country, with Niger larger than Burkina Faso.
12) What broader USAID initiatives is M&N linked to?
M&N is described as the lead markets development activity supporting two broader USAID initiatives in the Sahel: Resilience in the Sahel II (RISE II) and the Sahel Development Partnership (SDP).
13) What does it mean that M&N is the "lead markets development activity" for RISE II and SDP?
Based on the notice description, this framing signals that M&N is intended to connect market systems work with resilience objectives and likely coordinate closely with other resilience, livelihoods, food security, and development investments operating under those broader Sahel initiatives.
14) What kind of input is USAID asking stakeholders to provide?
USAID is seeking feedback on the draft design document and the overall technical approach, including identifying gaps and offering practical suggestions to strengthen the final activity design before formal solicitations are issued.
15) Where can interested parties find the full RFI and the draft design document?
Interested parties were directed to the opportunity materials in the "Related Documents" section to access the full RFI and the attached draft design document for review and comment.
16) Was there a pre-solicitation conference for this RFI?
Yes. USAID scheduled a pre-solicitation conference for Thursday, June 13, 2019.
17) Where and when was the pre-solicitation conference held?
It was hosted at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar from 14:30 to 17:00 local time (GMT) on June 13, 2019.
18) Were there remote participation options for the pre-solicitation conference?
Yes. USAID planned webinar and conference call options to broaden access for those unable to attend in person.
19) What was the deadline for submitting input to the RFI?
The original closing date for submitting input in response to the RFI was July 29, 2019.
20) What is the expected instrument type for the eventual awards?
The source listing classifies the instrument type associated with the eventual activity as a Cooperative Agreement.
21) What funding activity category is this opportunity associated with?
The work is placed under the Agriculture funding activity category, with CFDA 98.001.
22) Who is eligible to respond or eventually apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. This generally implies a broad range of applicants could compete once the formal solicitations are released, assuming they meet the requirements in the final funding announcements.
23) Why does the notice show an award ceiling of zero?
An award ceiling of zero is typical for an RFI because it is not making an award. The RFI is only collecting information and feedback to shape the subsequent procurements.
24) What is the main purpose or takeaway of this notice?
The notice is an invitation to influence USAID's final design for a significant market development and nutrition-linked activity in the Sahel. Stakeholders were encouraged to use the RFI process and the pre-solicitation conference to help refine scope, approach, and implementation considerations before USAID issues the two country-level solicitations.
25) Does responding to the RFI mean an organization will receive funding later?
The information provided describes the RFI as a feedback-gathering step only and does not indicate that submitting input results in funding. The RFI is intended to inform future solicitations, which would be the stage where awards could be competed.
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