The Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships and USAID have launched the COVID-19 Private Sector Engagement & Partnership Fund with an additional $10 million in new assistance funds. The Fund has been established to strengthen the efforts of the private sector and bolster ongoing response efforts, helping the world’s most vulnerable overcome the devastation inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the purpose of the Fund?

1) To create a formal and transparent process to surface the most innovative private sector solutions to mitigating the secondary impacts of COVID-19 in developing countries, and 2) to seed-fund the most promising of these solutions within the context of State and USAID global programming.

Who qualifies to apply?

U.S. and overseas private and commercial entities, U.S. and overseas-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and institutions of higher education, are encouraged to apply.

What we’re looking for:

The Department is looking for concept papers that will enable people around the world to mitigate  the detrimental economic effects of COVID-19 on their societies. The Department encourages creativity and innovation from the private sector.

How to apply:

The application is a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise (5-page) concept paper to [email protected].  The concept paper should not go to the Embassy, consulate or USAID Missions. The concept paper should be designed to clearly communicate their program idea and objectives.  After merit review of eligible concept papers, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before a final funding decision is made.

Applicants can find application forms and other materials needed to submit a full proposal on SAMS Domestic and on Grants.gov under “COVID-19 Private Sector  Engagement & Partnership Fund”, funding opportunity number SFOP0007088.

What is the award amount?

The anticipated award amount is $50,000 to $1,000,000, however, concept papers over this amount will be considered.

Dates & Deadlines:

Concept papers will be accepted beginning August 5, 2020 and be reviewed on a rolling basis through 11:59PM Eastern Time on May 30, 2021. Please note that projects will be funded on a rolling basis. The Department reserves the right to close this announcement sooner than the given date if the available amount of funding has been exhausted.

Questions:

Questions can be submitted to [email protected].