West Africa Rapid Response Fund for Acute Humanitarian Needs Resulting from New Internal Displacement | 720FDA19APS00004

Opportunity Information: Apply for 720FDA19APS00004

The West Africa Rapid Response Fund for Acute Humanitarian Needs Resulting from New Internal Displacement is a USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funding opportunity designed to support fast, flexible humanitarian action in West Africa when new internal displacement creates urgent, short-term needs. The focus is on rapid response rather than long, slow-moving development programming, meaning the funded organization is expected to be able to detect emerging displacement events quickly, assess needs in real time, and move resources to affected communities without delays. The overall intent is to reduce human suffering and stabilize conditions for people who have been newly displaced inside their own countries, as well as for host communities that suddenly absorb displaced households and experience immediate strain on basic services and supplies.

This opportunity is being offered as a discretionary award through a cooperative agreement, which typically means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. In practice, that often includes closer coordination on priorities, approvals, reporting, and strategic adjustments as situations change. The funding activity category is Disaster Prevention and Relief (CFDA 98.001), which signals that the supported work should align with humanitarian assistance objectives such as life-saving relief, protection, emergency health and nutrition support, water, sanitation, and hygiene activities, emergency shelter, and other urgent interventions that address immediate risks and vulnerabilities linked to displacement. Although the notice does not list specific technical sectors in the excerpt provided, the title and OFDA mandate strongly point to acute, time-sensitive humanitarian outcomes rather than infrastructure-heavy or long-term livelihood programs.

USAID anticipated making one award under this notice of funding opportunity, but it also clearly reserved the right to make no awards at all, depending on the quality of applications received and USAID priorities. The award ceiling listed is $5,000,000, which indicates the maximum expected size of the cooperative agreement under this call, though the final award amount would depend on the proposed approach, budget justification, and USAID negotiations. Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of qualified entities could apply, provided they meet the specific eligibility criteria laid out in Section C of the NFO (for example, compliance, capacity, and registration requirements that commonly apply to USAID assistance awards).

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number 720FDA19APS00004, with an original closing date of September 8, 2019, and a posting/creation date of July 2, 2019. Applicants were encouraged to read the full NFO carefully to understand what kind of program USAID sought, how to submit an application correctly, and how USAID would evaluate and select an awardee. In simple terms, this solicitation was aimed at identifying a capable humanitarian partner that could operate a rapid response mechanism in West Africa, ensuring that when new displacement occurs, assistance can be mobilized quickly to meet critical needs and prevent conditions from deteriorating further.

• The Agency for International Development in the disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "West Africa Rapid Response Fund for Acute Humanitarian Needs Resulting from New Internal Displacement" 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 2019-07-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-08. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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