Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0019
The Strengthening Food Safety Systems in Africa grant was a discretionary USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) opportunity designed to help African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and their Member States improve how they understand, apply, and align science-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, with a specific emphasis on food safety. The program is framed around Africa's rapidly expanding intra-continental trade environment, especially after the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) took effect on January 1, 2021. With AfCFTA creating a 54-nation free trade bloc, the grant positions SPS alignment as a practical requirement for smoother agricultural trade and as a safeguard for human, animal, and plant health. It also ties directly to implementation of AfCFTA Annex 7 on SPS, which underscores the need for legislation, regulations, and inspection systems that are grounded in science and consistent with international standard setting bodies.
A key driver behind the opportunity is the African Union Commission's leadership through AU-DARBE and the continent-wide SPS Policy Framework developed in 2019 and adopted by heads of state in March 2020. That framework is presented as the roadmap for putting the SPS chapter of the AfCFTA into action, laying out objectives, strategies, and responsibilities for RECs, Member States, and partner organizations. USDA FAS describes this grant as a way to support harmonization of SPS processes at continental, regional, and bilateral levels so that food safety controls are applied more uniformly. The underlying logic is that strong, consistent SPS measures make trade safer and more predictable: they reduce the risk of pests and disease spread, protect consumers, and help African exporters meet requirements in both regional and global markets. Conversely, weak enforcement capacity or inconsistent procedures can lead to market exclusions, avoidable compliance costs, and inefficiencies that slow down trade.
The main objective is to fund national and regional technical training, research, and outreach that strengthen scientific collaboration and help regulators and other food safety actors implement international standards in a consistent way. In practical terms, the recipient is expected to build structured learning programs in food safety, carry out collaborative research, and make sure scientific findings are shared and used by decision-makers. The opportunity highlights a gap in advanced analytical research and education in the region, noting that without that capacity, health authorities are less likely to make policy choices based on solid evidence. Because of that, the grant is not just about training workshops; it is also meant to improve the knowledge base and the channels through which evidence informs regulation and trade practice.
USDA anticipates several core activity streams. One is coordination with the African Union and USDA to provide scientific support for developing and implementing the AU's food safety strategy, along with research and policy guideline development to help RECs and Member States implement food safety measures aligned with AfCFTA Annex 7. Another is collaboration with USDA and other U.S. government agencies to train REC and Member State technical experts through workshops, virtual meetings, technical assistance, and online tools, with the goal of familiarizing African regulators with U.S. food safety inspection regulations and procedures. The grant also calls for consultative research with agribusinesses to identify practical trade bottlenecks and priority food safety barriers, including issues tied to border management processes where delays, duplicative controls, or unclear requirements can disrupt trade. Finally, the recipient is expected to provide technical assistance around WTO SPS Agreement transparency tools, including strengthening SPS notification systems and inquiry points, so countries can more effectively report and respond to SPS-related measures and track results under CAADP framework indicators.
Programmatically, the grant emphasizes working in a way that complements and links with other ongoing regional investments in food safety, such as laboratory-based research and education programs, integrated data collection platforms, and high-level policy dialogue. The broader development narrative connects harmonized SPS systems to continental commitments like the Malabo Declaration, CAADP, and Agenda 2063, positioning food safety capacity as both a public health need and an economic competitiveness strategy. In short, the opportunity targets the "plumbing" of food safety governance: the training, scientific collaboration, research, and transparency mechanisms that make food safety rules credible, implementable, and consistent enough to support expanded trade under AfCFTA.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a grant (not a contract) with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and an expectation of one award. The eligible applicant pool was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the program's emphasis on training, research, and evidence-based policy support. The opportunity was issued by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service under CFDA 10.960, created on June 11, 2021, with an original closing date of July 19, 2021.Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0019
- The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Food Safety Systems in Africa" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 11, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 19, 2021. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Strengthening Food Safety Systems in Africa (USDA FAS)
What is the Strengthening Food Safety Systems in Africa grant?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) focused on improving how African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and their Member States understand, apply, and align science-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, with a specific emphasis on food safety.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to fund national and regional technical training, research, and outreach that strengthen scientific collaboration and help regulators and other food safety actors implement international standards consistently across countries and regions.
How does this grant relate to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)?
The grant is framed around Africa's expanding intra-continental trade environment after AfCFTA took effect on January 1, 2021. It positions SPS alignment as a practical requirement for smoother agricultural trade and as a safeguard for human, animal, and plant health within a 54-nation free trade bloc.
What does AfCFTA Annex 7 on SPS have to do with this opportunity?
The opportunity ties directly to implementing AfCFTA Annex 7 on SPS, which emphasizes that SPS legislation, regulations, and inspection systems should be science-based and consistent with international standard-setting bodies.
Which organizations and frameworks are referenced as key drivers for this work?
The grant highlights the African Union Commission's leadership through AU-DARBE and the continent-wide SPS Policy Framework developed in 2019 and adopted by heads of state in March 2020. That framework is presented as a roadmap for putting the SPS chapter of the AfCFTA into action.
Why is harmonizing SPS and food safety systems important in this program?
The underlying logic is that strong and consistent SPS measures make trade safer and more predictable. They reduce the risk of pest and disease spread, protect consumers, and help exporters meet requirements in regional and global markets. Weak or inconsistent systems can contribute to market exclusions, avoidable compliance costs, and inefficiencies that slow trade.
Who is this grant meant to help?
The grant is designed to support African RECs and their Member States by strengthening the food safety and SPS capacity of regulators and other food safety actors, and by supporting the systems that help translate science into policy and practice.
What types of activities does USDA anticipate under this grant?
USDA anticipates activity streams that include: (1) coordination with the African Union and USDA to provide scientific support for developing and implementing the AU's food safety strategy; (2) research and policy guideline development to help RECs and Member States implement food safety measures aligned with AfCFTA Annex 7; (3) training REC and Member State technical experts through workshops, virtual meetings, technical assistance, and online tools; (4) consultative research with agribusinesses to identify trade bottlenecks and priority food safety barriers; and (5) technical assistance related to WTO SPS Agreement transparency tools such as notification systems and inquiry points.
Is the program only about hosting training workshops?
No. While training is a major component, the opportunity explicitly emphasizes building structured learning programs, conducting collaborative research, and ensuring scientific findings are shared and used by decision-makers. It is intended to strengthen the knowledge base and the channels through which evidence informs regulation and trade practice.
What is meant by "structured learning programs" in the context of this grant?
The opportunity indicates that the recipient is expected to build structured learning programs in food safety as part of strengthening technical capacity. The details of the curriculum or delivery model are not specified, but the emphasis is on organized, repeatable training that supports consistent implementation of international standards.
What kind of research is expected to be supported by this grant?
The grant calls for collaborative and consultative research that supports food safety policy and implementation, including research and policy guideline development aligned with AfCFTA Annex 7 and consultative research with agribusinesses to identify practical trade bottlenecks and priority food safety barriers.
How does the grant address gaps in scientific capacity and evidence-based policymaking?
The opportunity notes a gap in advanced analytical research and education in the region and links that gap to weaker evidence-based decision-making by health authorities. The grant is intended to build capacity for analytical research and education and to improve how scientific findings are communicated and incorporated into regulatory and trade decisions.
What role does USDA and other U.S. government agencies play in the planned activities?
The opportunity anticipates collaboration with USDA and other U.S. government agencies to train REC and Member State technical experts through workshops, virtual meetings, technical assistance, and online tools. One stated goal is to familiarize African regulators with U.S. food safety inspection regulations and procedures.
Does the grant include work related to border processes and trade facilitation?
Yes. The grant calls for consultative research with agribusinesses to identify practical trade bottlenecks and priority food safety barriers, including issues tied to border management processes where delays, duplicative controls, or unclear requirements can disrupt trade.
What are WTO SPS Agreement transparency tools, and how are they included in this program?
The opportunity includes technical assistance around WTO SPS Agreement transparency tools, specifically strengthening SPS notification systems and inquiry points so countries can more effectively report and respond to SPS-related measures and track results under CAADP framework indicators.
How is this opportunity expected to connect with other food safety investments in the region?
The grant emphasizes complementing and linking with other ongoing regional investments such as laboratory-based research and education programs, integrated data collection platforms, and high-level policy dialogue.
What broader continental development initiatives are referenced in the grant description?
The opportunity connects harmonized SPS systems to commitments and initiatives including the Malabo Declaration, CAADP, and Agenda 2063, framing food safety capacity as both a public health need and an economic competitiveness strategy.
What does the grant mean by strengthening the "plumbing" of food safety governance?
It refers to strengthening the underlying systems that make food safety rules credible and implementable, including training, scientific collaboration, research capacity, and transparency mechanisms that help align and consistently apply SPS and food safety requirements under AfCFTA.
Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant (not a contract).
What is the maximum funding available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling for this grant opportunity is $1,000,000.
How many awards was USDA expecting to make?
USDA anticipated one award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the program's focus on training, research, and evidence-based policy support.
Which USDA office issued this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 10.960.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on June 11, 2021, and had an original closing date of July 19, 2021.
What level(s) of SPS harmonization does the grant aim to support?
USDA describes the grant as supporting harmonization of SPS processes at continental, regional, and bilateral levels to help ensure food safety controls are applied more uniformly.
What kinds of results is this grant trying to enable for trade and public health?
Based on the description, the grant aims to make trade safer and more predictable by improving consistency in SPS measures, reducing risks associated with pests and disease spread, protecting consumers, and helping African exporters meet requirements in regional and global markets.
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