Opportunity Information: Apply for 72051418APS00001

The Annual Program Statement (APS) for Colombia's Ethnic Communities, titled "Strengthening Ethnic Communities for Inclusive Peace" (Funding Opportunity Number 72051418APS00001), is a discretionary USAID/Colombia grant opportunity designed to support Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities as they pursue inclusive peace, stronger self-governance, and better socio-economic outcomes in the post-conflict context. The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Bogota and uses a cooperative agreement as the primary funding instrument, which typically means USAID expects to have substantial involvement in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities compared with a more hands-off grant.

At its core, the APS is framed around helping ethnic communities and their representative structures play a more effective role in governing their territories and shaping development on their own terms. USAID signals an interest in working directly with prospective organizations to strengthen the internal capacity of ethnic organizations and traditional authorities. This includes improving their ability to govern and administer their territories, advocate for collective rights and interests, and lead or implement initiatives connected to Colombia's post-conflict environment. In practical terms, that can cover organizational strengthening, leadership development, community planning, improved coordination with government institutions, and better tools for participation in decision-making processes that affect ethnic territories.

A second major focus is protection. The APS explicitly prioritizes strengthened self and collective protection initiatives, reflecting the reality that many ethnic communities face ongoing risks such as threats, intimidation, violence, displacement pressures, and other security challenges that can undermine community cohesion and local governance. While the APS summary does not list specific interventions, the emphasis suggests USAID is looking for community-driven strategies that improve safety and resilience, strengthen collective mechanisms for prevention and response, and reinforce the community's ability to protect leaders, land rights, and social structures in a way that is consistent with ethnic governance and cultural practices.

The third area centers on inclusive rural economic growth. The opportunity seeks to improve conditions for economic development in rural areas in ways that include and benefit ethnic communities, rather than excluding them from markets, services, or opportunities. This pillar points toward activities that could strengthen livelihoods, enhance value chains, expand access to productive resources, increase opportunities for legal and sustainable income generation, and reduce economic drivers of conflict. The word "inclusive" is important here: it implies attention to equitable participation, benefits for marginalized groups within communities, and approaches that fit local realities rather than one-size-fits-all development models.

The fourth pillar emphasizes natural resource management in Afro-Colombian and indigenous territories. USAID highlights strengthening the management of natural resources, which often relates to community-based stewardship of forests, water, biodiversity, and land, alongside territorial planning and governance. This component aligns with the broader objective of self-governance because control and management of land and natural resources is often central to ethnic territorial rights, cultural survival, and long-term economic stability. Depending on project design, this could include improving local environmental governance structures, supporting sustainable use practices, strengthening monitoring and enforcement capacities, or helping communities engage effectively with external actors whose activities may affect their territories.

In terms of scale and competitiveness, the APS lists an award ceiling of USD 5,000,000 and anticipates up to 10 awards. That structure suggests multiple partners could be supported across different geographies or thematic priorities, rather than a single nationwide implementer. The activity category is community development, and the CFDA listing is 98.001, which is commonly used for USAID foreign assistance programs. The APS was originally posted on August 31, 2018, with an original closing date of September 29, 2018, indicating it was a time-bound solicitation window for interested applicants at that time.

Eligibility is stated broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced outside the summary. In practice, APS language like this often indicates USAID may welcome a range of applicant types depending on the full notice, potentially including local organizations, NGOs, community-based organizations, and possibly consortia that can credibly work with and be accountable to ethnic authorities and community institutions. Overall, the opportunity is clearly oriented toward strengthening ethnic community leadership and governance, improving safety and collective protection, expanding inclusive rural economic opportunities, and reinforcing sustainable management of natural resources as complementary pathways to a more inclusive and durable peace in Colombia.

  • The Agency for International Development, Colombia USAID-Bogota in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Annual Program Statement (APS) for Colombia’s Ethnic Communities “Strengthening Ethnic Communities for Inclusive Peace”" 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 Aug 31, 2018.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 29, 2018. (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.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for 72051418APS00001

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FAQs: Strengthening Ethnic Communities for Inclusive Peace (USAID/Colombia APS 72051418APS00001)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the USAID/Colombia Annual Program Statement (APS) for Colombia's Ethnic Communities titled "Strengthening Ethnic Communities for Inclusive Peace" (Funding Opportunity Number 72051418APS00001). It is a discretionary USAID/Colombia grant opportunity focused on supporting Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities in Colombia's post-conflict context.

Who is the funding agency and where is it administered?

The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically the USAID mission in Bogota, Colombia.

What funding instrument will be used?

USAID indicates that a cooperative agreement is the primary funding instrument for this APS. A cooperative agreement typically means USAID expects substantial involvement in planning, implementation, and monitoring, compared with a more hands-off grant.

What is the main goal of the APS?

The APS is centered on helping Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities and their representative structures play a more effective role in governing their territories and shaping development on their own terms, with a broader emphasis on inclusive peace and improved socio-economic outcomes in a post-conflict environment.

What types of communities does this APS prioritize?

The APS is designed to support ethnic communities in Colombia, specifically Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, and the representative structures and traditional authorities connected to those communities.

What are the main program focus areas (pillars) described in the APS summary?

The summary highlights four major areas: (1) strengthening ethnic governance and organizational capacity, (2) strengthened self and collective protection initiatives, (3) inclusive rural economic growth, and (4) natural resource management in Afro-Colombian and indigenous territories.

What does "strengthening ethnic governance and organizational capacity" mean in this APS?

Based on the summary, this focus includes strengthening internal capacity of ethnic organizations and traditional authorities to govern and administer territories, advocate for collective rights and interests, and lead or implement post-conflict initiatives. Examples mentioned in the summary include organizational strengthening, leadership development, community planning, improved coordination with government institutions, and better tools for participation in decision-making processes affecting ethnic territories.

How does the APS address safety and security concerns?

The APS explicitly prioritizes strengthened self and collective protection initiatives. The summary notes that many ethnic communities face threats, intimidation, violence, and displacement pressures that can undermine community cohesion and local governance. While specific interventions are not listed in the summary, the emphasis points to community-driven strategies that improve safety and resilience and strengthen collective mechanisms for prevention and response.

Does the APS specify exact protection activities or interventions?

No. The APS summary does not list specific protection interventions. It signals a priority for strengthened self and collective protection and suggests USAID is looking for community-driven approaches consistent with ethnic governance and cultural practices.

What does "inclusive rural economic growth" mean in this opportunity?

In this APS, inclusive rural economic growth refers to improving conditions for economic development in rural areas in ways that include and benefit ethnic communities. The summary suggests potential areas such as strengthening livelihoods, enhancing value chains, expanding access to productive resources, increasing opportunities for legal and sustainable income generation, and reducing economic drivers of conflict, with attention to equitable participation and benefits for marginalized groups within communities.

What is the natural resource management focus about?

The APS emphasizes strengthening natural resource management in Afro-Colombian and indigenous territories. The summary connects this to community-based stewardship of forests, water, biodiversity, and land, as well as territorial planning and governance. Potential directions mentioned include improving local environmental governance structures, supporting sustainable use practices, strengthening monitoring and enforcement capacities, and helping communities engage with external actors whose activities may affect their territories.

How much funding is available per award?

The APS lists an award ceiling of USD 5,000,000.

How many awards does USAID anticipate making?

The APS anticipates making up to 10 awards.

Does the structure suggest one national award or multiple awards?

Because the APS anticipates up to 10 awards and includes a ceiling amount, the summary suggests multiple partners could be funded across different geographies and/or thematic priorities, rather than a single nationwide implementer.

What is the activity category?

The activity category listed in the summary is community development.

What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?

The summary lists CFDA 98.001, which is commonly used for USAID foreign assistance programs.

When was the APS posted and what was the closing date?

The APS was originally posted on August 31, 2018, and the original closing date was September 29, 2018, indicating a time-bound solicitation window at that time.

Is eligibility clearly defined in the summary?

Eligibility is stated broadly as "Others" in the summary, with additional eligibility details referenced outside the summary. The summary suggests USAID may welcome a range of applicant types depending on the full notice.

What types of applicants might be eligible based on the summary?

Based on the summary language, applicants could potentially include local organizations, NGOs, community-based organizations, and possibly consortia, particularly those able to work directly with ethnic authorities and community institutions and be accountable to them. The summary notes that the full notice contains additional eligibility details.

What does it mean that this is a "discretionary" USAID grant opportunity?

The summary describes it as a discretionary USAID/Colombia grant opportunity, meaning the funding is awarded competitively at the agency's discretion based on the solicitation and review process, rather than being an entitlement or formula-based allocation.

What does USAID indicate about its working relationship with implementers under this APS?

The summary indicates USAID is interested in working directly with prospective organizations and, because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, expects substantial involvement in planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities.

How does this APS connect to Colombia's post-conflict context?

The summary frames the APS as supporting ethnic communities in pursuing inclusive peace, stronger self-governance, and improved socio-economic outcomes in a post-conflict environment, including support for governance, protection, rural economic opportunities, and natural resource management as complementary pathways to durable peace.

Does the summary specify geographic coverage within Colombia?

No specific geographic coverage is listed in the summary. However, the anticipated multiple awards suggest projects could be supported in different geographies.

Does the APS summary state whether projects must be led by ethnic authorities?

The summary does not state a strict requirement that projects be led by ethnic authorities. It does emphasize strengthening ethnic organizations and traditional authorities and highlights USAID's interest in working directly to build their internal capacity and support representative structures.

What kinds of outcomes is USAID trying to achieve through this APS?

Based on the summary, intended outcomes include stronger self-governance and territorial administration by ethnic communities, improved participation and advocacy for collective rights, enhanced self and collective protection and resilience, more inclusive rural economic opportunities, and strengthened natural resource management tied to territorial rights and long-term stability.

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