Annual Program Statement (APS) for Colombia’s Ethnic Communities “Strengthening Ethnic Communities for Inclusive Peace” | 72051418APS00001

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).

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