Global – Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) Leader with Associate (LWA)

Working to Meet the Demands of Mission-Driven Agriculture and Economic Growth Initiatives

Under new Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) Leader with Associate (LWA) mechanisms, USAID Missions and Bureaus can develop their own stand-alone cooperative agreements or grants to support agribusiness development. By using these precompeted awards, USAID Missions save time, conserve resources and can collaboratively design sound, cost-effective activities to address agricultural sector needs.

ACDI/VOCA, as the holder of the LWA, has the on-demand capability to respond to USAID Mission-driven economic growth initiatives. We invite you to capitalize on the flexibility of these awards by engaging us to address today’s pressing food-security as well as market- and trade-development needs.

The FtF LWAs draw on ACDI/VOCA’s extensive experience in agribusiness and market development. They integrate cost-effective services from well-qualified volunteer and paid consultants, who put a “people-to-people stamp” on USAID assistance, and educate the American public on the benefits of foreign aid.

A Focus on Agribusiness

Activities may relate to all aspects of production and post-harvest, such as processing, marketing, credit and input supply, as well as agribusiness management, environmental conservation and policy and regulatory regimes. The goal is to generate rapid, sustained and broad-based economic growth in agriculture.

A Mission FtF initiative must address at least one of these objectives:

• agricultural productivity and profitability
• conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
• agricultural sector access to financial services
• strengthened agricultural institutions
• markets and trade capacity
• addressing emerging agricultural threats
• agricultural livelihood services and safety nets
• agriculture enabling environment

Geographic Range

The FtF LWA is global in scope, which enables us to pursue opportunities, support innovative activities and respond to USAID Mission requests worldwide.

Partners

Winrock International, Land O’Lakes, Lincoln University and the International Arid Lands Consortium are partners under ACDI/VOCA’s Farmer-to-Farmer LWA.

How does it work?

Mission personnel:

• identify a development need and activity proposal (in either specific or general terms)
• consult with Farmer-to-Farmer CTO Gary Alex to confirm that the activity fits within the mandate of the FtF LWAs (see below for contact information)
• submit a Request for Associate Award Application (RFAAA) letter to ACDI/VOCA, describing project-specific parameters like area of activity, necessary background, host country involvement, funds and period limitation, etc.
• review the technical and cost proposals developed by ACDI/VOCA in an Application
• negotiate and—when in agreement on the program description, budget and any substantial involvement anticipated—the Agreement Officer makes the Associate award

The Mission activity manager becomes the CTO for the Associate award. The entire process can often be completed within a few weeks, but may take longer if detailed analyses and design work is needed in preparing the Application.

For more information, contact Angelina Tracy at atracy@acdivoca.org.