The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is anticipating the issuance of a request for applications for the Alternative Development Program aimed at increasing licit agricultural alternatives for rural Afghans, thereby reducing poppy production in Afghanistan. This program will be implemented through a five-year Cooperative Agreement, focusing on provinces where poppy eradication has shown success, such as Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman, with an emphasis on creating jobs, increasing sales, and promoting economic growth. The total estimated funding for this opportunity is $150 million, with no cost-sharing requirement, and interested applicants are encouraged to submit innovative proposals that align with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy. For further inquiries, applicants can contact Fedon Capas at fcapas@usaid.gov or by phone at 66-2-263-7436. The full request for applications is expected to be published in late August 2008.

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), anticipates issuing a request for applications to implement an Alternative Development Program to increase licit and commercially viable agricultural-based alternatives for rural Afghans with the goal of significantly reducing and ultimately eradicating poppy production throughout Afghanistan. Subject to the availability of funds, this competitively awarded five year Cooperative Agreement shall focus across those provinces within the north, east and west of Afghanistan where poppy eradication has been showing success, security issues are comparatively reduced and opportunities are most abundant. Examples of current priority provinces are Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Laghman, Badakhshan, and Takhar. The Agreement shall be outcomes based focused on results. Applicants shall compete with proposed solutions that meet the requirements of the RFA and are tailored to an optimal technical / business approach. The goal is to contribute to the creation of full and part-time and year-round and seasonal jobs, increased sales, strengthened associations, increased exports and improved access to services to promote licit economic growth and positive alternatives to the illicit economy for farmers and non-farmers alike. The Applicant&#146;s proposal shall directly link to the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). Applicants should consider revenue generation and cost recovery, anti-corruption, gender, &#147;Afghanization&#148; (increased use of Afghan staff and local firms and NGOs, local project ownership, local sourcing of other goods and services, etc.) and local governance as important cross-cutting issues that must be included in all programmatic elements USAID will advise applicants of project objectives and desired outcome, but will not specify specific requirements or methodology. Applicants will have the opportunity to propose innovative, cost effective solutions for the Program. This solicitation will be accomplished using full and open competition and all interested parties are invited to apply. USAID especially encourages Afghan and/or regional contractors to consider this opportunity alone or in partnership with other organizations. Applicants are expected to provide a Program Description (PD), Performance Metrics &amp; Measurement Plan and, a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) as part of the application package. Prevailing regulations do not allow Applicants to propose monetary incentives; however, Applicants may propose other innovative approaches to create incentives for program success. 

Fedon Capas &lt;br/&gt;Senior Acquisition&amp;Assistance &lt;br/&gt;Phone 66-2-263-7436

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