Opportunity Information: Apply for 72031623APS00001
USAID/Zambia is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called Local Climate Action Innovation (LCAI) under an Annual Program Statement (APS). The purpose is to fund practical, climate-smart innovations in Zambia while widening USAID's direct partnerships beyond the usual large implementers. The APS is designed to bring in new and locally rooted partners, including grassroots and community-based organizations as well as private sector actors, with the goal of identifying and supporting ideas that both address climate challenges and contribute to economic growth. The opportunity is framed around innovation that can translate into real-world outcomes, particularly approaches that can improve resilience, reduce climate-related risks, and create or strengthen livelihoods and markets.
The program is open to applications from both non-profit and for-profit organizations, listed broadly under "Other" eligible applicants. This signals an intent to attract a diverse mix of local actors and businesses that may have promising solutions but have not historically worked directly with USAID. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity focus falls under Business and Commerce as well as Environment, reflecting the dual emphasis on climate action and economic impact. The CFDA (assistance listing) number associated with the opportunity is 98.001, which corresponds to USAID foreign assistance.
In terms of funding scale, the award ceiling is USD 50,000 per award, and USAID/Zambia anticipates making about 10 awards. This suggests the APS is structured more like a small-grants innovation window than a large implementation contract, with the intent to test, validate, pilot, or expand early-stage solutions. The emphasis on "innovations that can drive economic growth" indicates that applicants should make a clear case not only for environmental or adaptation benefits, but also for measurable economic returns such as productivity gains, income generation, job creation, cost savings, or improved market access, depending on the sector and innovation.
Application requirements are intentionally lightweight but strict. Applicants must submit a four-page technical application along with a budget, meaning proposals need to be concise and sharply focused on the problem, the innovation, how it will be implemented, and what results will be achieved with the requested funds. Because the APS specifically instructs applicants to read the document in its entirety and follow all instructions, compliance with formatting, eligibility rules, and submission directions is likely a significant screening factor. The notice points applicants to Section C for eligibility details and references Section H for additional information related to the economic growth focus, so a competitive submission would align tightly with those sections rather than relying on generic climate or development language.
Key opportunity details include the funding opportunity number 72031623APS00001, the posting/creation date of 2023-11-03, and an original closing date of 2024-05-03. Overall, the LCAI APS is best understood as a Zambia-based innovation grant aimed at surfacing and supporting smaller, locally driven climate-smart ideas that can show tangible economic value, with relatively modest award sizes and a streamlined proposal package intended to lower barriers for new entrants.Apply for 72031623APS00001
- The Zambia USAID-Lusaka in the business and commerce, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Climate Action Innovation" 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 2023-11-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-03. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Local Climate Action Innovation (LCAI) APS - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is called Local Climate Action Innovation (LCAI). It is offered by USAID/Zambia as a discretionary grant opportunity under an Annual Program Statement (APS).
2. What is the main purpose of the LCAI opportunity?
The purpose is to fund practical, climate-smart innovations in Zambia while widening USAID's direct partnerships beyond the usual large implementers. The focus is on identifying and supporting ideas that address climate challenges and also contribute to economic growth.
3. What kind of results is USAID/Zambia looking for?
The APS emphasizes innovations that translate into real-world outcomes. This includes approaches that can improve resilience, reduce climate-related risks, and create or strengthen livelihoods and markets, with a clear link to economic value.
4. Is this opportunity focused only on environmental outcomes?
No. The opportunity reflects a dual emphasis on climate action and economic impact. Applicants are expected to show not only environmental or adaptation benefits, but also measurable economic returns such as productivity gains, income generation, job creation, cost savings, or improved market access (depending on the innovation and sector).
5. What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
6. What type of solicitation is this?
This is offered under an Annual Program Statement (APS), which is designed to surface and support innovative ideas, particularly from partners that may be new to working directly with USAID.
7. Who is eligible to apply?
The program is open to applications from both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Eligible applicants are listed broadly under "Other," indicating that USAID/Zambia is seeking a diverse mix of local actors, including grassroots and community-based organizations as well as private sector actors.
8. Is this intended for locally rooted organizations in Zambia?
Yes. The opportunity is described as Zambia-based and is designed to bring in new and locally rooted partners, including grassroots and community-based organizations and private sector actors.
9. What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is USD 50,000 per award.
10. How many awards does USAID/Zambia expect to make?
USAID/Zambia anticipates making about 10 awards.
11. What does the expected award size and number of awards suggest about the program?
The ceiling of USD 50,000 and an anticipated 10 awards suggest a small-grants innovation window rather than a large implementation award. The structure appears intended to test, validate, pilot, or expand early-stage solutions.
12. What are the main activity focus areas for this opportunity?
The activity focus falls under Business and Commerce as well as Environment, reflecting the combined emphasis on climate-smart innovation and economic growth.
13. What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number associated with the opportunity is 98.001, which corresponds to USAID foreign assistance.
14. What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 72031623APS00001.
15. What are the posting/creation date and the original closing date?
The posting/creation date is 2023-11-03, and the original closing date is 2024-05-03.
16. What are the required application components?
Applicants must submit a four-page technical application along with a budget. The proposal must be concise and focused on the problem, the innovation, how it will be implemented, and what results will be achieved with the requested funds.
17. How long can the technical application be?
The technical application is limited to four pages.
18. Is a budget required?
Yes. The application must include a budget in addition to the four-page technical application.
19. How important is following the APS instructions?
It is likely very important. The APS instructs applicants to read the document in its entirety and follow all instructions. Compliance with formatting, eligibility rules, and submission directions is described as likely being a significant screening factor.
20. Where should applicants look for eligibility details and guidance on the economic growth focus?
The notice points applicants to Section C for eligibility details and references Section H for additional information related to the economic growth focus. Competitive submissions are expected to align tightly with those sections rather than using generic climate or development language.
21. What types of innovations are encouraged under LCAI?
The APS seeks practical, climate-smart innovations that can improve resilience, reduce climate-related risks, and contribute to economic growth. The framing suggests an emphasis on innovations that can be tested, piloted, validated, or expanded with modest grant funding and that can demonstrate tangible results.
22. Is this opportunity meant to include private sector participation?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentions private sector actors among the intended locally rooted partners and indicates eligibility for for-profit organizations.
23. What is the underlying goal of widening partnerships beyond large implementers?
The stated intent is to broaden USAID's direct partnerships to include new entrants and locally rooted organizations with promising solutions, including grassroots and community-based organizations and businesses that may not have historically worked directly with USAID.
24. What should a strong application emphasize based on the description?
Based on the description, a strong application would be sharply focused and clearly explain: the climate challenge being addressed, the innovation itself, how it will be implemented, what outcomes will be achieved, and how it will drive economic growth with measurable returns (as appropriate to the innovation). It should also closely follow APS instructions and align with the eligibility guidance in Section C and the economic growth guidance referenced in Section H.
25. Is this opportunity described as a large implementation award?
No. It is described as relatively modest in award size and structured like a small-grants innovation window, intended to lower barriers for new entrants and support practical innovations.
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