Deadline: 19-Jul-21
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) seeks to support the efforts of African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States (MS) in improving understanding and uniform application of science-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards among food safety actors in the region in accordance with International Standard Setting Bodies (ISSBs).
Objectives
Implementation of national and regional technical training, research, and outreach programs for RECs and MS to apply international standards; strengthen scientific collaboration; and harmonize SPS standards.
These activities will support RECs and MS to meet commitments defined in the WTO’s SPS Agreement, further outlined in the SPS Policy Framework.
The recipient should complement and strengthen linkages to other regional efforts to advance food safety, such as laboratory-based research and education, integrated data collection platforms, and high-level dialogue.
The current lack of high-level analytical research and education programming means health authorities are less likely to make informed policy decisions based on science.
FAS anticipates the recipient will deliver structured learning in food safety, undertake collaborative research, and publicize and support scientific findings by:
- Coordinating with the AU and USDA to provide scientific support to develop and implement the AU’s food safety strategy as well as researching approaches and developing policy guidelines to support RECs and MS in the implementation of food safety measures aligned to the AfCFTA’s SPS.
- Collaborating with USDA and other USG agencies to educate and train REC and MS technical experts through workshops; virtual meetings; technical assistance; online tools; and other platforms to familiarize Africa regulators with U.S. food safety inspection regulations and procedures.
- Conducting consultative research with agribusinesses to identify priority areas, including border management processes, in which to identify major food safety barriers to trade between RECs and MS.
- Providing technical assistance and training to support SPS notification, inquiry points, and other tools for reporting on trade and SPS-related matters to the WTO and as results under the Comprehensive Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Framework indicators.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
- Award Floor: $1
- Period of performance: 24 months
- Projected first budget period: July 19, 2021 – July 18, 2023
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. State Cooperative Institutions or other colleges and universities in the United States.
- All applicants must have an active registration in the SAM database at https://www.sam.gov – pending or expired registrants are not eligible. This requirement must be met by the closing date of the announcement and will not be waived. Please contact the program officer if you have questions about this requirement.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334113