Deadline: 20 April 2017
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a call for Diaspora Partnership with an aim to source new ideas and engage a diverse set of partners in identifying and testing diaspora-focused innovations to address development challenges.
USAID, through this partnerships call, seeks to identify catalytic, diaspora-centric partnership models which promote economic development, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and/or investing. USAID invites organizations to submit ideas for partnering and co-investing to address the objectives outlined in this document.
Objectives
- Diaspora Investment: USAID proactively seeks to catalyze private investment from diaspora communities to businesses and social enterprises in countries of origin. We seek partnership ideas from investors, entrepreneurs, and others that incentivize and support diaspora investments. This includes but is not limited to the following:
- Crowdfunding: Supporting initiatives that secure small amounts of funding from a large number of diaspora sources to invest in businesses or social enterprises in countries of origin. (Note: funding raised via crowdfunding from individuals does not count toward the private sector leverage requirement under the GDA APS).
- Early Stage and/or Angel Investing: Coordinating the activities of diaspora investors to provide financial support for entrepreneurs, startups, or early stage enterprises operating in the diaspora’s country(ies) of origin.
- Harnessing Remittances: Creating catalytic mechanisms that tap into remittance flows for collective (rather than individual) benefit.
- Enabling Environment for Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurs are critical engines of growth and job creation in developing countries and USAID seeks to work with the diaspora community to foster and develop institutions, systems and environments conducive to entrepreneurship in diaspora countries of origin. USAID is interested in ideas that include but are not limited to:
- Entrepreneurship Accelerators: Competitive initiatives open to new or early stage growth-oriented businesses to help them scale faster. Accelerators may be cohortbased, have a fixed term, and include mentorship and educational components as well as direct investment or support in securing private investment.
- Entrepreneurship Incubators: Initiatives designed to help develop startup enterprises by providing management training and other supportive services.
- New Philanthropic Models: USAID seeks innovative ideas and models which harness diaspora philanthropy to foster investment in economic growth and entrepreneurship in developing countries. Such models might include:
- New Platforms: Creation of platforms through which philanthropic resources can fund business ventures that produce social and economic benefits for targeted communities or populations.
- Social Enterprises: Creation or strengthening of enterprises focused both on creating positive societal impact and earning a profit.
Funding Information: USAID anticipates funding no more than five projects via this call for partnerships at a level between $100,000 and $250,000 per partnership.
Eligibility Criteria
USAID welcomes applications from many types of organizations including U.S. and non-U.S. private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, U.S. and non-U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), faith-based organizations, international organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities, civic groups, regional organizations, etc. All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law. An individual cannot apply as an applicant.
- U.S. and Non-U.S. Non-Profit Organizations: Qualified U.S. and non-U.S. private nonprofit organizations may apply for USAID funding under this APS.
- U.S. and Non-U.S. For-Profit Organizations
- U.S. and Non-U.S. Colleges and Universities: Qualified U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities may apply for funding under this APS.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can download the application forms via given website.
For more information, please visit USAID Diaspora Partnership.