Opportunity Information: Apply for 72030620APS00001
USAID/Afghanistan is seeking partners for its Advancing Higher Education for Afghanistan's Development (AHEAD) opportunity, released as an Annual Program Statement (APS) under the authority of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended). The central aim is to support higher education initiatives that address development challenges by testing, adopting, and scaling creative or innovative solutions. Rather than funding a single predefined project, the APS is designed to attract a range of ideas and approaches, with USAID indicating it may make one or multiple awards depending on what is proposed and selected.
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. Any awards made under AHEAD will be administered under USAID policy (ADS 303) and federal assistance rules, including 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700, along with the Standard Provisions that apply to U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. In practical terms, applicants should expect typical federal compliance requirements related to budgeting, cost principles, reporting, and audits, plus any additional conditions described in the APS and in specific addenda (sometimes referred to as rounds).
AHEAD is explicitly not a Request for Applications (RFA). Instead, it uses a staged process that begins with Concept Notes submitted in response to an addendum posted to the APS. USAID will review concept notes through an internal review team, and selected applicants may be invited into a co-creation process where USAID and prospective partners refine the approach before a full application is requested. USAID also makes clear it can choose to skip co-creation and move directly from concept note selection to requesting full applications. Just as importantly, USAID reserves broad discretion to fund any, all, or none of the submissions received under the APS and its addenda.
In terms of scale and timeline, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of up to $50,000,000 and anticipates up to three awards, though the final number and sizes can vary depending on the quality of submissions and available funding. The APS is open-ended in the sense that it will remain open until the total estimated amount is fully awarded, rather than closing on a single fixed deadline, so applicants need to watch for addenda that announce specific rounds, focus areas, or submission dates.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity (for example, nonprofits, universities, private firms, and potentially other organizations), subject to any clarifications or limitations that may appear in the APS text or in later addenda. The funding activity category is Education, and the listing references CFDA 98.001. The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Afghanistan (USAID-Kabul), with an original creation date of December 4, 2019, under funding opportunity number 72030620APS00001.Apply for 72030620APS00001
- The Agency for International Development, Afghanistan USAID-Kabul in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Higher Education for Afghanistan’s Development" 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 Dec 04, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This APS will remain open until the full Total Estimated Amount is awarded.. (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 $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID Advancing Higher Education for Afghanistan's Development (AHEAD) APS
1) What is the AHEAD opportunity?
AHEAD stands for Advancing Higher Education for Afghanistan's Development. It is a USAID/Afghanistan funding opportunity released as an Annual Program Statement (APS) to support higher education initiatives that address development challenges by testing, adopting, and scaling creative or innovative solutions.
2) Who is issuing this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Afghanistan (USAID-Kabul).
3) What is the funding opportunity number and when was it created?
The funding opportunity number is 72030620APS00001, and the original creation date is December 4, 2019.
4) Is AHEAD a Request for Applications (RFA)?
No. AHEAD is explicitly not an RFA. It is an Annual Program Statement (APS) that is designed to attract a range of ideas and approaches rather than fund a single predefined project.
5) What is the main goal of AHEAD?
The central aim is to support higher education initiatives that address development challenges, with an emphasis on testing, adopting, and scaling creative or innovative solutions.
6) Does USAID plan to fund one project or multiple projects?
USAID indicates it may make one or multiple awards, depending on what is proposed and selected. The APS anticipates up to three awards, but the final number can vary.
7) What type of award is anticipated under AHEAD?
AHEAD is structured as a cooperative agreement. This generally means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.
8) What does "substantial involvement" mean in a cooperative agreement?
The APS states that a cooperative agreement generally involves more active participation by USAID during implementation than a standard grant. The exact nature of involvement would be defined through the award and any applicable APS/addendum requirements.
9) What laws and regulations govern awards under AHEAD?
AHEAD is released under the authority of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended). Awards will be administered under USAID policy (ADS 303) and federal assistance rules, including 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700, along with the Standard Provisions that apply to U.S. and non-U.S. organizations.
10) What kinds of compliance requirements should applicants expect?
Applicants should expect typical federal compliance requirements related to budgeting, cost principles, reporting, and audits, plus any additional conditions described in the APS and in specific addenda (sometimes referred to as rounds).
11) How do applicants apply under an APS like AHEAD?
AHEAD uses a staged process that begins with Concept Notes submitted in response to an addendum posted to the APS. After concept note review, USAID may invite selected applicants to co-creation and/or request a full application.
12) What is a Concept Note in this process?
A Concept Note is the initial submission stage under AHEAD. Concept Notes are submitted in response to an addendum to the APS and are reviewed by a USAID internal review team to decide which applicants may advance in the process.
13) What is an addendum and why does it matter?
An addendum is a specific posting under the APS that may announce a particular round, focus area, or submission date and provides the instructions for submitting Concept Notes for that round.
14) What is the co-creation process?
Co-creation is a process where USAID and prospective partners refine the approach after concept note selection and before a full application is requested. The APS notes that co-creation may be used, but it is not guaranteed.
15) Can USAID skip co-creation?
Yes. USAID states it can choose to skip co-creation and move directly from selecting concept notes to requesting full applications.
16) Is funding guaranteed if a Concept Note is submitted?
No. USAID reserves broad discretion to fund any, all, or none of the submissions received under the APS and its addenda.
17) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) for AHEAD?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of up to $50,000,000.
18) How many awards does USAID expect to make?
The APS anticipates up to three awards, though the final number and sizes can vary depending on the quality of submissions and available funding.
19) Does AHEAD have a single deadline?
The APS is described as open-ended and will remain open until the total estimated amount is fully awarded, rather than closing on a single fixed deadline. Applicants need to monitor addenda for round-specific submission dates.
20) What should applicants monitor to know when and what to submit?
Applicants should watch for addenda posted to the APS, as these may announce specific rounds, focus areas, instructions, and Concept Note submission dates.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity (for example, nonprofits, universities, private firms, and potentially other organizations), subject to any clarifications or limitations that may appear in the APS text or later addenda.
22) Are there potential limitations even though eligibility is "unrestricted"?
Yes. The APS notes that eligibility is unrestricted in general, but clarifications or limitations may appear in the APS text or in later addenda.
23) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Education.
24) What CFDA listing is referenced for AHEAD?
The opportunity references CFDA 98.001.
25) Does the APS fund a single predefined scope of work?
No. The APS approach is designed to attract a range of ideas and approaches to higher education and development challenges, rather than fund one predefined project.
26) Can USAID decide not to make any awards under AHEAD?
Yes. USAID reserves the discretion to fund any, all, or none of the submissions received under the APS and its addenda.
27) What determines the number and size of awards?
The APS indicates that the number and size of awards can vary based on the quality of submissions and available funding.
28) What does it mean that the APS remains open until funds are fully awarded?
It means the opportunity does not necessarily end on a single fixed closing date. Instead, it stays open and uses addenda to run specific rounds until the estimated total amount is awarded.
29) What is the initial review process for Concept Notes?
USAID will review Concept Notes through an internal review team. Based on that review, selected applicants may be invited to co-creation and/or asked to submit a full application.
30) Which USAID policy is specifically mentioned for administering awards?
The APS states that awards will be administered under USAID policy ADS 303, along with applicable federal assistance regulations and standard provisions.
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