Economic Recovery Grant 2021 | SFJ60021GR3011

Economic Recovery Grant 2021 (SFJ60021GR3011) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the Economic Recovery Grant 2021?

The Economic Recovery Grant 2021 (Funding Opportunity Number SFJ60021GR3011) is a U.S. Department of State grant administered by the U.S. Mission to Fiji. It funds practical, innovative projects intended to help Pacific island communities recover economically from the impacts of COVID-19, with an emphasis on resilient medium- and long-term recovery.

2) Who is administering this grant?

The grant is administered by the U.S. Mission to Fiji (run out of the U.S. Embassy in Fiji) under the U.S. Department of State.

3) Which countries must benefit from the proposed activities?

Proposed activities must deliver clear benefits to one or more of the following: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and/or Tuvalu.

4) What is the main intent of the program?

The overall intent is to support resilient, medium- and long-term economic recovery initiatives after COVID-19 disrupted growth and employment across the region, with particular attention to rebuilding livelihoods and improving economic connectivity.

5) What kinds of projects is the Embassy looking for?

The Embassy is looking for proposals that demonstrate creativity and real-world feasibility and are not one-off activities with only short-term outputs. Strong proposals are expected to present well-structured plans, medium- and long-term objectives, and a clear explanation of how the project will contribute to economic growth and resilience over time.

6) Are short-term, one-time activities competitive under this opportunity?

The opportunity indicates a preference against one-off activities that only produce short-term outputs. Proposals are expected to include medium- and long-term objectives and a plan for sustained recovery impact.

7) What are the priority themes or focus areas for projects?

Projects must fit at least one of these program focus areas:

• Supporting tourism and communities dependent on tourism
• Improving skills for women and youth in entrepreneurship and tourism
• Helping develop non-traditional businesses (diversification beyond typical tourism-linked models)
• Strengthening local entrepreneurs abilities related to international trade and selling into overseas markets
• Running campaigns that rebuild traveler confidence in tourism

8) Does the program prioritize increasing trade with the United States?

Yes. Priority is placed on proposals that help increase trade with the United States.

9) Does the program encourage online or virtual approaches?

Yes. The Embassy signals interest in approaches that use online or virtual platforms to improve services, expand market access, or strengthen delivery of goods.

10) What Embassy goal must all proposals support?

All proposals must support U.S. Embassy Goal #3, focused on sustained economic prosperity rooted in open-market policies, high-standard investment, increased connectivity, improved natural resource management, and free, fair, and reciprocal trading relationships.

11) Who is the intended applicant type for this funding?

Funding is intended for local or regional non-profit entities. Eligibility is geared toward locally registered NGOs and not-for-profit organizations, groups, or associations, particularly those that can demonstrate experience managing grants.

12) Are for-profit businesses eligible to apply?

No. The program explicitly excludes proposals submitted by businesses.

13) Can a proposal be primarily designed to generate profit for the applicant?

No. The program excludes proposals that are primarily designed to generate profit for the applicant.

14) What is the award size (funding range) for this grant?

Awards should be budgeted between USD 25,000 and USD 40,000.

15) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The maximum (award ceiling) is USD 40,000. Requests over USD 40,000 will not be considered.

16) How many awards did the Embassy anticipate making?

The Embassy anticipated making about two awards.

17) What happens if a proposal does not directly benefit an eligible country?

The program will not consider proposals that do not directly benefit one or more of the eligible countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and/or Tuvalu).

18) What happens if a proposal does not address Embassy Goal #3?

The program will not consider proposals that fail to address the Embassy stated economic prosperity goal (U.S. Embassy Goal #3).

19) Are there restrictions on operating costs and salaries in the budget?

Yes. The grant will not fund proposals that include operating costs or salaries above 10 percent of the total budget unless the organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

20) Are stipends and honoraria included in the 10 percent cap on operating costs and salaries?

No. Stipends and honoraria are noted as exempt from that specific cap.

21) What does the cost rule imply about how budgets should be structured?

Based on the stated cost rules, budgets are expected to be weighted toward program activities and direct project costs rather than overhead, with operating costs and salaries kept within the stated limit unless the organization has a NICRA.

22) What are the required components of a complete application?

A complete submission includes the following items, organized in a specific sequence and kept within the stated word limits:

• Cover sheet (project title and applicant organization name)
• Brief summary (up to 150 words) describing the need, the approach, and desired outcomes
• Point of contact with full address, phone number, and email
• Main project description (up to 1,500 words)
• Target beneficiaries description (up to 250 words)
• Organizational background (up to 200 words)
• Line-item budget in the required categories
• Optional additional information (up to 200 words)

23) What must be included in the 150-word summary?

The brief summary (up to 150 words) should describe the need, the approach, and the desired outcomes.

24) What must be included in the point of contact section?

The application must include a point of contact with full address, phone number, and email.

25) What should the main project description (1,500-word section) cover?

The main project description (capped at 1,500 words) should explain the project structure, medium- and long-term objectives, the plan to achieve them, how the work advances Embassy Goal #3, and a project timeline.

26) Do applicants need to justify their methodology (for example, training-of-trainers)?

Yes. Applicants are expected to justify their methodology choices, such as why they would use a training-of-trainers model rather than training end beneficiaries directly.

27) What should be included in the target beneficiaries section?

The target beneficiaries description is capped at 250 words and should describe who will benefit from the project.

28) What should be included in the organizational background section?

The organizational background is capped at 200 words and should emphasize accomplishments, external resources, and prior grant management experience.

29) Is additional budget detail ever requested?

Yes. While a line-item budget in the required categories is required for submission, the opportunity notes that additional budget detail may be requested later.

30) Is there an optional section to strengthen the application?

Yes. Applicants may include up to 200 words of optional additional information that strengthens the case for the proposal.

31) How should applications be organized?

Applications must be organized in a specific sequence and kept within word limits, indicating the Embassy values clear and disciplined project design.

32) When was the application deadline?

The deadline for submission was August 13, 2021 (original closing date).

33) How were applications submitted?

Completed applications were to be emailed to PDsuva@state.gov.

34) Does the opportunity emphasize medium- and long-term recovery?

Yes. The program emphasizes resilient medium- and long-term initiatives rather than short-lived outputs, and it expects applicants to articulate objectives and a plan that contribute to economic growth and resilience over time.

35) What kinds of outcomes are especially aligned with the opportunity description?

Outcomes aligned with the description include rebuilding livelihoods, improving economic connectivity, helping businesses and communities adapt to new market realities, regaining demand (including through traveler confidence efforts), and building capabilities that endure beyond immediate recovery.