United States Department Of Agriculture Mcgovern-Dole International Food For Education And Child Nutrition Program

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture through its Foreign Agricultural Service. The program is designed to improve food security, reduce hunger, and enhance literacy and primary education outcomes in developing countries, with a particular emphasis on girls. It achieves these goals through the provision of U.S. agricultural commodities, financial and technical assistance, and support for maternal, infant, and child nutrition initiatives. The program reflects a broader federal commitment to international development and humanitarian assistance while also supporting U.S. agricultural producers. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support school feeding and nutrition programs that contribute to improved educational and health outcomes. Projects funded under this program must incorporate school meals using primarily U.S.-sourced commodities, supplemented where appropriate by locally or regionally procured foods. In addition to food distribution, applicants are expected to implement complementary interventions that address literacy, health, hygiene, and nutrition practices. These may include activities such as deworming, water and sanitation improvements, and nutrition education. Projects are also expected to emphasize sustainability and long-term impact, including clear strategies for transitioning program ownership to local governments and communities. Funding for this opportunity is substantial, with total available federal funding up to $240,000,000 and individual awards typically ranging from $10 million to $35 million. The program anticipates issuing approximately seven awards, each supporting projects with an estimated performance period of five years. While cost sharing is not required, applicants are encouraged to include voluntary contributions, which may strengthen their application and potentially earn additional evaluation points. Funds must be used in accordance with federal regulations and program-specific restrictions, including limitations on indirect costs, procurement practices, and allowable activities. Eligibility for the program is broad and includes private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, governments of developing countries and their agencies, and other organizations such as higher education institutions. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to implement large-scale, multi-year food assistance programs and must propose the use of U.S. commodities as a central component of their project. Additionally, all applicants must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management and comply with all submission and eligibility requirements outlined in the solicitation. The application process is comprehensive and requires submission through the Food Aid Information System. Applicants must prepare a detailed project narrative, including sections on strategic analysis, operational planning, monitoring and evaluation, commodity management, and budgeting. Supporting documentation such as organizational capacity statements, staffing plans, and required federal forms must also be included. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including technical quality, feasibility, sustainability, organizational capacity, monitoring and evaluation strength, and cost effectiveness. The review process involves both eligibility screening and detailed technical evaluation by review panels. Key dates for this funding opportunity include a deadline for submitting questions on June 12, 2026, and a final application submission deadline of June 22, 2026. Awards are expected to begin around October 1, 2026, with projects continuing through approximately September 30, 2031. Applicants may contact the program office via email or phone for additional information or clarification during the application process. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring in the solicitation, though it is historically offered on a periodic basis subject to federal appropriations. Overall, the McGovern-Dole program represents a significant federal investment in global education and nutrition, combining food assistance with development programming to achieve measurable improvements in literacy, health, and food security outcomes in vulnerable populations worldwide.

Emphasize sustainability and graduation strategy; align activities with literacy and nutrition objectives; demonstrate strong risk management and monitoring systems; include realistic and cost-effective budgets