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. This program reflects long-standing U.S. efforts to address global hunger, improve educational outcomes, and strengthen international development partnerships. It operates by providing U.S. agricultural commodities alongside financial and technical assistance to support school feeding initiatives and nutrition programs in developing countries. The program is rooted in federal legislation and is implemented through cooperative agreements with eligible organizations. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve food security, reduce hunger, and enhance literacy and primary education outcomes, particularly for girls. Projects funded under this program must deliver school feeding interventions while also supporting broader health and nutrition objectives. These include improving dietary practices and increasing access to maternal and child nutrition services. Projects are expected to integrate food distribution with complementary interventions such as water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition education, ensuring a multi-sectoral approach to development outcomes. Funding under this opportunity totals up to 240,000,000 dollars, with individual awards typically ranging from 10,000,000 to 35,000,000 dollars. Approximately seven awards are anticipated. Each project is expected to span about five years, emphasizing sustainability and long-term impact. While cost sharing is not required, applicants are encouraged to include voluntary contributions, which may strengthen their applications during the review process. Funds must be used strictly for allowable activities aligned with federal regulations, and there are clear restrictions on lobbying, litigation, and other prohibited uses. Eligible applicants include private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, governments of developing countries and their agencies, and other entities including higher education institutions. Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management and demonstrate the ability to implement multi-year projects that incorporate U.S. commodities as a central component. Projects must target developing countries, with priority given to specific countries identified in the notice, although applications for non-priority countries may still be considered under limited circumstances. The application process requires submission through the Food Aid Information System by the stated deadline. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive application package including a detailed project narrative, budget documents, monitoring and evaluation plans, and supporting forms such as the SF-424 and SF-424A. The narrative must include sections on strategy, operations, organizational capacity, and commodity management. Evaluation criteria emphasize technical quality, sustainability planning, organizational capability, and cost effectiveness. Key dates 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 a performance period extending approximately five years. Applicants may contact program officials via email or phone for clarification during the application period. The program is issued annually, making it a recurring opportunity for organizations engaged in international development and food assistance. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a significant federal investment in global education and nutrition outcomes. It requires applicants to demonstrate strong technical capacity, coordination with stakeholders, and a clear pathway toward sustainability and graduation of program activities to local ownership. The program emphasizes accountability, innovation, and measurable impact, aligning with broader U.S. foreign assistance priorities.

Emphasize sustainability and graduation strategy; align with country priorities; demonstrate strong monitoring and evaluation systems; ensure cost effectiveness and clear use of U.S. commodities; integrate education and nutrition interventions effectively