Central Fund
The Central Fund is the principle means by which the Emerging Markets Program funds technical assistance activities in support of U.S. agricultural exports.  The fund is open to all U.S. organizations with a demonstrated interest or involvement in the export of U.S. agricultural commodities and products.  It is available once each year during the open solicitation period, announced in the Federal Register and on the FAS and EMP web sites.  The application period generally runs from mid-January to mid-March, at which time the application window closes for the fiscal year.  Qualification requirements, application content, and other details are contained in the announcement.  Awards are announced on or about 1 July each year.

Quick Response Marketing Fund
A specialty fund under the Emerging Markets Program, the Quick Response Marketing Fund (QRMF) is intended to address priority constraints to market access that arise because of unforeseen events; market conditions in emerging markets are often less predictable than in more developed countries.  It allows responsiveness to time-sensitive marketing problems or opportunities, such as a change in an import regime or the removal of a trade embargo; an unexpected or unusual change in the political or financial situation in a country; or a significant change in crop conditions -- any of which may have an immediate impact on the access of particular commodities or products to specific markets.

All proposals to the Quick Response Marketing Fund must identify specific market access issues that also face important time constraints.  Please note that time constraints are a crucial aspect of the access issues the fund addresses, but timing concerns in and of themselves do not justify use of the fund.  Application content, evaluation, and reporting requirements are the same as for the Central Fund.

Because of the time sensitive nature of the issues intended to be addressed by this fund, proposals, whether private or government, may be submitted at any time during the year.

To discuss the potential of an idea that may be appropriate for QRMF, contact the EMP Staff at emo@fas.usda.gov or by telephone at (202) 690-4058.

Technical Issues Resolution Fund
The Technical Issues Resolution Fund (TIRF) is a specialty fund under the Emerging Markets Program established to address technical barriers to trade in emerging markets worldwide by providing technical assistance, training, and exchange of expertise.  These include plant quarantine, animal health, food safety, and other technical barriers to U.S. exports based on unsound or incomplete scientific information.  The fund also encompasses biotechnology issues.

Funding priorities are principally those issues that are 1) time sensitive, and are 2) strategic areas of primarily longer-term interest.  Funding decisions are determined primarily through a review process that includes FAS and relevant regulatory agencies.

Because of the time sensitive nature of the issues intended to be addressed by this fund, proposals, whether private or government, may be submitted at any time during the year.  Each proposal will be reviewed by an inter-agency panel,  meeting on a monthly basis.  An expedited review may be requested but must be justified.  Application content, evaluation, and reporting requirements are the same as for the Central Fund. 

To discuss the potential for an idea that may be appropriate for TIRF, contact the Grants Management Branch at emo@fas.usda.gov or by telephone at (202) 690-4058 or (202) 720-8703.