How USAID/Armenia Works
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the federal agency that manages U.S. foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs around the world. Based on active partnerships with local public, private and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), USAID field missions identify needs and establish a strategy for delivering assistance to the host country. In order to define USAID’s strategic objectives in a given country, consideration is given to U.S. foreign policy interests, the level of resources available to the USAID mission (both financial and human), and the role of other donors in the host country. The authorities to design, procure and implement specific activities are largely delegated to field missions, based on USAID/Washington’s approval of the country strategy. USAID's assistance is delivered through a variety of development agencies, including U.S. private businesses, U.S. and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), host governments and public international organizations.
- Contracts are used when USAID’s principal purpose is to acquire commodities or services, with the expectation that USAID will exercise a substantial degree of day-to-day operational control.
- Cooperative agreements are used when the principal purpose of the relationship is the transfer of money, property, services or anything of value to the recipient in order to accomplish the objectives of the USAID program. Under a cooperative agreement, substantial involvement is anticipated between USAID and the recipient during the performance of the proposed activity.
- Grants are used when the principal purpose of the relationship is similar to that cited above for cooperative agreements, but USAID’s substantial involvement is not anticipated.
Opportunities for sub-contracts and sub-grants usually exist within each instrument cited above. This is often the most advantageous means for Armenian and/or small/specialized American organizations to become involved in USAID’s activities. Such relationships are established through direct contact with the prime contractor/grantee.
Unsolicited Applications
Feel free to contact us to ask questions and clarify any issues you might have before preparing or submitting a proposal. Discussing your idea with us first, and then perhaps moving on to a concept paper stage is more useful than immediately submitting an unsolicited proposal. To learn more about general guidelines for unsolicited applications, please visit the corresponding page under Doing Business with USAID/Armenia.