The International Food Relief Partnership (IFRP) is a program of the United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID) intended to support the production, stockpiling, transportation, delivery, and distribution of shelf-stable, prepackaged foods by U.S. non-profit and Public International Organizations. USAID has recently issued its Request for Applications for FY2012. A re-cap of this notice is provided below:

Eligibility.

To be considered eligible for a grant under the IFRP, an organization must be a U.S. non-profit organization (as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or a Public International Organization. Faith-Based Organizations that meet this eligibility requirement are welcome to apply.

Available Products.

As in FY2011, two products will be made available under the IFRP in FY2012 – Harvest Lentil Pro (produced by Breedlove Foods of Lubbock TX) and Nutributter (produced by Edesia of Providence RI). Applicants can request up to 8 x 40’ containers of the Harvest Lentil Pro and/or up to 5 x 20’ containers of Nutributter.

Available Funding.

USAID has increased the available funding in FY2012. Applicants may request up to $150,000 per application, to cover costs directly associated with the movement, management, and monitoring of the IFRP products.

Additional Guidance.

Organizations may submit NO MORE THAN two separate grant applications. Each grant application can propose only ONE PRODUCT for ONE COUNTRY.

Submission Deadline.

USAID will have only one application-review cycle for FY2012. Applications MUST BE received by USAID’s Office of Food for Peace no later than 12-noon EDT on Apr 18, 2012.

Click here to view the full notice.

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Announcement: Cameroon Cargo Tracking Notes (CTN)

As published on January 17th 2012, the Ministry of Transport of Cameroon has appointed Antaser Afrique (and consequently its worldwide subagents’ network) as its sole partner for the application and validation of Cargo Tracking Notes (C.T.N.) for Cameroon.

Effective with shipments whose Bill of Lading is dated Mar 15 2012 (and beyond), an application for a C.T.N. for Cameroon MUST BE presented to Antaser Afrique or its subagent (Commercial International Services LLC), for validation and payment.

The Government of the Republique Du Cameroun requires all shippers of all sea carriage cargo destined to their country to be covered by a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN or Bordereaux de Suivi des Cargaisons (BSC)). The CTN must to be applied for in the country of loading within five days of the carrying vessels sailing from the load port. All sea cargo arriving in Cameroun must have a CTN (BSC) which matches all information on the ocean bill of lading. The C.T.N. should always be issued upon shipment at the loading ports, regularization at destination will not be possible. Local authorities and customs at destination will inspect each and every shipment on the presence of a corresponding C.T.N. Shipments without C.T.N. will be blocked until regularization at origin.

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Limited Excess Property Program

USAID’s Office of Innovation and Development Alliances, Division of Local Sustainability manages the Agency’s Limited Excess Property Program (LEPP). This program was set out under sections 607 and 608 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) and gives USAID special authority to give approved Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) access to government excess property under the U.S. General Services Administration and the Defense Logistics Agency’s Disposition Services’ excess property programs. The LEPP PVO partners in turn use the property to build the capacity and the speed and efficiency of their local in-country partners. Some of these local partners are community hospitals and medical clinics who receive medical supplies and equipment enabling them to provide higher quality service to a larger group of people. Other PVO program partners work closely with in-country schools and technical training facilities providing computer equipment which enables a higher level of education and human resources development.

In order for organizations to participate in the program they must be registered with USAID and participate in a competitive application process. The application process is currently open through March 14th, 2012.

To find out more information regarding the application process, click here.

The program provides an innovative and cost effective means to dispose of excess government property in a way that supports and furthers overall U. S. government development goals. Since the program’s inception, it has transferred on average $15-$30 million of USG excess property annually.

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USAID – Development Food Aid Programs for Haiti.

This Request for Applications (RFA) for Haiti, specifically, provides information on funding opportunities for multi-year, development food aid programs. Food security is the cornerstone of the Title II program because “…enhancing food security in the developing world through the use of agricultural commodities…” is a policy of the United States as stated in the Food for Peace Act, which authorizes Title II food aid. Thus, FFP’s goal for multi-year development programming is to reduce risks and vulnerabilities to food insecurity and increase food availability, access and utilization/consumption. Title II programs must target the vulnerability of food insecure individuals, households and communities directly. As stated in the RFA, all comments and inquiries should be directed to Juli Majernik at jmajernik@usaid.gov with a copy to facg@amexdc2.com. The closing date for this announcement is April 19, 2012. For more information, click here.

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USAID/Ethiopia – Innovation Fund for Ethiopian Agriculture.

USAID/Ethiopia seeks to develop innovative projects and investment opportunities that diversify the agriculture sector production and markets, promote enterprise development along entire value-chains, and increase the livelihoods of Ethiopians involved in the agriculture sector. Additionally, USAID/Ethiopia is seeking innovative approaches that address nutrition and/or climate change issues as they relate to our target population and geography. The closing date for this announcement is March 30, 2012. For more information, click here.

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Friends:

On Thursday, February 16th at 2:30 p.m. EST, please join Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships; John Kelly, Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Jonathan Greenblatt, Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation; and Paul Monteiro, Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement for a conference call to discuss President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget. This call will highlight the Obama Administration’s budget priorities and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions.

Please RSVP here to join us and learn more.

Thank you,
The White House Office of Public Engagement
WHAT: White House Budget Update
WHEN: Thursday, February 16th
Start Time: 2:30 p.m. EST
Dial In: (866) 259-1024
Passcode Title: White House Budget Update

This call is off the record and not for press purposes.

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Nonprofit workers are growing increasingly frustrated, and many would leave their jobs if the economy were stronger, according a new study conducted by The Chronicle.

How can you make sure your workers aren’t among the dissatisfied? What are the smartest ways to motivate staff members? What can you learn from nonprofits that have created work environments that stimulate and engage their employees?

Join The Chronicle on Tuesday, January 17, at noon U.S. Eastern time for a live online discussion that addresses these and other questions about improving job satisfaction. Click here to set your reminder.

We’ll offer insights from The Chronicle study, and two experts on nonprofit management will offer advice on steps you can take now, whether you are a charity leader or a staff member.

The Guests

Jan Masaoka, chief executive of the California Association of Nonprofits, is the author of the forthcoming book, The Nonprofit’s Guide to Human Resources. Ms. Masaoka previously directed the online magazine Blue Avocado and led CompassPoint, the San Francisco nonprofit consultancy.

Trish Tchume, is the national director of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, which has more than 30 chapters and 30,000 members. Previously, she was the director of civic engagement at the Building Movement Project, which works to strengthen the role of nonprofits in creating social change.

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Dr. Jill Biden

*
USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah

*
Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy

and

Senator William Frist, M.D.

to discuss their recent trip to Dadaab, Kenya and ways that faith-based and community organizations can further mobilize to support relief efforts in the Horn.

DATE: Wednesday, August 17th
TIME: 2:00PM Eastern
DIAL: (800)707-9573 United States or (651)291-1246 International
CODE: Horn of Africa Relief (please provide this to the operator in lieu of a passcode)

Please RSVP to public@who.eop.gov and share this invitation with other interested parties.

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COROMA, Costa Rica — By the time Odily Sanchez Segura saw her bike for the first time, it had crossed a sea, sped through cities and mountains, and jolted over rough dirt roads deep into a reserve for an isolated tribe of native Costa Ricans. It had floated 40 minutes in a canoe along a river lined with plantain trees, and then, with several other bikes donated in suburban Washington, bounced miles over a jungle path to Coroma, a small village of thatch-roofed huts on stilts.

The bikes had been lying under the back porch of the Rushfords’ cedar-shingle-and-stone home in Potomac near Congressional Country Club. Then one of his son’s friends said he was doing a collection for a group called Bikes for the World.

The Arlington County nonprofit group takes thousands of unwanted bikes in suburban Washington — where things go from coveted to clutter in an instant — and sends them overseas to people who need them.

Its founder, Keith Oberg, knows how much of a difference even one bike could make. In the developing world, bikes can transform lives — increasing the number of people a public-health nurse can treat, helping a farmer deliver his fruit to a better market or making it easier for a family to get clean drinking water.

Click here to read the full article and visit Bikes for the World for more information.

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The Exim Bank of South Korea has concluded an agreement with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED)in order to support Ethiopian agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing investment sector.

The signing ceremony was held on Friday, July 8, 2011, at the Jubilee Palace, on Menilik II Avenue, in the presence of the South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak, and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

In addition, an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation has been concluded between the two governments, including two other economic cooperation accords.

Click here to read the full article.

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