Innovation Lab for Food Systems for Nutrition | 7200AA21RFA00007

Opportunity Information: Apply for 7200AA21RFA00007

The Innovation Lab for Food Systems for Nutrition is a USAID-funded initiative designed to generate practical, nutrition-sensitive food systems research and to build lasting research capacity in partner countries and regions. The core idea is to improve how food systems contribute to better nutrition outcomes while also supporting inclusive economic growth, stronger food safety, and greater resilience. The Lab is expected to function not only as a research leader, but also as a technical resource for USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS), USAID missions, and their implementing partners as they navigate real-world challenges in making food systems more nutrition-sensitive, gender-sensitive, and youth-inclusive.

A major emphasis of the opportunity is translating research into action. Rather than producing research that stays within academic circles, the Lab is expected to clarify and communicate "impact pathways" that show how changes in food systems (for example, along value chains or in markets and food environments) can lead to measurable improvements in nutrition and broader development outcomes. This includes working directly with USAID mission-supported value chain programs as well as national and local partners, private companies and industry associations, community-based organizations, and other donors. The expectation is that partnerships will help ensure the research agenda responds to on-the-ground needs and that findings are adopted by practitioners and decision-makers.

The Lab's work is framed around two main delivery tracks. First, it will strengthen the capacity of selected country and regional research institutions to conduct high-quality, relevant research and to share findings in ways that are more likely to influence government counterparts, policymakers, and development practitioners. Capacity building here implies more than training; it includes establishing systems, relationships, and communication approaches that help research institutions consistently produce policy-relevant evidence and engage effectively with stakeholders. Second, the Lab will implement an integrated research agenda that connects country-level work with regional and global learning, allowing lessons from specific contexts to inform broader strategies and enabling global evidence to be adapted to local realities.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development under Funding Opportunity Number 7200AA21RFA00007. It is categorized as an earmark and will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement and collaboration with USAID during implementation rather than a more hands-off grant structure. The funding activity category is Food and Nutrition, and it is listed under CFDA 98.001. USAID anticipated making a single award, with an award ceiling of $39,900,000. The opportunity was created on February 2, 2021, and originally closed on March 8, 2021. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with further clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice.

Overall, the grant supports a large, coordinated effort to connect nutrition-sensitive food systems research with real development programming, ensuring that evidence informs investments and policies related to nutrition, food safety, inclusive growth, resilience, and approaches that intentionally incorporate gender and youth considerations. The intended end result is a stronger bridge between research institutions and the policymakers and implementers who can apply that evidence to improve nutrition and related outcomes at scale.

• The Agency for International Development in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovation Lab for Food Systems for Nutrition" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 02, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 08, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $39,900,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 7200AA21RFA00007

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