Opportunity Information: Apply for 72061222RFA00006
The Growth Poles Activity is a USAID/Malawi grant opportunity designed to speed up sustainable and more inclusive wealth creation in Malawi by using a "growth pole" model that attracts rural private sector investment and builds practical partnerships. The central idea is to work through one or more anchor firms and deliberately link their operations with surrounding communities, smallholder farmer groups, cooperatives, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The activity puts a clear emphasis on making economic gains that are environmentally sound, socially responsible, and resilient over time, while also ensuring that women and youth benefit in concrete ways rather than being treated as an afterthought.
In this context, a growth pole is essentially a geographic or value-chain hub that is powered by an anchor firm (or group of firms) with the ability to scale efficiently and pull in additional economic activity around it. These hubs might form around a particular industry cluster, a municipality, or a defined production and market corridor for a specific value chain. The anchor firms are expected to act as a stable "engine" for local growth by creating reliable market demand, supporting services, jobs, and investment opportunities that spread beyond the firm itself into the wider local economy.
USAID describes the anchor firms it wants to engage as businesses with long-term strategies that are inclusive and climate-positive. Inclusivity here means the firm is structured to work with and benefit groups like smallholder farmers, not just large suppliers, and that it supports local enterprises and organizations that participate in production, processing, logistics, or services. Climate-positive and resilient approaches are tied to the idea that long-run competitiveness depends on healthier soils, functioning watersheds, and better natural resource management, so the activity anticipates partnerships that improve environmental conditions while also strengthening business performance. The opportunity also highlights the importance of strong ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices and the presence of both hard infrastructure (such as facilities, equipment, roads, energy connections, processing capacity) and soft infrastructure (such as management systems, market linkages, standards, skills, and coordination platforms). The point is to identify places where targeted partnerships can unlock additional investment and produce measurable gains in growth, resilience, and inclusion.
The activity is explicitly framed as building on earlier work under Feed the Future Agricultural Diversification (AgDiv), which established an initial foundation for growth pole development. That signals continuity rather than a brand-new approach, with the new award intended to deepen, expand, and formalize growth poles so they become durable drivers of rural economic transformation. While the opportunity does not limit itself to one sector, it notes that most Malawian companies that fit the anchor-firm profile are in agriculture and related industries such as food systems, energy, forestry, agroforestry, and tourism, indicating where many partnerships are likely to concentrate.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a USAID cooperative agreement, meaning the government expects to remain substantially involved during implementation rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The opportunity number is 72061222RFA00006 and it falls under an "Other" opportunity category, with the funding activity category listed as Agriculture and a CFDA number of 98.001. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, implying that any type of entity may apply as long as it meets any additional requirements stated in the full announcement. USAID planned to make one award, with an award ceiling of $39,780,462, indicating a single, large-scale implementer responsible for coordinating a wide set of partnerships and investments across one or more growth poles. The opportunity was created on September 15, 2022, and originally closed on November 14, 2022.Apply for 72061222RFA00006
- The Agency for International Development, Malawi USAID-Lilongwe in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Growth Poles Activity" 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 Sep 15, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 14, 2022. (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 $39,780,462.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: USAID/Malawi Growth Poles Activity (Opportunity No. 72061222RFA00006)
What is the USAID/Malawi Growth Poles Activity?
The Growth Poles Activity is a USAID/Malawi grant opportunity designed to speed up sustainable and more inclusive wealth creation in Malawi. It uses a "growth pole" model to attract rural private sector investment and build practical partnerships that connect anchor firms with surrounding communities and local enterprises.
What problem is this activity trying to solve?
The activity is aimed at accelerating rural economic transformation by creating hubs of investment and business activity that are designed to last over time. It emphasizes growth that is environmentally sound, socially responsible, resilient, and inclusive, with specific attention to ensuring women and youth benefit in concrete ways.
What is a "growth pole" in this opportunity?
In this context, a growth pole is a geographic or value-chain hub powered by an anchor firm (or group of firms) that can scale efficiently and pull in additional economic activity. A growth pole may form around an industry cluster, a municipality, or a defined production-and-market corridor for a specific value chain.
What is an anchor firm and why is it central to the model?
An anchor firm is the stable "engine" of the growth pole. USAID expects anchor firms to create reliable market demand and help generate services, jobs, and investment opportunities that extend beyond the firm into the wider local economy, including surrounding communities, farmer groups, cooperatives, and MSMEs.
What kinds of partners are meant to be linked to anchor firms?
The opportunity describes deliberate linkages between anchor firms and surrounding communities, smallholder farmer groups, cooperatives, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It also highlights practical partnerships that connect participants involved in production, processing, logistics, and services.
What does USAID mean by "inclusive" anchor firms?
Inclusivity is described as an anchor firm being structured to work with and benefit groups such as smallholder farmers, not only large suppliers. It also includes supporting local enterprises and organizations that participate in the value chain (for example, in production, processing, logistics, or services).
What does "climate-positive and resilient" mean in this opportunity?
USAID links climate-positive and resilient approaches to long-run competitiveness. The opportunity anticipates partnerships that improve environmental conditions while strengthening business performance, based on the idea that healthy soils, functioning watersheds, and better natural resource management support competitiveness over time.
How important are environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in this activity?
Strong ESG practices are specifically highlighted. The activity emphasizes economic gains that are environmentally sound and socially responsible, and it calls attention to governance practices as part of building durable and credible growth poles.
What is meant by "hard infrastructure" and "soft infrastructure" in the growth pole approach?
The opportunity points to both hard and soft infrastructure as important enabling conditions. Hard infrastructure examples include facilities, equipment, roads, energy connections, and processing capacity. Soft infrastructure examples include management systems, market linkages, standards, skills, and coordination platforms.
Does the opportunity focus on a single sector?
No. The opportunity does not limit itself to one sector. However, it notes that many Malawian companies that fit the anchor-firm profile are in agriculture and related industries, suggesting where partnerships may often concentrate.
Which sectors are most likely to be involved based on the description?
The opportunity indicates that most likely anchor firms are in agriculture and related industries such as food systems, energy, forestry, agroforestry, and tourism.
How does this activity relate to prior USAID work in Malawi?
The activity is explicitly framed as building on earlier work under Feed the Future Agricultural Diversification (AgDiv), which established an initial foundation for growth pole development. The new award is intended to deepen, expand, and formalize growth poles so they become durable drivers of rural economic transformation.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is a USAID cooperative agreement. That means USAID expects to remain substantially involved during implementation rather than issuing a hands-off grant.
What does USAID's "substantial involvement" typically imply for implementation?
Based on the opportunity description, the cooperative agreement structure signals active USAID engagement during implementation. The awardee should expect ongoing collaboration with USAID as growth poles are identified, partnerships are formed, and results are pursued.
What is the opportunity number and identifying information for this grant?
The opportunity number is 72061222RFA00006. The funding activity category is listed as Agriculture, the opportunity category is listed as "Other," and the CFDA number is 98.001.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply as long as it meets any additional requirements stated in the full announcement.
How many awards did USAID plan to make under this opportunity?
USAID planned to make one award, indicating a single implementer would lead and coordinate the activity across one or more growth poles.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $39,780,462.
What does it mean that there is a single, large award?
The description suggests the awardee would be a large-scale implementer responsible for coordinating a wide set of partnerships and investments across one or more growth poles, rather than multiple smaller awards to separate organizations.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on September 15, 2022, and originally closed on November 14, 2022.
What geographic area does this opportunity target?
The opportunity is a USAID/Malawi grant opportunity and is focused on Malawi, with an emphasis on attracting rural private sector investment and supporting rural economic transformation through growth poles.
What outcomes does USAID want from growth poles?
The opportunity emphasizes measurable gains in growth, resilience, and inclusion. It also stresses that gains should be environmentally sound, socially responsible, and durable over time.
How are women and youth expected to be included?
The opportunity explicitly states that women and youth should benefit in concrete ways, and that their inclusion should not be treated as an afterthought. The growth pole model is intended to incorporate them meaningfully within partnerships and economic opportunities linked to anchor firms.
What kinds of investments or improvements are implied by the model?
The model anticipates targeted partnerships that can unlock additional investment, including improvements to hard infrastructure (like processing capacity or energy connections) and soft infrastructure (like skills, standards, coordination platforms, and market linkages).
What is the central idea behind using anchor firms?
The central idea is to use one or more anchor firms to deliberately link their operations with surrounding communities and enterprises, creating a hub that stimulates broader economic activity, encourages investment, and strengthens value chains in ways that are inclusive and resilient.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: Fort Huachuca Environmental Training
Previous opportunity: DoD Multiple Sclerosis, Clinical Trial Award
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 72061222RFA00006
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (72061222RFA00006) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Soil Carbon Monitoring Training and Outreach Agreements Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 22 NOFO0001213 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ 22 NOFO0001213 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Cochran Fellowship Program – U.S. Dry Beans Processing, Promotion, and Marketing for Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $140,000 |
| Methyl Bromide Transition Program Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 009484 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 009484 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill 2023 Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 23 0003 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 23 0003 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Minnesota (MN) Fiscal Year (FY) 23 Grant Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity for For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations Apply for USDA NRCS MN MULTI 23 NOFO0001232 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MN MULTI 23 NOFO0001232 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ UAIP 23 NOFO0001230 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ UAIP 23 NOFO0001230 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA HSI 009742 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HSI 009742 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Veterinary Services Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA VSGP 009745 Funding Number: USDA NIFA VSGP 009745 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 009522 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 009522 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA FINI 009750 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FINI 009750 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Regional Food System Partnerships Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 23 0007 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM RFSP G 23 0007 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Produce Prescription Program Apply for USDA NIFA FINI 009749 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FINI 009749 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program Apply for USDA AMS TM FMPP G 23 0010 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FMPP G 23 0010 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Local Food Promotion Program Apply for USDA AMS TM LFPP G 23 0011 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM LFPP G 23 0011 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Apply for USDA FAS MCGOVERN DOLE PROGRAM 23 Funding Number: USDA FAS MCGOVERN DOLE PROGRAM 23 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $32,000,000 |
| Georgia NRCS Technical Services and Projects for Fiscal Year 2023 Apply for USDA NRCS GA MULTI NOFO0001246 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA MULTI NOFO0001246 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 009582 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 009582 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Supplemental and Alternative Crops Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009767 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009767 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 23 0014 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 23 0014 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Acer Access and Development Program Apply for USDA AMS TM ACER G 23 0015 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM ACER G 23 0015 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "72061222RFA00006", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.