STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
🏛 Foreign Agricultural Service
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations implementing school feeding programs in low-income countries. Eligible applicants include private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, developing country governments and their agencies, and other qualifying organizations. Projects must focus on primary education and literacy (especially for girls) while providing U.S. and locally procured food commodities. Activities are limited to seven priority countries: Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guinea, Honduras, Liberia, and Timor Leste.
Program description
Per the McGovern-Dole program’s authorizing legislation, this funding opportunity is intended to improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and primary education, particularly with respect to girls, through the procurement of U.S. agricultural commodities, plus the provision of financial and technical assistance. All McGovern-Dole projects provide school feeding through a combination of predominantly U.S.-provided and some locally and regionally procured commodities and address the two strategic program objectives 1) Improved Literacy of School-Aged Children, and 2) Increased Use of Health, Nutrition and Dietary Practices. McGovern-Dole projects may also provide some context-specific complementary activities that support these program objectives, including support for maternal, infant, and child nutrition.
In addition, McGovern-Dole projects need to represent America First objectives, including a strong focus on providing U.S. agricultural commodities purchased from American Farmers; clear oversight and monitoring of activities to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse; and realistic strategies to graduate project activities and have a sustainable lasting impact after USDA McGovern-Dole support ends.
When applying, reference the country’s specific identification number as listed in the NOFO and below:
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(511) Bolivia
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(442) Cambodia
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(518) Ecuador
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(675) Guinea
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(522) Honduras
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(669) Liberia
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(472) Timor Leste
USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-26-(000) Non-priority country applications
Please note, applications will only be reviewed against other applications received for the same priority country. USDA/FAS will accept applications for non-priority countries, excepting countries listed in Proclamation 10998. However, USDA/FAS rarely funds projects in non-priority countries and USDA/FAS will prioritize funding applications for the identified priority countries.
Prior McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Evaluations in Cambodia, Honduras, Liberia, and Timor-Leste are available here: https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/mcgovern-dole-food-education-program/mcgovern-dole-project-evaluation-reports
Go to Related Documents to find the full announcement, details on how to apply, instructions on accessing the Food Aid Information System, weekly responses to questions, and other important information.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
- Sustainability/Exit Strategy
- U.S. Commodity Procurement Plan
- Letters of Support from Government and Community Partners
Program contact
- 👤 Denyse Watson Grantor
- 📧 Lindsay.Carter@usda.gov
- 📞 2027200525
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.608 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$65,320,000
-
$53,000,000
-
$50,000,000
-
$33,000,000
-
$33,000,000
-
$33,000,000
-
$33,000,000
-
$29,700,000
-
$29,573,017
-
$28,605,400
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.608). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $248,000,000 | |
| 2025 | $240,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $240,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for McGovern-Dole funding?
Private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, and developing country governments can apply. Applicants must have experience implementing school feeding programs internationally.
What countries are eligible for funding?
Priority countries are Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guinea, Honduras, Liberia, and Timor Leste. Applications for non-priority countries are rarely funded. Applications are scored only against others for the same country.
What activities does the program fund?
School feeding programs that combine U.S. and locally procured commodities. Projects must improve literacy and primary education, emphasize health and nutrition practices, and may include maternal and child nutrition support.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required. Awards typically range from $10 million to $35 million for multi-year international projects with U.S. commodity procurement requirements.
How long do projects last?
McGovern-Dole projects are typically multi-year cooperative agreements. Timeline and sustainability planning are critical evaluation factors for USDA/FAS review.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Prioritize applications for the seven named priority countries; non-priority country applications face very low funding odds. Focus your effort there.
- Demonstrate how your project will sustain impact after USDA support ends. Exit strategies and local capacity building are heavily weighted.
- Emphasize procurement of U.S. agricultural commodities from American farmers. Document supplier networks and sourcing plans clearly.
- Use available project evaluation reports from prior McGovern-Dole work in Cambodia, Honduras, Liberia, and Timor-Leste to strengthen your design. Learn from what worked.
- Build strong monitoring and evaluation systems upfront. USDA prioritizes clear oversight to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in international programs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when sustainability plans are vague or unrealistic, leaving projects entirely dependent on USDA funding with no local ownership or resources beyond the award. Weak procurement sourcing for U.S. commodities or failure to prioritize American farm products undermines the America First objectives central to this program. Insufficient monitoring and evaluation frameworks raise red flags about USDA's ability to track activities and prevent waste in geographically distant operations.
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