Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0004988
Protecting Forests, Sourcing Responsibly is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity focused on helping companies and other stakeholders reduce deforestation risks in global commodity supply chains by highlighting where forest protection efforts are actually working. The core idea is to convene and connect experts from the United States and internationally across the private sector, governments, and civil society, then use that collective expertise to identify and assess developing countries where REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) investments are showing measurable progress. By spotlighting places where REDD programs are improving forest outcomes and governance, the project aims to make it easier for leading companies to source commodities in ways that are both commercially viable and aligned with lowering deforestation.
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant and would be awarded through a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State would likely expect substantial involvement during project implementation rather than a hands-off grant. It sits within the Environment funding activity category and is administered by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. The funding opportunity number is SFOP0004988, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.017. The program anticipated making a single award, with an award ceiling of $740,740, indicating a focused, one-recipient project intended to deliver a defined set of convening and assessment outcomes rather than multiple smaller awards.
Substantively, the work described points to a mix of technical analysis and stakeholder coordination. On the analysis side, the recipient would be expected to evaluate which developing countries are demonstrating credible progress under REDD-related programs, which can include improvements in forest monitoring, enforcement capacity, land-use planning, benefit-sharing approaches, safeguards, transparency, and overall policy conditions that reduce deforestation pressures. On the coordination side, the project emphasizes bringing together diverse actors, which suggests convenings, consultations, and structured input processes that incorporate corporate sourcing realities, host-country policy contexts, and civil society perspectives on environmental integrity and social safeguards. The expected end result is better clarity for companies and policymakers about where enabling environments are improving so that responsible sourcing decisions can reinforce, rather than undermine, forest conservation progress.
Administratively, the opportunity was created on April 27, 2018, with an original closing date of June 25, 2018. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, which typically signals that a range of non-federal entities could be eligible depending on the specific requirements in the complete announcement, such as NGOs, universities, for-profit entities, or other organizations with relevant expertise. Overall, the grant is designed as a targeted initiative to link climate and forest objectives with practical market incentives, using evidence of REDD progress to encourage sourcing patterns that help reduce deforestation in developing countries.Apply for SFOP0004988
- The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Protecting Forests, Sourcing Responsibly" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 27, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2018. (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 $740,740.00 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).
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FAQs: Protecting Forests, Sourcing Responsibly (SFOP0004988)
What is the "Protecting Forests, Sourcing Responsibly" funding opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity focused on reducing deforestation risks in global commodity supply chains by identifying and highlighting developing countries where forest protection efforts are working, particularly where REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) investments are showing measurable progress.
What is the main goal of this project?
The main goal is to make it easier for leading companies to source commodities in ways that are commercially viable and aligned with lowering deforestation, by spotlighting places where REDD-related programs are improving forest outcomes and governance.
Which U.S. government agency is offering and administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0004988, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.017.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant.
What award instrument will be used?
The award would be made through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects substantial involvement during project implementation rather than operating in a fully hands-off manner.
What is the program or activity area for this opportunity?
The opportunity sits within the Environment funding activity category.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The program anticipated making a single award, indicating a focused, one-recipient project intended to deliver a defined set of convening and assessment outcomes.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $740,740.
What kinds of activities does the project emphasize?
The work described emphasizes a combination of technical analysis and stakeholder coordination. This includes evaluating credible REDD-related progress in developing countries and convening or connecting experts and stakeholders across the private sector, governments, and civil society.
What does the technical analysis component involve?
The recipient would be expected to evaluate which developing countries are demonstrating credible progress under REDD-related programs, including improvements such as forest monitoring, enforcement capacity, land-use planning, benefit-sharing approaches, safeguards, transparency, and broader policy conditions that reduce deforestation pressures.
What does the stakeholder coordination component involve?
The project emphasizes convening and connecting experts from the United States and internationally across companies, governments, and civil society. This suggests convenings, consultations, and structured input processes that reflect corporate sourcing realities, host-country policy contexts, and civil society perspectives on environmental integrity and social safeguards.
How is REDD connected to the purpose of this opportunity?
REDD investments are central to the project because the work aims to identify and assess developing countries where REDD-related programs are showing measurable progress. By highlighting those places, the project seeks to encourage sourcing patterns that support, rather than undermine, forest conservation progress.
What kinds of outcomes is the project trying to produce?
The expected end result is better clarity for companies and policymakers about where enabling environments are improving in developing countries, so that responsible sourcing decisions can reinforce forest conservation and deforestation reduction efforts.
Who is expected to use the results of this project?
The description indicates the results are intended to be useful to leading companies making commodity sourcing decisions and to policymakers seeking to link forest and climate objectives with practical market incentives.
What is meant by "highlighting where forest protection efforts are actually working"?
In this context, it refers to identifying developing countries where REDD-related investments are showing measurable progress through improved forest outcomes and stronger governance conditions, such as better monitoring, enforcement, transparency, safeguards, and other policy improvements linked to reduced deforestation pressures.
What is the eligibility category listed for applicants?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice.
Does the listing specify which types of organizations can apply?
The summary notes that "Others" often signals that a range of non-federal entities could be eligible depending on the full announcement, such as NGOs, universities, for-profit entities, or other organizations with relevant expertise. The specific requirements would be in the complete notice.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on April 27, 2018, with an original closing date of June 25, 2018.
Is this opportunity designed for multiple small projects or one defined project?
Based on the expectation of a single award and the stated ceiling amount, it is designed as a targeted, one-recipient project intended to deliver a defined set of convening and assessment outcomes rather than multiple smaller awards.
Why does the opportunity focus on commodity supply chains?
The focus is to help companies and other stakeholders reduce deforestation risks in global commodity supply chains by improving visibility into where forest protection and REDD-related governance improvements are credible, so sourcing choices can align with deforestation reduction.
What role does the Department of State play during implementation?
Because the award would be a cooperative agreement, the Department of State would likely be substantially involved during project implementation rather than acting as a passive funder.
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