Local Works for livestock activity in Turkmenistan | RFI 72011524RFA00004

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 72011524RFA00004

USAID/Central Asia is signaling an upcoming livestock-focused effort in Turkmenistan under a "Local Works" framing, with the core aim of raising cattle productivity and strengthening the meat and dairy value chains. The opportunity described is not a full solicitation for program implementation yet, but a Request for Information (RFI) meant to map who is active on the ground, what capabilities exist in-country, and which organizations could realistically support or implement a future USAID livestock activity. In practical terms, USAID is using this RFI to understand the local and regional ecosystem before shaping a later funding opportunity or partnership model.

The technical focus centers on improving outcomes for small and medium-size farms, with several specific pathways highlighted. One pathway is expanding farmers' access to genetic material that can improve herd productivity, which typically includes better breeding stock, artificial insemination services, semen distribution systems, or other breed improvement inputs and services that raise milk yields, growth rates, or overall herd performance. A second pathway is improving access to quality feed, which can involve better feed supply chains, feed formulation, storage, fodder production, or linkages to reliable providers. A third pathway emphasizes upgrading farmers' knowledge and skills in proper cattle care, which generally means training and extension on animal health, nutrition, housing, biosecurity, reproduction, and basic farm management practices. The final pathway is a broader catch-all for additional interventions that strengthen the local meat and dairy value chains, such as improving aggregation, cold chain handling, milk collection, processing, quality standards, market linkages, veterinary services, or business practices that help farms and related enterprises become more competitive and resilient.

USAID is explicitly interested in identifying entities with capacity and experience in Turkmenistan, especially in two areas: (1) livestock sector competence and (2) grants and contracts administration capability. That combination suggests USAID is looking not only for technically strong actors (producers, veterinary and breeding service providers, feed suppliers, processors, industry associations, NGOs, or agribusinesses), but also for organizations that can manage USAID-style compliance, reporting, procurement, subawards, and financial controls. Because this is positioned as a "Local Works" opportunity, the intent typically aligns with finding and supporting locally rooted organizations, building local leadership, and structuring implementation in a way that is feasible and sustainable in the local context.

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, but the RFI notes a specific preference filter: organizations that have not received more than USD 5 million directly from USAID as a prime awardee in the last five years. That condition is commonly used to encourage participation by newer, smaller, or less USAID-saturated organizations, and it can signal an effort to broaden the partner base beyond the usual large international implementers. The awarding and administrative details provided indicate the issuing agency is USAID (Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty), the activity falls under the Agriculture category, and it is associated with CFDA number 98.001. The funding instrument type is labeled "Other," reinforcing that this is an information-gathering step rather than a standard grant competition at this stage.

Key dates and scale indicators included in the notice are as follows: the RFI was created on 2024-04-02, and the original closing date for responses was 2024-05-29. The notice also lists an award ceiling of USD 1,000,000 and an expectation of one award, which can be read as an early signal of the possible size and structure of a future activity, although RFIs sometimes include placeholders that may change once USAID finalizes the design. Overall, the takeaway is that USAID is exploring a targeted, farm-level and value chain-oriented livestock initiative in Turkmenistan, and is actively seeking information from capable organizations to shape what comes next, with a notable emphasis on engaging partners that have not recently been large prime recipients of USAID funding.

• The Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Works for livestock activity in Turkmenistan" 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 2024-04-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-29. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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