USAID/CARPE Promoting Alternative Technologies and Fuels to Reduce the Use of Charcoal for Cooking in the Democratic Republic of Congo | 72060525RFA00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72060525RFA00001

The funding opportunity titled "USAID/CARPE Promoting Alternative Technologies and Fuels to Reduce the Use of Charcoal for Cooking in the Democratic Republic of Congo" (Funding Opportunity Number 72060525RFA00001) is a USAID Cooperative Agreement aimed at addressing a major driver of deforestation and forest degradation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): heavy reliance on charcoal for household cooking. The central objective is straightforward but significant in scope: reduce the amount of charcoal used for cooking so that pressure on forests declines, helping conserve forest cover and reduce associated environmental impacts. The opportunity sits within USAID's CARPE-related efforts (Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment) and is categorized under Energy and Environment, reflecting the link between household energy choices and forest outcomes.

This is an earmark-category opportunity with an unrestricted eligibility standard, meaning a broad range of applicant types may be able to apply as long as they meet USAID's general requirements for awards and can demonstrate the technical, managerial, and financial capacity to implement an activity of this scale. USAID anticipates making a single award, which typically signals a desire for one lead implementer (often with a consortium of partners) to deliver a unified approach, coordinate stakeholders, and achieve measurable results at a meaningful scale rather than splitting the effort across multiple smaller awards.

The award has a ceiling of USD 20,000,000, indicating that USAID is looking for a comprehensive intervention rather than a limited pilot. While the posted description is concise, the title and objective point to work that could include scaling alternative cooking technologies (such as improved cookstoves or other efficient cooking devices) and expanding access to alternative fuels that can displace charcoal use in daily cooking. In practice, initiatives like this often involve market-oriented approaches that strengthen supply chains, encourage adoption and sustained use by households, and address practical barriers like affordability, distribution, consumer preferences, and reliability of fuel supply. Because the stated environmental goal is reduced deforestation and forest degradation, the activity would be expected to track real-world reductions in charcoal consumption and link those reductions to forest-pressure outcomes, rather than focusing only on the number of devices distributed.

Key administrative details include a posting (creation) date of December 13, 2024, and an original closing date of January 27, 2025. The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 98.001, and the issuing agency is the U.S. Agency for International Development. As a Cooperative Agreement, the award type typically implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation, which can mean closer collaboration on technical direction, learning, adaptive management, and coordination with other donor and government efforts compared with more hands-off funding mechanisms.

Overall, the opportunity is designed to support a large, coordinated effort to shift cooking energy practices in the DRC away from charcoal and toward cleaner or more sustainable alternatives, with the explicit environmental purpose of easing pressure on forests. The single-award structure and high funding ceiling suggest USAID is seeking an implementer capable of delivering national or multi-region impact, building durable market and institutional pathways, and demonstrating measurable reductions in charcoal dependence that translate into improved forest conservation outcomes.

• The Agency for International Development in the energy, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID/CARPE Promoting Alternative Technologies and Fuels to Reduce the Use of Charcoal for Cooking in the Democratic Republic of Congo" 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 2024-12-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-27. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for 72060525RFA00001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: