USAID FISH RIGHT PROGRAM | RFA 492 17 000003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 492 17 000003

The USAID Fish Right Program is a grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in the Philippines (USAID-Manila) focused on environmental and natural resource outcomes in coastal and marine settings. The program is designed to strengthen the sustainable use and long-term resilience of important coastal and marine resources that directly support community well-being, including food security, household incomes and jobs tied to fishing, and natural coastal protection benefits that healthy marine ecosystems provide. A central emphasis is ensuring that these resources continue to deliver benefits over time, especially in places where pressures on fisheries and habitats can threaten both biodiversity and local livelihoods.

A key feature of Fish Right is its geographic and ecological focus on Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBAs). These are marine locations recognized for their high biodiversity value and importance for conservation, and the program specifically highlights work connected to wild or capture fisheries rather than aquaculture. In practice, this points to efforts that improve how fisheries are managed, how marine habitats are protected and restored, and how communities that rely on fishing can better adapt to environmental change and resource depletion. The opportunity description makes clear that the intended beneficiaries include the fishing-dependent communities living near or within these priority marine areas, where improved stewardship can translate into more stable catches, healthier ecosystems, and stronger protection from coastal hazards.

Administratively, this opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Title "USAID FISH RIGHT PROGRAM" with Funding Opportunity Number RFA 492 17 000003. It falls under the "Other" opportunity category and will be implemented through a Cooperative Agreement, meaning USAID expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The funding activity category is Environment, and it is associated with CFDA number 98.001. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional limitations or clarifications that may be included in the full announcement under the eligibility section.

The opportunity was created on September 27, 2017, with an original application closing date of November 15, 2017. USAID indicated an award ceiling of up to $25,000,000 and anticipated making approximately 10 awards. In plain terms, that structure suggests the program was designed to support multiple implementing partners or projects under the Fish Right umbrella, potentially allowing work across several sites, themes, or community contexts within the Philippines, while maintaining a shared focus on sustaining fisheries and conserving biodiversity in high-value marine areas.

• The Agency for International Development, Philippines USAID-Manila in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID FISH RIGHT PROGRAM" 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 27, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2017. (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 $25,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.

Apply for RFA 492 17 000003

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