Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 612 18 REFRESH
The Request for Information (RFI) titled "Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH)" is a USAID Malawi (USAID-Lilongwe) market-sounding and information-gathering notice focused on environmental and fisheries sustainability in and around Lake Malawi. It is labeled as a discretionary opportunity and points toward a potential future cooperative agreement, which usually means USAID anticipates a partnership-style award where the agency stays meaningfully involved in technical direction and implementation decisions rather than simply issuing a grant with limited oversight. The primary theme signaled by the title is restoring fisheries resources in Lake Malawi in a way that also protects and improves livelihoods, suggesting an interest in approaches that connect ecological recovery with economic and community benefits.
Based on the listing details, the activity category is "Environment" and the CFDA (assistance listing) number is 98.001, which is commonly used by USAID for foreign assistance programs. The opportunity is identified with Funding Opportunity Number "RFI 612 18 REFRESH." The eligible applicants field is listed as "Unrestricted," which indicates the RFI was open to any interested parties to provide information, perspectives, or capabilities, rather than limiting participation to a narrow applicant class. Since this is an RFI rather than a formal solicitation, the purpose is typically to collect input from implementers, researchers, NGOs, private sector actors, community organizations, and other stakeholders to help USAID refine problem definitions, assess feasible interventions, understand local constraints and opportunities, and shape a later Request for Applications (RFA) or Request for Proposals (RFP).
The posting shows an original closing date of 2019-01-08, meaning interested respondents had until that date to submit their information to USAID. The listing does not provide an award ceiling and shows an award ceiling value of 0, and it also does not specify expected awards. In government opportunity databases, those fields are often left blank or set to zero for RFIs because an RFI is not a commitment to fund and does not usually specify budget ranges or the number of eventual awards. The creation date is 2018-12-14, which indicates when the notice was first published.
Even though the short description in the source data repeats the title and does not include narrative details about technical priorities, the title itself points to the likely intent: to identify strategies that can help reverse fish stock declines or ecosystem degradation in Lake Malawi while supporting sustainable livelihoods for communities that depend on the lake. In practical terms, RFIs in this space often seek information on what has worked before in fisheries management and co-management, enforcement and compliance models, habitat protection, data and monitoring systems, value chain improvements (post-harvest handling, processing, cold chain, market access), livelihood diversification, community governance structures, gender and youth inclusion in fisheries and related enterprises, and ways to align interventions with Malawi government policies and local institutions. The use of a cooperative agreement instrument type further suggests USAID may have been exploring a program that combines on-the-ground implementation with adaptive management, learning, and collaboration with government counterparts and local stakeholders.
In summary, REFRESH was an information request issued by USAID Malawi to gather ideas and capabilities related to restoring Lake Malawi fisheries in a way that supports sustainable livelihoods. It was open to all respondents, categorized under environmental assistance, and served as an early step that could inform a later, more detailed funding competition rather than representing a direct funding offer by itself.Apply for RFI 612 18 REFRESH
- The Malawi USAID-Lilongwe in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request For Information (RFI) Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH)" 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 2018-12-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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REFRESH (Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi) RFI - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the REFRESH opportunity?
REFRESH stands for "Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi." It was issued by USAID Malawi (USAID-Lilongwe) as a Request for Information (RFI) focused on environmental and fisheries sustainability in and around Lake Malawi.
2) Is this a grant competition or a request for proposals?
No. The notice described is an RFI (market-sounding and information-gathering). An RFI is used to collect input and does not function as a formal funding competition by itself.
3) What is the main goal or theme of the RFI?
Based on the title and listing information, the theme is restoring fisheries resources in Lake Malawi in a way that also protects and improves sustainable livelihoods for communities that depend on the lake. The emphasis is on linking ecological recovery with economic and community benefits.
4) Who issued the RFI?
The RFI was issued by USAID Malawi, referenced as USAID-Lilongwe.
5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RFI?
The Funding Opportunity Number shown is "RFI 612 18 REFRESH."
6) What category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category listed is "Environment."
7) What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 98.001, which is commonly used by USAID for foreign assistance programs.
8) Who was eligible to respond?
The eligible applicants field is listed as "Unrestricted." That indicates the RFI was open to any interested parties to submit information, perspectives, or capabilities.
9) What does "unrestricted" eligibility mean in practice for an RFI?
It means USAID was not limiting input to a narrow class of organizations. In RFIs like this, responses may come from implementers, researchers, NGOs, private sector actors, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
10) What is USAID typically trying to learn through an RFI like this?
Based on the listing description, the purpose is to gather input to help USAID refine problem definitions, assess feasible interventions, understand local constraints and opportunities, and shape a later Request for Applications (RFA) or Request for Proposals (RFP).
11) Does an RFI mean USAID will definitely fund a program?
No. An RFI is not a commitment to fund. It is an early-stage information-gathering step that may inform a later, more detailed competition, but the RFI itself does not represent a direct funding offer.
12) Was this labeled as a discretionary opportunity, and what does that imply?
Yes, it is labeled as a discretionary opportunity. In this context, that label aligns with the idea that USAID is exploring and shaping a possible future activity rather than awarding funding through the RFI itself.
13) What type of award was USAID signaling for a potential future program?
The notice points toward a potential future cooperative agreement.
14) What is a cooperative agreement in simple terms?
A cooperative agreement is typically a partnership-style award where the agency expects to stay meaningfully involved in technical direction and implementation decisions, rather than issuing a grant with limited oversight.
15) What kinds of ideas or approaches might USAID have been interested in for REFRESH?
The listing does not provide detailed technical priorities, but the title and context suggest interest in strategies to reverse fish stock declines or ecosystem degradation while supporting livelihoods. The description notes that RFIs in this space often seek information on fisheries management and co-management, enforcement and compliance models, habitat protection, data and monitoring systems, value chain improvements (post-harvest handling, processing, cold chain, market access), livelihood diversification, community governance structures, and inclusion of women, youth, and other groups in fisheries and related enterprises.
16) Does the notice specify exact technical requirements or an implementation plan?
No. The short description repeats the title and does not include narrative details about technical priorities. The RFI format suggests USAID was collecting ideas and capabilities rather than prescribing a fixed design.
17) What geographic area is this focused on?
The focus is on Lake Malawi and the areas in and around the lake.
18) What was the original closing date for responses?
The posting shows an original closing date of 2019-01-08.
19) When was the notice created or first published?
The creation date is listed as 2018-12-14.
20) Does the listing provide an award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?
No. The award ceiling is shown as 0, and the listing does not provide an award ceiling amount.
21) Why would the award ceiling be listed as 0?
In many government opportunity databases, budget fields are left blank or set to zero for RFIs because an RFI is not a commitment to fund and typically does not specify budget ranges.
22) Does the listing specify the expected number of awards?
No. It does not specify expected awards, which is common for RFIs.
23) What is the practical value of responding to an RFI?
Based on the description, responding can help inform USAID's understanding of what is feasible, what has worked in similar settings, what constraints exist locally, and what intervention options might be most effective, potentially shaping a later solicitation.
24) Is this RFI itself a chance to receive funding?
No. The RFI is described as information-gathering and market-sounding. Any potential funding would be through a later RFA or RFP if USAID decides to proceed.
25) What is the overall summary of the REFRESH RFI?
REFRESH was an RFI issued by USAID Malawi to gather ideas and capabilities related to restoring Lake Malawi fisheries while supporting sustainable livelihoods. It was open to all respondents, categorized under environmental assistance, and served as an early step that could inform a later, more detailed funding competition rather than representing a direct funding offer.
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