Blended Finance: Leveraging Private Capital and Supporting Entrepreneurs to Achieve Education Development Outcome in Sub-Saharan Africa | 7200AA19APS00009

Opportunity Information: Apply for 7200AA19APS00009

The grant opportunity titled "Blended Finance: Leveraging Private Capital and Supporting Entrepreneurs to Achieve Education Development Outcome in Sub-Saharan Africa" is a USAID funding call that seeks concept papers focused on expanding access to quality education in selected countries across Sub-Saharan Africa by using blended finance and stronger partnerships with the private sector. The central idea is to pair public development funding with private capital in ways that make investment in education more attractive and sustainable, while also encouraging practical innovation in how education services are delivered, financed, and scaled. USAID frames this work around priorities in its 2018 Education Policy, meaning proposals are expected to connect clearly to outcomes such as improved learning, equity for underserved groups, and stronger education systems.

A key emphasis of this addendum is working through financial intermediaries rather than only funding service delivery directly. In practice, that means USAID is looking for organizations such as investment funds, lenders, impact investors, accelerators, or similar entities that can identify, finance, and support entrepreneurs operating in the education ecosystem. These entrepreneurs may provide direct education services (for example, schools, training programs, tutoring models, or edtech learning solutions) as well as ancillary or enabling services that strengthen education access and quality (for example, affordable school supplies, connectivity solutions, low-cost devices, teacher support tools, assessment services, transportation solutions, or other services that remove barriers for learners). The focus on disadvantaged populations suggests USAID wants models that reach learners who are typically excluded or poorly served, including low-income communities and other marginalized groups, and that can demonstrate clear education benefit rather than only commercial growth.

USAID’s intended partnership structure is described as a Global Development Alliance, which is USAID’s term for public-private partnerships designed to combine the strengths of government and private actors. Under this approach, applicants are generally expected to bring credible private-sector partners and co-investment or leveraged financing to the table, not just technical ideas. The purpose is to mobilize additional resources beyond USAID’s own funds, create shared incentives for performance, and help education ventures scale in a way that can continue after donor support ends. Concept papers should therefore be oriented toward how financing will flow, how risk will be managed, what incentives will attract private capital, and how supported enterprises will grow while staying aligned with development outcomes.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary USAID opportunity in the education sector (CFDA 98.001) with an "Other" funding instrument type. The opportunity number is 7200AA19APS00009. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of entities can apply as long as they meet any conditions described in the full solicitation text. USAID anticipated making up to four awards, with a total award ceiling listed at $40,000,000. The opportunity was created on April 11, 2019, and the original closing date was August 11, 2019. Overall, the call is designed for applicants that can credibly blend development objectives with investment-oriented execution, using finance and entrepreneurship support as the main levers to expand equitable access to quality education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• The Agency for International Development in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Blended Finance: Leveraging Private Capital and Supporting Entrepreneurs to Achieve Education Development Outcome in Sub-Saharan Africa" 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 Apr 11, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 2019. (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 $40,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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.

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