UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
This USDA grant funds projects in select countries to improve food security, reduce hunger, and boost literacy by providing US agricultural commodities and nutrition programs, especially for school-aged children and girls.
Funder: Foreign Agricultural Service
Due Dates: June 12, 2026 (Questions due) | June 22, 2026 (Applications due)
Funding Amounts: Total program funding up to $240,000,000; individual awards range from $10 million to $35 million each for ~5-year projects.
Summary: Supports projects to improve food security, reduce hunger, and enhance literacy and nutrition for children—especially girls—through school feeding and related activities in developing countries.
Key Information: Applications must be submitted via the Food Aid Information System (FAIS) prior to 5:00 P.M. EDT on June 22, 2026.
Description
This opportunity, offered by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, funds multi-year international projects under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The program aims to improve food security, reduce hunger, and enhance literacy and primary education—particularly for girls—by providing U.S. agricultural commodities, technical and financial assistance, and nutrition programs in developing countries. Projects must include school feeding activities and address two main objectives: 1) improved literacy of school-aged children, and 2) increased use of health, nutrition, and dietary practices. Complementary activities may also be supported to further these goals.
Priority is given to projects in Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guinea, Honduras, Liberia, and Timor-Leste, but applications for non-priority countries are accepted (with very limited funding likelihood). Strong proposals will demonstrate robust oversight, sustainability strategies, and alignment with host country education and nutrition priorities.
