Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002726
Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.-AU Trade and Investment (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0002726) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia, specifically the U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) public diplomacy section. The opportunity is designed to strengthen U.S.-Africa trade and investment by supporting practical, business-facing engagement that helps U.S. companies compete and succeed in African markets. It is grounded in the idea that the African Union represents a major growth market (nearly 1.4 billion people and more than $3 trillion in combined GDP across member states), but that real trade and investment flows remain below potential because of persistent barriers such as limited familiarity with U.S. business practices, weak business-to-business networks linking U.S. and African firms, and market access constraints that can slow or block deals. USAU points to results from prior commercial diplomacy efforts showing that direct, structured engagement between companies, backed by U.S. commercial expertise, can produce tangible gains in partnerships and investment readiness.
The program’s core goal is to deepen U.S.-Africa economic ties by expanding trade and investment connections in ways that clearly advance U.S. economic interests while also delivering mutual benefit. Proposals are expected to directly expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, elevate and share U.S. best practices, and encourage dealmaking or investment activity that can be tracked. The target audience is largely composed of organizations that can act as multipliers for commercial engagement, including business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and other stakeholders positioned to convene companies, reduce information gaps, and catalyze partnerships between U.S. and African firms.
Projects should align with the stated objectives: expanding U.S.-Africa trade and investment linkages, promoting innovation and technology transfer that leverages U.S. solutions, and increasing economic opportunities in ways that support U.S. commercial engagement. USAU signals interest in applied activities that bring firms together and remove friction points, such as business matchmaking initiatives, workshops led by U.S. experts that focus on commercial skills and practices, sector-specific engagements that intentionally include U.S. market presence, and programming that addresses market access constraints affecting U.S. businesses. In practice, this could mean curated B2B meetings, investment readiness sessions, compliance and standards workshops, procurement and partnership training, or targeted convenings in priority sectors where U.S. companies have competitive offerings and where clearer pathways to market entry can be developed.
A key requirement is measurable outcomes. Proposals should be built around concrete deliverables and credible metrics that demonstrate commercial impact, not just participation. USAU expects results such as the formation of new business linkages, signed MOUs or partnership frameworks, strengthened commercial networks, and evidence of increased trade and investment flows or steps that directly enable those flows. Applicants should be prepared to define how outcomes will be tracked (for example, number and quality of meetings, partner matches made, follow-on negotiations, agreements signed, investment leads generated, or barriers reduced), and to show why their approach is likely to translate into real commercial activity.
Funding details: awards are grants under CFDA 19.040, with an award ceiling of $25,000 and an anticipated three awards. The opportunity was posted May 7, 2026, and the application deadline is June 8, 2026. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," which typically indicates a wide pool may apply, but applicants should rely on the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the specific eligibility rules, required application components, allowable costs, reporting expectations, and evaluation criteria.Apply for OFOP0002726
- The U.S. Mission to Ethiopia in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-08. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.-AU Trade and Investment" grant opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia, specifically the U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) Public Diplomacy Section. The program supports practical, business-facing engagement intended to strengthen U.S.-Africa trade and investment by helping U.S. companies compete and succeed in African markets.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OFOP0002726.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the U.S. Mission to Ethiopia, through the U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) Public Diplomacy Section.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to deepen U.S.-Africa economic ties by expanding trade and investment connections in ways that clearly advance U.S. economic interests while also delivering mutual benefit.
Why is this opportunity focused on the African Union context?
USAU frames the African Union as a major growth market (nearly 1.4 billion people and more than $3 trillion in combined GDP across member states), while noting that actual trade and investment flows remain below potential due to persistent barriers that can slow or block deals.
What barriers is the program trying to address?
The opportunity is grounded in reducing barriers such as limited familiarity with U.S. business practices, weak business-to-business networks linking U.S. and African firms, and market access constraints that can delay or prevent commercial deals.
What types of applicants is the program trying to reach?
The target audience is largely organizations that can act as multipliers for commercial engagement, including business associations, private-sector intermediaries, commercial institutions, and other stakeholders able to convene companies, reduce information gaps, and catalyze partnerships between U.S. and African firms.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," which typically signals a wide pool may apply. However, applicants are expected to rely on the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the specific eligibility rules.
Where can applicants confirm the exact eligibility rules and required application components?
Applicants should consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific eligibility requirements, required application components, allowable costs, reporting expectations, and evaluation criteria.
What kinds of projects does USAU want to fund?
USAU signals interest in applied activities that bring firms together and remove friction points. Examples mentioned include business matchmaking initiatives; workshops led by U.S. experts focused on commercial skills and practices; sector-specific engagements that intentionally include U.S. market presence; and programming that addresses market access constraints affecting U.S. businesses.
What are some examples of activities that could fit this opportunity?
Examples described include curated B2B meetings, investment readiness sessions, compliance and standards workshops, procurement and partnership training, and targeted convenings in priority sectors where U.S. companies have competitive offerings and where clearer pathways to market entry can be developed.
What objectives should a proposed project align with?
Projects should align with objectives such as expanding U.S.-Africa trade and investment linkages, promoting innovation and technology transfer that leverages U.S. solutions, and increasing economic opportunities in ways that support U.S. commercial engagement.
How should proposals demonstrate they advance U.S. economic interests?
Proposals are expected to directly expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, elevate and share U.S. best practices, and encourage dealmaking or investment activity that can be tracked.
Is the program focused more on participation numbers or commercial outcomes?
The program emphasizes measurable commercial outcomes over simple participation. Proposals should be built around concrete deliverables and credible metrics that demonstrate commercial impact.
What does USAU mean by "measurable outcomes"?
USAU expects results such as new business linkages, signed MOUs or partnership frameworks, strengthened commercial networks, and evidence of increased trade and investment flows or concrete steps that directly enable those flows.
What kinds of metrics can be used to track results?
Examples provided include the number and quality of meetings, partner matches made, follow-on negotiations, agreements signed, investment leads generated, or barriers reduced.
Does USAU expect applicants to explain how they will track outcomes?
Yes. Applicants should be prepared to define how outcomes will be tracked and to explain why their approach is likely to translate into real commercial activity.
What is the CFDA number for the awards?
The awards are grants under CFDA 19.040.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $25,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
USAU anticipates making three awards.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 7, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is June 8, 2026.
What should applicants review for allowable costs and reporting requirements?
Applicants should rely on the full NOFO for details on allowable costs, reporting expectations, and other compliance requirements.
What is the underlying approach behind the program design?
USAU cites prior commercial diplomacy efforts suggesting that direct, structured engagement between companies, backed by U.S. commercial expertise, can produce tangible gains in partnerships and investment readiness.
What kind of engagement is considered most responsive to the opportunity?
Engagement that is practical, business-facing, and structured to reduce barriers and catalyze partnerships, with clear deliverables and trackable commercial results, is presented as most aligned with the opportunity.
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