DOS-AF-MWI-FY24-01 | OFOP0002208

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002208

The grant opportunity DOS-AF-MWI-FY24-01 (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0002208) is a discretionary U.S. government grant announced by the U.S. Mission to Malawi (U.S. Embassy Lilongwe) under CFDA 19.662. It is funded through FY 2024 Economic Support Funds, with an award ceiling of up to USD 781,854, pending availability of funds. The embassy anticipates making one award, and the project period can run for up to 24 months. The application closing date listed is 2025-08-25.

The core purpose of the program is to improve fiscal transparency in Malawi by focusing on two closely linked areas: the extractive sector (especially mining) and public debt. The opportunity is framed around the idea that clearer, more accessible public information about how mining rights are granted, who ultimately benefits from extractive companies, how mining revenues are collected, and how government debt is managed can reduce corruption risks, strengthen oversight, and support a more stable investment and economic environment. In practical terms, the program is meant to increase the amount and quality of public information available on mining licensing and contract awards, beneficial ownership information, mining revenue flows, and national debt data.

The expected outcomes are described in three main ways. First, the program seeks to improve transparency and accountability in the awarding of natural resource contracts and licenses and in public debt management, making it easier for watchdogs, Parliament, civil society, and the public to understand key fiscal decisions. Second, it aims to curb illicit practices and corruption by supporting the monitoring and disclosure of beneficial ownership, which helps reveal the real people who control or profit from companies operating in the sector. Third, the program is designed to encourage fair taxation, more responsible use of mining revenues, and better attention to the community-level impacts of mining projects, so that benefits and burdens are more visible and can be debated and managed more fairly.

A major emphasis is alignment with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) international standards. By strengthening Malawi's compliance with EITI expectations, the project is intended to improve the credibility of the country’s extractives governance and make the sector more predictable for responsible investors. The embassy explicitly links this to helping investors make better-informed decisions, reducing perceived investment risk, and building investor confidence, which can matter for attracting and retaining investment while discouraging opaque or unethical business behavior.

In addition to the extractives transparency pieces, the opportunity highlights a specific debt transparency objective. The project is expected to enhance public debt transparency by developing a standard for publishing national debt data and by increasing the amount of information publicly available about Malawi's overall debt situation. The rationale is that clearer, standardized debt reporting strengthens parliamentary and public oversight, which can help limit excessive or poorly understood government borrowing. Because borrowing is described as a key driver of Malawi’s economic instability, the program treats better debt transparency as a step toward stronger fiscal discipline and more informed public debate.

Eligibility is aimed at institutional applicants rather than individuals. The notice lists public and private educational institutions as eligible, along with public international organizations and governmental institutions, and categorizes eligible applicants broadly as "Others." The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed under business and commerce, reflecting the governance and economic environment focus rather than purely social programming.

• The U.S. Mission to Malawi in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DOS-AF-MWI-FY24-01" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.662.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-25. (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 $781,854.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for OFOP0002208

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: