Opportunity Information: Apply for 72016819RFI002
USAID/Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a grant opportunity titled "Investment vehicle to facilitate access to finance" (Funding Opportunity Number 72016819RFI002) focused on exploring and testing practical financing models that can unlock more private investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The activity sits in the Business and Commerce category (CFDA 98.001) and is framed as an "Other" type of opportunity and funding instrument, which usually signals flexibility in the approach and in the kinds of partnership structures USAID may consider. The core idea is to identify, pilot, and assess investment vehicle concepts that make it easier for businesses or entrepreneurs to obtain capital, particularly where the existing finance market may be constrained, risk-averse, or not serving certain segments well.
A central feature of this opportunity is that USAID is explicitly open to working with a broad mix of both traditional and nontraditional capital providers and ecosystem actors. The notice highlights potential partners such as private sector firms, angel investors, investment funds, banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, foundations, and non-profits, among others. Rather than limiting eligibility to a narrow set of organizations, the opportunity is listed as "Unrestricted" for eligible applicants, and it encourages participation from U.S.-based entities, international organizations, and organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The invitation to submit an Expression of Interest suggests USAID is seeking market input and partner concepts, potentially to shape a later procurement or co-creation process, or to identify partner(s) for a pilot.
The purpose, as described, is to "test and evaluate models to catalyze private investment." In practice, that typically means USAID is looking for proposals that can demonstrate how an investment vehicle or financing mechanism would reduce barriers to finance, share or mitigate risk, mobilize private capital alongside donor support, and produce evidence about what works in the local context. While the short description does not list specific target sectors or beneficiary groups, the language implies an emphasis on demonstrating scalable approaches that can attract private capital and improve the functioning of the local finance market. The full technical details, expected structure, and any thematic priorities are referenced as being available in the "Related Documents" section of the official posting.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on March 22, 2019, with an original closing date of September 23, 2019. The listing shows an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000, indicating the upper bound of potential USAID funding that could be available for a selected model or pilot, although the number of expected awards is not specified in the source data provided. Overall, the notice reads as an open call for concepts and potential partners to help build and validate an investment vehicle that expands access to finance in Bosnia and Herzegovina by leveraging private investment and experimenting with innovative partnership and funding structures.Apply for 72016819RFI002
- The Bosnia USAID-Herzegovina in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Investment vehicle to facilitate access to finance" 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 2019-03-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-23. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this USAID opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Investment vehicle to facilitate access to finance" and it was issued by USAID/Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 72016819RFI002.
3) What is the main goal of the opportunity?
The main goal is to explore, test, and evaluate practical financing models (an investment vehicle concept) that can unlock more private investment and make it easier for businesses or entrepreneurs in Bosnia and Herzegovina to access capital, especially in a market that may be constrained, risk-averse, or not serving certain segments well.
4) What type of activity is USAID looking to support?
USAID is looking to support an activity that will identify, pilot, and assess investment vehicle concepts designed to catalyze private investment and improve access to finance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
5) What category and CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity sits in the Business and Commerce category and references CFDA 98.001.
6) What is the opportunity type and funding instrument?
The listing identifies the opportunity as "Other" for both the opportunity type and the funding instrument. This typically signals a flexible approach and potential openness to different implementation and partnership structures.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted". The notice also encourages participation from a broad mix of potential applicants, including U.S.-based entities, international organizations, and organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
8) What kinds of partners or organizations does USAID want to hear from?
USAID explicitly indicates openness to working with both traditional and nontraditional capital providers and ecosystem actors, including:
- Private sector firms
- Angel investors
- Investment funds
- Banks and other financial institutions
- Insurance companies
- Foundations
- Non-profits
- Other relevant ecosystem stakeholders
9) Is this an open call for full proposals or something earlier-stage?
Based on the description, USAID is inviting an Expression of Interest, which suggests the agency is seeking market input and partner concepts. This may be used to shape a later process (such as a procurement, co-creation process, or partner selection for a pilot), but the specific next step is not detailed in the information provided.
10) What does "test and evaluate models to catalyze private investment" mean in practice?
In this context, it means USAID is looking for concepts that can demonstrate how an investment vehicle or financing mechanism would:
- Reduce barriers that prevent businesses or entrepreneurs from accessing finance
- Share or mitigate risk in ways that make private capital more willing to participate
- Mobilize private capital alongside donor support
- Generate evidence about what works in the Bosnia and Herzegovina context, including whether the model could scale
11) Does the opportunity specify which sectors must be targeted?
No specific target sectors are listed in the information provided. The description focuses on access to finance broadly and emphasizes demonstrating models that can attract private capital and improve local market functioning.
12) Does the opportunity specify which beneficiary groups must be served?
No specific beneficiary groups are identified in the information provided. The emphasis is on addressing constraints in the finance market and improving access to capital for businesses or entrepreneurs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
13) What is meant by an "investment vehicle" in this opportunity?
Within the scope described, an investment vehicle refers to a financing mechanism or structure intended to make capital more accessible. The opportunity is framed around exploring and piloting concepts that can channel or mobilize investment toward businesses or entrepreneurs, particularly where existing finance is limited or risk-averse.
14) Is USAID open to innovative or nontraditional financing approaches?
Yes. The notice highlights openness to nontraditional capital providers and ecosystem actors and is labeled as an "Other" type and instrument, which typically aligns with flexibility and experimentation in partnership and funding structures.
15) What is the maximum award amount mentioned?
The listing shows an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000, indicating the upper bound of potential USAID funding that could be available for a selected model or pilot.
16) How many awards does USAID expect to make?
The number of expected awards is not specified in the information provided.
17) When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 22, 2019.
18) What was the original closing date?
The original closing date shown is September 23, 2019.
19) Where can applicants find the full technical details and requirements?
The description indicates that the full technical details, expected structure, and any thematic priorities are available in the "Related Documents" section of the official posting.
20) What is the geographic focus of this opportunity?
The opportunity is focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the intent to expand access to finance and catalyze private investment in that local context.
21) What is USAID trying to learn or prove through a pilot under this opportunity?
USAID is aiming to build evidence on which investment vehicle concepts can successfully:
- Bring additional private capital into the market
- Improve financing availability for businesses or entrepreneurs
- Address risk and other constraints that limit lending or investment
- Show potential for scale and broader market impact
22) Does the opportunity limit participation to only financial institutions?
No. The notice explicitly references a wide range of potential partners beyond banks and financial institutions, including investors, funds, insurance companies, foundations, private sector firms, and non-profits.
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