Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007
The Cochran Fellowship Program Global Training Opportunity is a discretionary U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant competition that supports short-term, targeted training for agricultural professionals from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Congress has funded the Cochran Fellowship Program since 1984, with the central goal of building practical skills and institutional capacity in areas tied to modern agricultural systems and agricultural trade. The program focuses on bringing senior and mid-level specialists and administrators into structured training experiences that strengthen how their countries manage agricultural policy, regulate and facilitate trade, improve food systems, and grow agribusiness sectors.
This opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007; CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.962). Under a cooperative agreement, recipients typically work closely with USDA/FAS during planning and execution, which often means the agency may provide substantial involvement in refining work plans, confirming training objectives, coordinating with international participants, and ensuring the program meets U.S. government goals. The funding opportunity was created on July 12, 2023, with an original closing date of August 25, 2023.
Awards are expected to support training programs aligned with specific statements of work (SOWs) and learning objectives referenced in the opportunity appendix. The topics highlighted in the notice indicate priority areas that combine technical training with regulatory and market-oriented outcomes. One focus area is Women in Agriculture Entrepreneurship for Food Processing, Packaging, and Value Chain, which suggests training designed to strengthen women-led or women-focused enterprise development across processing and packaging operations and the broader value chain, potentially covering topics such as product development, quality management, packaging and labeling considerations, market access, business planning, financing readiness, and operational scaling. Another priority area is Food Safety Standards and Regulations for Nigeria, indicating an emphasis on regulatory frameworks, inspection and compliance systems, and food safety management approaches relevant to Nigeria’s domestic market and export ambitions. The opportunity also highlights WTO Adherence related to SPS, TBT, and TFA Agreements, pointing to training that helps participating countries understand and implement World Trade Organization disciplines on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), technical barriers to trade (TBT), and trade facilitation (TFA), all of which affect how agricultural and food products move across borders. A separate listing for Food Safety Standards and Regulations reinforces that food safety systems and regulatory alignment are central themes of the training agenda.
The notice lists an award ceiling of $150,000 and anticipates approximately 10 awards, signaling multiple funded projects rather than a single national program. While the eligibility line is summarized as “Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification),” the framing strongly suggests applicants are organizations capable of designing and delivering specialized international agricultural training. In practice, that often includes universities, nonprofits, research institutions, and other technical training providers with demonstrated subject-matter expertise, international program management capacity, and the ability to host or deliver training that meets USDA/FAS objectives.
Overall, this grant opportunity is geared toward strengthening agricultural trade capacity, regulatory systems, and agribusiness development through hands-on learning experiences for mid-career and senior professionals. It prioritizes real-world application in areas like food safety regulation, WTO-related trade compliance, and entrepreneurship in food processing and value chain development, with the program structure designed to produce measurable improvements in participant skills and, by extension, the effectiveness of their home institutions and markets.Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007
- The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cochran Fellowship Program Global Training Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.962.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 12, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 25, 2023. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: Cochran Fellowship Program Global Training Opportunity (USDA FAS)
What is the Cochran Fellowship Program Global Training Opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) that supports short-term, targeted training for agricultural professionals. The training is designed to build practical skills and institutional capacity connected to modern agricultural systems and agricultural trade.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to strengthen practical skills and institutional capacity in participant countries, especially in areas tied to agricultural policy, trade regulation and facilitation, food systems improvement, and agribusiness sector growth. The program aims to create measurable improvements in participant skills that help their home institutions and markets function more effectively.
Who is the training intended to benefit?
The program focuses on senior and mid-level specialists and administrators from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. These participants are brought into structured training experiences that help their countries manage agricultural policy, regulate trade, improve food systems, and expand agribusiness.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement. That generally means the recipient works closely with USDA/FAS during planning and execution, and USDA/FAS may have substantial involvement in areas like refining work plans, confirming training objectives, coordinating with international participants, and ensuring the effort aligns with U.S. government goals.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and Assistance Listing for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing is 10.962.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
The notice states it was created on July 12, 2023, with an original closing date of August 25, 2023.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $150,000.
How many awards does USDA/FAS expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates approximately 10 awards, indicating multiple funded projects rather than a single nationwide effort.
What kinds of activities are expected to be funded?
Awards are expected to support training programs aligned with specific statements of work (SOWs) and learning objectives referenced in the opportunity appendix. The overall emphasis is on structured, targeted training with practical application and outcomes tied to regulatory and market needs.
What priority training topics are highlighted in the notice?
The notice highlights several priority areas, including:
- Women in Agriculture Entrepreneurship for Food Processing, Packaging, and Value Chain
- Food Safety Standards and Regulations for Nigeria
- WTO Adherence related to SPS, TBT, and TFA Agreements
- Food Safety Standards and Regulations (reinforced as a central theme)
What does the Women in Agriculture entrepreneurship focus area suggest the training might cover?
Based on the notice description, it suggests training aimed at strengthening women-led or women-focused enterprise development in food processing and packaging and across the broader value chain. Potential subject areas mentioned or implied include product development, quality management, packaging and labeling considerations, market access, business planning, financing readiness, operational scaling, and value chain development.
What does "Food Safety Standards and Regulations for Nigeria" mean in this context?
It indicates an emphasis on food safety regulatory frameworks, inspection and compliance systems, and food safety management approaches relevant to Nigeria, including needs tied to domestic markets and export ambitions.
What does WTO adherence related to SPS, TBT, and TFA mean for the training?
This priority area points to training that helps participating countries understand and implement World Trade Organization disciplines affecting agricultural and food trade, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), technical barriers to trade (TBT), and trade facilitation (TFA). These areas influence how agricultural and food products meet requirements and move across borders.
Is food safety a central theme of the opportunity?
Yes. Food safety appears as a highlighted topic area (including a Nigeria-specific focus) and is also listed separately again as "Food Safety Standards and Regulations," reinforcing that food safety systems and regulatory alignment are core themes of the training agenda.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility line is summarized as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." The notice framing strongly suggests applicants are organizations capable of designing and delivering specialized international agricultural training, such as universities, nonprofits, research institutions, and other technical training providers with relevant expertise and international program management capacity.
What kind of organizational capacity does this opportunity seem to require?
Based on the description, applicants should be able to design and deliver specialized training aligned to USDA/FAS objectives, manage international training logistics and coordination with participants, and support practical learning outcomes tied to agriculture, food systems, regulation, and trade.
What does it mean that the training should align with statements of work (SOWs) and learning objectives?
It means proposed training programs are expected to match defined scopes and learning goals referenced in the opportunity appendix, rather than being fully open-ended. The funded work should track to the stated training objectives and expected outcomes described for the opportunity.
What broader outcomes is USDA/FAS trying to achieve through this program?
The opportunity is geared toward strengthening agricultural trade capacity, regulatory systems, and agribusiness development through hands-on learning experiences. The intended outcome is improved participant skill and institutional effectiveness in areas like agricultural policy management, trade regulation and facilitation, food safety systems, WTO-related compliance, and entrepreneurship across food processing and value chains.
How closely will USDA/FAS be involved during the project?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, USDA/FAS involvement is expected to be significant during planning and execution. The notice notes likely involvement in refining work plans, confirming training objectives, coordinating with international participants, and ensuring the program meets U.S. government goals.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF)
Previous opportunity: National Center for Supporting School Building and Early Intervention Program (EIP) Administrators to Effectively Implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Improve Systems Serving Children with Disabilities, ALN 84.325Z
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY2023 Cochran Fellowship Program Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0008 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0008 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Supporting Animal Biotechnology Policy Development in Africa Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0007 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0007 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Nationalizing and Supporting Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy Development in Africa Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0006 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0006 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| International Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Engagement Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0008 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0008 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Mansa Dioula Mousso Apply for 72067523RFA0002 Funding Number: 72067523RFA0002 Agency: Agency for International Development, Guinea USAID-Conakry Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,350,000 |
| Implementation of Regionally Harmonized Pesticide Regulations and Standards in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 23 0023 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 23 0023 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,499,000 |
| Specialty Crop Multi-State Program Apply for USDA AMS TM SCMP G 23 0020 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCMP G 23 0020 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| New Technologies for Ag Extension Apply for USDA NIFA OP 010186 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 010186 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,395,849 |
| Army Youth Program Evaluation Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 010228 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 010228 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $475,000 |
| Crop Protection and Pest Management Apply for USDA NIFA CPPM 005796 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CPPM 005796 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $325,000 |
| Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 17 0004 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 17 0004 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Water for Food Production Systems Challenge Area Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 006304 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 006304 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $5,200,000 |
| Wetland Restoration and Management Assistance – Wisconsin Apply for USDA NRCS WI ACEP 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS WI ACEP 17 01 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Acer Access and Development Program Apply for USDA AMS TM ACER G 17 0006 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM ACER G 17 0006 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| VALUE ADDED PRODUCER GRANT Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2017 Funding Number: RDBCP VAPG 2017 Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Markets, Risk, and Resilience Apply for 7200AA19RFA00009 Funding Number: 7200AA19RFA00009 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $30,000,000 |
| Organic Certification Cost Share Programs Apply for USDA FSA SND NOCCSP 2021 Funding Number: USDA FSA SND NOCCSP 2021 Agency: Farm Service Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,437,800 |
| Consolidated Multifamily Housing Technical Assistance Grant Programs Apply for USDA RD HCFP NPTA FLHTA Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP NPTA FLHTA Agency: Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Mansa Dioula Mousso Apply for 72067523RFA00002 Funding Number: 72067523RFA00002 Agency: Guinea USAID-Conakry Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,350,000 |
| Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA ARPA 010473 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ARPA 010473 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,150,040 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 23 0007", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.