USAID Child Blindness Program (CBP) | PGRD 16 0004

USAID Child Blindness Program (CBP) Grant (PGRD 16 0004) - FAQs

1) What is the USAID Child Blindness Program (CBP) grant opportunity?

The USAID Child Blindness Program (CBP) grant opportunity is a discretionary USAID-funded grant competition administered by Partners for Global Research and Development (PGRD). It supports projects focused on improving pediatric eye care by expanding access to high-quality services for children and strengthening global knowledge about pediatric eye care.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PGRD 16 0004.

3) Who is administering this grant competition?

The competition is administered by Partners for Global Research and Development (PGRD).

4) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The main purpose is to support projects that (1) expand access to high-quality eye care services for children and (2) strengthen global knowledge about pediatric eye care, with an emphasis on practical innovations and best-practice approaches that improve real-world service delivery.

5) What types of projects is CBP especially interested in funding?

CBP is especially interested in practical innovations and best-practice approaches that can improve on-the-ground programming, particularly for children and other vulnerable populations who face barriers to care. The opportunity emphasizes implementable solutions rather than purely theoretical or academic work.

6) Does this opportunity support purely academic or theoretical research?

The request for applications emphasizes innovations that produce measurable improvements in real-world programming rather than purely theoretical or academic work. Proposals should be actionable in real settings and show how they will lead to improvements in service delivery and outcomes.

7) What does CBP mean by "innovations" in this opportunity?

In this context, innovations are creative, problem-solving approaches that are practical and implementable in routine settings. They should be grounded in verifiable data and credible sources (such as peer-reviewed literature and other reliable evidence), and they should be able to demonstrate impact with measurable results.

8) What evidence is expected to support a proposed approach?

Applicants are expected to support their approach with verifiable data and credible sources, such as peer-reviewed literature and other reliable evidence. Proposals should clearly explain why the approach should work, what evidence supports it, and how impact will be demonstrated.

9) What is meant by "measurable improvements" for on-the-ground programming?

The opportunity prioritizes projects that can show practical, measurable improvements in service delivery, such as better uptake, stronger referral pathways, improved quality, greater efficiency, or improved outcomes within routine pediatric eye care programs.

10) Are operations research projects allowed?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly allows operations research, including studies on improving uptake, referral pathways, quality, efficiency, or outcomes within routine programs.

11) Can a project focus on scaling up an approach that already works?

Yes. The scope includes scaling up existing approaches that have already shown promise, as long as they align with CBP goals and can plausibly increase the number of children receiving better eye care while generating lessons that can be applied beyond a single site.

12) Are structured reviews eligible under this opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity allows structured reviews that clarify current trends or identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed.

13) What topic areas should proposals align with?

Applicants are encouraged to align proposals with CBP goals and relevant topic areas referenced in the notice as IGBP topic areas, as well as the pediatric eye care Continuum of Care (cited as appearing on pages 5 to 6 of the full materials).

14) What is the pediatric eye care Continuum of Care referenced in the opportunity?

The opportunity cites a pediatric eye care Continuum of Care and notes that it appears on pages 5 to 6 of the full materials. Proposed projects are encouraged to align with this continuum as part of designing practical, implementable improvements.

15) What parts of eye care delivery can a project address?

The scope is broad and can include clinical improvements (such as screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, or referral systems) and managerial or administrative components (such as workforce models, supply chain considerations, service integration, data systems, quality improvement methods, or clinic and program management practices).

16) Is the program limited to one type of intervention or setting?

No. CBP is open to a range of project types and areas of focus, as long as they maximize the impact of child-focused eye health interventions and are likely to lead to more children receiving better eye care.

17) What is the overall impact CBP wants to see from funded projects?

The central expectation is that projects should plausibly lead to more children receiving better quality eye care and should contribute useful lessons that can be shared and applied beyond a single site.

18) Is CBP focused only on children?

The primary focus is pediatric eye care and expanding access to services for children. The opportunity also notes interest in approaches that improve delivery for children and other vulnerable populations facing barriers to care.

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted and open to a wide range of legally registered organizations, including US not-for-profit organizations (such as private voluntary organizations, foundations, and private universities), US for-profit organizations (with no profit or fee allowed under the grant), and non-US for-profit and not-for-profit organizations (also with no profit or fee permitted).

20) Can for-profit organizations apply?

Yes. Both US and non-US for-profit organizations may apply, but the opportunity specifies an important restriction: no profit or fee is allowed under the grant.

21) Are non-US organizations eligible?

Yes. Non-US for-profit and not-for-profit organizations are eligible, with the condition that no profit or fee is permitted under the grant.

22) Are there standard US government compliance requirements applicants must meet?

Yes. Applicants must be able to meet standard US government eligibility and compliance requirements, including requirements related to nondiscrimination, lobbying restrictions, debarment and suspension, and terrorist financing prohibitions.

23) What is the award instrument for this opportunity?

The award instrument is a grant.

24) What funding activity category is associated with this grant?

The grant is under the health funding activity category.

25) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 11.111.

26) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The posted award ceiling is $250,000.

27) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2016-11-04.

28) What was the original closing date for submissions?

The original closing date for submissions was 2016-12-16.

29) How does CBP describe its longer-term role in pediatric eye care?

CBP frames the program as part of a longer-term effort and notes that since 1991 it has invested in effective and efficient pediatric eye care programs designed to grow the evidence base and increase the number of children reached.

30) What is the key theme that ties eligible projects together?

The key theme is implementable, evidence-based innovation and learning that improves pediatric eye care delivery in real settings, expands access to quality services for children, and generates knowledge that can strengthen programs beyond a single location.