Opportunity Information: Apply for 72043825RFA00001
The Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) Phase II Activity is a USAID-funded grant opportunity designed to strengthen Mongolia's small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector by building more durable local support systems and helping SMEs become more competitive and sustainable. BEST Phase II builds on the original BEST activity, but puts added emphasis on long-term sustainability by working more directly with Mongolian institutions that influence and support SMEs, while also introducing stronger, practical support for environmental performance and energy efficiency at the firm level. The overall purpose remains the same as the earlier phase: expand the capacity of Mongolian SMEs so they can play a bigger role in economic growth and diversification.
A central focus of the activity is improving the capacity of Mongolian institutions, particularly government entities and civil society organizations (CSOs), so they can provide higher-quality guidance and advisory support to SMEs. Rather than relying primarily on external expertise, BEST Phase II aims to strengthen local systems by delivering training and capacity building to these institutions, enabling them to advise SMEs more effectively over time. This approach is meant to create a more sustainable ecosystem where SMEs can access ongoing support through local organizations even after USAID funding ends.
Alongside institution-building, BEST Phase II targets improved corporate governance within SMEs. In practice, this typically means helping SMEs adopt stronger internal management practices, clearer decision-making and oversight structures, and more transparent operations. Better corporate governance can improve a company's resilience, access to financing, compliance, and credibility with partners and customers. By raising governance standards across the SME sector, the activity seeks to make Mongolian businesses more investment-ready and better positioned to scale.
BEST Phase II also introduces a direct component focused on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, working with SMEs to reduce energy use, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen environmental practices. The intent is not only to reduce environmental impacts, but also to improve competitiveness, since energy savings and more efficient processes can lower costs and strengthen a firm's market position. This sustainability emphasis is framed as a business performance issue as much as an environmental one, aligning greener operations with profitability and long-term viability.
From a funding and administrative perspective, this is a discretionary USAID opportunity offered through a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the awardee should expect substantial involvement from USAID during implementation compared with a standard grant. The funding opportunity number is 72043825RFA00001, and it is listed under CFDA 98.001. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, and USAID anticipates making a single award with an award ceiling of $10,000,000. The opportunity was created on 2024-11-22, and the original closing date for applications is 2025-02-12. The listing identifies the agency as USAID (USAID-Manila), while the program description and activities are centered on Mongolia and its SME sector.
In short, BEST Phase II is structured around three main outcomes: (1) improved capacity of Mongolian institutions that support and advise SMEs, (2) improved corporate governance among SMEs, and (3) improved energy efficiency and environmental sustainability within SMEs to boost overall competitiveness. The activity is positioned as a continuation and expansion of earlier work, with a stronger emphasis on building lasting local advisory capacity and embedding sustainability into SME performance improvements.Apply for 72043825RFA00001
- The Philippines USAID-Manila in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) Phase II Activity" 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 2024-11-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-12. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USAID BEST Phase II Activity
1) What is the BEST Phase II Activity?
The Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) Phase II Activity is a USAID-funded grant opportunity focused on strengthening Mongolia's small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. It is designed to build more durable local support systems for SMEs and help SMEs become more competitive and sustainable over the long term.
2) What is the overall purpose of BEST Phase II?
The overall purpose is to expand the capacity of Mongolian SMEs so they can play a bigger role in economic growth and diversification. BEST Phase II continues the core intent of the earlier BEST activity, while adding a stronger emphasis on long-term sustainability and environmental and energy performance at the firm level.
3) How does BEST Phase II build on the original BEST activity?
BEST Phase II builds on the original BEST activity by placing added emphasis on long-term sustainability. It does this by working more directly with Mongolian institutions that influence and support SMEs and by introducing stronger, practical support for environmental performance and energy efficiency within SMEs.
4) What are the main outcomes BEST Phase II is structured around?
The activity is structured around three main outcomes:
- Improved capacity of Mongolian institutions that support and advise SMEs
- Improved corporate governance among SMEs
- Improved energy efficiency and environmental sustainability within SMEs to boost competitiveness
5) Which country or region does this opportunity focus on?
The program description and activities are centered on Mongolia and its SME sector.
6) What types of organizations does BEST Phase II aim to strengthen?
A central focus is improving the capacity of Mongolian institutions, particularly government entities and civil society organizations (CSOs), so they can provide higher-quality guidance and advisory support to SMEs.
7) Why does BEST Phase II focus on building the capacity of local institutions?
BEST Phase II emphasizes building local systems so that SMEs can access ongoing support through Mongolian organizations even after USAID funding ends. Instead of relying primarily on external expertise, the activity aims to deliver training and capacity building to local institutions so they can advise SMEs more effectively over time.
8) What kind of support will institutions receive under BEST Phase II?
Based on the opportunity description, support includes training and capacity building intended to enable Mongolian institutions to provide higher-quality guidance and advisory support to SMEs on an ongoing basis.
9) What does BEST Phase II mean by "improved corporate governance" for SMEs?
In practice, improved corporate governance typically means helping SMEs adopt stronger internal management practices, clearer decision-making and oversight structures, and more transparent operations.
10) Why is corporate governance a priority in this activity?
Better corporate governance can improve a company's resilience, access to financing, compliance, and credibility with partners and customers. By raising governance standards across the SME sector, the activity seeks to help make Mongolian businesses more investment-ready and better positioned to scale.
11) What is the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability component?
BEST Phase II introduces a direct component focused on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability by working with SMEs to reduce energy use, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen environmental practices.
12) How is sustainability positioned in BEST Phase II?
Sustainability is framed as both an environmental and a business performance issue. The intent is to reduce environmental impacts while also improving competitiveness, since energy savings and more efficient processes can lower costs and strengthen an SME's market position.
13) What type of USAID funding instrument is this?
This is a discretionary USAID opportunity offered through a Cooperative Agreement.
14) What does it mean that this is a Cooperative Agreement?
A Cooperative Agreement means the awardee should expect substantial involvement from USAID during implementation compared with a standard grant.
15) Is this an open competition? Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted in the opportunity summary.
16) How many awards does USAID expect to make under this opportunity?
USAID anticipates making a single award.
17) What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $10,000,000.
18) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 72043825RFA00001.
19) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The listing identifies the opportunity under CFDA 98.001.
20) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2024-11-22.
21) What is the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications is 2025-02-12.
22) Which USAID office is listed as the agency on the opportunity?
The listing identifies the agency as USAID (USAID-Manila).
23) If the listing references USAID-Manila, why does the program focus on Mongolia?
In the opportunity summary provided, the agency is listed as USAID (USAID-Manila), while the program description and intended activities are centered on Mongolia and its SME sector.
24) What is the long-term goal of BEST Phase II beyond the grant period?
The activity is intended to create a more sustainable SME support ecosystem in Mongolia by strengthening local institutions that can continue providing guidance and advisory services after USAID funding ends.
25) What does BEST Phase II aim to change for SMEs in practical terms?
Based on the description, BEST Phase II aims to help SMEs become more competitive and sustainable by improving governance and transparency, improving energy efficiency and environmental practices, and ensuring they have better access to ongoing, higher-quality local advisory support through strengthened Mongolian institutions.
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