USAID accepting Applications for Local Capacity Strengthening for Response

Deadline: 18 June 2020

The United States Agency for Development (USAID), Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance is seeking applications for its Local Capacity Strengthening for Response to support organizational capacity development of local and national NGOs.

Through DRR activities, USAID/DCHA/OFDA supports communities and civil society in reducing the risk of and preparing for natural disasters by safeguarding lives, livelihoods, services and facilities, ultimately increasing their resilience to adverse transitory events. USAID/DCHA/OFDA supports DRR activities in three core areas:

Prioritizing and strengthening early warning, preparedness, mitigation and prevention;
Integrating preparedness and mitigation with disaster response, early recovery, and transition to foster resilience; and
Supporting diversified, resilient livelihood strategies.

For the purposes of this RFA, and as outlined in the Grand Bargain workstreams, capacity strengthening is defined as, “a deliberate process that supports the ability of organizations and networks to institutionalize new or improved systems and structures, and individuals and groups to acquire or improve knowledge, skills, or attitudes, which are necessary to function effectively, achieve goals, and work towards sustainability and self-reliance.” This program is intended to focus on organizational capacity and organizational development specifically.

Program Scope: This program scope is organizational capacity development of local and national NGO organizations. This work is intended to assist organizations in more effectively engaging in the humanitarian ecosystem and providing effective humanitarian assistance. This will, in turn, improve humanitarian operations writ large to better address the needs of disaster-affected populations. This program is intended to build upon DCHA/OFDA’s previous work in capacity strengthening and support international efforts around localization and capacity strengthening.

Within this scope, USAID/DCHA/OFDA’s priority areas for this RFA include (but are not limited to) programs that focus on:

Organizational Capacity
- Organizational Policies
- Standard Operating Procedures
- Standardized Processes
- Risk Management
- Fiscal Management & Budgeting
- Organizational resilience
- Strategic Planning
Operational Capacity
- Service and Supply Delivery
- Capacity Assessments & Mapping
Knowledge management
- Information sharing & best practices about capacity improvements
- Forum for involved organizations to share experiences

Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $4,000,000
Award Floor: $3,000,000
The program duration is 24 months from the date of award

Eligibility Criteria

Non-U.S. NGOs (Foreign Organizations)
- Indigenous Local or Regional Non-Profit Organizations
- Indigenous Local or Regional Commercial (For-Profit) Organizations
- Indigenous Local or Regional Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
- Other Non-U.S. Non-Profit Organizations
- Other Non-U.S. Commercial (For-Profit) Organizations
- Other Non-U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
U.S. NGOs
- U.S. Non-Profit Organizations
- U.S. Commercial (For-Profit) Organizations
- U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
- U.S. Native American Tribal Organizations
Foreign Public Entities
- Public International Organizations (PIOs)
- Foreign Governmental Organizations
U.S. Governmental Organizations