USAID Breakthrough-ACTION: Supporting Countries in Achieving Desired Improvements in Health and Development Outcomes

Deadline:  3 March 2017

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications from eligible U.S. and non-U.S. organisations for a program entitled “Breakthrough-ACTION” with an aim to support countries in achieving desired improvements in health and development outcomes, including increasing the demand for family planning (FP) that is satisfied with modern contraception; ending preventable child and maternal deaths; achieving and maintaining an AIDS-free generation; and achieving a malaria-free world.

The purpose of the Breakthrough-ACTION project is to increase the practice of priority health behaviors and enabling social norms, including gender norms, for improved health and development outcomes, with an emphasis on improving FP/RH, HIV/AIDS, MNCH, and malaria health outcomes.

This purpose will be achieved through the integration of proven social and behavior change (SBC) interventions in health and development programs worldwide. Breakthrough-ACTION will closely coordinate with its sister project, Breakthrough-RESEARCH to achieve this shared purpose through complementary efforts.

The shared strategic objective of the two BREAKTHROUGH projects is increased integration of proven SBC interventions in health and development programs, particularly health service delivery platforms. While focused primarily on health, the projects may address SBC needs in other sectors, with particular attention to areas of potential complementarily such as environmental conservation, agriculture, food security, and nutrition.

Funding Information

• Subject to funding availability, USAID intends to provide $300 million in total USAID funding over a 5-year period to support one Cooperative Agreement.
• The period of performance anticipated herein is five years from the date of award. The estimated start date will be upon the signature of the award, on or about July 1, 2017.

Expected Outcomes

• Country-driven, high-quality SBC interventions implemented
• Coordinated global and country leadership mobilized to address priority SBC challenges
• Evidence for impact, feasibility, and cost-benefit of SBC interventions applied

Eligibility Criteria

• USAID welcomes applications from organizations which have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
• To be eligible for the CA under this RFA, applicants submitting as prime recipients must meet the requirements stated below. In order to be a Prime Applicant, the applicant must be:
  • Be a US or non-US based for-profit NGO, not-for-profit NGO, international organization, or private voluntary organization, inclusive of universities.
  • Demonstrated capacity in support of implementation of SBC activities across a range of health and related areas in LMICs;
  • Demonstrated managerial, technical, and institutional capacities to achieve the results outlined in this RFA, including financial systems;
  • Documented capacity to collaborate with, and convene, a range of stakeholders to achieve the results outlined in this RFA;
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with host-country governments, NGOs and other donors to undertake SBC programming and advance policy and advocacy in the substantive areas outlined in this RFA;
  • Established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations;
  • Propose to contribute cost share from their own, private, or local sources no less than 10 percent of the amount of funds obligated by USAID for the implementation of this project over the course of the agreement. Specifically, such funds may be mobilized from the recipient; other multilateral, bilateral, and foundation donors; host governments; and local organizations, communities and private businesses that contribute financially and in-kind to the implementation of activities at the country level. Mobilization of funds from outside sources through cost share of project activities is highly encouraged.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can send their applications at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit Breakthrough-ACTION.

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