Deadline: 1-May-23
The United States Agency for International Development in Paraguay (USAID/Paraguay) seeks applications from non-profit and for-profit organizations to participate in USAID/Paraguay’s Local Works Initiative Annual Program Statement (APS).
The Paraguay Local Works Initiative seeks to engage local actors that collectively identify their own development needs, agree on a common agenda and form networks and alliances to achieve that agenda.
Under Local Works, local actors can collectively identify their own development needs, agree on a common agenda and form networks and alliances to achieve that agenda. More established local organizations, with greater institutional capacity, will serve as mentors during this process. More seasoned local civil society organization (CSO) partners will be Allies in Development, providing training and capacity building, as determined by beneficiaries, who will actually become key stakeholders. USAID’s role will be that of a facilitator, catalyzer and convener, not a leader. Treating beneficiaries as stakeholders is at the core of the Local Works approach.
Local Works prioritizes Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) approaches, systems, and tools that align with local communities’ needs and what will be most useful for them, rather than on the donor’s needs. Applicants should financially plan accordingly, including not only specific MEL personnel, but also sufficient resources for systematic data collection, internal evaluations, and regular learning exercises throughout the life of the program. Throughout the program, the Mission will facilitate interventions based on feedback from local stakeholders.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $8,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $2,000,000
- Award Floor: $250,000
Illustrative Examples
Illustrative examples of interventions include:
- Activities in the health sector that help families have access to low-cost but high quality health services, supplies and medicines. Examples could include access to insurance, social pharmacies, equipment and supplies for local health centers, attracting professional health care workers to marginal communities, and ambulances. Preventive health, healthy environment, including activities that respond to wildfires and droughts, and solid waste disposal would also be considered.
- Activities that improve economic opportunities for families such as support to value-chains and identification of markets, technical training in trades and skills, particularly for youth, leading to formal employment identified per employment market requirements, increased access to financial information and training and technical assistance in business planning, access to business loans and other low-cost financial help. Other activities could include improving child care services allowing mothers to dedicate time for income producing activities.
- Activities in the education sector that:
- support improved virtual education such as access to smartphones, computers or internet;
- help make technical and university level education accessible economically as well as geographically; and
- support students wishing to complete high school and post-high school studies.
- Activities that demonstrate support for improved small-scale infrastructure including, but not limited to minor construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, access to electricity, access to housing programs, housing refurbishment and access to clean water.
Eligibility Criteria
- USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
- USAID/Paraguay, in particular, is interested in working with Local Implementing Partners. This includes non-traditional development partners such as private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, financial institutions, non-profit NGOs and for-profit development firms. These targets are reflected in the evaluation criteria so submissions from Local, New or Nontraditional partners will have a much greater possibility of success as 50% of the rating criteria will be in meeting that criteria.
- A Local Entity is an individual or organization that:
- Is legally organized under the laws of Paraguay;
- Has as its principal place of business or operations in Paraguay;
- is majority-owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Paraguay; and,
- is managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Paraguay.
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A Locally Established Partner is an organization (indigenous, regional, U.S., or international) that:
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provides private development assistance in Paraguay with funding from sources other than the U.S. Government; and
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works through Paraguayan-led operations to enhance the capabilities and commitments of organizations in partner countries.
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For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=339973