Deadline: 03-May-24
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to implement WASH activities that focus on community mobilization and sensitization.
The USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation Project (USAID Expanding WASH) is a 5-year, contract between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and RTII, a nonprofit research and international development institute. USAID Expanding WASH supports the professionalization of WASH services, increasing private sector engagement in service delivery and improving accountability between citizens, service providers, and policymakers to sustain reliable, high-quality WASH services.
This RFA invites applications for WASH activities, to be carried out under the auspices of RTII. The activities are supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal is to strengthen market-based systems so that the GRZ, government local authorities (LAs), CUs, civil society, district water, sanitation, and hygiene education (i.e., D-WASHE) committees, empowered communities, and the private sector work together toward a common objective and collectively maximize the positive impacts of sustainable WASH outcomes for citizens.
Objectives
- The proposed project must be within the framework of the following objectives below and conform to overall USAID Expanding WASH objective.
- Improve Citizens’ Capacity to Hold WASH Service Providers, Policymakers, and Civic Leaders Accountable for Quality Service Delivery
- Deploy Rigorous and User-Friendly Local Governance Tools
- The objective is to maintain and expand sustainable WASH services in peri-urban, rural growth centres, and rural areas. USAID Expanding WASH will measure success by the ability of grantees to achieve technical results and evolve in a way that helps them become more efficient, effective, and sustainable entities that can transform their communities. This community mobilization grants funding opportunity targets Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and will bolster activities and build local capacity of implementing partners.
- The applicants shall undertake WASH community mobilization/sensitization and the empowering of citizens to demand social accountability and improved services in a phased manner from development to implementation whilst allowing for collaborative design of the campaign strategy, piloting of activities and refining of messaging followed by scale-up of implementation. This campaign or mobilization strategy shall include social media, national and community radio and newspapers on the one side and participation in annual cultural events, localized road shows.
- These WASH awareness campaigns shall include:
- Health education with regards to access to Sanitation (both safe and basic)
- Health education as it relates to accessing Water supply and water handling at household level
- Advocacy for improved WASH service delivery
- Social accountability of service providers, consumers, and government
- Advocacy for social inclusion of vulnerable groups (women, youth, the disabled, the aged and the economically vulnerable) in the management of WASH service delivery mechanisms.
- Capacity building of locally based emerging CSOs to sustainably implement community mobilization for WASH and facilitate citizens demand for social accountability from service providers and policymakers.
Funding Information
- The grant application funded under this RFA will not exceed USD 30,000.
- Any grant awarded under this RFA shall fall within the grant ceilings for the maximum period of 15 months.
Outcomes
- The expected outcomes from the awareness campaign are as follows:
- Consumers: Increased awareness of the benefits of safe access to Sanitation and to adequate and safe water supply.
- Increased consumer participation in discussions demanding social accountability of WASH. service providers (governance, transparency, adequate feedback on issues of WASH.
- Increased participation in demanding improved WASH service delivery (demand increased access, prompt repair on broken down facilities, ensuring continuity of supply and access).
- Increased social inclusiveness of vulnerable groups women, disabled, youth elderly and economically vulnerable.
- Increased capacity in CSOs administration of WASH activities through effective resource mobilizations and program implementations.
Target Audience & Coverage
- This WASH awareness campaign will target all demographics – women, children, youth, men, the aged, the disabled and the economically vulnerable – utilizing or benefiting from WASH services in one way or another in the target districts.
- To help with messaging and delivery the target audience may be categorized as primary, secondary and service providers:
- Primary Audience Consumers: The primary audience of this awareness campaign will be the end users of WASH services in peri-urban, rural growth centres and rural areas. A gender and social inclusive focus will be important. It is expected that there will be some targeted activities focusing on women’s and youth groups.
- Secondary Audience Champions: The secondary audience for the campaign will be influential members of the community (groups and individuals) this may include Traditional leaders Councillors, Church leaders, civic leaders/leaders of local organizations, teachers, and other government extension workers in the area. Some of the secondary audience may be considered “channels” for communicating to the primary audience.
- Primary Audience Consumers: The primary audience of this awareness campaign will be the end users of WASH services in peri-urban, rural growth centres and rural areas. A gender and social inclusive focus will be important. It is expected that there will be some targeted activities focusing on women’s and youth groups.
Geographic Focus
- The grants under USAID Expanding WASH will support organizations to implement activities in the two districts of Lunte and Mungwi in Northern province of Zambia.
Eligibility Criteria
- This RFA is targeted at civil society organisations and NGOs having presence in the province which are target districts. All qualified organizations have a fair opportunity to submit applications for funding. Organizations legally restricted from receiving US Government funded assistance will not be considered. Thus, applicants should:
- Be legally recognized and registered organisation. Current and updated registration documents and statutes must be submitted.
- Demonstrate experience undertaking WASH activities (participation in commemoration of WASH days or health days or health campaigns).
- Demonstrate experience in mass education approaches and awareness campaigns.
- Have been active for the last 12 Months.
- Be directly responsible for preparation and management of the project, not acting as an intermediary or consultant.
- Not be affiliated with a political party nor engaged in any political activities.
For more information, visit USAID.