Deadline: 7-May-23
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF), an independent agency of the United States Government, is seeking applications from organizations that have the expertise and experience to provide technical assistance and support to grassroots groups who are seeking or are recipients of funding from USADF. The prospective Partner organization will be based in Bujumbura.
Through this RFA, USADF seeks applications from not-for-profit and for-profit organizations that would be interested in partnering with USADF to strengthen their own capacity while utilizing their core competency and experience to support grassroots groups as they undertake self-help socio-economic development activities. USADF will award a one-year cooperative agreement grant, which may be renewable for up to five years of service depending on performance during each year of the cooperative agreement. The prospective Partner organization would be based in Bujumbura with frequent travel of key personnel in Burundi.
Objectives
- Build self-supporting, sustainable local community development agencies that provide technical assistance and support to grassroots groups
- Establish strategic linkages with national and local governments, other donor agencies, and the local private sector to support sustainable grassroots development
- Encourage the utilization of participatory development “best practices.”
Eligible Activities
- The Partner will assist grassroots groups and organizations by working collaboratively with such entities in the promotion, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of their projects. Program Activities will include the following:
- Initiating and maintain contact with Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), other donors working with grassroots groups in Burundi, and relevant host government ministries and services; comparing best practices; sharing lessons learned; and coordinating assistance;
- gathering and maintaining information on the development opportunities in Burundi that are appropriate for support by USADF and other donors. This includes remaining current on the development activities and priorities of the broader development community in Burundi and reaching out to local communities and representatives of marginalized and underserved segments of the country’s population;
- preparing sector or value chain analyses to assist USADF applicants in developing and documenting the need and opportunity for proposed projects and to assist USADF grantees in executing approved projects;
- assisting grant applicants to design sustainable development projects placing particular emphasis on: development of long-term strategies; necessary analyses and feasibility studies to assess project viability; design of technical components, budgets, management and implementation plans; gathering baseline data; and assessing training needs;
- providing appropriate technical assistance and training to grassroots entities in the development and implementation of their activities;
- promoting cooperative principles and effective financial and administrative management practices and ethical values, including: transparency, separation of responsibilities, and equitable distribution of benefits;
- assisting grantees to assess the quality of work by prospective vendors and to achieve cost-savings in negotiating rates with prospective vendors;
- overseeing consultants and other parties providing technical assistance to grantees in order to ensure adherence to participatory development principles and provision of timely, effective and comprehensive service to the grantee;
- providing counsel on business, income generation and community development planning; facilitating links between producers, suppliers, and local and regional markets for producer groups and small businesses;
- identifying and facilitating links to other sources of funding, as needed;
- assisting grantees in meeting their reporting and other obligations under their grant agreements with USADF and advising on technology choices and techniques;
- conducting project monitoring through periodic site visits to grantees:
- monitor grantee data collection and management of project resources;
- assist grantees to evaluate the progress they are making toward achievement of project goals and objectives
- assist grantees in anticipating problems which have the potential to impede progress or require modifications to the business plan;
- identify any problems which may already be impairing progress;
- assist grantees in developing strategies to overcome any such problems; and
- assist grantees in the preparation of reports required under their agreements, including verification of data in the reports;
- liaising with USADF staff (Country Program staff and Washington staff) and other USADF stakeholders Burundi to diagnose problems and provide remediation assistance to USADF grantees; and
- developing means to replicate successful, innovative, and cost-effective community-based activities.
Eligibility Criteria
- USADF provides funds to Burundian small enterprises and community-based groups, particularly those benefiting youth and women, in the Agricultural Production and Marketing sectors, to secure the technical, managerial, and marketing assistance they need to enhance their impact and sustainability.
- Funding criteria for USADF’s projects emphasize the following principles:
- community participation and ownership;
- significant economic and social impact on low-income communities; and
- impact commensurate with the level of investment, sustainability, and potential for replication of the activity.
For more information, visit U.S. African Development Foundation.