Deadline: 15 May 2020
USAID/Philippines is seeking applications from eligible organizations for an activity that will strengthen critical CSOs and CSO networks serving as local resource organizations (LROs) or with the potential to serve as LROs, and, in turn, strengthen sub-performing CSOs. Some of the anticipated tasks are as follows:
- Conducting an in-depth assessment of gaps and bottlenecks that inhibit identified CSOs/CSO networks that serve as LROs from adequately providing support to constituent CSOs or directly providing services to communities. As part of this effort, the successful Applicant will be expected to update previous USAID and other development partner-assisted assessments of capacity development needs in the civil society sector. The Applicant is expected to work closely with a forthcoming USAID activity that will seek to identify target CSOs and CSO networks that will be supported under this activity.
- Developing capacity and facilitating sustainable operations of the target CSOs and CSO networks that serve as LROs. Organizational capacity should cover both fundamental functional or ‘hard’ skills (e.g. human resource systems, program management, organizational management procedures and systems), as well as adaptive or ‘soft’ competencies (e.g. leadership, problemsolving, social capital, networking, partnering, constituent advocacy), using innovative capacity development approaches and resources. Areas for organizational capacity development should be identified both through relevant USAID and development partner organizational diagnostic and performance tools as well as through organizational stakeholder input to define desired performance improvement priorities. The Applicant is encouraged to design and implement durable, market-based revenue generating models to ensure that interventions undertaken by CSOs/CSO networks that serve as LROs are sustained after project completion.
- Facilitating good financial housekeeping, improved resource mobilization, and financial sustainability of the target CSOs and CSO networks that serve as LROs. The Applicant is encouraged to engage with a professional accountancy organization in line with the broad initiatives of the Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Accountancy and Improve Collaboration (MOSAIC) among donor partners6 in promoting the themes of governance, public financial management, financial reporting and fiduciary work. Additionally, the successful Applicant will be expected to collaborate with and build on the work of the forthcoming USAID Assets, Agency, and Trust Activity, which promotes community philanthropy and similar approaches to mobilize non-donor resources for development.
- Providing intensive support to CSOs and CSO networks that serve as LROs in developing the organizational capacity (functional/hard and adaptive/soft skills as discussed above) and improving financial housekeeping and sustainability of sub-performing civil society organizations.
- In collaboration with a forthcoming USAID/Philippines Local Works activity, assessing existing CSO networks and relationships among critical CSOs, and identifying recommended interventions to optimize key dynamics and relationships in the sector.
- Designing and implementing other interventions to adequately respond to the sectoral assessments.
Funding Information
This Activity will require a minimum cost share of two (2) percent of the total award (e.g. $39,000 for a $1,950,000 award).
Learning Priorities
Concepts must incorporate at least one of the following learning priorities:
- Feedback Mechanisms to ensure that information flows in various directions among local actors, partners, and USAID to improve program effectiveness and sustainability.
- Systems-and-Networks-Based Analytical Approaches, which may allow to better understand the complex environments in which they operate.
- Participatory Decision-Making, which includes locally led priority-setting, collaborative design, and other means of devolving control and ensuring inclusive local leadership.
- Strengthening Local Networks to connect local needs with local resources.
- Local Ownership Approaches to Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning that prioritize local definitions of success.
- Supporting Strategic Transitions, which includes strengthening the role of local institutions and actors to sustain outcomes without foreign assistance.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants:
- Must be local actors in the Philippines. When determining if an entity is a “local actor” for the purposes of this APS, USAID will consider:
- Whether the entity is legally organized under the laws of the Philippines;
- Whether the entity has its principal place of business or operations in the Philippines;
- Whether the entity is majority owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the Philippines;
- Whether the entity is managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the Philippines; and
- Whether the entity has projects, offices, and/or registration in other countries, and whether key management decisions are taken by the office located in the Philippines or elsewhere.
- Must be local actors in the Philippines. When determining if an entity is a “local actor” for the purposes of this APS, USAID will consider:
- Cannot have received more than $5 million in direct funding from USAID in the past five years.
- Cannot be a U.S.-based organization. U.S.-based organizations are not eligible as prime awardees under this APS.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=325771