Deadline: 15-Feb-23
The United States Agency for International Development through its Mission in India (USAID/India) is seeking Concept Papers for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the Innovations for Reducing Plastics for a Cleaner Environment in India (inREPLACE) Activity.
Purpose
- The purpose of the activity is to reduce plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, through improvements in solid waste management and advancing a plastics circular economy in selected regions of India. Through the activity, USAID/India will partner with the Government of India (GOI) to address the plastic pollution challenge by:
- improving plastic and solid waste management planning, infrastructure, and services; and
- addressing the life cycle impacts of plastics and other materials by promoting a circular economy. Together, the aim is to better manage plastic waste already produced and reduce future SUP. Each component of this Activity will integrate cross-cutting elements of private sector engagement and communication for social and behavioral change.
Priorities
The Government of India (GOI) has made reduction of plastic pollution a national priority through enactment of various policy measures such as:
- Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations
- Goal of “Garbage Free Cities” under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
- Prime Minister Modi’s single-use plastic ban
- Launch of the “Lifestyle For Environment” (LiFE) movement that includes promoting climate-friendly approaches for waste management
Funding Information
- USAID intends to award one Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $30,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five-year period. USAID reserves the right to change funding amounts and terms of the resulting Cooperative Agreement as a result of availability of funds and U.S. Government requirements.
Outcomes
- Improve solid waste management planning, infrastructure, and services.
- SWM improved through increased efficiencies in service delivery (e.g. collection, transport, and segregation)
- Engagement with local governments fostered to improve SWM and implement plastic waste reduction policies.
- Informal waste collectors, particularly women, empowered and integrated into the overall SWM system.
- Address lifecycle impacts of plastics and other materials by promoting a circular economy.
- Packaging design improved for recyclability and/or to ensure long-lasting use.
- Recycling and reuse of single-use and other “problem plastics” enhanced.
- Plastic alternatives increased through investments in innovations.
Anticipated Results and Indicators
- The activity will contribute to improving plastic and SWM planning, infrastructure, and services, and addressing the life cycle impacts of plastics and other materials by promoting a circular economy in order to reduce plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
- The Concept Paper shall propose intermediate results that will help inform its content areas and initiatives. Applicants are expected to propose activities that are appropriate and relevant to the situation. Potential indicators are outlined below, but the final list of indicators will be developed during co-creation:
- Amount of municipal solid waste (in Metric Tons) diverted from the environment supported by USG assistance – disaggregated by waste type: plastic, organic, residual.
- Number of policy instruments that promote reduction of plastic pollution and sustainable management of municipal solid waste supported by USG assistance.
- Amount of investment mobilized (in USD) for 3R/SWM infrastructure and operations.
- Percentage of annual plastic and packaging waste recycled with USG assistance.
- Number of innovations developed or supported to promote a circular economy.
- Number of technology demonstration projects initiated with USG assistance.
- Number of institutions with increased capacity to assess or address 3R/SWM issues supported by USG assistance.
- Proportion of population in assisted areas with access to solid waste collection and/or recycling programs.
- Number of informal waste collectors, including women and other marginalized groups, integrated into the formal system with USG assistance.
- Number of individuals trained in 3R/SWM practices.
- % of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic resources (assets, credit, income or employment).
- Number of individuals trained with USG assistance to advance outcomes consistent with gender equality or female empowerment outcomes through their roles in public or private sector institutions or organizations.
Proposed Geographic Focus Areas
- In their response to the solicitation, offerors will propose where their interventions will be implemented and provide the justification for the selection based on the greatest potential to reduce plastic pollution entering waterways and the marine environment. The final selection of geographic locations will be at the co-design stage, in consultation with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- The Activity is aligned with USAID/India’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (2020-24) and other USAID priorities such as the Climate Strategy, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Private Sector Engagement Strategy, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy, USAID’s policy for Sustainable Service Delivery in an Increasingly Urbanized World, and USAID priorities on inclusive development and working with under-represented communities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility for this NOFO is unrestricted, open to all eligible and qualified U.S., local, and international non-governmental organizations. An organization may submit only one (1) application under this notice of funding opportunity. However, organizations participating as a member of a consortium may elect to participate in another consortium under a different Concept Paper.
- It is USAID policy not to award profit under assistance instruments such as Cooperative Agreements. While for-profit organizations may participate, Prohibition against Profit, no profit will be paid to any for- profit entity receiving or administering Federal financial assistance as a recipient or subrecipient.
- USAID welcomes organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID to submit their applications.
- Applicants must have successfully registered in SAM prior to submitting a full application. Applicants must also provide a valid UEI number in the SF424 form to be submitted along with a full application. For those who have previously registered in SAM, they must renew and maintain an active SAM registration during the time they have concept notes or applications under consideration by a Federal awarding agency or during active Federal award.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.