Deadline: 16 April 2020
USAID seeks to identify innovative solutions for fostering civil society organization (CSO)-private sector partnerships to support business and professional associations in Azerbaijan with the purpose of promoting economic growth in the non-oil sector.
USAID posits that the approach will allow for a multiplication of outreach and engagement with community-level organizations, entrepreneurs, small to medium sized business owners, other international donors, corporations, and the Government of Azerbaijan as each stakeholder has something to offer and something to gain from the partnership approach. These activities will complement USAID’s close collaboration with the Government of Azerbaijan to advance enduring partnership, both with the government and with Azerbaijan’s private sector and citizens, as well as support the diversification of Azerbaijan’s economy.
USAID/Azerbaijan believes that supporting the development of, and strengthening, business and professional associations through partnerships with civil society, the private sector, and the government of Azerbaijan would accelerate the improvement in the economic enabling environment, ultimately contributing to the diversification of the economy.
USAID is seeking to identify organizations – from civil society, associations, and the private sector – who would come together as groups, coalitions, or consortia, to suggest and test new ways of supporting nascent and established Azerbaijani business and professional associations towards improved diversification of Azerbaijan’s economy. Anticipated outcomes of this approach are a more active citizenry, more citizen-government opportunities for engagement, and improved enabling environment for small and medium businesses in Azerbaijan.
Criteria
The following criteria will be applied to all Expressions of Interest:
- Idea/Approach: Soundness of your idea/approach, including appropriate evidence, to fostering systems that address challenges and harness opportunities.
- Partnership expectations and value: Tell about the unique qualities you would bring to the discussion and in solving the challenge of building a strong cadre of business and professional associations in Azerbaijan.
- Diversity of perspectives and capabilities: USAID seeks to bring together a diverse set of co-creators in collaboration in order to enable broader thinking and innovation, which may include organizations and entities with which USAID does not typically partner.
- Impact and goals of the activities: Describe the intended outcomes and goals of your suggested approach. Indicate how your suggested approach addresses USAID priorities for inclusive development (gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, addressing power imbalances with marginalized communities) as appropriate.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=325517