New Funding Opportunity - USAID Mali "Civic Engagement Activity in Mali"

Dear friends, The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mali has released a new funding opportunity called “Civic Engagement Activity in Mali”, solicitation number RFA-688-16-000003. Proposed activities should last for five years. The estimated start date will be upon signature of the award, on or about.

Funder: The opportunity is funded by USAID, the U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies.

Eligibility: Any U.S. or international organization, private voluntary organization, non-profit, or for-profit entity (willing to forego profit) is eligible to apply.

Due dates:

  • Application due date: December 23, 2015 at 11pm Mali time

Questions due date:

  • November 25, 2015

Award ceiling: $12M

Cost share: No requirement

Goal: To improve public accountability in Mali by increasing and strengthening citizens’ role in the process.

Objectives:

The program is expected to contribute to the achievement of the following three objectives:

  1. Mechanisms of bottom-up social accountability strengthened – Objective 1 lies at the heart of improved civic engagement and serves as a crucial foundation for the other Objectives. The three sub-results envisioned under this Objective are:

a. CSO effectiveness to provide government oversight and aggregate citizen interest increased; b. Citizen ability to demand improved services, especially health services, through CSO advocacy strengthened; c. Citizens, particularly marginalized groups, have improved access to and oversight of government.

  1. CSOs partnerships with the government and private sector to advance issues of common interests strengthened effectively with government and the private sector to develop public policy and advance issues of common interest – Experience has proven that advocacy is easier when implemented in partnership. Objective 2 builds upon objective one by helping CSOs better engage with Government of Mali (GOM) and the private sector to improve GOM accountability and service delivery. The sub-results under this objective are:

a. Links between CSOs, government, the private sector and the media strengthened; and b. Conflict management mechanisms strengthened.

  1. Citizens’ understanding of their rights and responsibilities and feelings of empowerment to engage with government strengthened – In addition to CSOs, the project aims to directly empower citizens by giving them a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities. Sub-results under Objective 3 include:

a. Citizen understanding of rights and responsibilities increased; and b. Citizen ability to engage government and solve problems through participatory democratic processes improved.

Reporting:

Financial Reports –

  • Quarterly Report: The recipient must submit an SF 425, the Federal Financial Report, via electronic format.
  • Final Report: The recipient must submit within 90 calendar days following the estimated completion date of this award the original and three (3) copies of the final Federal Financial Reports.

Progress Reports –

  • The recipient will prepare and submit to the Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) a quarterly progress report within 30 days after the end of each USG fiscal quarter with the exception of the quarter ending September 30 of each year, when an Annual Report will be required.

Annual Reports –

  • The recipient will submit an annual report for the concluding year, which shall be submitted within 30 calendar days following the close of the USG fiscal year (September 30). Specific information on the July – September quarter will be included as part of the annual report.

Final Report –

  • The recipient must submit a final performance report within ninety (90) days following the estimated completion date of the Agreement.
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