Subject: Request for Applications (RFA) for Organizational Strengthening Capacity Building

Issuance Date: July 31, 2015

Closing Date: September 14, 2015

Closing Time: 17:00HR GMT

Subject: Request for Applications (RFA) for Organizational Strengthening Capacity Building (OSC)

Reference: Issued Under AID-OAA-A-13-00085

Africa Leadership Building Capacity for African Agricultural Transformation (Africa Lead )

The Africa Lead II Program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support capacity building under the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future (FTF) Initiative and the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). Africa Lead is seeking grant applications for organizational strengthening capacity building activities to develop the knowledge and skills of non-state actors (NSA) organizations to be able to effectively advocate for and effectively engage in agricultural transformation.

The Bureau of Food Security at USAID has established three priority areas of agriculture policy change: changes in policies themselves, changes in systems to formulate and implement policy changes, and laying the foundations for the next generation of policy change. Africa Lead concentrates on the systems change priority. Changing systems requires clear and publicly accessible policy agendas that are subject to testing by evidence derived from various stakeholders. And it requires an open process by which stakeholders from across the agriculture spectrum are provided space to interact with one another and engage the government with articulated and evidence-derived positions with respect to existing and potential policies.

The role that Africa Lead plays in this systems change process is as a catalyst and connector for learning and innovations in individual leadership behavior, in institutional performance and in the policy process, especially including supporting increased injection of evidence into policy debate and decision-making and in strengthening engagement of civil society. In particular, Africa Lead advances four core elements of systems change: evidence-based planning, mutual accountability, coordination and inclusiveness, and policy plans and institutional capacity. Africa Lead does this in part by building upon the “community of practice networks” of Champions for Change—a “leadership brand” of agriculture change agents, increasingly recognized within Africa, who have the skills, the breadth of view and the motivation to initiate transformation in the way agriculture and food security are thought about and approached in their various institutions.

The project will hold a pre-application workshop in Accra on August 13, 2015 (times and locations of workshops will be sent with the registration confirmation). This workshop will allow eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about the Request for Application (RFA) and receive guidance on how to complete the application form. Interested applicants that meet the eligibility requirements defined in Section III below and would like to attend this workshop must confirm their attendance by sending the participants’ name(s) and the organization’s name to (please reference RFA-002) by Thursday August 06, 2015. Organizations can nominate a maximum number of two representatives to attend the workshop. While the workshop is recommended to all interested applicants, it is not a requirement for submission.

Africa Lead and DAI employees may not ask for, and applicants are prohibited from offering, any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation to obtain or reward improper favorable treatment regarding this solicitation. Any improper request from a project employee should be reported to Project’s Regional Director.

The ceiling value of budgets submitted for this RFA should not exceed $75,000, contingent upon the availability of USAID funding. The period of performance for the grant is expected to be 12 months, October 1, 2015-September 30, 2016.

Any funds not expended during the approved period of performance will revert to the Africa Lead II program. DAI, as primary implementer of the Africa Lead II program, reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

Pursuant to 22 CFR 226.81, it is USAID policy not to allow profit-charging under assistance instruments such as grant awards. However, all reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the grant program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (22 CFR 226, OMB Circular A-122 for non-profit organization, OMB Circular A-21 for universities, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 31 for-profit organizations), may be paid under the grant.

The attached RFA is consists of the following sections:

Section 1 – Grant Application Instructions

Section 2 – Special Grant Requirements

Section 3 – Selection Process

Annexes

Grant applications shall be submitted in PDF (preferred) or other electronic format to Toni Mpoy at .

If prospective applicants have any questions about this RFA, they should be addressed in writing to Toni Mpoy at the above-noted email address. The deadline for submitting questions is August 28, 2015.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of Africa Lead II, nor does it commit Africa Lead II to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense.

Applicants should retain for their records one copy of all enclosures which accompany their application.

Thank you for your interest in the Africa Lead II Program.

Sincerely,

Carla Denizard

Regional Director

Africa Lead II Program

Organizational Strengthening Capacity Building

Request for Applications

Table of Contents

Section 1 – Grant Application Instructions 5

A. Completion and submission of applications 7

B. Preparation Instructions – Technical 7

C. Preparation Instructions – Financial and Administrative Documentation 8

Section 2. Special Grant Requirements 9

Section 3. Selection Process 11

Annex 1: Mandatory Standard Provisions 14

Annex 2: Application Form 15

Annex 3: CV Form 22

Annex 4: Financial Capability Questionnaire 24

Annex 5: Application Checklist 36

Section I – Program Description

A. BACKGROUND

Africa Lead II is an ambitious program from which USAID expects substantial impact on the capacity and performance of African institutions and networks that are key to bringing about transformation in agriculture and food security across the continent. For the program to meet these expectations for systemic change, it is imperative that it relentlessly learns, improves and sharpens focus, and builds on accomplishments and lessons from year to year.

The theme of the first year of Africa Lead II can be thought of as a year of establishment and of transitioning from the individual “Champion” focus of Africa Lead I to developing a focus on the capacity of key African institutions and individuals within those organizations.

The strategy for Year Two is to systematically work with those institutions and networks – national, regional and continental – that are most critical to agricultural transformation and achievement of CAADP’s Malabo Declaration goals and commitments. During Year Two Africa Lead II aims to lay the foundation for sustained building of organizational (and network) capacity to improve and implement systems change.

The scope of Africa Lead II is divided into three components, as follows:

Component One: Improving Institutional Capacity to Manage Agricultural Development

Component Two: Strengthening Capacity to Manage and Implement the Policy Change and Alignment Process

Component Three: Promoting the Effective, Inclusive Participation of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the Policy Process.

B. OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this RFA is for Africa Lead to award small grants to eligible Africa Lead Networks (or Network host organization) and Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) technical assistance beneficiaries to: (1) improve organizational/institutional capacity of NSAs to design, implement, manage and scale up agricultural/food security development and policy support programs (2) establish and reinforce a results-oriented and learning culture within critical African agriculture organizations; (3) create new and innovative partnerships and leveraging opportunities to expand scope and outreach of our programs.

As with the overall objectives of the Africa Lead program, the grants awarded to eligible organizations will ultimately contribute to help establish “the institutional/organizational architecture to lead African agricultural transformation operating at the highest level of effectiveness and to assist in strengthening core competencies in the African institutions/organizations that are needed to advance agricultural transformation.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Africa Lead is inviting applicants to submit grant applications for the following activities:

1. Institutional and Organizational Capacity Strengthening Initiatives: Medium to long-term capacity building activities to enhance the institutional and technical capabilities of NSA organizations to make meaningful contributions to agriculture policy issues and engage in discussions to effectively implement policies and programs that contribute to the growth of the agriculture sector in Ghana.

Initiatives may include, but are not limited to activities geared towards enhancing, assessing, strengthening or developing organizational capacity to strengthen or expand existing networks and coalitions:

a. Governance practices (Leadership; Board: Role and Responsibilities)

b. Administration( Policies and procedures: procurement, fixed asset control, travel )

c. Financial Management systems (financial controls, budgeting, reporting, audits, cost share)

d. Human Resources (Staffing and skills, personnel policies, staff time management, salary documentation, benefits policy)

e. Program management (Strategic planning, work planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Media Strategy,)

f. Performance and Delivery (Effectiveness delivering on program goal and objectives)

g. Engagement and Learning (Stakeholder Engagement, Peer-to-Peer Learning and Knowledge Management, Reflective Learning and application)

h. Sustainability of outcomes (funding adequacy/diversity, resource mobilization, Program scale reaching intended target beneficiaries)

2. Promote the effective inclusive participation of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the policy process. In order for NSA groups to fully engage with government counterparts, they need to improve their capacity to understand and play their roles as stakeholders and partners in the policy process. To bring dedicated effort and focus to address Non-State Actors’ (NSA) challenges in the areas of capacity, credibility and legitimate representation of different civil society and private sector constituencies in the policy process.

3. Create new and innovative partnerships and leveraging opportunities to expand the scope and outreach of our programs. Leverage can be illustrated by partners who bring resources to a partnership. These resources are called “leverage” which is new, non-public resources – whether money, technologies, or expertise – brought by the private sector and other partners. Leverage may be proposed in a variety of forms, such as:

· anything of value that can be measured;

· financial contributions;

· third party contributions;

· donated services or property; and/or

· intellectual property.

Africa Lead recognizes that some grantees may need technical assistance to more effectively carry out the proposed activities. Consequently applicants are encouraged to specify their needs for technical assistance and/or training for specific parts of the activity implementation in their proposal application.

Section II – Grant Application Instructions

A. Completion and submission of applications

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible organizations are any legally registered organizations that have experience in the areas laid out in the SOW (see Section B-1 below).

Application Submission Requirements

Ø Applications must include:

· Completed Application Form

· CVs of all key members of project team

· Completed Past Performance Statement

· Completed Project Work Plan which details chronology and sequencing of project activities

· Grant Budget and Budget Notes

· Completed Financial Capability Questionnaire and attachments

· Statement of liability (part of application form)

Deadline

Applications must be received by September 14, 2015 no later than 17:00 (GMT). Applications and modifications thereof shall be submitted in electronic format to .

Late Applications

All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed for responsiveness and programmatic merit according to the specifications outlined in these guidelines and the application format. Section C lays out evaluation criteria for each application. Applications that are submitted late or incomplete will not be considered.

B. Preparation Instructions – Technical

Page Limitation: Technical applications should be specific, complete, presented concisely and shall not exceed 10 pages (exclusive of annexes).

Applications submitted in response to this RFA must include the following information:

1. Project Description: The applicant must provide a detailed project design that includes the following goals, objectives, activities, deliverables and intended results as well as a justification of need, rationale, approach, and implementation strategy for the following three sections:

a. Develop institutional and/or organizational capacity strengthening initiatives;

b. Promote the effective inclusive participation of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the policy process initiatives;

c. Create new and innovative partnerships and leveraging opportunities to expand scope and outreach of our programs initiatives;

2. Monitoring + Evaluation: The applicant should define, to the maximum extent possible at the application stage, target results that will be achieved under the grant and a monitoring and evaluation plan for measuring progress on project performance.

3. Personnel: The applicant should identify all key personnel responsible for the successful implementation of the award. Each applicant should provide, as part of their application, detailed curriculum vitae that demonstrate the Key Personnel’s ability to perform the duties outlined in the applicant’s proposal and in accordance with the evaluation factors found herein. Africa Lead II will evaluate the CVs to determine the individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities in the areas listed herein.

4. Organizational Capability: Each applicant shall include information that demonstrates the applicant's expertise and ability to meet or exceed the goals of this program. Applicants should provide evidence of how the organization demonstrates the ability to administer projects like this one effectively and sustainably.

5. Past Performance/Experience: Applicants must present evidence of their past experience in implementing activities supporting the promotion of effective inclusive participation of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the agricultural transformation policy process, or expanding the scope and outreach of our programs. Applicants must explain how this experience will help build a stronger or organizational capacity to effectively carry out their mandate and thereby contribute to transforming African agriculture by leveraging the resources, capabilities, and contributions from their constituents and other partners. Applicants must include descriptions of a minimum of two projects or other similar activities.