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Name of Project: USAID Strategic Partnership Program
Request for Applications (RFA) No. RFA-USAID SPP-2024-002
Date of Issue: 30th January 2024
Closing Date for Receipt of Applications: 17th February 2024
Questions on this solicitation should be submitted to e-mail address provided no later than the date indicated: Email: careerssbs@strathmore.edu / dnyoro@strathmore.edu
No later than: 8th February 2024
Question Response Date: 8th February 2024
1.0 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
The USAID Strategic Partnership Program (USAID SPP) is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded program being implemented by Strathmore University Business School. The program brings together different stakeholders to advocate for economic development and empowerment of people in various communities through enterprises, business associations and cooperatives in inclusive and deliberate advocacy and support efforts.
The program is structured around three distinct components: Kenya Small Business Development Centers (Kenya SBDC), The Transformational Resilience Programming (TRP) and the Agency Voice of the Private Sector (AVPS). Collectively, these three components form a dynamic consortium, working in concert to advance developmental change within the program’s scope. Each component brings unique expertise and strategies, synergizing efforts toward the program’s objectives.
Transformational Resilience Programming (TRP) is one of the components under the USAID SPP and it seeks to transform the resilience programming landscape of Kenya by supporting both levels of Government in development as well as implementation of Policies and strategies towards a more Competitive, Inclusive and Resilient Economy. It also seeks to promote transformative private sector-led investments that expand economic opportunities in vulnerable communities.
Objectives Transformational Resilience Programming Component;
- Increased resilience investments: It will facilitate and operationalize strategic and transformational investments in an integrated resilience framework.
- Creation of local ownership and commitment to building regional resilience that enables sustainable and inclusive growth moving forward: It will support an inclusive, coherent, and locally owned resilience programming for multiple shocks and disasters, ensuring that stakeholders develop and own it at all levels, from national to sub-national and community levels.
- Institutionalized knowledge management and coordination platforms: It will support the development of a system for data collection, analysis, modeling, prediction, and feedback loops to inform locally-led decisions in building and strengthening resilience.
- Capacity building of institutions at national, sub-national, and community levels: It will support the necessary technical capacity and human and financial resources allocated to implement the new resilience programming framework.
- Finance mobilization: It will support the development and implementation of a strategy for mobilizing public and private sector financing.
1.1 Funding Opportunity
The purpose of the Sub-grant is to support the Government of Kenya (GoK) in conducting a post drought impact assessment for the 2021 -2023 drought episode. National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) will lead collaborative efforts with other stakeholders to undertake the impact assessment.
1.2 Rationale
Kenya has experienced an increase in frequency and intensity of drought episodes since independence. In 2021-2023, the country experienced the worst drought episode in four decades, with five consecutive failed rain seasons. At the peak of the drought, eight of the twenty-three counties where NDMA has established offices were in the drought ALARM phase and another thirteen were in ALERT phase. Moreover, 4.4 million people in the ASALs and a further 0.5 million people in the traditionally non-ASAL counties faced acute food insecurity and required immediate humanitarian assistance. Malnutrition rate among children aged below 5 years was about 970,000 while 142,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women required urgent life-saving treatment for malnutrition (SRA Report, 2023)
In response to the ravaging drought, the Government of Kenya (National and Counties) and Non-State Agencies invested a huge amount of resources to save lives and livelihoods. As of March 2023, the Government had invested over KSh. 32 billion, and projections showed that another KSh. Forty-nine billion was required to cover the period March – October 2023. The long rains season (March-April-May) set in as projected by the Kenya Meteorological Department across most parts of the country marking the end of the prolonged 2021-2023 drought episode, triggering the need for a study to assess the impact of the drought episode as well as an estimation of resources required for drought recovery and resilience building in readiness for future drought episodes.
Building on the foundations of the Kenya 2012 Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) this study will use a similar approach and methodology that combines two methodologies: the Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment (DaLa) methodology developed by the United Nations Economic Commission and the World Bank, and the Human Recovery Needs Assessment (HRNA) methodology developed by developed by the United Nations.
The Government through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) is commissioning this assessment. The Authority is the government agency mandated by law to coordinate all matters relating to drought risk management in Kenya. The execution of the study will be a collaborative activity involving the Government, development partners and other non- state actors.
1.3 Specific scopes of work include but not limited to:
- Desk study on various approaches to Post Drought Disaster Assessment.
- Conduct thorough economic valuation of various losses and damages associated with the 2021-2023 drought episode.
- Review reference documents and undertake initial analysis to understand the context of drought disasters in Kenya and highlighting the indicators of interest.
- Prepare stakeholder consultations tools (semi-structured interviews, discussion guides).
- Conduct stakeholder consultations guided by the approved consultation plan to collect reliable data/information and solicit stakeholder perspectives on Drought Disasters and climate change.
- Analyze the data/information collected.
- Prepare the draft Post Drought Disaster Assessment report.
- Organize and facilitate Stakeholders validation forums of the Post Drought Disaster Assessment report by stakeholders at various levels (National and County).
- Prepare the final Post Drought Disaster Assessment report incorporating comments from the validation forums for approval.
- Prepare a policy brief for submission to the Ministry of East African Community (EAC), the ASALs and Regional Development and the Council of Governors (CoG).
- Prepare a dissemination framework to various stakeholders.
1.4 Expected Outcomes
This assignment will contribute to:
- Comprehensive Post Drought Disaster Assessment report for the 2021-2023 episode.
- Policy Brief.
- An institutional strengthening plan for NDMA
2.0 AWARD INFORMATION
Any amount that may be indicated below are projections. Applicants should not use them as targets or assume them to be guaranteed amounts.
Grants
Projected number of grants to be awarded: 1
Projected not-to-exceed amount of an individual grant: $125,000
Currency in which grant will be issued and paid: USD
Anticipated period of performance of an individual grant (duration in months): 5 months
Anticipated start date of performance: 26th February 2024
Type of grant that may be issued: Fixed Amount Subaward
- Grantee will receive grant funds in pre-determined fixed amount (non-adjustable) increments only after successful completion of quantifiable or otherwise verifiable milestones.
3.0 WHO CAN APPLY FOR A GRANT?
All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the following eligibility requirements.
- Should be officially licensed to do such business (Certificate of Incorporation/ Business Registration, Tax Compliance Certificate, Business permit, CR 12 Form, KRA PIN).
- USAID SPP anticipates that each of the awards will be carried out by an organization, a firm or consortium of firms. Ideally, the entity demonstrates the following experience and expertise.
- In-depth understanding of dryland areas in Kenya and the regional context, including economic, social, and climate-related aspects.
- In-depth understanding of the intergovernmental mode of government and public sector policy and planning in Kenya, specifically the policy and institutional set-up relating to ASALs development.
- Experience in conducting economic valuation of loss and damage associated with disasters/drought
- Human-centered design, design thinking, systems thinking or other innovative approaches
- Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, including demonstrated understanding of the causal-effect methodology of research.
- Excellent analytical and people skills, including ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and to reconcile differing institutional perspectives and priorities.
- Experience in organizing and facilitating collaborative and inclusive review of complex multi-stakeholder consultation and planning mechanisms.
- Communication and editing skills to support preparation of papers, policy briefs and presentations using multimedia tools, posters, charts, web pages, etc.
- Relevant cross-cutting areas, including specifically gender, youth and social inclusion, Climate mitigation/adaptation,
- Experience in Private sector engagement in economic development, Financial and economic analysis.
4.0 EVALUATION CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria in the table below:
Criteria
Capability and Technical Experience Statement: Maximum Score 60
Cost Proposal: Maximum Score: 20
Past Performance/References: Maximum Score: 20
Total: 100
How to apply
5.0 APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION:
5.1 Application Instructions
- Applications must be submitted in English. (Word/Excel documents, font not smaller than Times New Roman size 11) and include the following elements:
- Offeror must provide the following information.
- Documentation to verify licensure (Business registration certificate, Tax id)
- Demonstration of adequate management and financial resources to perform the contract. This includes HR, Finance and Administration manuals, audited financial statements for the last two years.
- Satisfactory records of performance history, integrity and business ethics
5.2 Submission Instructions:
All applications and related documents should be submitted electronically by 17th February 2024 to careerssbs@strathmore.edu
5.3 Administration of Grants:
USAID SPP will administer grant awards in accordance to the following USAID regulations:
- Code of Federal Regulations 2 CFR 200 and 700; and 48 CFR 31.2
- https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl
- https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-dx?SID=cbb7305b43e022815d30aeaf7b642744&node=pt48.1.31&rgn=div5
- USAID Environmental Procedures 2 CFR Part 216
- https://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/compliance/22cfr216
Please submit all questions concerning this call of applications to the USAID SPP team on email: careerssbs@strathmore.edu / dnyoro@strathmore.edu
All costs associated with responding to this RFA shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant. USAID SPP reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.
Only successful applicants will be contacted; if you are not contacted within 3 months regarding your application, please consider your application not successful.
ANNEXES:
Please contact Dr. Daniel Nyoro dnyoro@strathmore.edu for the REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) TEMPLATE
- Application Form.
- APPLICATION FORM & BUDGET INSTRUCTIONS
- CAPABILITY AND TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE STATEMENT
Applicants to demonstrate capabilities and technical experience by providing the following:
- Organization Overview with a cover page with contact information for follow up questions.
- Statement of Opportunity- Provide a summary of the specific opportunity, challenge, or gap that this specific grant addresses, with specific emphasis on how the activity will build resilience to future shocks in the ASALs.
- Project Description- Using the Application form provided (ANNEX 1), please indicate the project objective and list every activity, a brief Theory of Change statement, specific strategies to identify social inclusion gaps and how they can be addressed, provide a brief statement on how your organization plans to monitor and evaluate the success of this work, brief profile of the proposed project team members, and past performance information relevant to this activity.
COST/BUDGET
- Submit a detailed budget for a 12-month period.
- The proposed budget should have enough detail to allow evaluation of elements of costs proposed. Budgets should be submitted in USD.
PAST PERFORMANCE/ REFERENCES
- Please include three client references and contact information. References should have worked with your organization within the past two years applicable to this RFA