Women s Economic Empowerment Enabling Environment Grant Opportunity

Transcription

1 Women s Economic Empowerment Enabling Environment Grant Opportunity REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS Issue Date: October 15, 2017 Closing Date: November 30, 2018 at 03:00pm Amman Time USAID Cooperative Agreement AID-278-LA CFDA No.: PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT THOROUGHLY The USAID Jordan Local Enterprise Support Project (LENS) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by FHI 360.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction to the USAID LENS Project 2. Overview of the Women s Economic Empowerment Enabling Environment Grant Opportunity 3. Ineligible Activities 4. Grant Opportunity Information 5. Special Considerations for Applicants 6. Application Submission Information 7. Application Review and Evaluation 8. Announcement of Evaluation Results and Next Steps for Short-listed Applicants 9. Disclaimers 10. USAID LENS Grants Manual Attachments: I. Grant Application Form II. Budget III. Action Plan IV. USAID LENS Grants Manual The contents of this Request for Applications are the responsibility of FHI 360 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or the United States Government.

3 1 Introduction to the USAID LENS Project The USAID Jordan Local Enterprise Support Project (USAID LENS) is a five-year project to encourage the long-term economic growth and development potential of underserved Jordanian communities. The project supports the vitality and competitiveness of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) 1 that are often at the heart of individual, family and community livelihood within vulnerable populations and will help empower local communities to design and implement collaborative local economic development (LED) initiatives. USAID LENS works in six Governorates that include large proportions of poverty pockets and vulnerable people including Irbid, Zarqa, Amman (specifically in areas outside of Greater Amman Municipality), Tafilah, Aqaba, and Karak governorates. USAID LENS supports MSEs in several sectors, particularly focusing on Food Processing, Tourism, ICT and Transportation. In its inter-related activities, the project works with public and private sector partners at the municipal, governorate and national levels to develop local environments conducive to investment and MSE growth through the following core activities: Building MSE capacity to enhance competitiveness and productivity: USAID LENS works directly with MSEs in targeted sectors to help them grow and become more competitive. The project also works to build the capacity of business service providers, including associations and chambers, to help them provide better services and training to MSEs. Building stronger local networks to encourage economic development: USAID LENS will work to create, strengthen and expand linkages among and between local institutions in the public and private sectors. Additionally, the project helps connect firms with industry associations, chambers, and Business Service Providers (BSPs) to help boost MSE competitiveness and access to new markets. Building strategic local economic planning capacity: USAID LENS works with local government officials in targeted areas to help them attract investment to their communities, create a better business environment and facilitate growth. Fostering better access to finance: USAID LENS encourages better MSE access to finance by working with developmental and micro-finance institutions to improve their service offerings to firms and individuals, as well as building the capacity of MSEs to borrow. The project also helps clarify the resources available to municipalities for local economic development and supports their capacity to access available resources. Promoting an enabling policy environment: USAID LENS strengthens the overall policy environment by identifying and removing regulatory barriers to MSE growth and by ensuring that local officials have the mandate and administrative authority to carry out local economic development initiatives. 1.1 Women s Economic Empowerment Within the above scope, USAID LENS is mandated to support the economic empowerment of Jordanian women, whose economic disenfranchisement has direct and adverse impacts on the country s economic prosperity and development at the national, regional and community levels. Through its work, USAID LENS seeks to support women to access economic resources, both directly by supporting women s 1 USAID LENS defines a MSE as a business with between 1 and 49 employees.

4 entrepreneurship, employment and access to finance, and indirectly by creating a more enabling environment for women. 2 Overview of the Women s Economic Empowerment Enabling Environment Grant Opportunity 2.1. Grant objectives The primary purpose of this grant is to support organizations and/or coalitions that seek to ameliorate one or multiple constraints to women s economic participation and empowerment by providing innovative solutions to directly or indirectly facilitate women s access to or control over economic resources. Grants are intended to address an overall challenge to women s economic participation, and as such are not restricted to specific sectors or industries. However, awards can support activities in a specific geography or sector. This grant is open to businesses and business service providers (BSPs), or coalitions of these entities. 2 Consortia of firms or BSPs may seek to implement a solution to address an industry wide obstacle to women s employment in the sector, such as employing women in hotel chains or customer facing industries. Coalitions may include local government institutions such as municipalities when the proposal constitutes or is in support of a collaborative local economic development initiative. 2.2 Business Enabling Environment and Women s Economic Empowerment Jordan has achieved remarkable gender equality in health and education, and women s life expectancy, literacy, and women s enrollment in all levels of education have improved dramatically. However, these gains have not led to improvements in women s economic participation or agency. Female unemployment stands at approximately 46% among those seeking work, though the share of economically inactive women is much higher. Women s participation in the labor force is estimated at 13% -- the lowest in the region. The opportunity gap adversely affects not only women, but also families, communities and the national economy. It is estimated that the gender gap in economic participation will induce a reduced potential GDP growth of 0.5 to 0.9 percent per year. The enabling environment is generally considered to be the laws, regulations, policies, trade agreements and public infrastructure that either facilitate or hinder economic activity and efficiency. However, social and cultural norms, business culture and expectations are also powerful aspects of the business enabling environment. These can combine to create unique constraints for women s economic participation and empowerment. Jordanian women s economic participation and empowerment are hindered by unique legal, regulatory, practical, social and cultural barriers. Specific implications include: Disproportionate burden of domestic and care-giving responsibilities within family and community (combined with a lack of services such as child care and transportation) 2 USAID LENS defines a BSP as a non-governmental organization, association or body (for- or not-for-profit) that provides direct or ancillary supporting services.

5 Professional networks that are narrower in relation to men, reducing access to knowledge, mentors, business opportunities, and potential sources of support. Limited mobility, constraining access to social and economic opportunity. Particularly among marginalized populations, underdeveloped soft skills in key areas for business and the workforce, negatively impacting behaviors such as initiative-taking, negotiation, and business communication. Legal barriers to asset ownership etc. 2.3 Anticipated Initiatives The USAID LENS Project Women s Economic Empowerment Enabling Environment Grants will contribute to the mitigation of the barriers described above, by addressing issues of access to and control over resources and/or policy to enhance the enabling environment for women s economic participation. Examples of the type of work targeted by this grant include, but are not limited to, initiatives that accomplish the following: Reducing barriers in specific sectors or geographic areas. For example: A group of businesses located in one area collaborate with a business service provider and municipal authorities to initiate a sustainable childcare solution to facilitate employees with children. Building linkages. For example: Marketing or other activities designed to increase the visibility and market access of businesses owned by women or that address their specific needs and challenges. Capacity building that addresses specific hindrances to women s economic participation and empowerment, including cultural norms, soft skills, or other needs whether at the national, local or sector level. For example: BSPs collaborate to develop and deliver, on a regular, sustainable basis, an educational/training curriculum to address women s aspirations to acquire skills that facilitate their entrance into the workforce, especially into non-traditional and/or gender nonconforming sectors, such as running a bakery, driving a bus or working in the building trades. This may also include activities intended to facilitate women s access to information and technology. Collaborative action initiatives that convene and mobilize coalitions of private and/or public sector actors to address complex and interrelated gender challenges affecting women s economic participation and empowerment. For example: Private sector entities collaborate to pilot an initiative to improve women s transport access and safety in a defined geographical area or between geographical areas. Public awareness or advocacy campaigns that seek to overcome barriers to women s participation and empowerment among the general public and/or key decision-makers. For example: A coalition of BSPs advocates for changes in laws, regulations and/or rules that obstruct women s ability to independently access finance. Gender diversity and workplace fairness. Activities that address workplace discrimination effects in hiring, pay and promotions, that seek to change business culture and practices or that address sexual harassment and GBV in or related to the workplace. For example: A group of businesses in a sector seeks technical support to devise, revise and/or implement new human resource policies to facilitate an equitable and safe work environment for employees. Or, for example: A group of businesses in a sector or a geography seek to assess the inclusiveness and fairness of corporate practices such as procurements and corporate social responsibility.

6 2.4 Anticipated Impact Applications must include programs that reach a minimum of 50 women, and must clearly detail how the activities proposed will directly contribute to overcoming specific barriers to women s economic empowerment in Jordan, thereby leading to new jobs, income, and/or other sustainable and measurable benefits. 2.5 Anticipated Results Applications will be evaluated based on the proposed results against primary and secondary indicators, and the realism of reaching the proposed results. Primary Indicators Priority indicators are central to the success of the grant and capture the principal desired outcomes from the grant s implementation. The primary indicators relate to the impact of the proposed activity on women s economic participation, women s access to and control over productive economic resources, and women s access to services that facilitate women s participation and agency. Primary indicators are essential to USAID LENS technical evaluation process and a key metric for the success of the grant and activity. Indicator 1. Number of women and girls benefiting from new or improved services that facilitate one or more aspects of women s economic participation and empowerment 2. Number of women benefiting from increased access to productive economic resources 3. Number of legal instruments drafted, proposed or adopted, designed to promote gender equality or non-discrimination against women/girls at the national or sub-national level. Definition Services are those provided specifically to facilitate women s economic participation and/or empowerment. Illustrative examples of such services include legal assistance and counseling, skills training, business development services, stand-alone employment training that does not also include job placement following the training, child care and transport solutions, health services and counseling, shelters, etc. This indicator counts the number of women who will access productive economic resources through the proposed activity. Productive economic resources include: assets (including land, housing, businesses, livestock or financial assets such as savings); credit; wage or self-employment; and income. This indicator refers to any official document issued by a government (e.g., law, policy, action plan, constitutional amendment, decree, strategy, regulation) designed to promote or strengthen gender equity, equality or nondiscrimination on the basis of sex at the national or subnational level (including local or community) level. It may affect either formal or informal groups or institutions. To be counted, it should have as its objective or intent one or more of the following: Reducing social, economic, or political inequalities that discourage or prevent women s economic participation

7 or women s access to or control over productive resources; Ensuring that women and men have equal opportunities to benefit from and contribute to social, political, economic, and cultural development, to realize their human rights, or to have access to/control over resources necessary to survive and thrive; Preventing gender-related discrimination or compensating for past gender-related discrimination or historical disadvantage. Secondary Indicators Secondary indicators relate to the impact of the proposed activity on women-owned MSEs, including start-ups and existing businesses, regardless of their formality. Therefore, initiatives focused on supporting women s entrepreneurship and/or businesses owned by women may be required to establish targets and collect the following data related to the performance of the MSEs targeted. Indicator Number of women-owned MSEs reached with MSE support services Number of women-owned MSEs with more revenue Number of women-owned MSEs with increased linkages Number of firms owned by women that receive technical assistance to Definition This indicator tracks the number of MSEs that have received support services enabled or facilitated by USAID LENS. This number includes not only existing MSEs, but also start-up MSEs established as a result of USAID LENS activities, including technical assistance and the project s grants program. Support services are defined as the full range of commercial, embedded and subsidized business support services provided to MSEs by other firms, MFIs, business associations and chambers of commerce, as well as the project through direct technical assistance and other services. Revenue is used as a proxy for profitability, and revenue requested by this indicator is the gross revenue which is the total sales before deduction of taxes or other costs. Linkage is defined as any instance of short- or long-term mutually beneficial cooperation between two or more entities. The definition is broad and includes outsourcing relationships, new customer relationships, entering into business contracts, joining BSPs and other business and advocacy organizations, receiving services from LDUs, developing partnerships and mentorships on a formalized basis, joint procurement, use of BDS, as well as joint participation in networking and capacity-building activities. This definition does not apply to participation in networking events or capacity building activities organized by the project unless a formalized business relationship results from this activity. In other words, MSEs simply attending training or networking events are not included in this indicator. Technical assistance includes the transfer of knowledge and/or expertise by way of staff, formal or informal skills training, and research work to support quality of program implementation and impact, support administration, management, representation, publicity, policy

8 improve business performance Number of businesses owned by women that formalize as a result of the proposed intervention Number of person hours of training completed in the business enabling environment (BEE) development and capacity building. The technical assistance should have the explicit goal of improving business performance in terms of profit and revenue or employment through improving management or workers generic financial or management practices, or industry or market-specific knowledge and practices. Technical assistance includes both human and institutional resources. Technical assistance does not include financial assistance. Targeted beneficiaries that register their businesses, thus entering the formal sector. The BEE is defined as improving policies, laws, regulations, and administrative practices affecting the private sector. Includes reducing barriers to competition and unwarranted distortions to market prices; reducing policy and regulatory barriers to establishing, operating, and closing businesses; strengthening the legal framework surrounding property rights that is fair to both men and women, contract enforcement, and dispute resolution, along with the administration of those laws; reducing incentives for corruption and promoting transparent business practices; strengthening the legal framework surrounding intellectual property rights; and improving laws and regulations affecting the creation, dissemination, and use of technology. It also includes improving policies and regulations affecting technology choices and production behaviors with environmental impacts; and improving policies, laws, and regulations affecting hiring and firing of workers, wages, working conditions, and labormanagement relations. Includes support for specific improvements as well as efforts to strengthen the institutions that contribute to designing and implementing further improvements. USAID LENS will provide partners with their reporting templates and provide guidance in meeting the data collection requirements. In addition, Offerors must explain in their application their approach to collecting all required data and can include the costs of data collection in their applications. This could include staff time to monitor and follow up with beneficiaries, transportation costs for site visits, development of database or a website to collect or report on these results. 3. Ineligible Activities The following services are ineligible, but are not limited to: Purchasing of vehicles Equity financing and loans Activities directly related to animal husbandry Retail services that specifically relate to retail of beauty centers, mobile phone accessories, computer accessories, Construction services, housing projects, construction and related vehicles, and construction materials and supplies. USAID LENS would be able to purchase machinery and equipment

9 needed for such facilities, but cannot cover costs associated with actual construction; these must be covered by the grantee. Office stationary supplies 4 Grant Opportunity Information 4.1 Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be private sector entities (including, but not limited to, for- and not-for-profit entities, universities, research organizations, professional associations relevant special interest associations. Applicant must be officially registered with the appropriate Jordanian supervisory body or ministry with headquarters based in Jordan. Have valid licenses required to operate in their field. Although applicants to this opportunity may be for profit or not-for-profit entities, profit is not an allowable cost under this mechanism. Indirect costs are also not allowed, but can be converted to direct costs to be accepted. USAID LENS will consider applications from Jordanian and non-jordanian entities, dependent on the conditions that apply based on grantee country of origin. 4.2 Grant Parameters Funding Limit: The requested amount per application must not exceed JOD150,000. USAID LENS may make awards in a range of amounts based on the quality of the applications received. Implementation Period: The implementation period must not exceed nine months (9 months), Multiple Applications: o An applicant may not submit more than one application under this grant opportunity at the same time. o An applicant may submit applications to any other available grant opportunities published by USAID LENS Project. o An applicant may be implementing another grant award from USAID LENS at the time of applying to this solicitation. If shortlisted for award under this solicitation, USAID LENS will seek to ensure an applicant can manage multiple grant awards simultaneously before awarding a second grant. o Coalitions: Applications may be submitted by coalitions; however, one of the partner applicants must act as the lead and submit the application on behalf of the partners. If awarded a grant, the lead applicant will be required to sign the grant agreement and assume overall responsibility for management and reporting requirements described in the grant agreement. Eligibility criteria apply to all coalition members 4.3 Grant Package Applicants must submit the following: Application Form (Attachment I) Budget (Attachment II) Action plan (Attachment III) Certificate of Registration or Incorporation Papers.

10 Optional Documentation: other material such as brochures, research reports, samples of publications and results of past programs are very welcome. Note: If a follow-on project is proposed the final report and supporting cost information from the last project must be submitted. (English translation desirable, but not required). Language: Applications should be submitted in English. Currency: The budgeted costs must be represented in Jordanian Dinars (JD). Authorized Signatory: The application form (Attachment I) should be signed by a person duly authorized to submit an application on behalf of the applicant and to bind the applicant to the application. The application form shall include name, title, and and telephone number of the person or persons who are authorized to discuss and accept a grant, if awarded. 5 Special Considerations for Applicants 5.1. Sectors and Geographical Coverage Activities under the grant can be implemented in any sector and any governorate of Jordan. However, preference may be given to USAID LENS targeted geographies of Kerak, Irbid, Zarqa, Tafilah, Aqaba or Amman (outside of the Greater Amman Municipality) Gender Equality and Inclusion Across all of its initiatives, USAID LENS is committed to reflecting the principles of the US Agency for International Development s 2012 Policy on Gender Equality and Women s Empowerment and to assist the Government of Jordan to realize the goal, established in the government s Vision 2025 economic plan, of increasing women s economic participation as a key element of the country s sustainable development. As noted above, USAID LENS seeks proposals that demonstrate the potential to advance women s economic inclusion, participation and empowerment. Among other evaluation criteria, all proposals will be evaluated and scored with respect to their impact on the following aspects of women s inclusion, participation and empowerment: 1) The extent to which the activity proposed will increase women s access to or control over productive economic resources. Productive economic resources include assets such as land, housing, businesses, livestock; financial assets such as savings and credit; wage or self-employment, and income. 2) The extent to which women can access or benefit from social services that facilitate their economic participation and empowerment. Social services are defined as those provided specifically to empower women and girls. Examples include legal assistance and counseling, skills training, business development services, stand-alone employment training that does not also include job placement following the training, health services and counseling, shelters, etc. 3) The extent to which social, economic, or political inequalities between women and men will be reduced in activities that propose to strengthen the enabling environment through policy advocacy, advancement and reform. Policy affecting the enabling environment is defined as law, policy, or

11 procedures at the community, regional, national or local level and may affect either formal or informal groups Environmental Compliance The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, Section 117 requires that the impact of USAID s activities on the environment be considered and that USAID include environmental sustainability as a central consideration in designing and carrying out its development programs. This mandate is codified in Federal Regulations (22 CFR 216) and in USAID s Automated Directives System (ADS) Parts g and 204 ( which, in part, require that the potential environmental impacts of USAID-financed activities are identified prior to a final decision to proceed and that appropriate environmental safeguards are adopted for all activities. In addition, the contractor/recipient must comply with host country environmental regulations unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID. In case of conflict between host country and USAID regulations, the latter shall govern. No activity funded under this grant will be implemented unless an environmental threshold determination, as defined by 22 CFR 216, has been reached for that activity, as documented in a Request for Categorical Exclusion (RCE), Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), or Environmental Assessment (EA) duly signed by the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO). (Hereinafter, such documents are described as approved Regulation 216 environmental documentation. ) 5.4. Investment by Applicants to Leverage USAID LENS Resources To support sustainability, applicants must demonstrate a willingness to invest their own resources into this endeavor, either through cash or in-kind contributions of a recommended 20% of total program value. In-kind contributions can include donated staff time or reduced rates for staff dedicated to the project, or dedicated office space and utility costs associated with the percentage of space dedicated to this project. Cash contributions can include hiring new staff to manage and implement the program, opening new offices in LENS target governorates, covering the costs of catering or venues at training and other events, subsidizing transportation and other costs for participants to attend, marketing costs to increase awareness of the program, and costs for equipment and services required to implement the program Additional Notes All grantees might be required to participate in meetings aimed at improving communication and cooperation between grantees. In addition, USAID LENS will support grantees in building their capacity in the area of grants management to ensure compliance with all USAID regulations. 6 Application Submission Information 6.1. Contact Information USAID Local Enterprise Support Project (LENS) Website: LENSGrants@jordanlens.org

12 6.2. Solicitation Workshops Date and location of solicitation workshops will be announced on the project website Clarifications Method: Requests for clarification(s) will receive a response. Requests should be submitted via to: LENSGrants@jordanlens.org Responses: USAID LENS will provide consolidated responses to the requests for clarifications. These responses will be shared with all who attended the solicitation workshops and will be posted on the website and through USAID LENS field offices Proposal Deadline & Delivery Applications are accepted from 15 October 2017 to 30 November 2017 between 09:00am and 04:00pm time. Applications must be submitted via to: LENSGrants@jordanlens.org. They should be clearly marked in the Subject line: Enabling Environment. 7 Application Review and Evaluation USAID LENS intends to award grants resulting from this solicitation to applicants whose applications meet eligibility requirements and meet or exceed minimum evaluation criteria. Evaluation process is described below Preliminary Evaluation USAID LENS will evaluate applications according to the following criteria: Administrative compliance verification that the application is complete and that the application file includes all items required. Eligibility verification that the applicant and the proposed activities are eligible according to the eligibility criteria described in section Technical Evaluation and Scoring of Eligible Applications: USAID LENS will evaluate applications based upon the evaluation criteria listed below. An application can be categorized as unacceptable when it has many deficiencies or gross omissions or both and thereby: (1) demonstrates a failure to understand much of the scope of work necessary to perform the required tasks; (2) fails to provide a reasonable, logical approach to fulfilling much of the requirements; or (3) fails to meet the personnel requirements. A finding of unacceptable in one technical evaluation factor may result in the entire application being found to be unacceptable. Reservation - Based on the volume of applications submitted, USAID LENS reserves the right to conduct an initial internal technical evaluation of applications, after which the Grants Evaluation Committee (GEC) will review a sub-set of the proposals that are most relevant to USAID LENS project objectives and the objectives of this grant opportunity.

13 Technical Evaluation Criteria and Passing Score The criteria reflect the requirements of this particular solicitation. Applicants should note that these criteria: (1) serve as the standard against which all applications will be evaluated; and (2) serve to identify the significant matters that applicants should address in their applications. The passing score is the total of 70 points (or above) out of 100 points, divided on the selection criteria below. Criteria Overall Technical Approach identifies a clear constraint to women s economic empowerment and reflects a theory of change that is logical, realistic, and appropriate to the context. Likelihood that the work will contribute directly and/or indirectly to USAID LENS primary indicators: The number of women and girls benefiting from new or improved services that facilitate one or more aspects of women s economic participation and empowerment The number of women benefiting from increased access to productive economic resources The number of legal instruments drafted, proposed or adopted, designed to promote gender equality or non-discrimination against women/girls at the national or sub-national level, as well as secondary indicators as outlined above. The proposed project will reach populations in underserved areas of Jordan. 25 The proposed project will result in measurable, sustainable success in 25 promoting women s economic empowerment Cost Evaluation Score 25 Cost has not been assigned a score but the cost application will be evaluated for general reasonableness, and cost-effectiveness. The applicant s cost application will be evaluated to ensure it is a realistic financial expression of the proposed project and does not contain estimated costs which may be unreasonable or unallowable. Cost negotiation will only be conducted with short-listed applicants if deemed necessary Grant Evaluation Committee (GEC) The GEC members are selected for their impartiality and their subject expertise in relation to the grants program Oral presentation: Applicants may be invited to deliver a presentation of their proposed project to the Grants Evaluation Committee (GEC). 25

14 Possible evaluation outcomes include: Fully fund the project Partially fund the project Fully fund the project, with conditions* Partially fund the project, with conditions* Not fund the project * Possible conditions may include: Financial or programmatic grants management technical assistance before or during the period of the grant Amendments to technical areas of the grant Amendments to the budget Requirements for additional information prior to the start of the grant period Any other conditions deemed necessary by the GEC 8 Announcement of Evaluation Results and Next Steps for Short-listed Applicants 8.1. Announcement of Shortlisted Applicants An will be sent to all applicants announcing the evaluation result Next Steps for Short-listed Applicants Please refer to the Grants Manual (Attachment IV) for full information on the next steps Due Diligence (Pre-Award Procedures) After the GEC short-lists applications, USAID LENS will notify the short-listed applicant and begin the due diligence process. Due diligence is part of the pre-award process; and the results must confirm that a potential grantee can successfully comply with the financial, managerial and programmatic requirements of the grant. The short-listing of an application in accordance with established procedures does not guarantee an award. * Due Diligence procedures and requirements will vary based on the selected grant mechanism. Further details on these steps and available grant mechanisms for this grant opportunity, are listed in the following sections Supporting Documentation Short-listed applicants will be asked to submit full supporting documentation, as applicable, to illustrate that the applicants has the technical capacity to implement the grant, as well as the financial and administrative systems in place to adequately account for the grant funds. Supporting documentation consists of the following: DUNS Number and SAM.gov. Organizations that receive a grant of $25,000 (17,700 JOD) or more must obtain a DUNS number and register their organizations on SAM.gov. Financial Pre-Award Assessment Tool. A USAID LENS staff member will schedule a time to conduct the relevant pre-award assessment tool with short-listed organizations.

15 Mandatory Certifications. In compliance with ADS 303, these certifications should be signed by the potential grantee s authorized representative. Audited Financial Statements, if available; but preferred for the past three years. (English translation desirable, but not required). If no recent audit has been conducted, a revenue and expense statement and balance sheet for previous financial year must be attached. Supporting Cost Data, including payroll records, Completed Biographical Data forms, quotes, etc. as described in Budget Instructions. Debarment and Terrorist Financing Searches (to be conducted by USAID LENS). Detailed budget and budget narrative. Registration Certificate Government Approvals. Obtain necessary government licenses and approvals as applicable. Internal Policies if available. Articles of Association if applicable Cost Evaluation Costs/prices will be analyzed as part of the due diligence process. Applicants should note that the budget must be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate cost/price reasonableness and completeness. Budgets including cost/price information determined to be unreasonable, incomplete, or based on a methodology that is not adequately supported may be deemed unacceptable. While exact costs will not be known until the applicant and USAID LENS agree on the proposed activity, applicants should make their best effort to estimate anticipated costs and type of costs. Award may be made based on initial proposal submission without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, the applicant s initial proposal should contain the applicant s best terms from a cost/price and technical standpoint. USAID LENS will make a determination of cost/price reasonableness based on its cost experience for similar items or services, what is available in the marketplace, and/or other competitive offers Grant Negotiation The cost analysis, pre-award determinations, and negotiation process will be documented by USAID LENS in a Memorandum of Negotiation. The written determination of the applicant s responsibility should confirm that the applicant: Has the ability to meet the award conditions, taking into consideration all existing prospective recipient commitments, non-governmental and governmental; Has a satisfactory record of performance. Generally, relevant unsatisfactory performance in the past is enough to justify a finding of non-responsibility, unless there is clear evidence of subsequent satisfactory performance, or the applicant has taken adequate corrective measures to assure that they will be able to perform satisfactorily Has a satisfactory record of business integrity; and Is otherwise qualified to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations. The USAID LENS Grants Team will review the applicant s proposal to ensure that costs are in compliance with USAID LENS and USAID policies. The grant award will clearly define the activities that will be

16 supported with grant funds. The program description will clearly state the purpose of the program and specifically identify each element of the program, as well as its duration. Any funding restrictions, such as limitations on allowable activities for the particular program, or limitations on direct costs, such as purchase of equipment, will be included in the budget section. The payment schedule and monitoring plan for the grant will be established in accordance with the assessment of risk. Revisions to the activities, grant duration, or payment schedule will require a grant modification Grant Administration Mechanism Types of grants mechanisms for this grant opportunity could be Fixed Award Amount (FAA), Simplified Grant or In-kind Grant. The selection of the grant mechanism will be dependent on the activity and after the initial review of project ideas. Please note that grants will be structured to minimize compliance burdens and the type of reporting and recordkeeping may vary by type of grant instrument used, amount of the grant, or as a result of the Pre-Award Assessment Grant Approval Process Upon successful submission of all requested documentation and negotiation of grant terms, a request for approval to issue a grant will be submitted to USAID/Jordan. Upon receiving approval from USAID/Jordan, the grant agreement is prepared in accordance with USAID LENS policies and procedures and will be signed between FHI 360/USAID LENS and the Recipient. The USAID LENS Grants Team shall obtain the certifications, assurances and other statements required from non-u.s. organizations before making an award. The applicants must sign the full text of the applicable certifications as indicated in the grant award. If an application is not approved by either the USAID LENS Grant Evaluation Committee or USAID/Jordan, the applicant will be notified. An applicant may resubmit its application to the same grant opportunity if it is an eligible applicant and if the purpose for which the grant was submitted is consistent with the objectives of the USAID LENS Grant Program Grant Administration and Authorizing Legislation During grant administration, these provisions will apply Standard Provisions for Non-U.S. Non-governmental Organizations Standard Provisions for Fixed Amount Awards to Nongovernmental Organizations

17 Monitoring & Evaluation Plan Every applicant must provide a monitoring and evaluation plan (M&E plan) within 30 days after being awarded the grant. USAID LENS will provide guidance and assistance to grantees to develop a sound M&E plan. In addition, grantees will be required to report on some of USAID LENS indicators. For these indicators, USAID LENS will provide the grantees with tools and templates for data collection. Grantees are required to provide this data to USAID LENS as a condition of funding Branding and Communication Requirements All activities and products shall adhere to USAID and USAID LENS branding requirements. Please refer to the USAID LENS Grants Manual (Attachment IV) for further details on these requirements. 9 Disclaimers Applicants will NOT be reimbursed for the cost incurred in preparation and submission of an application. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant s expense. Issuance of this grant opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of USAID LENS. USAID LENS reserves the right to independently negotiate with any applicant, or to make an award without conducting discussions based solely on the written applications if it decides it is in its best interest to do so. USAID LENS reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications received. USAID LENS reserves the right to check applicant s donor references. USAID LENS may cancel solicitation and not award; USAID LENS may reject any or all responses received; USAID LENS reserves the right to disqualify any application based on applicant failure to follow RFA instructions; USAID LENS may choose to award only part of the activities in the grant opportunity, or issue multiple awards based on the grant opportunity activities; USAID LENS reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition; These Instructions to applicants will not form part of the application or of the grant agreement. They are intended solely to aid applicants in the preparation of their applications. 10 USAID LENS Grants Manual By signing the application form, the applicant verifies that he/she has reviewed the USAID LENS Grants Manual (Attachment IV) which is also available on website: and that the applicant s management has read and understood its contents.