FINAL DRAFT FY20 Ethiopia JEOP APS_ADS 508 Compliant.pdf

Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity/Annual Program Statement (APS) Number: 72DFFP20APS00003

Activity Title: Joint Emergency Operation for Food Assistance in Ethiopia (JEOP)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 98.001 and 98.008

Issue Date: Friday, July 2, 2020 Closing Date: Thursday, July 1, 2021 Closing Time: 11:59 am (Eastern Daylight Time)

This solicitation is subject to closing dates for submission of a Concept Paper during the below review period:

First Evaluation Phase 1 Closing Date: Friday, August 14, 2020 First Evaluation Phase 1 Closing Time: 11:59 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

If Concept Papers received during the first evaluation deadline are found to be unacceptable, USAID will call for a second round of Concept Papers by issuing an Amendment to this APS.

Dear Prospective Applicants:

The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified organizations (herein referred to as “Applicant”) to implement the “Joint Emergency Operation for Food Assistance in Ethiopia” (JEOP). Private voluntary organizations, or cooperatives, including U.S. and non-U.S.

non-governmental organizations may apply. Public international organizations are also eligible to apply.

Subject to availability of funds, USAID intends to make award(s) to the Applicants that best meet the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this APS, subject to a risk assessment. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to review this APS thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process.

APS Structure Please be aware that this APS contains three merit review phases as well as a Co-Creation and Award phase.

Evaluation Phase 1: Applicants will submit a Concept Paper. After review of the concept paper, those Applicants with the highest scoring evaluation factors will be invited to participate in Phase 2.

Evaluation Phase 2: Applicants with the highest evaluation scores from Phase 1 will be invited to participate in a structured interview of their proposed approach in Washington, D.C., with possible video-conferencing. The structured interview may also be held virtually. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the oral presentations by letter after the completion of all oral presentations.

Co-Creation Phase: Applicants who best meet the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the selection criteria contained herein and selected from Evaluation Phase 2 will be the Apparently Successful Applicants (ASA)s.1 The ASAs will be selected to co-create a full application with USAID, other USAID food security partners, and the Government of Ethiopia (GoE). A co-creation workshop will be hosted by USAID in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or virtually.

USAID reserves the right to change the venue if the co-creation workshop is not conducted remotely. The details of the co-creation workshop will be outlined to the ASAs after the oral presentation. Following the co-creation workshop, the ASAs will continue to work remotely to refine the approach and draft a full technical and accompanying cost-proposal to be submitted after conclusion of the co-creation workshop. See Appendix II: Co-Creation Guidance for a full description of what can be expected during the co-creation phase.

Final Application Phase: As the final stage of merit review, USAID will review the final full technical and cost application(s) and may provide additional clarification questions at this final review stage.

Award Phase: Per USAID’s requirements, the final full technical and cost applications will be reviewed and incorporated into resulting cooperative agreement(s). An award will be drafted and submitted to the ASAs for review. Once the award(s) is signed, the Awardee(s) may start incurring costs.

This APS will remain open for twelve months from the date of issuance located on the title page with the first evaluation deadline for submission to Phase 1 set 43-days from posting (Friday, August 14, 2020). Applications should be submitted to FY20JEOP_APSEthiopia@usaid.gov. If Concept Papers received during the first evaluation deadline are found to be unacceptable, 1Per 2 CFR 700.1, Apparently Successful Applicant(s) means the Applicant(s) for USAID funding recommended for an award after merit review, but who has not yet been awarded a grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance award by the Agreement Officer. Apparently Successful Applicant status confers no right and constitutes no USAID commitment to an award, which still must be executed by the Agreement Officer.

mailto:FY20JEOP_APSEthiopia@usaid.gov

USAID will call for a second round of Concept Papers by issuing an Amendment to this APS.

Detailed instructions can be found in Section D of this APS.

To be eligible for award, the Applicant must provide all information as required in this APS and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this APS. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this APS and that the APS has been received from the internet in its entirety. This information may also be posted on the USAID website, www.usaid.gov/food-assistance/what-we-do/emergency-activities. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the APS, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

USAID may not make an award to an Applicant unless the Applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifiers and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements. The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, the Applicant is encouraged to begin registration early in the process.

Applications are submitted at the risk of the Applicant.

For the purposes of this award, this APS being issued consists of this cover letter and the following:

SECTION A – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

SECTION E – MERIT CRITERIA AND OTHER REVIEW INFORMATION

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION H – OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX I - STANDARD PROVISIONS

APPENDIX II - CO-CREATION GUIDANCE

APPENDIX III: ESSENTIAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

APPENDIX IV: MITIGATION OF AND RESPONSE TO COVID-19 TRANSMISSION AND

IMPACTS

APPENDIX V: ETHIOPIA OPERATIONAL TIMELINE

Per 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700, USAID regulations do not award profit under assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the agreement activity and which are in accordance with applicable cost standards, may be paid under the agreement.

USAID may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept applications for reasons other than cost, (c) accept more than one application, (d) accept alternate applications, (e) waive http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.usaid.gov/food-assistance/what-we-do/emergency-activities http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-part200 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2015-title2-vol1/CFR-2015-title2-vol1-part700 informalities and minor irregularities in applications received, and/or (f) drop evaluation phase 2 - the oral presentation. (see Section E - Merit Criteria and other Review Information). USAID intends to award cooperative agreements, but reserves the right to use any assistance mechanism available to this agency (e.g., grant, cooperative agreement, leader with associates) and to adjust the number of awards, funding levels, sources of funding and/or procedures.

Issuance of this APS does not constitute an award commitment on the part of USAID. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, apportioned, allocated, and committed. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential Applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award.

In the event of any inconsistency between this APS and the referenced documents in the APS, the APS shall take precedence over any referenced documents, except statute and regulations.

In the event of an inconsistency in the APS documents or in the text of the APS, it will be resolved at the discretion of the Agreement Officer.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, /S/

Carol Chan Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance

Table of Contents

SECTION A: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION 101. Authorizing Legislation

2. Award Administration 10

3. OVERALL AWARD AND ACTIVITY VISION 11

3.1. Food Security Context 12

3.2. History of the JEOP 12

3.3. Complement to Other Food Security Activities 13

3.4. Envisioned Activity Goal 13

3.5. Geography and Targeting 13

3.6. Implementation Parameters 13

Implementation Parameter 1: Scalable General Food Distribution Model with Logistics Excellence 14

Implementation Parameter 2: Improving Humanitarian-Development-Peace (Triple Nexus) Linkages through Food Assistance System Strengthening 14

Implementation Parameter 3: Filling the Nutrient Gap 16

Implementation Parameter 4: Innovation and Operational Research 16

Implementation Parameter 5: Exit Strategy to Support Ethiopia’s Self-Reliance in Humanitarian Food Assistance 17

3.7. Programming Principles 17

3.7.1 “Do No Harm”: Protection, Conflict Sensitivity, and Gender-based Violence (GBV) Mitigation 17

3.7.2. Design for People Centered Approaches 18

3.7.3. Adhere to the Highest Standard of Human Rights, Respect, and Dignity 18

3.7.4. Support the Enfranchisement, Aspirations, and Agency of Women and Youth 19

3.7.5. Partner with the Government of Ethiopia 19

3.7.6. Achieve Results 19

3.7.7. Adaptive Management 19

3.7.8. Leverage and Link to Strengthen Collective Impact 19

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 191. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated 19

2. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards 20

3. Substantial Involvement 20

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 211. Eligible Applicants

2. New Partners and Local Organizations 22

3. Cost Sharing or Matching 22

4. Limit on Number of Concept Papers 22

5. Local Registration Requirement 22

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 221. Content and Form of Application Submission 22

2. Phase 1- Concept Paper 23

2.1 Content 23

2.2 Overall Outline 23

2.2.1. Cover Page (1 page) 24

2.2.2. Technical Approach (8 pages) 25

2.2.3. Management Plan, Key Personnel, and Operations & Logistics plan (5 pages) 25

2.2.3.1. Management Plan 25

2.2.3.2. Key Personnel 26

2.2.3.3. Operations and Logistics Plan 28

2.2.4. Institutional Capability (2 pages) 28

2.2.5 Additional Guidance on the Annexes 28

2.3 Concept Paper Submission Date and Time 29

2.4 Submission Requirements and Format 29

3. Phase 2 - Oral Presentations 31

3.1 Notification of Apparently Successful Applicant (ASA) 31

4. Co-Creation Phase 31

5. Phase 3 - Final Application Phase 32

5.1. Content and Form of the Full Technical and Cost Application 32

5.2 Additional Information on Full Technical and Cost Application 34

5.2.1 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (M&E Plan) 34

5.2.2 Logical Framework (LogFrame) 34

5.2.3 Evaluation Plan 39

5.2.4 Baseline Studies 40

5.2.5 Final Evaluation 40

5.2.5 Monitoring Plan 40

5.3 Post Award Requirements 41

5.4 Cost Application 42

5.5 Climate Risk and Environmental Examinations 44

5.6 Annual Pipeline Estimate and Resource Proposals 44

5.7 Branding Strategy and Marking Plans 44

5.8 Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and System for Award Management (SAM) 45

5.9 Funding Restrictions 45

5.10 Pre-Award Certifications, Assurances, and Representations of the ASAs 45

5.11 Award Phase 45

5.12 Past Performance 45

SECTION E: MERIT CRITERIA AND OTHER REVIEW INFORMATION 451. General Criteria 46

2. Merit Review Criteria for Evaluation Phase 1 - Concept Papers 46

3. Merit Review Criteria for Evaluation Phase 2 - Oral Presentations 48

4. Final Application Phase 48

4.1 Technical Application Review 48

4.2 Cost Application Review 49

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 491. Federal Award Notices 49

2. Administrative & National Policy Requirements 49

3. Reporting Requirements 50

3.1 Programmatic Reporting 52

3.1.1. Quarterly Performance Reports (QRs) (5 pages maximum-recommended) 52

3.1.2. Annual Reporting 54

3.1.3. Final Programmatic Report 55

3.2. Financial Reporting 56

3.3. Ad Hoc Reports 56

SECTION G: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) 56SECTION H: OTHER

INFORMATION 561. Requirements for all Activities

2. Code of Conduct 57

3. Mandatory Reporting on Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation 58

4. Mandatory Disclosures 58

5. USAID Disability Policy and accessibility Standards 58

6. Voluntary Survey on Faith-Based and Community Organizations 58

7. Ineligible Goods and Services, Ineligible Suppliers, Restricted Goods, and Motor Vehicle Procurement Table 58

8. Conflict of Interest Pre-Award Term 60

8.1. Personal Conflict of Interest 60

8.2. Organizational Conflict of Interest 60

9. Programmatic and Technical References 61

10. Applications with Proprietary Data 61

11. Host Country Agreement 62

APPENDIX I: STANDARD PROVISIONS 61APPENDIX II: CO-CREATION GUIDANCE

63APPENDIX III: ESSENTIAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

65APPENDIX IV: MITIGATION OF AND RESPONSE TO COVID-19 TRANSMISSION AND

IMPACTS 66APPENDIX V: ETHIOPIA OPERATIONAL TIMELINE

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SECTION A: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1. Authorizing Legislation This funding opportunity is authorized under the Food for Peace Act (FFP Act) or Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended.

Title II of the FFP Act authorizes the USAID Administrator to establish programs to provide agricultural commodities to foreign countries on behalf of the people of the United States, to provide assistance to address famine and food crises, and to respond to emergency food needs arising from man-made and natural disasters; combat malnutrition, especially in children and mothers; carry out activities that attempt to alleviate the causes of hunger, mortality and morbidity; promote economic and community development; promote food security and support sound environmental practices; carry out feeding programs; and build resilience to mitigate and prevent food crises and reduce the future need for emergency aid. The preponderance of Title II resources must be used to fund U.S. in-kind assistance interventions, under which the U.S. Government procures commodities from U.S. producers and then provides the commodities and associated costs to an implementing agency for use in programs to enhance the food security of vulnerable populations.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 amended Section 202(e) of the FFP Act to allow Title II funds to be used to establish and enhance Title II programs, which represents an expansion over prior statutory authority. Thus, a portion of BHA’s Title II resources may be used to enhance Title II in-kind program activities, including with cash transfers, food vouchers, local, regional, and international procurement (LRIP) and Essential Complementary Activities (interventions) linked to the provision of food assistance and integral to the achievement of desired food and nutrition security outcomes. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 further clarified the uses of Internal Transport Storage and Handling (ITSH) funds. For more information on Title II Section 202e and ITSH resources, please use this link for the most up-to-date information bulletins.

The Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) authorizes the provision of international disaster relief, rehabilitation, and preparedness, through the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account.

Section 7 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 amended the FAA of 1961 and authorized the emergency food security program (EFSP) within the IDA account to provide emergency food assistance, including in the form of funds, transfers, vouchers, and agricultural commodities acquired through LRIP, to meet emergency needs arising from manmade and natural disasters.

BHA relies on the IDA authority, including the EFSP authority, to provide market-based food assistance, which includes LRIP, and other interventions such as food vouchers and cash transfers to facilitate the availability of and/or access to food. For the purposes of this APS, market-based food assistance refers to those modalities which utilize and reinforce existing market systems within a country or within a region.

2. Award Administration The resulting award(s) will be made and administered in accordance with the Food for Peace Act, the Foreign Assistance Act, as applicable, and U.S. Government regulations. As applicable, the award will be administered under 22 CFR 211, 22 CFR 216, 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 700, USAID Standard Provisions, and FFP Information Bulletins, which are available on the USAID website.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/Food%20For%20Peace%20Act%20Version%20Nov%202014.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/faa.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance/quick-facts/how-title-ii-food-aid-works https://www.ers.usda.gov/agricultural-act-of-2014-highlights-and-implications.aspx https://www.ers.usda.gov/agriculture-improvement-act-of-2018-highlights-and-implications/ https://www.usaid.gov/food-assistance/resources/food-peace-information-bulletins https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303maa.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303maa.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/food-assistance/resources/food-peace-information-bulletins https://www.usaid.gov/

For more information concerning eligible uses of Title II Section 202 (e) and ITSH funding, which falls under the Food for Peace Act, please refer to FFP Information Bulletins via the link above to the USAID website.

Public International Organizations (PIOs) are subject to different requirements so USAID reserves the right to make awards to such organizations on different terms and conditions than those made to Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and Cooperatives.

3. Overall Award and Activity Vision USAID BHA intends to award a new emergency food assistance activity up to five years in duration, entitled the “Joint Emergency Operation for Food Assistance in Ethiopia” (JEOP).

USAID intends to issue separate awards for IDA-funded activities and for Title II commodities and associated costs in support of the Applicants’ overall proposed activity. The combined value of awards, not to exceed one billion dollars, will support an organization or group of organizations, from here on known as “Applicant” or “Consortium,” who share the expressed public purpose of addressing transitory food insecurity in areas of vulnerability across Ethiopia through a competitive APS process and subject to the availability of funding. USAID anticipates awarding only one application, under this APS, but reserves the right to make multiple awards to fund parts of an application, or not to make any award(s) at all. USAID will support the Awardee(s) in achieving the proposed public purpose of improving food security.

The new activity will be implemented in alignment with the Government of Ethiopia’s (GoE) Policy on Disaster Risk Management, Humanitarian and Disaster Resilience Plan, National Integrated Food-Cash Relief Plan, and in close coordination with the targeting process set by the GoE and other food security-related actors, to meet the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia. The activity is expected to operate throughout Ethiopia with a focus on geographic areas where the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) is operational, as well as where USAID has other food security and resilience activities.

Each Applicant will submit a Concept Paper to express their interest. USAID will then invite those Applicants with Concept Notes with the highest evaluation score to participate in oral presentations on their proposed activity either virtually or hosted in Washington, D.C.

Apparently Successful Applicants (ASAs) may receive a Technical Issues Letter before the pre-award co-creation workshop. The Issues Letter responses will be incorporated into the final full Application.

Following Concept Paper submission and Oral Presentations, Applicants who best meet the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the selection criteria contained herein will be the ASAs. After notification, ASAs will be selected to participate in a joint co-creation workshop which may include USAID, other USAID food security partners, and the GoE in Addis Ababa or virtually. USAID reserves the right to change the venue if the co-creation workshop is not conducted remotely. The details of the co-creation workshop will be outlined to the selected ASAs after the oral presentation. Following the co-creation workshop, the ASAs will continue to work remotely to refine key parts and revise the Initial Application and accompanying cost-proposal to submit a final and full Application after the conclusion of the co-creation workshop.

USAID envisions a cooperative agreement in this assistance instrument; however, a final determination on the type of assistance instrument and nature of the partnership will be made during the co-creation phase. A full description of the application instructions and merit review criteria can be found in Section E.

3.1. Food Security Context

Over the past 20 years, Ethiopia has made significant progress in improving health, nutrition, education, and other human development indicators. Life expectancy has risen dramatically, while the percentage of the population living in poverty and hunger has fallen by a third in the last ten years. Sustained economic growth and strong pro-poor spending have been critical to this success, supported by the commitment of development partners such as USAID to support Ethiopia’s aspirations in poverty reduction. Yet for millions of Ethiopians, poverty, vulnerability, and food insecurity remain and are exacerbated by climate change and conflict, in addition to other shocks and stresses.

From 2015–2016, Ethiopia experienced one of the worst droughts in more than 50 years, which resulted in at least 10.2 million people, primarily in the Northern and Central regions, requiring emergency food assistance. Beginning in late 2016, households in the Northern and Central highlands began to recover; however, drought conditions in previously less-affected areas of Southeastern Ethiopia intensified following consecutive seasons of below-average rainfall. While climatic shocks like drought and flooding continue to be a main driver of total transitory food insecurity, conflict-induced internal displacement represents another added driver of food insecurity. In 2020, the GoE estimated that 6.4 million people required emergency food assistance, a decrease of 23 percent from the 2019 figure of 8 million. This reduction in need is attributed to above normal rains and improvements in crop and livestock production-based livelihoods; however, conflict related food needs remain high. The U.S. Government continues to be the largest humanitarian donor for food assistance, which has averaged about $400 million annually in recent years. Furthermore, 44 percent, or an additional 3.6 million of the 8.1 million chronically food insecure people supported through the PSNP, also needed extended supplementary emergency food assistance in 2019. Despite sustained large-scale development and humanitarian assistance, vulnerable households in Ethiopia continue to face dire food insecurity due to displacement, slow recovery, severe water shortages, failed crops, and a catastrophic loss of livestock caused by recurrent and/or ongoing shocks.

3.2. History of the JEOP

USAID BHA currently addresses emergency food insecurity through the current JEOP multi-year activity, and also through funding to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

Through the provision of Title II-funded in-kind U.S. Agricultural commodities, the JEOP is an emergency food distribution program targeting food insecure households in over 60 woredas (districts). This is done through a targeting process led by the GoE’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC). The JEOP distributes in-kind food rations to the most vulnerable households in order to meet their emergency food needs, at times serving up to 33 percent of the national emergency food appeal. The JEOP currently operates in Amhara, Dire Dawa, Oromiya, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP), and Tigray Regions, in or near BHA’s development investments.

3.3. Complement to Other Food Security Activities

The present JEOP complements the GoE-led Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). USAID supports the PSNP through Title II-funded Development Food Security Activities (DFSAs).

USAID-funded DFSAs provide conditional cash and food transfers to PSNP clients based on the PSNP Program Implementation Manual (PIM). PSNP clients are chronically food insecure and DFSA investments seek to meet household food needs while also supporting community and household asset creation, GoE capacity strengthening efforts, and identifying and promoting livelihood opportunities for PSNP clients as part of the overall GoE poverty alleviation strategy.

More information on complementary food security investments can be found on the USAID Ethiopia country specific website, https://www.usaid.gov/ethiopia/food-assistance. The JEOP ASAs must anticipate working closely with the DFSA ASAs to ensure complementarity of approach. See Appendix II: Co-Creation Guidance for more information.

3.4. Envisioned Activity Goal

Applicants should propose to implement a multi-year emergency food assistance activity for an estimated five years that focuses on the ultimate goal of saving lives and livelihoods, reducing hunger, and supporting the existing GoE systems related to food assistance in order to address the transitory food gaps of vulnerable people affected by shocks.

3.5. Geography and Targeting

In the Concept Paper, Applicants should include the proposed geographic focus area outlining regions and woredas where project activities are expected to take place and why. The Applicant should justify the proposed area of intervention and outline the criteria used for region and woreda-level selection. While Applicants should develop their own set of criteria, Applicants should reference the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Additional factors to consider include:

PSNP woredas, accessibility, security, appropriateness of food or cash modalities, leveraging existing food assistance assets, and the potential to complement other USAID resilience investments like the DFSAs, among others.

While the Applicant will provide a proposed geographic focus for activities, the specific woredas for implementation are subject to negotiation. USAID will have final approval of the JEOP geography.

Humanitarian clients served by the JEOP will be identified by the GoE, clients will be provided by woreda, and the Awardee(s) must include all those identified for transfers.

3.6. Implementation Parameters

The Applicant must recommend activities that align with five high-level implementation parameters:

Implementation Parameter 1: Scalable General Food Distribution Model with Logistics Excellence The foundation of the current JEOP is the food assistance transfer in the designated geography that supports acutely food insecure clients suffering the negative impacts of shocks. The proposed activities must allocate 75 percent of the estimated total resource https://www.usaid.gov/ethiopia/food-assistance envelope towards transfers and associated costs to carry out those transfers using a variety of modalities (in-kind and/or market-based) as appropriate and justified by the local food system context.

● Applicants should directly address if client eligibility for receipt of transfers are conditional versus unconditional in their Concept Paper, ensuring that it is in line with GoE National and Regional policies for emergency food assistance. Another consideration for Applicants should be a presentation of a variation in household targeting limits, as well as ration size and mix based upon woreda hotspot classification or similar assessments of household and community needs. The Concept Paper should cover the rationale for any proposed variation in household targeting limits, and ration size or value from current GoE emergency food assistance norms.

Food Assistance Transfer Modalities USAID BHA supports the most appropriate modality for meeting emergency food assistance needs. BHA will consider concepts that utilize cash, vouchers, U.S. Title II in-kind transfers, local and regional procurement of commodities (LRP), food or cash top-ups, or a combination of modalities, as long as resources are available and Applicants and BHA mutually agree upon the rationale of modality use.

● Market-Based Approaches: Applicants should ensure linkages to other market-based programs, seasonality, and market feasibility. New or innovative modalities for Ethiopia must also demonstrate scalability and appropriateness to the Ethiopian context through well-reasoned and planned interventions.

● Refer to the Commodity Reference Guide for information on commodity specifications, commodity storage, and other information.

● Applicants should provide an illustrative transfer value that will be further refined in the co-creation workshop (see Appendix II: Co-Creation Guidance).

Implementation Parameter 2: Improving Humanitarian-Development-Peace (Triple Nexus) Linkages through Food Assistance System Strengthening The GoE has recently committed to reforms that will link and harmonize humanitarian and development food assistance systems so that, by working together, they are better able to scale up humanitarian assistance in times of shock, while at the same time ensuring predictable transfers to core PSNP clients who require continuous assistance. The term “continuum of response” refers to this ability to respond to changing conditions. JEOP partners would respond to shocks and stresses by scaling out to additional clients and geographies. DFSA partners would manage core PSNP caseloads and transfers, in addition to contingency measures (i.e. extended PSNP transfers). Applicants should anticipate that NDRMC and MoA policies, administrative procedures, and institutional arrangements may change over the course of this activity, and that they will be called upon to adapt to and support this reform process.

The Applicants should propose ways to increase the efficiency of emergency food assistance with a focus on strengthening GoE capacities, while working with DFSA partners to improve logistical efficiency to support and move towards a continuum of response. USAID believes systems strengthening and working in tandem with partners delivering development food https://2012-2017.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance/resources/implementation-tools/commodity assistance is key to increasing the cost and logistical efficiency, quality, and scale of humanitarian relief in Ethiopia where needs far exceed available resources.

Supporting the Transition to a Continuum of Response As a contribution to the transition to a continuum of response, the Applicants should propose ways to effectively link and harmonize the delivery of humanitarian and development food assistance. To date, separate, parallel Humanitarian Assistance and Development Food Assistance systems exist in Ethiopia with duplicative geography, mandates, and purposes. The current scaleable safety net is not effectively shock responsive, as the response is late and fails to recognize variations in livelihood zones. BHA seeks to harmonize and integrate several discrete elements between the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) and the Development Food Security Activities (DFSA) activity to develop a continuum of response. Initial efforts towards harmonization will occur in a joint Emergency and Development pre-award co-creation workshop (see Appendix II: Co-Creation Guidance). DFSA and JEOP partners will be expected to continue working towards an integrated delivery system with USAID and GoE throughout the life of their awards. Proposed approaches should be consistent with the vision and policies of the NDRMC and MoA and should be designed to promote collaboration within the GoE, DFSA, and other humanitarian and development food assistance implementation partners. Technical spheres for increased efficiency may include:

● Integrating resource transfer pipelines and administration in geographic areas where USAID has both HA and DA investments. USAID seeks to only have a single pipeline partner (regardless of modality) per geographic area. Given the supporting infrastructure landscape, use of multiple delivery mechanisms might be needed; and

● Planning for a single beneficiary registration and management platform for both USAID HA and DA investments in a given geographic area (woreda). Applicants should be cognizant of GoE plans to pilot a single registry system for humanitarian and development assistance clients. Any Applicants’ client registry system/beneficiary management system should support these efforts and anticipate linking with any potential rollout of GoE systems. Partners should also plan to explore interoperability across platforms. The platform should leverage and reinforce existing national or local identity registers and documents as far as possible.

See Appendix II: Co-Creation Guidance for areas of collaboration expected with development partners. The concept may include an adaptive management strategy to regularly and frequently consult and disseminate information to the GoE and incorporate feedback and learning in real-time to influence the GoE’s development of their system.

Early Warning System (EWS) Applicants should research and assess the multiple EWS that exist in Ethiopia and provide a plan to strengthen the capacity to collect and use early warning data to improve timely action for response. This may include training, data collection, information dissemination and integration of efforts for EWS at local, zonal, regional, and national levels. Applicants should also propose an information sharing and technical assistance strategy that better connects households and communities to the information generated by these existing networks of EWS and helps local GoE EWS offices and communities take action.

Conflict Sensitivity Applicants should consider conflict sensitivity throughout activity design and implementation, with attention being paid to understanding how conflict could affect the interventions and how interventions could affect conflict, both positively and negatively. By applying a fragility lens to activity design, applicants will identify opportunities falling within the design parameters to counter those characteristics of fragility most closely associated with risk of instability, such as exclusion dynamics, institutional fragmentation, lack of social cohesion, and challenges related to resource mobilization and equitable access to resources.

Implementation Parameter 3: Filling the Nutrient Gap Applicants will support a food assistance transfer system that provides lifesaving food to targeted participants. To achieve this, Applicants should identify strategic linkages to other GoE or donor nutrition investments and platforms such as referral and treatment and follow up for acute malnutrition, and consider opportunities for nutrition sensitive transfers (i.e. animal source foods or fresh food vouchers) that aim to improve dietary diversity for pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under five.

Implementation Parameter 4: Innovation and Operational Research USAID is committed to the application of technology and innovation to improve efficiency and to achieve, sustain, and improve activity performance. Illustrative examples of applying technology include, but are not limited to:

● Using digital identification for beneficiary registration and management;

● Using Short Message Service (SMS) technology to monitor, evaluate and improve operations at final distribution points;

● Using global positioning systems (GPS) technology to better track food dispatches, deliveries and distributions;

● Remote activity monitoring; and

● Adopting practices from or partnering with private sector logistic actors.

USAID promotes operational research to understand what works best in the Ethiopian context.

USAID is most interested in operational and effectiveness research related to market-based approaches, emergency food operations, and approaches or technologies for improved food distributions. Where appropriate, research should also examine feasibility for adoption by the GoE.

Market-Based Approaches Research The GoE has a cash-first principle and BHA requests that Applicants propose operational research to understand the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and cost efficiency of different modalities. Applicants should explore opportunities to compare modalities within the project and potentially to external control groups. Applicants should propose how they will integrate cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness analysis and research into their financial and activity monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks.

Implementation Parameter 5: Exit Strategy to Support Ethiopia’s Self-Reliance in Humanitarian Food Assistance The JEOP aims to build sustained capacity of GoE institutions to deliver shock-responsive protection to mitigate emergency food and nutrition insecurity. The GoE needs to drive its own humanitarian activities and establish its own priorities. The role of USAID and Awardee(s) will be to support and assist this process in partnership with the GoE towards achieving self-reliance and support efforts to strengthen GoE capacity to eventually deliver humanitarian food assistance through a continuum of response. While some of the implementation parameters above aim to further this process, Applicants should propose criteria and milestones to determine when a district (woreda) is ready to phase over to sole GoE implementation.

3.7. Programming Principles

The key programming principles that need to be the foundation of the JEOP design and implementation are:

3.7.1 “Do No Harm”: Protection, Conflict Sensitivity, and Gender-based Violence (GBV) Mitigation Identify specific “do no harm” concerns related to protection, conflict, and sexual and gender-based violence associated with the proposed activity design and present the mitigation strategies that will be used to safeguard activity participants and staff involved in, or receiving, emergency commodities, cash transfers, food vouchers, and/or essential complementary activities. Include attention to any heightened risk within the local context among specific population groups (e.g., women, girls, ethnic/social groups, disabled). Discuss what strategies will be employed to identify and mitigate the unintended but potential negative impacts of the activity on target communities and populations, both targeted and untargeted, including but not limited to gender-based violence. Applicants should clearly state what their GBV mitigation plan is and how they plan to address risks men, women, boys, and girls may report facing within their households and what they will do to redress this situation.

Activities that involve the influx of external resources, whether cash or commodities, have the potential to undermine local capacities, divide population groups, and even place vulnerable households and individuals at increased risk when poorly designed. An understanding of local political, gender, conflict, and other interpersonal dynamics underpins the incorporation of a “Do No Harm” framework in the planning of activities. Applications must articulate how conflict sensitivity and an understanding of conflict dynamics will inform interventions and adaptive management throughout the entire program cycle. Applications must identify how programming will impact existing social dynamics (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity), and how local input will be solicited to mitigate unintended consequences.

Please note the following core protection principles:

● Minimizing any unintended negative effects of your intervention that can increase people’s vulnerability to both physical and psychosocial risks and result in harm, exploitation, and abuse;

● Arranging for people’s meaningful access to impartial assistance and services in proportion to need and without any barriers;

● Setting up mechanisms through which affected populations can measure the adequacy of interventions or address concerns and complaints; and

● Supporting the development of self-protection capacities of individuals and communities

Applicants should also familiarize themselves with USAID’s new Policy on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

Applications must articulate how the activity will apply conflict-sensitive approaches to all phases of the activity cycle. A conflict sensitive activity must at a minimum “Do No Harm”, or avoid inadvertently contributing to conflict.

Together conflict sensitivity and the “Do No Harm” approach require an:

● Understanding of the conflict context in which it operates, including intergroup tensions, divisive issues, as well as areas of common ground within/among groups can be leveraged to mitigate conflict and strengthen social cohesion;

● Understanding the interaction between an activity, in action or words, and a conflict context; and

● Understanding and acting upon this interaction to avoid unintentionally feeding into further division and to maximize the potential contribution to strengthen social cohesion and peace.

3.7.2. Design for People Centered Approaches

The JEOP should be a participant-centric program based on participant needs and recognizing differing abilities. Respecting dignity includes a commitment to participation, transparency, and accountability throughout the planning and implementation of food assistance delivery. This ensures that participant needs are taken into account wherever possible in planning responses and that decision-making processes and outcomes are clear, including decisions pertaining to ration sizes, the criteria for participant selection, and the feedback mechanisms capable of signaling issues of quality, equality, gender, safety, abilities, and other critical factors.

3.7.3. Adhere to the Highest Standard of Human Rights, Respect, and Dignity The JEOP design must prioritize adherence to the highest standard of human rights, respect, and dignity in the provision of assistance in an emergency context of vulnerability.

3.7.4. Support the Enfranchisement, Aspirations, and Agency of Women and Youth There is a need to engage men, women, elders, and youth to become active change agents for gender equity. Youth and women’s empowerment should be reflected throughout the application. Applicants should engage youth where appropriate and feasible.

3.7.5. Partner with the Government of Ethiopia

The GoE must drive its own humanitarian activities and establish its own priorities. The JEOP will be implemented in alignment with the NDRMC, the MoA and other food security-related actors within the GoE, to meet the ambitious goals outlined by humanitarian appeals which support the National Policy and Strategy on Disaster Risk Management.

https://www.usaid.gov/PreventingSexualMisconduct/psea-policy https://www.usaid.gov/PreventingSexualMisconduct/psea-policy

3.7.6. Achieve Results

In support of the USAID strategic priority of investing for the highest impact to meet the needs outlined in annual food security appeal documents, the Awardee(s) will direct resources to achieve clearly defined, measurable, and strategically focused objectives.

3.7.7. Adaptive Management

Adaptive management refers to building in iterative learning through regular analyses, adoption of best practices, and design for local conditions to attain the greatest impact. Establishing regular learning moments within any proposed Consortium, and among USAID, GoE, and other stakeholders, should be a regular business practice. Applicants are expected to demonstrate the ability to flexibly manage and pivot to unanticipated needs in the JEOP’s service delivery area.

USAID may support efforts to strengthen collective impact across highland resilience activities through the creation of a platform that could manage and synthesize learning across the JEOP, DFSA(s), and other relevant USAID investments.

3.7.8. Leverage and Link to Strengthen Collective Impact

BHA anticipates that activities will strategically and operationally align with relevant national and local government policies and systems. Other actors, who are working to address the drivers of poverty and food insecurity, may layer and leverage JEOP initiatives and interventions. This requires coordination and joint planning with a broad set of stakeholders to ensure activity complementarity for collective impact and sustainability. As the GoE moves towards a continuum of response between emergency and development initiatives, coordination with the DFSA(s) and its corresponding GoE implementing mechanisms will be critical.

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated USAID intends to award a single JEOP concept with up to two cooperative agreements pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide up to one billion dollars in total USAID funding over a five-year period among the combined value of all cooperative agreements. Subject to availability, one cooperative agreement will be funded exclusively with Title II resources and another with International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds.

As stated in the cover letter, USAID reserves the right to adjust the number of awards, funding levels, and/or sources of funding. Note that not all funding is interchangeable and some budget adjustments may need to take place. The ASAs will be notified of any changes or updates accordingly. USAID intends to award cooperative agreements, but reserves the right to use any assistance mechanism available to this agency (e.g., grant, cooperative agreement, leader with associates).

2. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards The anticipated period of performance is five years. For Concept Paper purposes, the estimated start date should be April 1, 2021, but it will be finalized with the ASAs during the co-creation workshop.

USAID will post this APS and any amendments or addenda to Grants.gov (through which organizations may sign up to receive notifications of changes), and to the USAID Emergency Food Assistance website. USAID may issue amendments or addenda to this APS for other reasons, such as to establish deadlines or notify interested parties that no further funding is available.

3. Substantial Involvement In accordance with the ADS 303.3.11, a cooperative agreement, as distinguished from a grant, provides for substantial involvement between the Federal awarding Agency and the recipient in carrying out the activity contemplated by the Federal award. The examples of substantial involvement below are a guide, not a checklist. The Agreement Officer will determine the appropriate level of substantial involvement based on the programmatic requirements of the award and include only those elements of substantial involvement as needed. Examples of potential areas of substantial involvement during performance include the following:

● Approval of the recipient’s implementation plans during performance.

● Ability to immediately halt an activity if the recipient does not meet detailed performance specifications (for example, construction specifications).

● Review and approval of one stage of work, before work can begin on a subsequent stage during the period covered by the cooperative agreement.

● Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed sub-awards or contracts (see definitions in 2 CFR 200). These would be provisions that go beyond existing policies on Federal review of recipient procurement standards and sole-source procurement.

● Involvement in the selection of key recipient personnel.

● USAID and recipient collaboration or joint participation, such as when the recipient’s successful accomplishment of program objectives would benefit from USAID’s technical knowledge.

● USAID monitoring to permit specific kinds of direction or redirection of the work because of the interrelationships with other projects or activities.

● Direct USAID operational involvement or participation to ensure compliance with statutory requirements such as civil rights, environmental protection, and provisions for the handicapped, that exceeds USAID’s role that is normally part of the general statutory requirements understood in advance of the award.

● Highly prescriptive USAID requirements established prior to award that limit the recipient’s discretion with respect to the scope of services offered, organizational structure, staffing, mode of operation, and other management processes, coupled with close monitoring or operational involvement during performance over and above the normal exercise of Federal stewardship responsibilities to ensure compliance with these requirements.

For specifics and additional detail, please refer to ADS 303.3.11 - Cooperative Agreements and Substantial Involvement.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/…