7200AA18APS00002 -SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN PERU AND ECUADOR.pdf

ANNOUNCEMENT

CALL FOR CDP CONCEPT PAPERS TO SUPPORT THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC

INTEGRATION OF VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN PERU AND

ECUADOR

ADDENDUM TO

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CDP) ANNUAL PROGRAM

STATEMENT

APS No.: 7200AA18APS00002

PLEASE NOTE: This is an addendum to an existing announcement. All interested organizations should carefully review both this addendum AND the full announcement, which can be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=7200AA18APS00002.

Important information contained in the full worldwide announcement is not repeated in this specific addendum.

This program is authorized in accordance with Part 1 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Through this Addendum to the 2019-2020 Cooperative Development Program (CDP) Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 7200AA18APS00002 (the CDP APS), the Venezuela Regional Programs Unit housed at USAID/Peru, is making a special call for the submission of Concept Papers focused on improving and facilitating the economic integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees in major receptor communities in Peru and Ecuador. The approach for improving economic integration will emphasize migrants and refugees’ improved financial security through formal employment, self-employment or entrepreneurial activity and financial inclusion. Note that all services provided under the potential activity should also be available to host country populations

The specific objectives are to:

1. Develop and implement programs and/or expand and/or improve existing non-governmental programs that support entrepreneurship and self-employment among Venezuelan migrants and refugees. This could include programs implemented by member-owned cooperatives and credit unions as feasible and relevant.

2. Facilitate Venezuelan migrants and refugees’ access to formal employment opportunities through private sector alliances (with trade associations, cooperatives, credit unions and others), skills training/development, job matching and support for the recognition of professional and technical degrees (the activity is not limited to these specific areas of intervention).

3. Increase/improve Venezuelan migrants and refugees’ access to credit and financial services, through credit unions and other financial institutions, both as a critical input for economic integration and to advance objectives one and two.

USAID reserves the right to fund one, none, or more than one concept. Award(s) are anticipated to fall into the $4 million to $14 million range depending on availability of funding. USAID has a preference for the activity to be implemented in both Peru and Ecuador, with approximately sixty percent of funds invested in Peru and forty percent in Ecuador.

Activities will take place in mutually agreed upon cities in Peru and Ecuador, but at a minimum should include 1) Lima and 2) Quito and/or Guayaquil.

Applicants must propose a minimum of 10% cost share in their concepts.

The USAID/Peru Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance will manage the review and procurement of activities that may result from qualified concept notes.

Unless otherwise stated herein, all terms and conditions of the CDP APS FY19 apply (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=7200AA18APS00002).

I. Background

Economic collapse and political turmoil have prompted the exodus of over four million Venezuelans in recent years. After Colombia, Peru and Ecuador host the greatest number of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. The United States Government, primarily through the State Department's Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), and USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and Food for Peace (FFP) has provided millions of dollars in assistance to date. This has included contributions to UN agencies in support of the implementation of the joint IOM/UNHCR Regional Migration Response Plan. In addition, multiple grants have been awarded to NGOs to provide humanitarian relief. This potential activity will move beyond humanitarian assistance and transition to support for the long-term economic integration of migrants and refugees. It is anticipated that this will not be the only USAID activity awarded in support of the broader objective of improving the economic integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. Future activities will serve to fill gaps and complement the efforts of this potential activity.

A fair amount of work to support economic integration is already underway. This includes both NGOs and some of the UN agencies leading the Regional Migration Response Plan (notably ILO and IOM, although others are also active). There are different coordinating groups (both host country government and UN-led) that bring the various actors together to promote synergies and coordination. This potential activity should seek to complement and build upon these existing efforts. This may include providing sub-grants and/or technical assistance to NGOs and cooperatives already engaged in relevant programming and support for scaling relevant pilot activities which are currently being implemented. Services provided through this potential activity (e.g. trainings, job placement services, etc.) should be provided in a neutral manner, whereby local host country populations are also provided access to these activities.

II. Solicitation

This addendum is issued for concept papers describing how to accomplish the specific objectives listed above.

III. Evaluation Criteria

Proposed concepts will be evaluated based on the general criteria set forth in the CDP APS in Section V: Concept Paper and Full Application Review Criteria. As stated in APS No.

7200AA18APS00002, USAID has limited eligibility for US cooperatives or cooperative development organizations, requiring the following:

● U.S. cooperative or an organization with substantial membership and/or financial links to recognized U.S. cooperatives and/or their associations; and

● A demonstrated track record of not less than five years in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of overseas cooperative development programs.

In addition, the applicant will be evaluated on the following criteria:

● Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with labor market integration projects, including job matching, entrepreneurship, self-employment and financial inclusion; and

● Demonstrated knowledge of working with migrant and refugee populations; and

● Experience or existing partnerships with local financial institutions or credit unions; and

● Ability to incorporate local institituions into the concept.

Proposed concepts should be consistent with USAID legal and policy restrictions, including those set forth in USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) and in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

IV. Application Instructions and Review Process

The Venezuela Regional Programs Unit and the USAID/Peru Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance are responsible for the review process and management of any award(s) issued under this Addendum. Applicants are required to follow the Concept Paper instructions set forth in the CDP APS and submit Concept Papers using the Concept Template.

Applicants must include at least 10% cost share in their applications.

The completed Concept Paper Template (including the Concept Paper and required Supporting Information) should be sent to USAID/Peru through Andrea Capellan at acapellan@usaid.gov with a copy to cdp-aps@usaid.gov.

After review by USAID/Peru, applicants will receive instructions from USAID on whether to proceed with a full application.

V. Questions and Further Assistance

Questions regarding the substance and objectives of this addendum should be directed to Andrea Capellan at acapellan@usaid.gov, with copy to cdp-aps@usaid.gov.

Questions regarding the substance and terms of the 2019-2020 CDP APS should be directed to cdp-aps@usaid.gov.

For additional information regarding guidelines and procedures to submit a concept paper, please refer to the CDP APS which can be found at the following website:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=7200AA18APS00002.

[End of 7200AA18APS00002 Addendum]