72051824RFI00005 MEL Platformfullysigned.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ISSUANCE DATE: September 06, 2024

CLOSING DATE: September 17, 2024

SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI) - New activity: “USAID/Ecuador -

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support

Platform”

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID) in the Republic of Ecuador, hereby publishes this

RFI to solicit Capability Statements from local entities with the capacity of performing the work described in Section III - Statement of Work (SOW).

The RFI is restricted to Local Entities as defined in ADS 303.6 “Definitions”. - Local entity means an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that— (1) is legally organized under the laws of; (2) has as its principal place of business or operations in; and (3) is (A) majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and (B) managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the Republic of Ecuador.

For purposes of this definition, “majority-owned’ and “-managed by” include, without limitation, beneficiary interests and the power, either directly or indirectly, whether exercised or exercisable, to control the election, appointment, or tenure of the

Organization. Ecuadorian universities, civil society organizations and firms are encouraged to respond to this request.

This RFI is issued solely for gathering information and market research and does not constitute a Request for Proposals.

Sincerely, Contracting Officer

USAID/Ecuador

72051824RFI00005

SECTION I. INSTRUCTIONS

Responses to this RFI must be submitted to the Contracting Officer Mr. Joseph

Terrazas jterrazas@usaid.gov with a copy to Mr. Klever Tipan at ktipan@usaid.gov. No later than September 17, 2024, 4pm (Quito Local Time).

Electronic submissions must have the subject: "Response to RFI No.

72051824RFI00005 - USAID/Ecuador - Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

Support Platform.”

The submissions must be in Microsoft Word, using Calibri font, size 12. Responses may be submitted in English or Spanish .

Respondents must:

Submit a Capability Statement - must be succinct and not exceed ten (10) pages

(exclusive of all annexes).

a. Organization Name

b. Point of Contact (POC) Name, Title, phone and email address;

c. Confirm your organization’s Address/Location, and if your organization satisfies the definition of “local entity” provided in the cover letter of this RFI.

d. Confirmation of your organization’s registration in the System for Awards

Management (SAM) is desirable, but not required to respond to this RFI;

e. A narrative that describes what portions of the work described in Section III-

Statement of Work (SOW) your organization has the necessary experience, technical capacity to carry out, and your willingness or intention to apply for an award if an opportunity becomes available;

f. A description of the institution’s capacity to manage the work you provided in your response to this request, including a presentation of similar past, present, and planned future activities;

g. A presentation of the personnel that your institution deems essential for implementation of a MELS type award. CVs of these personnel may be presented as an Annex. Annexes may not exceed 10 pages.

h. A brief financial overview of your institution. This section should cover the last 5 years and include information related to the financial capacity required to successfully provide the services described in the SOW, likely including overall budget, independently conducted financial audits, and any other information you deem relevant;

mailto:jterrazas@usaid.gov mailto:ktipan@usaid.gov https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/home

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

Respondent institutions should have the following qualities and abilities:

● Experience in designing, monitoring and evaluating development projects and programs, including indicator development and measurement, data analysis, and applied research in sectors related to economic growth, environment, democracy, governance, and inclusive development1.

● Demonstrated ability in collecting, analyzing and visualizing qualitative data, quantitative data and geographic information.

● Demonstrated experience in building organizational capacities or training individuals in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). This includes conducting training sessions, workshops and conferences on these topics.

● Understanding of USAID policies and procedures related to MEL, including the

Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 201 - Program Cycle Operational

Policy, ADS Chapter 508 Privacy Program, ADS Chapter 579 USAID

Development Data, and various agency policy and strategy documents such as the USAID Evaluation Policy, USAID Gender Equality and women’s empowerment policy, USAID Disability Policy, Policy on Promoting the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy, Youth in

Development Policy, Guidelines on collecting feedback from development program participants, and Guidelines on Activity Location Data.

● Working proficiency in English and Spanish.

SECTION II. NEW ACTIVITY INFORMATION

USAID/Ecuador is considering the feasibility of local procurement for an award with an estimated duration of five years (two base and three option years) and a Total

Estimated Cost not to exceed US$ 2,000,000 million.

The purpose of this RFI is to assess if sufficient local capacity exists to carry out the work described in Section III, either within single organizations, or in aggregate across multiple organizations. While the SOW is organized into components, USAID is interested to know if your organization has experience, capacity, and interest in implementing only portions of those components.

Through this RFI and additional market research, USAID may change the scope, total cost, and contracting approach depending on the analysis of the information received.

For example, USAID may choose to procure these services internationally, portions of this SOW may be separated into multiple awards, or USAID may encourage

1 For more information, see Inclusive Development: Additional Help for ADS 201 https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-200/201#:~:text=The%20Program%20Cycle%20is%20USAID's,to%20advance%20U.S.%20foreign%20policy.

https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-200/201#:~:text=The%20Program%20Cycle%20is%20USAID's,to%20advance%20U.S.%20foreign%20policy.

https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-500/508 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/579_050824.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/579_050824.pdf http://www.usaid.gov/evaluation https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/2023_Gender%20Policy_508.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/2023_Gender%20Policy_508.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/inclusivedevelopment/disability-policy https://www.usaid.gov/policy/indigenous-peoples https://www.usaid.gov/policy/indigenous-peoples https://www.usaid.gov/policy/lgbtqi https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pWXpLyG8AuRM1EIeu-qepRPUlsec6qhu/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pWXpLyG8AuRM1EIeu-qepRPUlsec6qhu/view https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-500/references-chapter/579mab https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/ADS-201-Inclusive-Development-Help.pdf partnerships of multiple local organizations.

SECTION III. STATEMENT OF WORK

Background

USAID has worked in Ecuador since 1961 to advance Ecuador’s economic and social development, preserve its environment, respond to natural disasters, and enrich the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ecuadorians. Although USAID closed its Mission in

Quito in 2014, it continued to support work to improve the lives of the Ecuadorian people uninterrupted and reopened its office in 2020, expanding bilateral and regional programs.

As outlined in USAID/Ecuador Strategic Framework 2020-2025, USAID/Ecuador implements activities nationwide with two development objectives:

● DO 1: Strengthened institutions, citizen-responsive democratic governance, and international collaboration.

● DO 2: Promote increased inclusion, sustainability, and a broader-base for prosperity.

USAID/Ecuador activities are mainly focused in sectors such as democracy and governance, environmental sustainability, energy, socioeconomic inclusion, and local development.

Monitoring, evaluation, collaborating, learning, and adapting is crucial for USAID/Ecuador to provide actionable activity-level data that can be used to make decisions about activity design, course corrections during current activity implementation, allocating resources, and improving activity management by the implementing partners and USAID. Activity-level data sources may include performance and context monitoring reported by the implementing partners, context data collected by USAID or third parties, activity-level risk indicators, activity location data, evaluations (internal and external), site visits, data quality assessments for activity-level indicators, cost data, audit findings, learning, and other CLA exercises2.

Purpose.

The purpose of the USAID/Ecuador Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

Support Platform is to provide technical assistance to the Mission in MEL functions during Program Cycle implementation. MEL functions encompass the development and use of tools and practices for: monitoring (including data collection, management, analysis, and reporting) and evaluating the performance and impact of its activities

2 For more information, see Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 201 - Program Cycle

Operational Policy https://www.usaid.gov/ecuador/documents/strategic-framework-sf-july-31-2020-july-31-2025-english https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-200/201#:~:text=The%20Program%20Cycle%20is%20USAID's,to%20advance%20U.S.%20foreign%20policy.

https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-200/201#:~:text=The%20Program%20Cycle%20is%20USAID's,to%20advance%20U.S.%20foreign%20policy.

(including conducting other studies, analyses, and assessments). The MEL Platform will also contribute to strengthening the capacities of USAID’s local partners to improve their management of MEL systems, increase their production and use of evidence, and foster a culture of learning.

Description of Work. The selected Awardee will provide MEL Support to USAID

Ecuador, including services and all costs associated with them for the functions listed below. The expectation is that the selected Awardee will work simultaneously on multiple, different assignments, and within deadlines, with each service available in

English and Spanish.

The selected awardee will perform under a work order-based mechanism, in which the

Mission will request specific tasks and deliverables to be completed. The specific number, complexity, and frequency of individual tasks representing portions of the functions below will change over time. The selected Awardee must be able to flexibly and efficiently manage its execution in order to successfully complete work orders in a technically sound manner, within the agreed timeframe, and at a reasonable cost.

USAID intends to procure the following functions:

Component 1: Evaluations, Assessments, and Other Studies

This component aims to enhance the use of evaluations and assessments for learning and decision-making by:

● Designing, conducting, and disseminating high-quality external evaluations— such as impact, performance, or whole-of-project evaluations.

● Designing, conducting, and disseminating analyses, surveys, assessments, and other qualitative and quantitative research and data collection efforts to support any phase of the USAID Program Cycle.

● Producing well-researched short "briefing papers" covering topics of interest to

USAID.

The Awardee will provide technical guidance and assistance to ensure the timely design, implementation, dissemination, and use of quality performance and impact evaluations, assessments, and other research and data collection efforts, as requested by USAID and in accordance with USAID policies and best practices.

Prior to implementing an evaluation or study, the Awardee will work with USAID and stakeholders to develop a concept note, identifying the learning needs, parameters, and evaluation/study questions. The Awardee will recommend the appropriate methodology to ensure that the proposed evaluation/study responds to decision-making needs.

Performance and Impact evaluations

The purpose of evaluations in USAID is to (1) learn to improve development outcomes and (2) ensure accountability to stakeholders. Evaluations should be relevant, transparent, oriented toward reinforcing local capacity, and compliant with established best practices.

The Awardee will design and carry out performance and impact evaluations, considering USAID principles and requirements, including those within USAID’s

Evaluation Policy and ADS 201. The Awardee will use their best available practices and tools, and all other materials, toolkits, templates, technical notes, etc., available in the

USAID Evaluation Toolkit, USAID Learning Lab3, or as provided by the Agreement

Officer’s Representative (AOR).

Evaluations may occur at any level (intervention, component, activity, project, intermediate result, development objective, country strategy, or cross-cutting outcome) and through different methods. This includes experimental, quasi-experimental, non-experimental, or mixed-methods research and can be applied in process, ex-post, performance, impact, or developmental evaluations.

As requested, the Awardee will work with USAID in the planning, design, and implementation of evaluations; build the capacity of key staff in evaluation management;

and support the integration of evaluation findings into decision-making for priority-setting, strategy development, and activity design.

Illustrative evaluation tasks may include, but are not limited to:

● Assist USAID technical teams in identifying opportunities and planning for evaluations;

● Perform evaluability assessments as required for planned evaluations;

● Design and implement performance and impact evaluations, including developmental, ex-post, or other types of evaluations;

● Synthesize findings and recommendations of evaluations;

● Design and carry out baseline, mid-term, and end-line data collection;

● Organize and implement workshops or meetings to present, validate, and/or disseminate evaluation findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations to

USAID, implementing partners, host government counterparts, or other stakeholders;

● Translate evaluation reports into Spanish or English, as requested by USAID;

● Summarize evaluation reports using data visualization or other communication products, as requested by USAID;

● Support USAID in the development of action-focused processes to implement

3 https://usaidlearninglab.org/ evaluation recommendations;

● Support USAID as needed in developing guidance and tools for evaluation management.

Assessments and other studies

Assessments, other studies, and rapid data collection and analysis efforts will help

USAID collect evidence throughout the Program Cycle to understand the current context, risks, and unforeseen changes, review new evidence, and adapt to the changing local or regional context, particularly as related to external risks that may directly impact (positively or negatively) USAID’s programming.

The Awardee must further provide rapid data collection and analysis capacity to interpret performance and/or context data and assess changing conditions in the operating environment, including in non-permissive environments. Rapid data collection may be triggered by events such as a natural disaster, spike in violence, or political or economic changes.

The Awardee will be required to recommend creative approaches and conduct various types of studies throughout the program cycle that span different sectors and topics.

Anticipated research, assessment, and data analysis tasks include, but are not limited to the following:

● Studies to support Activity, Project, and Strategy design, including: Gender and

Social Inclusion analysis, tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis, Climate Risk

Analysis, Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit Analysis, Environmental

Assessments, Environmental Compliance Review, Political Economy Analysis, Risk Assessments, Digital Landscape Analysis, Youth Assessment, Private

Sector Assessments; Territorial Analysis, Institutional Analysis, Organizational

Capacity Analysis, Stakeholder Analysis, Donor mapping, geographic and regional/country/multi-country assessments, etc.

● Quick analyses of new challenges, the changing operating environment, or trends for a specific area, region, country, or across countries, including: Rapid appraisals, situational analyses, polls, surveys, technical briefs, and political briefs.

● Synthesis, evidence mapping, meta-analysis, or special studies harvesting existing primary and secondary data to respond to identified shortcomings or analyze cross‐cutting issues.

● Organize and implement workshops, meetings with development participants

(beneficiaries), conferences, and seminars to present, validate, and/or disseminate study findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations to USAID, implementing partners, host country counterparts, or other stakeholders.

The Awardee must prepare all reports with professional copy editing, and must ensure that content meets high quality standards. Reports should also be summarized using data visualization products, infographics, or other relevant communication tools. Upon request by USAID, study reports must be translated into Spanish and English.

Component 2: Technical Assistance and Services in Program Cycle

The Awardee will provide technical, advisory, or training assistance to facilitate and improve Program Cycle processes managed by USAID, as required by USAID. The

Awardee will provide the services by integrating best practices, using streamlined systems, and using a locally-led approach. USAID considers locally-led development as a spectrum of methods in which USAID can facilitate increased local leadership in development work, including strategy/project/activity design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning and collaboration in implementation.

Strategy, Project, and Activity Design

The Awardee will support USAID in the planning and design processes of the program cycle to ensure that it is inclusive and evidence-based. Services may include, but are not limited to:

● Support the USAID team in planning and development of strategies (such as the

Country Development Cooperation Strategy or CDCS), projects or activities, including facilitating the identification of information gaps and associated analyses.

● Design and implement listening tours to inform activity design. This may include identifying the location and stakeholders, facilitating the conversation, and analyzing and summarizing information.

● Design, prepare, and facilitate consultations among relevant partners/ stakeholders.

● Design, prepare, and facilitate workshops necessary for developing activities, projects, and strategies, including problem and stakeholder analyses, theory of change development, and logic model creation.

● Facilitate the co-creation process during activity design with local partners.

● Implement refresher training for USAID staff and local partners in specific aspects of activity design, as identified by USAID, such as theories of change, problem statements, logical frameworks, evaluation methodologies, gender, inclusive development, private sector engagement, climate change, etc.

● Provide hands-on direct mentorship and support (including short-term, on the ground, technical assistance) to USAID in areas of the program cycle.

Performance and Context Monitoring

Monitoring involves the ongoing and routine collection of information and data to determine if desired results are being achieved and if relevant external conditions are changing. Monitoring occurs throughout the Program Cycle: at the CDCS level, it is based on the Performance Management Plan (PMP); at the project level, it is based on the Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (PMELP); and at the activity level, it is based on the Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP).

The Awardee will help USAID to integrate evidence-based monitoring throughout the

Program Cycle and enhance the capacity to make well-informed decisions. Services may include, but are not limited to:

● Assist USAID in the development, implementation, and use of the mission-wide

PMPs or project/activity-level PMELP/AMELP. This assistance may include facilitation, meetings, workshops, presentations, technical advice, tool development, data visualization, dashboards, etc.

● Facilitate the selection and development of appropriate indicators and the collection, verification, and analysis of data, especially those obtained from sources other than USAID-funded activities. Support the development and update of Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS) for custom indicators.

● Identify and support the development of baselines and targets.

● Support USAID staff with Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) preparation, implementation and follow-up.

● Support Mission staff to collect, review, aggregate, analyze, and report monitoring data, including implementing third-party monitoring and monitoring in non-permissive environments.

● Review AMELPs, data collection methodologies, approaches, and other related documentation of implementing partners (IPs) to ensure results and indicators are aligned with programs. Also, ensure that definitions are clear and data reporting formats are standardized to streamline data collection and entry.

● Develop learning agendas, evaluation plans, and Collaborating, Learning, and

Adapting (CLA) approaches for Mission Development Objectives and projects.

● Facilitate MEL co-creating processes with stakeholders, including local communities.

● Develop and update standardized program cycle templates, including data collection tools, reporting and work planning templates, data quality assurance checklists, AMELPs, etc.

The Awardee must be prepared to provide these services in areas that are non-permissive for security reasons.

Component 3: Geographic Information System (GIS) and Data Information System

(DIS) Management

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to create, manage, analyze, and map various types of data. GIS allows the integration of location data with descriptive information. This integration enhances the understanding of patterns, relationships, and geographic contexts.

USAID uses GIS tools and maintains a database with geographic information on its activities to enhance collaboration among activities and geographic analysis. The

Awardee will improve the design and management of the database and train USAID staff to create maps with additional layers, enabling USAID to analyze the impact of its programs more effectively.

The Awardee is responsible for providing GIS services and integrating these services with other data sources for analysis, ensuring that GIS efforts are consistent with the standards developed by the USAID Geospatial Center (GeoCenter), ADS 579, and

Development Information Solution (DIS) geographic localization requirements. GIS services include, but are not limited to:

● Prepare annual GIS needs assessments to identify Mission needs for geographic analysis.

● Recommend and develop upgrades to the existing database system and structure, ensuring that Mission staff and partners can easily update and access the upgrades. Train and support USAID staff to manage and maintain this database.

● Collect geographic location coordinate data, including administrative areas and geographic coordinates, from USAID IPs and conduct on-site visits to complement available data.

● Design and train IPs on the proper geospatial data collection and reporting methodologies to comply with ADS 579.

● Map USAID and other relevant interventions at districts and community levels, including relevant social, political, and economic data needed for USAID programming.

● Prepare clear visualizations of the data analyzes using an appropriate multimedia format (paper, web-based, geo-pdf, dynamic dashboards, etc.).

● Develop and update interactive bilateral and regional activity maps in English and

Spanish. Train and support USAID staff to manage and maintain these maps. By the end of the award, the Awardee must hand over the system to USAID.

● Train USAID and IP staff to use GIS to analyze mapped data and extract trends or conclusions.

● Support the transition of GIS activity database information to the USAID

Development Information Solution (DIS) system.

Development Information Solution (DIS)

USAID relies on various primary and secondary data sources, including activity performance data and third-party data, to respond to data calls and inform programming decisions. The Awardee must support the Mission and IPs in entering and managing data in USAID’s Development Information Solution (DIS), a web-based, agency-wide portfolio management system. The DIS Partner Portal allows IPs to submit indicator results and other award data in one place for review, approval, and easy access for analysis. DIS services include, but are not limited to:

● Implement data cleaning and management to assist USAID with data analysis and utilization.

● Develop dashboards or data visualization tools to facilitate collection, aggregation, visualization, and use of monitoring data.

● Train USAID staff and IPs to upload information and use the DIS Agency system.

● Provide oversight and quality control of annual and quarterly IP performance data.

● Train new and existing IPs to use the DIS for annual or quarterly reporting.

● Support Mission-wide data migration into the DIS performance module.

Component 4: Collaboration, Learning, and Knowledge Transfer

This component is designed explicitly to advance localization principles central to

USAID’s efforts in Ecuador. The Awardee will design, support, and implement efforts to promote greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing among USAID, its implementers, host governments, and other stakeholders. The sustainable transfer of knowledge and skills to local actors ensures USAID’s legacy of development impact in the region.

Knowledge Transfer and Local Capacity Building

The Awardee will develop and implement a strategy to promote the accessibility, dissemination, and effective utilization of USAID-produced research and data by the internal and external development community, academic researchers, government institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders across the region. The aim is for these actors to more effectively use this learning in the development and assessment of public policy initiatives. The Awardee’s strategy will include the establishment and nurture of a

“community” or “center” of excellence in Ecuador for the championing of MEL approaches and data-driven and evidence-based public policy-making. The Awardee will leverage and integrate the other components of this award in the implementation of this strategy. Services include, but are not limited to:

https://www.usaid.gov/partner-with-us/resources-for-partners/development-information-solution

● Establish and facilitate a mechanism (e.g., a partnership with one or more local institutions or organizations) to sustainably transfer knowledge and skills produced by USAID to local actors.

● Establish and maintain a publicly available digital information-sharing space (e.g., e-library, website) to easily disseminate studies, research, data, and other information produced by this platform and otherwise associated with USAID and its client missions.

● Develop and implement a capacity building plan to improve the effectiveness of

USAID’s MEL specialists and that of its local implementing partners.

● Develop tools, templates, guidances, and other aids (e.g., use of artificial intelligence tools) to support USAID’s MEL specialists in their MEL functions.

● Develop and implement a capacity building plan for selected local organizations and consultants to strengthen their ability to conduct evidence-based evaluations and assessments, and other MEL tasks. The plan will include a "learning-by-doing" approach to implement the other components of this award.

● Provide specific and targeted hands-on technical assistance to local organizations and institutions to strengthen their capacities to carry out MEL activities.

Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA)

Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) involves strategic collaboration, continuous learning, and adaptive management. CLA approaches to development include collaborating intentionally with stakeholders to share knowledge and reduce duplication of effort, learning systematically by drawing on evidence from various sources, taking time to reflect on implementation, and applying learning by adapting intentionally.

The Awardee will assist USAID in implementing CLA approaches throughout the program cycle. Using knowledge management approaches, the Awardee will support

USAID in sourcing relevant technical, contextual, and experiential knowledge from key stakeholders, and sharing it strategically to influence decisions within and outside

USAID.

The Awardee will enhance communication and coordination by facilitating stronger collaborative relationships between USAID and other actors engaged in similar development activities. Effective coordination, collaboration, and knowledge sharing between stakeholders can help to identify synergies, leverage resources, and increase efficiency and effectiveness in achieving development results. Services include, but are not limited to:

● Develop and implement a CLA plan and promote best practices for CLA throughout the program cycle.

● Develop and implement learning agendas to support USAID's answering of learning questions for each development objective in the PMP and aligning learning activities with Agency-level learning agendas.

● Support USAID in the design, and implementation, facilitation and systematization of portfolio reviews, pause and reflect sessions, and CDCS Mid-

Course Stocktaking processes.

● Support collaboration with IPs and other stakeholders to share findings from monitoring data, evaluations, and assessments and identify how the Mission must adapt program implementation accordingly to improve the sustainability of development outcomes.

● Collect CLA examples from the field and share lessons learned.

● Organize and facilitate workshops and conferences for USAID and IP staff and stakeholders to discuss challenges, share best practices, and foster collaboration on specific topics related to USAID’s areas of intervention.

● Coordinate communities of practice with IPs.

● Organize periodic learning events for the development community to share information and results of other MEL activities with USAID and stakeholders.

● Establish and facilitate processes for collaboration and coordination with internal and external partners. This may include stakeholder analyses, stakeholder engagement plans, and strengthening of stakeholder networks, particularly in the private sector.

● Ensure that the tools developed for building MEL capacities of local partners are easily transferable for future implementing partners, particularly local ones, to facilitate continuous learning and adaptation.

Learning exchanges

To advance learning, collaboration, and capacity-building across a wide range of development and public policy themes relevant to USAID, the Awardee will coordinate learning exchanges and training. The Awardee will facilitate all logistics for individuals and small groups of government, civil society, private sector, and other stakeholders to attend domestic and international conferences, meetings, and similar events. This will involve arranging transportation and accommodation and providing individual per diem allowances in accordance with USAID regulations.

DISCLAIMER:

This RFI is issued solely for gathering information and market research and does not constitute a Request for Proposals. USAID is not requesting and will not review, respond to, or consider proposals to implement the above SOW at this time. The purpose of this RFI is only to assess if sufficient local capacity exists to carry out the work described above, by asking organizations if they possess the necessary capacity, experience, and willingness to apply.

This RFI must not be construed as the U.S. Government commitment to issue a solicitation. Respondents are directly and fully responsible for bearing all incurred expenses associated with preparation and submission of their RFI responses.

USAID reserves the right to use any, all, or none of the information submitted in response to this RFI in a future solicitation/funding opportunity. Thus, respondents must clearly mark or label all proprietary information contained in their submission. USAID will not disclose proprietary information unless required by law. Failure to properly mark or label proprietary information may result in an inappropriate use of such information.

If a solicitation/funding opportunity is issued, it will be announced on www.sam.gov or www.grants.gov at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that

Solicitation separately from any response to this announcement.

[END OF RFI No. 72051824RFI00005] http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/