FY23 DRC RFSA RFA - Final.pdf

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Issue Date: March 2, 2023 Deadline for Questions: March 14, 2023 at 11:59 a.m. ET Closing Date: April 17, 2023 Closing Time: 11:59 a.m. ET

Subject: Request for Applications (RFA) Number: 720BHA23RFA00001

Program Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Resilience Food

Security Activity (RFSA)

Federal Assistance Listing Number: 98.007

Applicants:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the FY23 DRC RFSAs. Private voluntary organizations (PVOs) or cooperatives, including U.S. and non-U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), may apply. Public international organizations (PIOs) are also eligible to apply.

USAID intends to make an award to the applicant(s) who best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this RFA, and subject to a risk assessment.

Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this RFA thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements, and selection process.

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this RFA and meet eligibility standards in Section C. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. It is the responsibility of applicants to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the RFA has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from the transmission or conversion process. Applicants who have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the RFA, should contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

USAID may only award to applicants that comply with all applicable Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements detailed in Section D.4. The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the application process.

Please send any questions to the point(s) of contact identified in Section G. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the deadline will be furnished to all potential applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov.

USAD

FROM THE AM ERB CAN PEOPLE.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/

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Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments, suggestions, or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Jeff Bryan Agreement Officer, Title II

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Section A - Program Description

Section B - Federal Award Information

Section C - Eligibility Information

Section D – Application and Submission Information

Section E - Application Review Information

Section F - Federal Award and Administration Information

Section G - Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

Section H - Other Information

Appendix I: Definitions

Appendix II: Information for Apparently Successful Applicants

Appendix III: Key Resources

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Section A - Program Description

This funding opportunity is authorized under the Food for Peace (FFP) Act of 2018 and the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended. The resulting award(s) will be subject to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and USAID’s supplement, 2 CFR 700, as well as the additional requirements found in Section H.

1. BHA Resilience Food Security Activities (RFSAs)

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is committed to enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations around the world. BHA’s resilience programming helps save lives, strengthen livelihoods, and build people’s capacities to better manage shocks and stressors. Using all of these approaches, BHA strengthens capacities of vulnerable populations to combat malnutrition, reduce morbidity and mortality, promote economic growth, minimize disaster risks, improve food security, and adapt to climate change. BHA uses a multi-sectoral, integrated activity design that sustainably improves outcomes and strengthens the adaptive, absorptive, and transformative capacities of vulnerable communities.

2. BHA Strategic Priorities

a) BHA Vision

BHA’s vision is to provide global leadership in humanitarian response, promote human welfare, alleviate suffering, and create the foundations for transformative change and self-reliance. BHA is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by crisis, unconditionally and impartially, so that all whom BHA serves are treated with dignity and respect.

b) BHA Mission

BHA’s mission is to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the physical, social, and economic impact of rapid and slow-onset disasters by supporting at-risk populations to build stable foundations for the future. BHA is fully committed to implementing USAID’s mandate as the lead U.S. Government coordinator for international disaster response.

c) The Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience Strategic (ER4) Framework

BHA provides the foundations for transformative change and self-reliance through support of early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience programs. The goal of BHA’s ER4 Strategic Framework is to ensure that vulnerable people have improved capacity to manage risk; to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to shocks and stressors; and to engage in positive, transformative change. While BHA considers all of its programs to be humanitarian assistance, RFSAs typically focus on longer-term outcomes related to resilience, thus reducing the need for ongoing and recurrent humanitarian assistance and laying the foundations that enable development activities to create pathways out of poverty.

https://www.usaid.gov/document/strategic-framework-early-recovery-risk-reduction-and-resilience

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3. U.S. Government and USAID Strategic Priorities

a) USAID Resilience Policy

The increasing frequency and intensity of shocks, combined with the growing pressures of chronic stressors, and the interconnectedness of global systems requires USAID to reconsider how it helps people, communities, and systems adapt and prosper amidst these challenges. In evermore complex risk environments, strengthening resilience of households, communities, and systems is essential for achieving and sustaining human well-being and dignity. See USAID’s Building Resilience to Recurrent Crisis: USAID Policy and Program Guidance for more information.

b) Global Food Security Strategy

The U.S. Government’s Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) 2022–2026 is an integrated, whole-of-government approach that aims to sustainably reduce global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition through the Feed the Future (FtF) initiative. The highest level objectives of the GFSS are to reduce poverty and stunting levels by 20 percent in the targeted areas, and improve resilience through agriculture-led growth. The strategy also aims to address crises that threaten to undermine global food security progress by responding to challenges, including COVID-19, conflict, inequity, and climate change.

c) Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy

USAID’S Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy 2014–2025 addresses both direct and underlying causes of malnutrition, with the stated objective to scale up effective, integrated nutrition-specific and -sensitive interventions, programs, and systems across humanitarian and development contexts. The highest level objectives of the global Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy include:

● Decreasing chronic malnutrition, measured by stunting, by 20 percent.

● Reducing the number of stunted children by a minimum of 2 million.

● Maintaining Global Acute Malnutrition below the emergency threshold of 15 percent.

● Improving nutrition to save lives, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.

● Reducing malnutrition in women of reproductive age (15-49) and children under five, with a specific focus on the 1,000 day window from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday.

d) Climate Strategy

USAID’s Climate Strategy 2022–2030 is a whole-of-Agency approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, help partner countries adapt to climate change by building resilience, and improve our operations, guided by a single, overarching goal: to advance equitable and ambitious actions to confront the climate crisis. The strategy also supports the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE). BHA will focus on advancing climate adaptation and therefore activities that enhance resilience and reduce the vulnerability of people, places, systems, and livelihoods to actual or expected impacts of climate change, including through improved use of information, planning, and action.

https://www.usaid.gov/policy/resilience https://www.usaid.gov/policy/resilience https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/us-government-global-food-security-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/nutrition-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/climate/strategy https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Full-PREPARE-Plan.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Full-PREPARE-Plan.pdf

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4. Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS)

The RFSAs will align, where appropriate, with the 2020-2025 DRC CDCS. The CDCS’s goal is, “A More Peaceful and Prosperous DRC with Improved Opportunities for Communities and Individuals to Thrive.”

The first Development Objective (DO) is, “Responsiveness of Public Institutions to Citizens’ Needs Improved.'' Interventions in the new RFSAs may include strengthening community-based organizations, other non-governmental entities, and local government institutions, to increase transparency and accountability in areas such as taxation, land tenure, and water resource management.

Under the second DO, “Community Resilience Increased,“ RFSAs will partner with key local stakeholders to localize development decision making to improve food and water utilization and associated behaviors at the household and community levels. RFSAs may support sustainable land use; coach farmers on improved agricultural techniques; revitalize local markets; and build collaboration between producers’ organizations and value chain actors (including the private sector). Achieving sustainable food, nutrition, and economic security (FNES) outcomes in the DRC requires awardees to find local solutions to tackle climate change, address gender inequalities, and build the capacity of community structures, all of which are key components of the CDCS.

Finally, the third DO is, “Inclusive, Broad-Based, and Sustainable Economic Growth Increased.” RFSAs are well positioned to enhance local enterprises and income generating activities (IGAs), expand financial inclusion, and improve agricultural livelihoods, contributing directly to the achievement of this DO.

5. Background and Context

Humanitarian needs in the DRC are enormous. The DRC ranks 179 out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index, and an estimated 72 percent of the population lives in poverty. According to the most recent Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Chronic Food Insecurity analysis, Kasai Province is at level 4 (severe chronic food insecurity); while Kasai Central and Tanganyika are at level 3 (food insecurity). Furthermore, the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) (2018) indicates stunting levels among children under five in Kasai is 47.4 percent, Kasai Central is 53.7 percent, and Tanganyika is

18.7 percent. The MICS data also indicate that among children 0-5 months only 30.1 percent in Kasai,

47.6 percent in Kasai Central, and 55.3 percent in Tanganyika are exclusively breastfed. Additionally, the MICS data show that only 11.2 percent of households in Kasai, 8.5 percent of households in Kasai Central, and 40.9 percent of households in Tanganyika access basic water services within 30 minutes of their home. Finally, only 6.2 percent of households in Kasai, 10.4 percent of households in Kasai Central, and 19.2 percent of households in Tanganyika have access to improved sanitation facilities.

FNES in the DRC are driven by a combination of factors including, but not limited to: conflict, insecurity, pests, economic shocks, epidemics, climate events, poor infrastructure, individual and family shocks, a lack of agricultural development, insufficient external investment, and the exploitation of natural resources. The situation in the DRC continues to be dynamic and unpredictable, with multiple shocks and hazards further exacerbating chronic needs. Shocks and stressors are pervasive—whether related to health, economics, natural hazards, increased climate variability, environment, or conflict. The DRC scores low on indicators related to health risk exposure, political violence, adaptive capacity to climate change, and civil conflict. Additionally, people suffer from high rates of food and nutrition insecurity, https://www.usaid.gov/democratic-republic-congo/country-development-cooperation-strategy https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1ZGcBhCoARIsAGQ0kkpZ7kb9PgADn9dUgolYPVMqKtJ2jES8IkOxV1u5EBJ8IoRD_OSjBJIaAm2tEALw_wcB#/indicies/HDI https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1ZGcBhCoARIsAGQ0kkpZ7kb9PgADn9dUgolYPVMqKtJ2jES8IkOxV1u5EBJ8IoRD_OSjBJIaAm2tEALw_wcB#/indicies/HDI https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1037095/?iso3=COD https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/en/reports/mics-palu-2018

720BHA23RFA00001 Page 7 of 95 extreme poverty, and displacement. Chronic conflict and neglect have stripped many communities of their security, livelihoods, and social safety nets, leaving them ill-equipped to cope and recover from shocks.

According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis, the DRC is the largest food security emergency in the world with an estimated 26.4 million people experiencing acute food insecurity. While conflict and population displacement are key drivers, chronic and extreme levels of poverty, lack of economic opportunity, and weak agricultural production are responsible for much of these staggering numbers.

Some factors that contribute to low agricultural production in Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika include:

● A lack of good agricultural practices and extension services.

● A lack of access to farming inputs including tools; improved seeds, cuttings, and seedlings; crop protection products; and fertilizer.

● Poor soil quality (especially in Kasai and Kasai Central where soil is often sandy and acidic).

● Cultural norms impacting gender roles and responsibilities in agriculture.

● Livestock diseases such as Virulent New Castle Disease or Peste des petits ruminants/Plague of

Small Ruminants.

● A lack of appropriate equipment and practices for fish farming, drying, and storage.

● Crop diseases such as Cassava Brown Streak and insect and pest attacks such as Fall Armyworm.

● Negative effects of climate change such as periods of drought, flooding, or erratic rainfall.

● Poor natural resource management such as deforestation.

The DRC context is characterized by weak provision of state water, sanitation, health, and nutrition services. Given the gap in state services, rural populations either rely on external development and humanitarian actors and traditional healers, or use alternate coping strategies such as collecting poor quality drinking water from streams and rivers. Additionally, access to safe, diverse, and nutrient-rich food (NRF) is a clear problem, especially for poor and extremely poor Congolese who have limited purchasing power. Diet quality is a challenge that extends beyond insufficient knowledge of which foods are best to improve diets of women, girls, and children under two.

While the provinces selected for the RFSA, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika, are generally more stable, prior violence and conflict in these areas have caused repeated displacement, decreased livelihood opportunities, limited government services, hindered infrastructure development, damaged natural resources, and increased disease outbreaks. Additionally, climate projections indicate the DRC is likely to experience increases in temperatures, incidences of droughts and floods (potentially leading to landslides and erosion), and precipitation variability. Agriculture1 within these provinces is highly dependent on rainfall and current climate variability already negatively impacts crop, livestock, and fishery productivity, potentially contributing to worsening food insecurity.

In Tanganyika province, interethnic conflict between the Twa and Bantu ethnic groups continues to be a destabilizing and destructive reality. This conflict has led to significant population displacement and food insecurity. While Kasai and Kasai Central provinces have largely stabilized since the Kamuina Nsapu conflict that occurred between 2016-2018, there are still pockets of intercommunal conflict that persist, and the threat of a resurgence of conflict is ever present. Additionally, natural hazards have contributed to food insecurity. Tanganyika has had recent events such as flooding along the banks of Lake

1 Agriculture refers, but is not limited to, crops, aquaculture, livestock, and insects.

https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1155972/?iso3=COD https://fscluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/Maladies%20animales%20en%20RDC%20Cluster%20%2030%20oct%202013.pdf

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Tanganyika, an outbreak of cassava brown streak virus, and elephants trampling crops in Manono territory. Kasai and Kasai Central have experienced drought, erratic rainfall, and livestock diseases.

The lack of thriving, profitable on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm enterprises and IGAs, have led to chronic and pervasive poverty in Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika. This lack of economic opportunity means that households do not have enough cash to cover household expenses such as food, clothing, education, health care, improved sanitation, and access to clean water. Additionally, economic participation for Congolese women is low. Women’s share of non-agricultural employment is only 36 percent and the female to male unemployment ratio is 3/5.2 Extreme poverty also serves as a social stressor that contributes to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and intercommunal and interethnic conflict.

Poor road and bridge infrastructure leaves rural communities isolated from urban markets, impacting agricultural producers and those with other enterprises and IGAs. Producer organizations and individual farmers, fishers, and livestock producers often lack the linkages needed to access inputs, extensions services, and buyers. Enterprises and farmers lack improved storage infrastructure and post-harvest handling practices, which leads to a significant amount of post-harvest losses. Additionally, agricultural enterprises are often challenged by a lack of business knowledge and poor management.

Financial services that could enable small business creation, expansion, or consistency of cash flow are largely unavailable to rural populations within the target provinces. The inability of rural populations to access and use credit or capital stifles the start up and growth of small businesses and IGAs and hinders the ability of smallholder farmers to increase agricultural and livestock production. Youth and women in particular have difficulty starting IGAs due to a lack of start-up capital. Additionally, only a quarter of women aged 15 and older hold accounts at financial institutions or use mobile money.3

6. Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes of the Activity

The goal of the activity is for FNES to be sustainably improved among vulnerable households.

a) Purposes, Sub-Purposes, and Cross-Cutting Themes

The desired high-level purposes, sub-purposes, and cross-cutting themes are as follows:

● Strategic Purpose 1: Strengthened livelihoods and increased incomes

○ Sub-purpose 1.1: Improved usage of credit and capital

○ Sub-purpose 1.2: Increased profitable, diverse enterprises and IGAs

○ Sub-purpose 1.3: Increased sustainable agricultural production

● Strategic Purpose 2: Improved utilization of quality food among vulnerable people

○ Sub-purpose 2.1: Improved maternal, infant, and young child nutrition behaviors

○ Sub-purpose 2.2: Improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) behaviors

● Cross-Cutting Themes:

○ Risk reduction and resilience

○ Governance

2 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Coordination Contract (MECC). (August 25, 2020). USAID/DRC 2020 Gender Analysis Report. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XB7H.pdf.

3 Ibid.

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XB7H.pdf

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○ Gender, youth, social inclusion (GYSI), and patterns of power

○ Climate adaptation

To the extent the RFA includes illustrative activities, these are provided only as examples. Applicants are not limited to these activities nor are they required to include these illustrative activities in their applications. Applicants are expected to adhere to the Theory of Change (TOC) and propose activities that directly contribute to the sub-purposes, purposes, and goal of this RFA.

b) Integration Across Purposes

Throughout the activity design and implementation, applicants will be expected, to the extent possible, to integrate Purpose 1, 2, and cross-cutting themes across the same participant population. By focusing on the same participant population, this approach will ensure that communities benefit from the full suite of activities planned under both purposes, which are meant to holistically address FNES. For example, purpose 1 interventions linked to increasing food availability and access will complement purpose 2 interventions that improve food utilization. The graduation approach is one example of an evidence-based approach for effective integration across economic well-being and food and nutrition security. Given the success of the graduation approach, applicants may consider whether this methodology is contextually appropriate. Please see Appendix III for more information on the graduation approach.

c) Purpose 1: Strengthened Livelihoods and Increased Incomes

BHA seeks a comprehensive approach to 1) strengthen market-led and -sustained livelihoods and 2) increase incomes so vulnerable households are able to meet basic food and nutrition needs while becoming more economically secure. Additionally, BHA seeks market-based approaches that engage both the public- and private sector in addressing critical barriers to consistently profitable livelihoods.

These approaches should build the food and income generating capacity of populations, limit subsidies, and increase the likelihood of sustaining outcomes. Interventions should address on-farm, off-farm, and/or non-farm livelihoods, specifically prioritizing vulnerable groups as discussed in the cross-cutting section on page 13.

(1) Sub-Purpose 1.1: Improved Usage of Credit and Capital

BHA seeks creative approaches to improving usage of fair and equitable credit and capital to increase profitable enterprises and agricultural production. Activities may include:

● Establishing and strengthening village savings and loan associations (VSLA)

● Facilitating linkages to commercial finance through existing donor-supported loan guarantee programs in the DRC

● Facilitating linkages to microfinance institutions (MFIs)

● Advising financial institutions on development of appropriate financial products

● Preparing borrowers to utilize these credit mechanisms

● Providing financial support from the RFSA as a bridge to more sustainable opportunities

If proposing to provide financial support as part of the RFSA, applicants must include specific, tangible strategies for how activities supported with direct grants will become self-sustaining.

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As program participants improve their ability to access and use credit or capital, it could contribute to increased agricultural production and increased profitability of on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm livelihoods. Outcomes may include increasing access to credit and savings through the establishment of group-based savings or strengthening linkages to input suppliers, output buyers, and MFIs. When developing approaches to attain material objectives, BHA encourages applicants to consider non-material constraints, such as accessibility for marginalized groups.

(2) Sub-Purpose 1.2: Increased Profitable, Diverse Enterprises and IGAs

Applicants should illustrate knowledge of the specific provincial and territorial context in the DRC when approaching livelihoods development. Applicants should consider factors that impact the pursuit of rural livelihoods such as: market-viability; economic opportunities; availability of local resources; existing skills and knowledge, including vocational skills and business knowledge; and other factors impacting successful entry to employment, particularly for women and youth. Applications should include on-farm, off-farm, and/or non-farm livelihoods, from self-employment to small business creation, and specifically prioritize the interests of women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

BHA seeks approaches to increase profitable enterprises from a diverse range of on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm IGAs. Activities may include:

● Business incubation

● Start-up grant funding for IGAs coupled with vocational and business training

● Strengthening producer groups to become profitable commercial entities

● Facilitating viable market linkages such as between producers and input suppliers, service providers, transporters, aggregators, and buyers

● Improving post-harvest handling

● Conserving and managing natural resources

BHA seeks to promote a wide diversity of IGAs and to prioritize IGAs that provide goods and services for which there is an existing or anticipated demand in the market. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of approaches to developing market-led IGA strategies and the barriers that exist for marginalized groups to start an IGA. Applicants should also demonstrate the expertise and resources that will be available to assess and monitor the market viability and sustainability of livelihoods.

Technical approaches should seek to provide inclusive and equitable access to market-viable IGA opportunities.

Poor infrastructure hinders agricultural production, economic growth, and trade and is a major factor contributing to food, nutrition, and economic insecurity. BHA encourages the inclusion of sustainable for-work assets such as roads and bridges oriented toward improving market access. BHA funds may be used for the repair, rehabilitation, and upgrade of existing roads and the repair or construction of new crossing structures (such as culverts or bridges). BHA will not fund the creation of new roads. For-work activities could also include building other communal assets that contribute to the community’s food system such as market infrastructure. Infrastructure activities will require close coordination with relevant central government offices.

(3) Sub-Purpose 1.3: Increased Sustainable Agricultural Production

BHA is looking for a comprehensive approach to improving agricultural production of NRF (including crops, livestock, aquaculture, and insects) that takes into account the myriad challenges detailed in

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Section A and provides a robust package of solutions. With regard to increasing agricultural production, potential interventions could include:

● Improving the local seed systems through support to seed multipliers.

● Facilitating linkages between national institutions such as the Agriculture Research Institute

(INERA) and seed multipliers, the private sector, and smallholder farmers.

● Improving market linkages, including but not limited to, access to market information, buyers, input suppliers, and contract farming opportunities.

● Improving post-harvest handling practices and storage.

● Increasing availability of and participant access to small livestock, fingerlings, seeds, cuttings, and seedlings.

Applicants who propose direct provision of agricultural inputs are expected to frontload direct assistance to smallholder farmers in the early to middle years of the program. This assistance should reduce over time as access to finance improves and as food and market systems become more sustainable.

With regard to improving agricultural practices, potential interventions to support farmers and livestock producers could include:

● Providing direct agronomic technical assistance, including cascading approaches such as farmer field schools.

● Facilitating assistance by public sector extension workers from Territory Administration of Agriculture (ITA) or Territory Administration of Livestock and Fisheries (PEL).

● Providing private sector advisory services to smallholder farmers engaged in staple crop and vegetable garden production, livestock, aquaculture, and agroforestry.

Additional activities could include the use of for-work activities to improve agricultural production such as irrigation canals, fish ponds, and livestock markets. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the use of nature-based solutions (NbS), especially alongside any proposed built (or “gray”) infrastructure. NbS plays a supporting role in climate adaptation and the conservation of natural resources, which is critical to sustainable agricultural production.

Applicants should consider the intersection of GYSI, and patterns of power in relation to agricultural productivity. Potential activities should be cognizant of women’s time and energy burden and measures should be put in place to ensure selected activities are not too burdensome. Illustrative activities may include social behavior change (SBC) that improves gender equity with regard to household chores, childcare, and engagement in agricultural production. For additional information on gender, youth, and patterns of power see page 15.

d) Purpose 2: Improved Utilization of Quality Food Among Vulnerable People

Improved utilization of food among vulnerable people is essential to reducing food and nutrition insecurity. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN) explains food utilization as follows:

“If food is available and households have adequate access to it, the next question is whether or not households are maximizing the consumption of adequate nutrition and energy. Sufficient energy and nutrient intake by individuals is the result of good care and feeding practices, food

720BHA23RFA00001 Page 12 of 95 preparation, dietary diversity and intra-household distribution of food, and access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene and healthcare. Combined with good biological utilization of food consumed, this determines the nutritional status of individuals.”

BHA recognizes that improved utilization of food is critical to achieving food and nutrition security outcomes. Nutrition programming should target individuals who are most vulnerable to malnutrition within a given household, including pregnant and lactating women, children under two, and adolescent girls. BHA requests that applicants address the individual, social, and structural determinants of malnutrition, offering a multi-sectoral package of targeted nutrition-sensitive activities and appropriate linkages to nutrition-specific interventions.

The applicant should prioritize a manageable number of key behaviors that will have the greatest impact in achieving program outcomes at the purpose and sub-purpose levels. Applicants should describe how the activity will address barriers and enablers to adoption, including social norms.

(1) Sub-Purpose 2.1: Improved Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition Behaviors

USAID expects applications to demonstrate an understanding of the cultural and contextual factors that contribute to poor food utilization and to propose approaches that are relevant and responsive. USAID seeks evidence-based, holistic, and sustainable approaches to improving nutrition behaviors. Applicants should not propose the prevention or treatment of individuals with moderate or severe acute malnutrition using specialized nutritious food (SNF) or specialized nutrition products (SNP). USAID encourages applicants to select between three to five key maternal, infant, and young child nutrition behaviors that improve utilization of food. Illustrative examples may include, but are not limited to:

● Feeding and home treatment of children during illness

● Intra-household allocation of activities to reduce women’s time and energy burden

● Food handling, preparation, and storage

● Complementary feeding practices

● Family planning

As emphasized in the USAID Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy, the DRC CDCS, and the DRC National Nutrition Policy (Program National de Nutrition - PRONANUT), nutrition-specific interventions alone will not eliminate under-nutrition. A complementary mix of limited nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming is necessary to ensure sustainable FNES outcomes. Approaches must go beyond focusing on the mother-child dyad and work at the individual, family, and community levels. BHA supports participatory approaches to community nutrition such as the Community Based Nutrition (NAC) approach implemented by the Ministry of Health and PRONANUT. Additional information can be found in Appendix III.

Applicants should examine a range of approaches and modalities to improve the access, availability, and utilization of diverse, NRF, and locally available fortified foods. These may include SBC activities that promote improved infant and young child feeding practices, improved dietary diversity, and shared decision making in the household, and lead to improved household allocation of food. These, combined with improved WASH and health seeking behaviors, are essential to improve utilization of food among vulnerable people. Sustained improvements in key nutrition behaviors will require SBC approaches that are linked to improved access and availability of diverse, safe, and quality food.

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(2) Sub-Purpose 2.2: Improved WASH Behaviors

Equitable and affordable access to sustainable WASH infrastructure is a precondition to improving WASH behaviors. Additionally, applicants should seek to increase community- and household-level actions to prevent waterborne diseases while taking into consideration the enabling environment.

Applicants will need to propose evidence-based solutions that demonstrate an understanding of contextual challenges in the DRC, such as:

● A lack of demand for and access to sustainable sanitation infrastructure.

● Poor water supply governance and life-cycle costing options.

● Inability to pay usage fees and the unsustainability of WASH infrastructure and approaches.

● Structural and environmental WASH challenges, such as sandy soil.

As appropriate, applicants should attempt to integrate with and build upon sustainable WASH approaches implemented through other USAID activities. Applicants should consider approaches that contribute to sustainable access to improved sanitation and hygiene options that are community-informed, equitable, and demand-driven. Illustrative activities may include:

● Implementing behavior change activities to:

○ Increase proper hand washing practices.

○ Increase safe water storage, handling, and household treatment practices.

● Establishing community-based approaches to sustainable operations and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities.

● Reducing the social and individual barriers to sanitation services uptake.

● Coordinating and aligning with government approaches to promoting hygiene and sanitation practices.

● Collaborating with WASH service providers to increase market access for sanitation infrastructure and hygiene products and services.

● Monitoring and protecting sources for improved water quality.

● Repairing, rehabilitating, and/or constructing water supply systems.

BHA encourages applicants to consult the U.S. Government's Global Water Strategy 2022 - 2027 for more information.

e) Cross-Cutting Themes

The following themes are critical to successful RFSA implementation: 1) risk reduction and resilience; 2) governance; 3) GYSI and patterns of power; and 4) climate adaptation. These themes influence both Purpose 1 and Purpose 2 pathways so are cross-cutting rather than separate causal pathways. BHA expects applicants to integrate these themes throughout the RFSA TOC. Applicants should not propose separate activities to address the cross-cutting themes; all activities must contribute to the sub-purposes, purposes, and goal in this RFA.

(1) Risk Reduction and Resilience

Increased self-reliance is possible when the DRC’s citizens are better able to proactively reduce, mitigate, and manage risks and adapt to and recover from shocks and stressors. BHA expects RFSA applicants to promote ways to anticipate and reduce risks by strengthening absorptive, adaptive, and https://www.globalwaters.org/sites/default/files/us_global_water_strategy_2022.pdf

720BHA23RFA00001 Page 14 of 95 transformative resilience capacities. For example, approaches may include conflict-sensitive programming and proactive community level planning to prepare for shocks.

Additionally, BHA is committed to strengthening the resilience of individuals, households, communities, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stressors across all purposes. Resilience means being able to manage through adversity and change without compromising future well-being. Resilience requires absorptive, adaptive, and transformational capacities. As applicants propose specific interventions, it will be important to describe in detail how each intervention will strengthen resilience, for whom resilience will be increased, and to what shocks and stressors people will have improved resilience. Applicants should 1) identify the underlying causes (stressors) that perpetuate poverty traps and hinder resilient outcomes; 2) mitigate risks through appropriate and impactful interventions; 3) enhance human and social capital;

4) articulate how activities will be rolled out; and 5) indicate how improvements will be measured and reported. Applicants should identify risks stemming from both human-made (e.g., inflation, civil unrest, inter-ethnic/intercommunal conflict) and climate-related shocks and stressors,4 explaining how the specific interventions will strengthen absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities.

Additionally, applicants should discuss potential risks of maladaptation. Applicants are encouraged to consider additional resilience-related resources available through ResilienceLinks.

It is important that applicants consider interventions that strengthen people’s capacity to anticipate, cope with, and recover from future shocks by addressing the underlying drivers of risk affecting them. Applicants are encouraged to use risk-informed approaches for all interventions and identify key hazards, vulnerability and exposure, and risk reduction strategies in the overall activity design.

Interventions should not only meet immediate needs but also strengthen the ability of people to handle future crises. Applicants should:

● Complement or build on existing risk reduction programs if applicable, and draw from best practices and lessons learned.

● Explain how specific interventions will serve to strengthen disaster risk management capacities, policies, and plans, or lead to strategy development.

● Describe how programming integrates relevant government and disaster management agencies and contributes to national risk reduction plans or strategies.

● Describe how strong community participation and multi-stakeholder involvement will be included in the development and implementation of risk reduction interventions, thus encouraging ownership and sustainability of interventions.

(2) Governance

Inclusive and effective governance is essential for impactful, sustainable RFSA programming. At the community level, RFSA applicants will address governance issues when working with community groups such as VSLAs, producers’ organizations, and water management committees. The design and implementation of RFSAs also require engagement with local government offices like the Provincial Division of Gender; the Inspector of Rural Development; and Agriculture, Fishery, and Livestock Inspectors (IPAPEL). Applicants should elaborate on how stakeholders at various levels will be engaged over the life of the activity and beyond in the targeted province.

4 When describing how activities will address relevant climate risks, applicants must also highlight approaches in the Environmental Safeguards Plan in Annex 9. Climate risk management is further described in the Environmental Compliance section below.

https://www.resiliencelinks.org/home

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(3) Gender, Youth, Social Inclusion, and Patterns of Power

Food, nutrition, and economic insecurity are multi-dimensional challenges requiring a thorough understanding of contributing factors and appropriate solutions that address distinct and intersectional needs. For example, applying an intersectional approach requires understanding and identifying the intersection of gender and age with other factors of social exclusion. Examples of other factors to consider throughout the design include ethnicity, marital status, polygamy, and forced and early marriage. Overcoming barriers to change requires understanding patterns of power and addressing norms relating, but not exclusive to, gender, youth, and other types of social exclusion factors at play within households, communities, and local systems. The integration of these cross-cutting themes throughout the RFSA will result in the positive change needed to ensure equitable, inclusive FNES outcomes.5

BHA promotes a focus on young people as positive change agents who bring creativity, energy, commitment, and novel perspectives to understanding and addressing food insecurity in their communities. Applicants are encouraged to pursue inclusive and Positive Youth Development (PYD) strategies that view young people as key partners in development efforts, from nutritional programming to strengthening agricultural markets to building food secure communities.6 When developing RFSA interventions applicants should take into account the following:

● Unique challenges, tensions, and expectations that young people face

● Disparities and constraints faced by the different youth cohorts related to different age segments

● Youth’s participation in the agriculture and food system

● Marital status or parentage

● Differing nutritional needs by sex, age, and life situation

● Unique opportunities the various youth cohorts bring to the program

BHA encourages applicants to consult USAID’s 2022 updated Youth in Development Policy for more information.

Applicants must integrate and mainstream gender considerations throughout the activity design, ensuring that it is responsive to these issues through all stages of the RFSA program cycle. Applicants should also describe how meaningful participation and leadership among women, youth, indigenous peoples, local communities, and other marginalized and/or under-represented groups will be increased.

Integration of gender-informed and responsive approaches must be context appropriate and reflected throughout the activity. Promoting women and girls’ self-determination—and transforming gender relations for the better–are equally vital for attaining equitable and sustained FNES. BHA encourages applicants to consult USAID’s 2020 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy for more information.

(4) Climate Adaptation

Addressing the impacts of the climate crisis requires a holistic approach and RFSA applicants must take into consideration the ever-changing climatic conditions in the DRC throughout activity design and implementation. Predicted climate impacts should inform adaptation efforts, and RFSA applicants

5 Suggested Approaches for Integrating Inclusive Development Across the Program Cycle and in Mission Operations

6 Promoting PYD https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth https://www.usaid.gov/policy/gender-equality-womens-empowerment https://usaidlearninglab.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/additional_help_for_ads_201_inclusive_development_180726_final_r.pdf http://www.youthpower.org/positive-youth-development

720BHA23RFA00001 Page 16 of 95 should consider climate risks that could potentially impact program objectives. Additionally, applicants are expected to design climate-smart interventions while being mindful not to cause additional harm through their own operations.

f) Title II Commodities

Applicants must request Title II commodities. BHA’s most recent list of Title II commodities can be found in BHA's FY23 Q2 Commodity Calculator and the FY23 Q2 Commodity & Ocean Estimates document. At least 25 percent of the life of award value must be allocated to commodity procurement, ocean and inland transportation, and Internal Transportation, Storage, and Handling (ITSH). ITSH funds can only be programmed in conjunction with commodities sourced from the United States. For more information, particularly concerning eligible uses of Section 202(e) and ITSH funding, please refer to Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Functional Policy (BHAFP) 20-01. Monetization is not authorized. All resource requests must be appropriately justified.

RFSA applicants will be expected to indicate how Title II commodities will contribute to the stated purposes, sub-purposes, and cross-cutting themes as appropriate. BHA expects applicants to take a holistic approach to the use of Title II commodities and creatively incorporate Title II commodities into interventions that contribute to achievement of the overall program goal. BHA expects applicants to propose the integration of commodities in support of both purposes, or provide strong justification as to why an alternate approach is proposed. BHA is open to approaches that include unconditional and conditional distribution of food in support of both Purpose 1 and 2 objectives. However, applicants may not propose using SNP or SNF.

Applicants must indicate how the proposed resource transfers and work norms (if applicable) are aligned with in-country standards. If proposing unconditional food assistance, applicants should use a do no harm approach that avoids disincentivizing engagement in Purpose 1 activities and that does not contribute to aid dependency. For example, applicants are encouraged to consider the agricultural calendar in the timing of unconditional transfers, aligning potential food distributions with the lean season. Additionally, applicants proposing unconditional assistance must obtain provincial government concurrence with planned interventions prior to implementation.

Applicants are encouraged to review available market data and analyses including USAID commissioned assessments (Appendix III).

7. Programming Principles

BHA is committed to taking actions that uphold and are consistent with the four humanitarian principles, which are broadly accepted by international humanitarian stakeholders and enjoy wide recognition in the international community. These are the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. For BHA, this commitment translates into action on the ground through the following programming principles:

a) Design for People-Centered Approaches

BHA is committed to keeping the interests and the voices of the most vulnerable at the center of its work, and to crafting responses based on the strengths, priorities, risks, and needs of the target population. Creating opportunities for vulnerable populations requires working in partnership with local https://www.usaid.gov/document/bha-fiscal-year-2023-commodity-calculator https://www.usaid.gov/document/bha-fiscal-year-2023-commodity-and-ocean-freight-price-estimates https://www.usaid.gov/document/bha-functional-policy-20-01 https://www.usaid.gov/document/bha-functional-policy-20-01

720BHA23RFA00001 Page 17 of 95 communities and understanding their resources and capacities. People-centered approaches also require:

● Understanding the broader systems affecting communities (such as social dynamics and formal and informal institutions)

● Addressing challenges (such as conflict, gender inequalities, shocks, and stressors) that may undermine opportunities for positive change

● Providing linkages to newly emerging or previously out-of-reach resources, services, and catalysts for change

Important factors to consider include:

● Unique community power dynamics

● Existing community tensions related to natural resource management

● Different livelihoods, gender, age, social class, physical capabilities, and political or religious affiliation

b) Prioritization and Focus

BHA strongly discourages approaches that have too many wide-ranging interventions. Applicants are therefore expected to analyze the context of the specific territories and health zones of operation, and prioritize capacities and needs in order to develop programs specific to that context and the targeted populations.