Notice of Funding Opportunity - Ouagadougou Climate Project V062824.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

EMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title: Ouagadougou Greenbelt Biodiversity Restoration Funding Opportunity Number: ECON-BF-FY24-ESF NOFO-001 Deadline for Applications: August 18, 2024 at 23:59 GMT Assistance Listing Number: 19.989 Total Amount Available: $100,000

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to support the rehabilitation of an urban green site to mitigate climate change impacts, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen community livelihoods and resilience. Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Project Objectives:

In 1976, the government of Burkina Faso established a greenbelt around the capital city of Ouagadougou, covering 2,100 hectares. The greenbelt is a protected forest and ensures an ecological function, which is critical for Sahel countries like Burkina Faso threatened by desertification and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The greenbelt has the potential to reduce dust storms and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the capital city, which is essential as Ouagadougou plays a substantial part in the country's overall emissions due to its large industrial base. In addition to its ecological function, the greenbelt has an invaluable contribution to food security and job creation through urban horticulture.

Currently, women constitute a majority of small farmers who have set up farms along the greenbelt.

Despite the greenbelt's role, rapid population growth and urbanization have strained it, and there is a need for a more robust and adequate response. More than 44 percent of its area has been illegally occupied and developed by schools, garages, places of worship, houses, etc. The greenbelt faces advanced deterioration of plant cover and soil, with some sections being used as garbage dumps, endangering local wildlife, especially birds. Moreover, the development of urban horticulture has been hindered by a lack of sustainable water access and unproductive agricultural practices.

Through its greenbelt initiative, the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou is inviting proposals from eligible organizations to support the rehabilitation of up to 5-hectare portion of the Ouagadougou greenbelt. This U.S. Embassy’s vision is for the project to ensure this greenbelt portion serves as a productive green space, supporting income-generating opportunities for local communities. Specifically, the project seeks to restore the plant cover by planting over 500 trees, construct boreholes to provide a local water source for developing a locally led organic horticulture production for vulnerable women and install fencing to secure the entire portion of the site. The project will prioritize the involvement of neighboring communities and women's associations in its intervention strategy, recognizing their key role in the conservation and protection of the site after the project implementation while improving their economic conditions through urban organic horticulture activities. The project should also include activities related to environmental protection education. Special attention should be given to the limited use of prohibited substances like pesticide.

Project goal: Support the rehabilitation of an urban green site under the capital city's greenbelt program to mitigate climate change impacts, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen community livelihoods and resilience.

Objective 1: Secure up to a 5-hectare stretch of the Ouagadougou greenbelt with local and national environmental authorities to undertake reforestation and other ecological site improvements.

Objective 2: Support long-term management of the secured 5-hectare site by working with local populations, including women associations and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to carry out sustainable income-generating activities such as organic horticulture production, and apiculture.

Participants and Audiences:

The successful applicant will work under the guidance of the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou and with the Ministry in charge of environment and the municipality of Ouagadougou to secure up to the 5-hectare portion of the greenbelt. The implementation of rehabilitation activities on the greenbelt is subject to approvals from the City Hall and the Ministry of Environment. In addition, the successful applicant will work with neighboring communities, women's associations, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to ensure the site's protection and improve their skills and knowledge in urban horticulture production, apiculture, and environmental protection.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 months Award amounts: maximum of $100,000.

Total available funding: $100,000 Type of Funding: FY23 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act Anticipated program start date: September 2024.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed within 12 months.

The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Not-for-profit organizations, including civil society/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are eligible to apply.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

This funding opportunity project has no requirement for cost sharing. Cost sharing will not be taken into consideration in evaluating proposals.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

Application forms required below are available at bf.usembassy.gov and grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application Please ensure:

http://www.sam.gov/

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity.

• All documents are in English.

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars.

• All pages are numbered.

• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at bf.usembassy.gov

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at bf.usembassy.gov

2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (20 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.

• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.

• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.

• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?

• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?

• Environmental mitigation plan: A description of potential negative environmental impacts resulting directly or indirectly from the proposed project’s activities as well as actions to reduce or eliminate those impacts.

• Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments:

• 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

• Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.

• Official permission letters, if required for program activities

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (NOTE: This section is required and not optional, except for NOFOs targeting applications from individuals instead of organizations)

Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and

Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

Exemptions An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

• An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.

• For an applicant, if the Federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a Federal award. In these instances, Federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the Federal award date.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

4. Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than 23:59 GMT time on August 18, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

5. Funding Restrictions

The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement:

• Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns.

• Military assistance of any kind, including weapons buy-back or rewards programs.

• Purchase of firearms, ammunition, or removal of unexploded ordnances.

• Para-police (i.e., militias, neighborhood watch, security guards) and prison-related projects. This restriction includes no funding of any secondary need in a law-enforcement organization.

• Payments for any partner government, military, or civilian government employee salary or pension.

• Funds for market research, advertising (unless public service related to grant program), or other promotional expenses.

• Expenses made prior to the approval of a proposal, or unreasonable expenditures will not be reimbursed.

• Charitable or development activities.

• Fund-raising campaigns.

• Lobbying for specific legislation or projects.

• Scientific research.

• Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization.

• Projects seeking funds for personal use.

• Projects that require a participation fee.

6. Other Submission Requirements

Applications may be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic, or by email to OuagaEcon@state.gov

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 15 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 10 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.

Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.

Environment– 15 points: Applicant adopts appropriate environmental safeguards in the program approach and demonstrates compliance with the host country's environmental regulations.

Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

Support of Equity and Underserved Communities – 10 points: Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities including Internally Displaced Persons in program administration, design, and implementation. Therefore, proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

2. Review and Selection Process

A review committee of U.S. Embassy personnel will evaluate all eligible applications or, in the event of a large number of applications received, Embassy staff will rank applications and the review committee will review the top ranked. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed above in Section D, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. The review panel will review eligible proposals based upon the criteria noted in this NOFO.

3. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly, FAPIIS)

i. The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

ii. An applicant, at its option, may review and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. Currently, federal agencies create integrity records in the integrity module of the Contractor Performance Assessment and Reporting System (CPARS) and these records are visible as responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov;

iii. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method: Request for Payment will be submitted through a SF-270. Payments shall be disbursed via EFT upon receipt of a signed SF-270 form and required reporting.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.

These include:

• 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5

• 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

• 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

• 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

(FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

• 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

• 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: NOTE:

• Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, particularly on:

o Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205), o Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216), o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O.

13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341), o Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and o Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340).

(OPTIONAL) In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants.

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3. Reporting

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit quarterly financial reports and project reports. Progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final certified programmatic and financial reports are due 120 days after the close of the project period. Progress Reports will compare actual performance to planned performance, indicating progress toward achieving each task and goal outlined in the grant agreement. These reports will include an analysis and summary of findings, both quantitative and qualitative, for key indicators.

Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: OuagaEcon@state.gov.

H. OTHER INFORMATION

Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.