RFI-SES-Signed.pdf

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: FOR USAID/AZERBAIJAN SOCIAL

ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT (SES) ACTIVITY

NUMBER: RFI-112-21-SES

ISSUANCE DATE: NOVEMBER 24, 2020

CLOSING DATE: DECEMBER 28, 2020

CLOSING TIME: 17:00 BAKU TIME

1. PURPOSE

The United States Government represented by the United States Agency for International Development

(USAID) in Azerbaijan is in the process of designing a new activity or activities to answer critical implementation research questions in the social and economic development sector. We are seeking public

COMMENTS on the below proposed concept to inform the design process.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY, issued solely for information and planning purposes, and responses do not constitute a proposal. It is not a solicitation and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government or USAID to issue any solicitation or to ultimately award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this RFI. If a Solicitation is issued, it will be announced publicly later, and all interested parties must respond to that Solicitation announcement separately from any response to this announcement.

Responses to this RFI are strictly voluntary and USAID will not pay respondents for the information provided in response to this RFI. Information, comments, and suggestions received will be reviewed and may be incorporated into future solicitation(s) but USAID will not provide direct response to any individual submissions, and will not publicly release the responses.

The purpose of the activity or activities as envisioned under this RFI is to design, carry-out and ensure use of implementation research on the research questions identified below, and to provide high-quality and sector-specific analytical, technical and evaluation services to USAID/Azerbaijan mission and Operating

Units. This will allow USAID to address critical knowledge and learning gaps related to achieving USAID’s goal of strengthening civil society groups (community-based organizations), supporting and enhancing their role in advancing Azerbaijan’s social and economic development and in introducing innovative good governance practices at the local and regional levels.

2. BACKGROUND

Please refer to the USAID/Azerbaijan Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for the background information. The CDCS can be found here : https://www.usaid.gov/azerbaijan/cdcs about:blank

3. CONCEPT

Social Engagement Support (SES) Activity - 2021-2026

Purpose

This activity’s objective is to strengthen local partnerships to enhance citizen participation in advancing

Azerbaijan’s social and economic development. The activity supports USAID/Azerbaijan DO 1:

“Azerbaijan is a more capable and engaged partner” including IR 1.1 “ Increased engagement between citizens and government to address critical needs” and sub-IR 1.1.1 “Capacity of citizens and citizen groups to engage the government improved”.

Strengthened partnership between formal and informal citizen groups, and municipal and executive authorities can boost citizen participation in the prioritization and decision-making processes for addressing citizens’ critical needs. At the same time, these processes can lay the foundation for real citizen-led public-private partnerships to increase the engagement between government, the community, and the private sector.

Development Challenge

A vibrant civil society is pivotal for the development of any democratic society. Since 2014, the situation in the country with the civil society worsened as a result of changes to numerous laws related to NGO activities, NGO/grant/donor registration. Shrinking space for civil society organizations makes it vital to continue efforts to support their voices and bring back their weight. Despite all of these challenges in the operating environment, opportunities remain for civil society to use its role as a legitimate player in the social, economic and political spheres, to enact positive changes on the ground for the benefit of vulnerable citizens/communities, in contributing to socio-economic development of the country and improving good governance practices at the local and regional level. Informal citizen organizations, including informal community-based initiative groups have equal rights and opportunities with the formal CSOs to lead initiatives at those levels. These efforts would support Azerbaijan’s democratic evolution, stability and resilience.

Activity Objective and Theory of Change:

This activity’s objective is to strengthen formal and informal citizen groups (community-based organizations), support and enhance their role in advancing Azerbaijan’s social and economic development and in introducing innovative good governance practices at the local and regional levels. The theory of change is that if community-based organizations are strengthened and supported to more effectively engage their government; and if opportunities for engagement between government, citizens, and the private sector are increased; then vulnerable population/communities can better contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities and improve the governance in their areas for the better.

Objectives and Draft Outcomes:

Objective 1: Improved capacity of citizens and groups to sustainably engage their government

Draft Outcomes:

● Increased civic engagement skills for citizen groups

● Enhanced partnerships for citizen groups across private and public sectors

● Improved sustainability of citizen groups, including increased civic participation of women

● Improved capacity to identify critical needs

● Informal community-based groups empowered and strengthened, specifically on Social

Entrepreneurship (SE) 1

● Registration of community-based groups as NGOs supported

● Financial viability of citizen groups improved

● Increased public demand for government to address critical needs

Objective 2: Increased engagement between citizens and government to address critical needs

Draft Outcomes:

● Expand understanding of SE among central and local authorities

● Public Private Partnerships promoted

● Ability of government entities to engage citizens enhanced

● Government commitment to address critical needs incentivized

● Targeted critical needs addressed

Objective 3: Rapid Response to Unforeseen Opportunities and Challenges

Draft Outcomes:

● Public Private Partnerships utilized

● Governance issues at the national level addressed

● Post-conflict humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation activities implemented

4. RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

Responses should not exceed ten (10) pages and should focus on addressing the objectives and illustrative results specified in the Concept and responding to the questions below. Please do not submit applications, proposals, resumes or promotional materials, as they will be discarded. The submission shall be written in

English and typed on standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper (216mm by 297mm paper), single spaced, font size 12 with each page numbered consecutively.

RFI Questions

1. Are the activity purpose and theory of change relevant and appropriate for Azerbaijan’s development context?

2. Are the activity objectives and draft outcomes reasonable?

3. Do you have any suggestions to change objectives and/or draft outcomes?

4. Would you propose adding or eliminating any of the objectives and/or draft outcomes? Why?

5. Would your organization be interested in bidding or applying for this opportunity? Why or why not?

1 Social entrepreneurship is an approach by individuals, groups, start-up companies or entrepreneurs, in which they develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. Social entrepreneurship is, at its most basic level, doing business for a social cause. Social entrepreneurs combine commerce and social issues in a way that improves the lives of people connected to the cause.

This RFI will be open from the date of release through December 28,2020 at 17:00 Baku Local time. Please send all responses to this RFI via email to ksalimova@usaid.gov. You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response but will not receive feedback.

Questions regarding this RFI will not be answered. After USAID reviews and considers any responses, a decision will be made regarding whether and how to proceed with a new activity.

Thank you for continuing partnering in this important development sector.

Sincerely, Robert Claussen

Regional Agreement Officer