RFI_SSN - USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity -.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/ SOURCE SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN)

Program Title USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity

Issuance Date June 1, 2023

RFI Response Due Date and Time July 7, 2023 at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Response Email Addresses tpaudel@usaid.gov rbertholon@usaid.gov

Anticipated Total Budget Up to U.S. Dollar $10 million, subject to the availability of funds

Set Aside Local Organizations registered to operate in Nepal

Dear Interested Parties:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development in Nepal (USAID/Nepal), is designing a new stand-alone small grants activity to support biodiversity conservation, natural resources management and climate change adaptation and resilience in Nepal, as described in Attachment A. USAID/Nepal seeks to set this opportunity aside to local organizations in Nepal (see blue font in Attachment C for a definition of local organizations).

A. Request for Information (RFI)

USAID/Nepal is posting this RFI to provide information to organizations interested in USAID’s conservation-focused programs and partnerships in Nepal, as well as to collect information and suggestions about needs for implementing a small grant activity to support local actors around conservation and climate change programming in Nepal. The RFI strives to obtain broad stakeholder and market feedback as to the soundness and robustness of the conceptual design for USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity from interested organizations with relevant experience and capabilities. Information provided will assist USAID/Nepal to make planning decisions.

The information contained within this RFI is intended solely as a thought-piece; ideas may change significantly during USAID/Nepal’s activity design, consultation, and approval process. In addition, any information collected through this RFI may or may not be used to help guide thinking about biodiversity programming.

Attachment B includes guiding questions, not all of which need to be answered in respondents' feedback. Incorporation of any feedback by RFI respondents is subject to internal USAID discussions and approval. Respondents will not be invited to elaborate upon them after mailto:tpaudel@usaid.gov submission.

No other documents or information are requested at this time. USAID/Nepal asks respondents to not send any additional information other than what is requested in Attachment B and to adhere to the page limits mentioned below.

To expedite our review and be considerate of your time, please keep the response to Attachment B to no more than five (5) pages in length. Responses to the notice must be written in English and respondents are encouraged to use Calibri font size 12 and number pages consecutively in the bottom margin.

Responses to Attachment B of this RFI must be submitted by email only to Tejendra Paudel at tpaudel@usaid.gov and Robyn Bertholon at rbertholon@usaid.gov by the date and time indicated on page 1.

The email subject line and file name should be as follows: “Responses to RFI: USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity”. Responses received after this deadline will not be read or considered.

You may receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response.

B. Sources Sought Notice (SSN)

Additionally, this is an SSN to identify qualified local organizations that are interested in and capable of performing the type of work described in Attachment A. See definitions of local organizations in blue font in Attachment C. Through USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity, USAID/Nepal seeks to partner with local actors, including civil society, NGOs, and other private sector companies. While we value the capabilities of international organizations, at this time, we ask solely for capability statements from local organizations registered in Nepal. This will help USAID/Nepal understand the capabilities of local organizations and inform our strategy for locally-led development and climate action in Nepal.

Submission instructions for this SSN are provided in Attachment C. To expedite our review and be considerate of your time, please keep the response to no more than five (5) pages in length.

All interested organizations are encouraged to submit the responses and information requested in Attachment C of this SSN by email only to Tejendra Paudel at tpaudel@usaid.gov and Robyn Bertholon at rbertholon@usaid.gov by the date and time indicated on page 1. Responses received after this deadline will not be read or considered. You may receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response.

DISCLAIMERS

This RFI/SSN is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does NOT constitute a solicitation or a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and in no way obligates the US Government to issue a solicitation or a NOFO and/or award or pay for costs incurred by organizations in the preparation and submission of responses on this RFI/SSN.

If a Solicitation/NOFO is issued, all necessary information will be supplied at the time it is mailto:tpaudel@usaid.gov mailto:rbertholon@usaid.gov mailto:tpaudel@usaid.gov mailto:rbertholon@usaid.gov posted on SAM.gov and/or Grants.gov.

Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor the above website for updates concerning this procurement, as well as the USAID Business Forecast:

https://www.usaid.gov/business-forecast.

USAID/Nepal will not provide answers to any questions or inquiries submitted in response to this request and respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. USAID/Nepal reserves the right, but is not obligated to, incorporate any, some, or none of the comments received into any subsequent Solicitation or NOFO. Responding to this RFI/SSN does not give any advantage to any firm or organization in any subsequent competition. This RFI/SSN does NOT restrict the USAID's procurement approach on future solicitations or NOFO. No phone calls related to this RFI/SSN will be accepted. All correspondence shall be via email.

Individual responses to this RFI/SSN will be held confidential. However, respondents must refrain from sending proprietary information or other protected information in response to this RFI/SSN. Please do not submit applications or resumes as they will be discarded. RFI/SSN responses will only be used by USAID internally but are not anonymous. Responses to this RFI/SSN are strictly voluntary.

RESOURCES

We encourage all potential partners to visit WorkwithUSAID.org before responding to this RFI/SSN. WorkwithUSAID.gov is a resource hub designed for new, current, and future local and international partners to navigate how to work with USAID. This website is a free resource hub that empowers partners with the knowledge and networks to navigate how to work

The link also has the most common questions organizations frequently ask about engaging with USAID. All potential partners are advised to complete this local organization profile form so1

USAID/Nepal can better capture profiles of local organizations operating in Nepal. Listing your organization does not result in a commitment for funding or represent a solicitation for proposals or offers. Please see Attachment D for additional resources.

This notice can be viewed and downloaded from the internet at SAM.gov, and Grants.gov. See Attachment D for more information.

USAID/Nepal values input from our potential partners, and we thank you for your interest and assistance in developing potential future programs.

Sincerely, Robyn Bethtolon

Agreement Officer

USAID/Nepal

1 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEp-CrRGFhPN3T2MOPFZuuV24WTaMHI9xMAStwXkwCfoG_uw/viewform https://workwithusaid.org/ https://workwithusaid.org/ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEp-CrRGFhPN3T2MOPFZuuV24WTaMHI9xMAStwXkwCfoG_uw/viewform https://sam.gov/content/home https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEp-CrRGFhPN3T2MOPFZuuV24WTaMHI9xMAStwXkwCfoG_uw/viewform

Attachment A

I. Introduction

USAID/Nepal seeks to engage a local Nepali organization for overall management of USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity. This activity involves a range of tasks that require strong project management skills, as well as the ability to work effectively with grant applicants, grantees, review committees, and USAID.

Specific activities for USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity includes developing and administering a grants program to innovatively and sustainably achieve the below referenced objectives.

Furthermore, USAID/Nepal aspires to define priority actions that will be the most impactful and relevant in catalyzing conservation, climate action, building resilience, particularly for marginalized groups, and when applicable, reducing land use and land-use change driven greenhouse emissions.

The activity is planned to have be a multiple year effort, and has the following interlinked objectives:

● Promote biodiversity conservation: Promote biodiversity conservation in specific areas, such as critical habitats and/or biodiversity hotspots. This can involve supporting local organizations, community groups, or individuals in their efforts to protect endangered species, restore degraded ecosystems, or implement sustainable land and water management practices, as well as to develop and implement enterprises that have both economic and conservation benefits.

● Build local capacity: Develop the capacity of local organizations and communities to engage in conservation activities. This can involve providing training and technical assistance in areas such as conservation planning, monitoring and evaluation, fundraising, conservation enterprises, or communication and outreach.

● Foster community engagement and ownership: Promote participatory decision-making processes, encouraging the involvement of local communities in project design and implementation, and supporting community-led initiatives that address local conservation priorities. By doing so, the small grants program will help to build trust and collaboration between conservation organizations and local communities, which is essential for the long-term success of conservation efforts.

II. Background

USAID/Nepal seeks a more self-reliant, prosperous, and inclusive Nepal that delivers improved democratic governance and health and education outcomes. USAID/Nepal is planning a new activity to provide an alternative grant funding source for local partners to accelerate locally-led development. USAID is committed to addressing Nepal’s development challenges by supporting locally-owned, sustainable solutions from local people and organizations to build diverse, inclusive economies and democratic, healthy societies. This activity will support local organizations efforts to conserve the natural environment for the betterment of the flora and fauna which rely on these precious resources, as well as the communities managing and utilizing these resources. This activity will be implemented and managed by a local prime partner and their local consortium of sub-partners.

III. Achievement of Strategic Objectives

USAID/Nepal values coordination and complementarity with ongoing USAID activities and encourages opportunities for synergies across USAID/Nepal’s programming. Specifically, USAID/Nepal aims to align with and contribute to the following strategic objectives and Agency priorities:

A. USAID Biodiversity Policy2

USAID aims to shape a future in which both people and nature thrive. The Agency’s Biodiversity Policy builds on a long history of conserving biodiversity and reflects the critical role of natural systems in achieving development goals.

USAID’s biodiversity programs support partner countries on their journey to self-reliance by following Congressional requirements and the Biodiversity Policy’s goals to conserve biodiversity in priority places and integrate biodiversity as an essential component of human development.

Established in 2014, and currently being updated, the Biodiversity Policy has helped to create more strategic, focused, and results-oriented programming that applies scientific and evidence-based approaches. Through a blueprint for biodiversity conservation, the Policy outlines six principal objectives:

● Support enabling conditions for biodiversity conservation

● Reduce priority drivers and threats to biodiversity

● Integrate conservation and development for improved biodiversity and development outcomes

● Build partnerships to mobilize resources in support of biodiversity conservation

● Influence key international policies in support of biodiversity conservation

● Apply science, technology, and learning to enhance biodiversity conservation practice

The development of the Policy was participatory and benefited from expert engagement, consultation, and transparency. The Biodiversity Policy ultimately recognizes that human well-being and progress depend on the health of natural systems and that lasting development gains are not possible unless these systems are valued and safeguarded. USAID has and will continue to work collaboratively with host countries and the global community to conserve biodiversity for resilient development.

B. USAID Climate Strategy 2022-20303

Through the implementation of the USAID Climate Strategy, USAID will advance equitable and ambitious actions to confront the climate crisis. USAID/Nepal will aim to contribute to the strategic objectives of USAID Climate Strategy to accelerate and scale targeted climate actions, as well as catalyze transformative shifts to net-zero and climate resilient pathways.

3 https://www.usaid.gov/policy/climate-strategy

2 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/USAID%20Biodiversity%20Policy%20-%20June%202015.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/USAID%20Biodiversity%20Policy%20-%20June%202015.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/policy/climate-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/policy/climate-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/USAID%20Biodiversity%20Policy%20-%20June%202015.pdf

USAID/Nepal will emphasize contributions to achieve the following Intermediate Results (IRs) of the Climate Strategy:

IR 1.1 Reduce Emissions: Catalyze urgent mitigation (emissions reductions and sequestration) from energy, land use, and other key sources IR 1.2 Build Resilience: Strengthen resilience of populations vulnerable to climate impacts (adaptation) IR 1.3 Mobilize Finance: Increase the flow of and equitable access to finance to support adaptation and mitigation IR 1.5 Amplify Crucial Voices: Enable and empower women and youth and other marginalized and/or under-represented groups to lead climate action IR 2.1 Transform Key Systems: Advance transformation of key systems and essential services to reduce emissions and enhance climate resilience IR 2.3: Strengthen Responsive, Transparent Governance and Citizen Engagement for Effective Climate Action

B. Country Development Cooperation Strategy/Nepal:

USAID/Nepal’s work in climate action will contribute to its Country Development Cooperation Strategy , focusing on the following:4

USAID/Nepal’s CDCS constructs a results framework that establishes meaningful, achievable, and instrumental results for Nepal. In support of the goal, USAID will implement the CDCS through four Development Objectives (DOs): DO 1 More Effective, Participatory, and Equitable Democratic Ecosystem; DO 2 Broad-Based and Inclusive Economic Growth Fostered; DO 3 Inclusive Health and Education Systems Strengthened; DO 4 More Equitable and Improved Natural Resources and Disaster Risk Management.

USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity will contribute to DO 4, specifically to the following two intermediate results IR 4.1, natural resources conservation enhanced; and IR 4.4: resilience of women, marginalized and vulnerable groups increased.

C. The U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality :

With the development of the whole-of-government National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality and the corresponding U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security ,5 6

USAID/Nepal will support women and girls’ leadership and participation in climate action.

Strengthening women’s resilience to climate change and participation in green economic activities is key to ensuring that women and girls are able to fully contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth and global prosperity. These small grants will aim to pursue gender equity in mitigating and responding to conservation and climate change, while supporting an inclusive economy and sustainable economic development.

IV. Key Parameters and Priorities

6 https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment/womens-economic-security 5 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf 4 https://www.usaid.gov/nepal/cdcs https://www.usaid.gov/nepal/cdcs https://www.usaid.gov/nepal/cdcs https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment/womens-economic-security https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment/womens-economic-security https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/nepal/cdcs

USAID/Nepal will explore diverse strategies to strengthen locally-led sustainable development that catalyzes scalable conservation and climate action and inclusive systemic change.

USAID/Nepal has identified key parameters and priorities that will be integrated into Nepal's conservation and climate aspirations to achieve development goals.

A. Localization7

USAID/Nepal aims to advance locally led conservation and climate action that responds to and puts Nepali communities and institutions in the lead of their development agenda. USAID defines localization as the set of internal reforms, actions, and behavior changes that USAID is undertaking to ensure our work puts local actors in the lead, strengthens local systems, and is responsive to local communities. Localization is a key parameter of USAID/Nepal, which will include empowering local actors to take the lead to address conservation challenges, achieve participative governance related to conservation and climate action, build local capacity to become more resilient to climate change impacts, and inspire local entrepreneurship and conservation/climate solutions. A key component of both the USAID Climate Strategy and Localization agenda is to support our partners to achieve systemic changes that increase meaningful participation. Thus, USAID/Nepal will engage the local system to leverage local strengths and ensure long-term sustainability and buy-in.

B. Gender-forward climate integration programming

Women and girls bear the brunt of climate change impacts due to social and legal gender inequities which grant greater access to and control over resources to men and boys.

USAID/Nepal will emphasize gender inclusion using relevant interventions such as capacity building of government and non government stakeholders and gender-responsive or gender-balanced implementation. USAID programming will drive systemic changes that promote meaningful participation and active leadership of women and girls in climate action.

C. Youth engagement

Youth are increasingly at the frontlines of educating, advocating, and advancing conservation and climate awareness and solutions. Nepali youth also experience high levels of unemployment. USAID/Nepal will integrate youth into programming and leverage USAID learning and resources into this small grant activity to the greatest extent possible. Ultimately, this enhances youth’s critical role in climate action, resilience, decarbonization of the economy, and the development of green industries and sectors, such as renewable energy. Suggestions for youth engagement are highly encouraged in responses.

D. Research and evidence driven

Research, evidence-based development strategies, and the strengthening of a science policy interface, are critical to the implementation of Nepal’s climate priorities and the resilience of

7 https://www.usaid.gov/localization https://www.usaid.gov/localization https://www.usaid.gov/localization its population. By leveraging local knowledge and practice, research, data collection and analysis, as well as exploring and scaling promising technologies, USAID/Nepal will help develop and apply evidence and innovations to contribute to mitigation and resilience to climate impacts.

E. Private sector engagement

The private sector plays a key role in driving the country's progress towards conservation and environmental protection including limiting the effects of water scarcity, catalyzing green economic growth and decarbonization, and scaling the use and availability of renewable energy.

Therefore, the Mission aims to engage the Nepali private sector and mobilize private sector strategies and resources that can scale sustained impact of conservation efforts. The program may support local private actors through financial tools, technical assistance, and mobilizing private capital for conservation and climate finance. This approach of engaging the private sector is aligned to the USAID Global Climate Strategy objective of mobilizing, worldwide, $150 billion of public and private finance for climate. Suggestions of private sector engagement and the tools needed to advance conservation are highly encouraged.

F. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)

It is critical that USAID/Nepal awards incorporate principles of DEIA in their Management and Staffing Approach and in implementation. USAID/Nepal’s working definition of DEIA: Diversity is the practice of including many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures and beliefs.

Equity is the consistent and systematic, fair, just and impartial treatment of all individuals. Inclusion is the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of employees of all backgrounds.

Accessibility is the design, construction, development and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them.”

[End of Attachment A]

Attachment B - REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONAwa

Guiding Questions

Respondents are encouraged to review the questions and submit responses only to the questions they feel most qualified to answer. Respondents do not need to respond to all the questions. Please do not exceed five pages in your response.

For any question to which an answer is submitted, the question must be identified by its question number.

1. Please detail the experience your organization has in managing small grant activities by filling out the below table:

Grants Award Name

Typical Range of Grant Values (in Nepali Rupees)

Number of Grants issued under Award

Total Dollar Value of the Award

Start and End Date of the Award

Names of Province(s) - Location of Grantees

2. How does your organization ensure that grantees have the necessary skills and resources to successfully implement their grants?

3. How does your organization select grantees and monitor grant performance?

4. What strategies does your organization employ to effectively engage organizations in conservation and climate action initiatives in Nepal, and how do you ensure that their perspectives and ideas are incorporated into program design and implementation?

5. How does your organization engage with the private sector in conservation activities, and what types of partnerships and collaboration models have been most successful in this effort?

6. What resources does your organization require to effectively plan and implement a small grants activity valued at $10 million for conservation (for example, such as staff, technology, or capacity development)?

[End of Attachment B]

Attachment C - SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORM

USAID/Nepal is interested in the following information related to organizational capability.

Your responses to the information requested will assist USAID/Nepal to plan its Acquisition & Assistance Strategy, taking into account the range of local capabilities. Please do not exceed five pages in your response.

A. ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:

Name of Organization: ___________________________________________ Office Address: _________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________________________ Telephone Number: ____________________________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________________________ Website address (if any): _________________________________________

Point of Contact (Name): ________________________

Contact Number: _______________________________________________

Title: _________________________________________________________

B. REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

a. Type of Organization:

Profit: ____________ Not-for-profit: _________________

b. Category of Organization:

College or University: _____________ Research Institute/Think tank : _____________ Diaspora:

_____________ Foundation: _____________ Private Sector Entity: _______________

Non-governmental Organization:____________________ Other (fill in):_____________________

c. Number of Employees: _____________________

d. Are you a local organization registered in Nepal? Yes [ ] No [ ]

USAID defines local entity as an individual or organization that:

1. Is legally organized under the laws of a country that is receiving assistance from USAID;

2. Has its principal place of business or operations in a country receiving assistance from USAID;

3. Is majority-owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance from USAID; and

4. Is managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance from USAID.

https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions

e. Mission Statement and/or summary description of your organization:

C. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

Geographical Location of Organizational Head Office:

Geographical Location of Field Offices (if any):

Please list all the locations where your organization works:

D. CAPABILITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION

Please provide the capabilities of your organization for meeting the work detailed in Attachment A:

E. WORKWITHUSAID.ORG

WorkwithUSAID.org is a resource hub designed for new, current, and future local and international partners to navigate how to work with USAID.

Have you established your organizational account at WorkwithUSAID.org? Yes [ ] No [ ]

If not, why not? Specify Reason: _______________________________________________

F. GENERAL INFORMATION

How did you hear about this RFI/SSN?

a. USAID/Nepal Facebook [ ]

b. US Embassy Kathmandu | Nepal Facebook [ ]

c. USAID Colleagues [ ]

e. SAM.gov [ ]

f. Grants.gov [ ]

g. Local Newspaper [ ]

h. Other [Please Specify]:_________________________________________________

[End of Attachment C] https://www.workwithusaid.org/

Attachment D

Resources for partners

USAID values transparency and ease in working with our partners.

At USAID, we work to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from crises. We cannot advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world without our 4,000+ partners around the world.

We encourage you to explore the following resources and learn about the policies, platforms, and guidelines that will help support a successful partnership with us:

USAID Climate Strategy 2022-2030. https://www.usaid.gov/policy/climate-strategy

Nepal Country Development Cooperation Strategy, 2020-2025.

The White House. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equit y-and-Equality.pdf

U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security.

https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment/womens-eco nomic-security

Localization at USAID. https://www.usaid.gov/localization

Local Works Program. https://www.usaid.gov/local-faith-and-transformative-partnerships/local-works

All About the NDCs. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/all-about-ndcs

WorkwithUSAID.org: This website is a free resource hub that empowers partners with the knowledge and networks to navigate how to work with USAID.

USAID Business Forecast: The Business Forecast is an informational resource on potential funding and partnership opportunities at USAID. Organizations interested in working with USAID can use this Forecast to plan for proposal or application submissions. This tool can also be used to engage early in the procurement process, to encourage the creation of new partnerships, and to provide maximum opportunities for new partners. It is important to note that because the Business Forecast is issued while activities are in the design and planning phase, information is subject to change.

For latest solicitations, please visit SAM.gov and Grants.gov https://www.usaid.gov/policy/climate-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/CDCS-NEPAL-DECEMBER-2025-EXTERNAL_030821.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf https://www.state.gov/reports/united-states-strategy-on-global-womens-economic https://www.state.gov/reports/united-states-strategy-on-global-womens-economic https://www.usaid.gov/local-faith-and-transformative-partnerships/local-works https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/all-about-ndcs https://www.usaid.gov/business-forecast

Branding and Marking and USAID Style Guide: These two guides illustrate how to use USAID’s identity in your programs and delineate USAID’s style and language preferences and guidelines.

[End of Attachment D]

[End of RFI / SSN] https://www.usaid.gov/branding/gsm https://www.usaid.gov/partner-with-us/resources-for-partners/style-guide