RFI-USAID-Burma-LGSA.pdf

Issuance Date: October 22, 2020 Response Due Date and Time: November 6, 2020, at 8:00 am EST Subject: RFI-USAID-Burma-LGSA

Request for Information on USAID/Burma’s Local Governance Strengthening Activity (LGSA)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Burma is in the process of designing its new local governance strengthening activity with the broad objective of improving inclusivity and accountability at the sub-national level. USAID anticipates that the contractor will engage with a wide range of actors including, but not limited to the Ministry of Union Government (MoUG), General Administration Department (GAD), other line ministries, state and regional governments, civil society, the private sector, and ethnic service providers and political representatives. Subject to the availability of funds, it is anticipated that this activity will be implemented over a period of five years. To that end, USAID requests comments and information from all interested parties to inform the design.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for planning purposes and is published in accordance with FAR Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e).. This is not a solicitation or a call for proposals.

Responses should not exceed 10 pages and should focus on addressing the questions in this RFI.

Please do not submit applications, proposals, resumes or promotional materials, as they will be discarded. Responses to this RFI should be submitted to USAID via email to burmaoaa@usaid.gov with subject line “RFI_USAID_Burma_LGSA”. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

All information provided will become the property of USAID and will not be returned. USAID reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for its purposes, including, but not limited to, sharing that information with third parties. Proprietary information must not be sent.

The issuance of this request will not restrict the Government's ultimate approach, if any.

Respondents are advised that USAID is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information, answer questions, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Any information submitted in response to this notice is voluntary and USAID does not plan to post responses to beta.SAM.gov. Not responding to this request does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued.

Thank you for your assistance and interest.

Sincerely, /s/ Adam J. Walsh Agreement Officer

Request for Information on USAID/Burma’s Local Governance Strengthening Activity (LGSA)

RFI-USAID-Burma-LGSA

The broad objective of this activity is to improve the inclusivity and accountability at the sub-national level in Burma. USAID anticipates that the contractor will and may engage with a wide range of actors including, but not limited to the Ministry of Union Government (MoUG), General Administration Department (GAD), other line ministries, state and regional governments, civil society, the private sector, and ethnic service providers and political representatives. Specific potential objectives of the local governance activity/activities may include:

● Enabling local governance systems that contribute to durable and sustainable peace initiatives, and advancing the democratic transition.

● Strengthening and clarifying policies related to sub-national governance, including roles, responsibilities, and interactions between and among government officials at the Union, State/Region, and Township levels.

● Increasing the technical and administrative capacity of officials at the Township level and below, including Ward and Village Tracts and Village Administration, to engage with their communities and contribute policy making, issue prioritization, and resource allocations.

● Expanding public participation in local planning processes, including strengthening the role and voice of civil society, women, youth, and historically marginalized populations, including ethnic and religious minorities in Burma.

● Supporting multi- or cross-sectoral interventions that improve service delivery and/or market access at the sub-national level. This includes building stronger local accountability mechanisms within the identified sector(s).

USAID/Burma seeks input and advice from potential implementers and other stakeholders to better understand prospective approaches, opportunities, and other ideas leading to more successful outcomes for the anticipated activity/activities. Specifically, USAID/Burma requests feedback on the following:

1. Local governance potentially encompasses a number of multi- and cross-sectoral activities. At its core however, the USAID/Burma anticipates a governance activity that can take advantage of space at the local level, innovate and test multiple approaches, and identify opportunities to expand the scope, accelerate the pace, and more broadly influence democratic reforms and practices. Are there existing or emerging tools and approaches that should be incorporated to achieve these objectives?

2. Are there specific cross-sectoral approaches to local governance that USAID/Burma should consider, noting particular interests in agriculture, health, education, and private sector engagement? Are there other sectors that we should be looking at that offer unique opportunities for engagement and improved outcomes at the subnational level?

3. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty around when/if traditional approaches to project implementation can recommence, what approaches to remote or virtual implementation should be considered? Are there new technologies that can or should be incorporated into the activity? How does remote or virtual engagement, and use of any specific technology impact potential program costs?

4. What background research or information would be most useful to USAID/Burma to further refine a local governance project design? Is there sufficient information available and understanding of the existing structures, practices, actors, and issues in Myanmar’s local governance sector?

5. Local governance in the country remains an unsettled area with a wide range of factors influencing current practices and potential reforms. USAID/Burma welcomes comments on, approaches to, prioritization of, and the feasibility of any, or all of the following:

a. Local governance programming in the context of an ongoing peace process;

b. Expanding roles and improving outcomes for women and girls as beneficiaries of, participants in, and leaders of sub-national governance institutions;

c. Providing equitable assistance for state and non-state actors relevant to local governance processes and reform;

d. Addressing the role of the security sector in local governance;

e. Improving policies and practices related to issuance of civic documentation (e.g., birth certificates, marriage certificates, property documentation, business licences);

f. Role of sub-national actors in influencing planned and ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects;

g. Expanding the influence of sub-national actors in a largely centralized planning and policy-making structures;

h. Utility of small scale infrastructure projects to support local governance outcomes;

i. State, municipal, and local tax policies and other local revenue generation efforts in an unclear legal environment;

j. Opportunities to address sub-national political and economic inequities that result in the continuing need for humanitarian assistance, and,

k. Distinguishing approaches to local governance in urban versus rural environments?

6. Are there other factors, recommendations, or considerations regarding local governance in Myanmar that USAID/Burma should be aware of?

-- End of RFI-USAID-Burma-LGSA --