USAID/Mali Peace Initiative (MPI)-OTI Follow-On

The Statutory authority for permitting other than full and open competition is AIDAR 706.302-70(a)(2) and 706.302-70(b)(3)(ii): "[(a)(2)] Full and open competition need not be obtained when it would impair or otherwise have an adverse effect on programs conducted for the purposes of foreign aid, relief, and rehabilitation. [(b)(3)] This authority may be used for [...] Awards for countries, regions, projects or programs for which the Administrator of USAID makes a formal written determination, with supporting findings, that compliance with full and open competition procedures would impair foreign assistance objectives, and would be inconsistent with the fulfillment of the foreign assistance program." The exception to the Full and Open Competition for a direct award to AECOM was approved by USAID Administrator on December 11, 2015.

The purpose of this activity is to strengthen targeted communities' resilience to conflict and radicalization by working with Malian Government and local communities through small grants to address priority development and reconciliation needs. The goal is to see measurable improvement in the efficiency, effectiveness and capacities of the local communities to be more resilient to the conflict and violent extremism by the end of this contract.

This activity has three components:
1) Improvement of the citizen perception of Malian Government actors in targeted areas;
2) Strengthening of the communities' social and economic resilience to negative external influences;
and
3) Improvement of the role and voice of women and youth in political and peace processes in Mali.