Deadline- Jan 22, 2013
Countries/Region- Timor‐Leste
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Timor-Leste seeking application for “Ba Distrito” program which supports the Mission’s development objective of strengthening institutional and human capacity to improve the lives of Timor-Leste’s citizens. The strengthening of suco (village) councils and improving sustainable access to justice will be the two major elements of the project. Ba Distrito will improve Government incorporation of community needs into the local governance process and increase its capacity to deliver services more effectively, efficiently and sustainably.
USAID’s strategy seeks to support national initiatives for more accountable and representative governance and service delivery over the next five years. USAID will support Timor‐Leste to develop an increased capacity to deliver responsive services at the national and sub‐national levels. To meet this objective, USAID development assistance will seek to improve the implementation of Government policies and programs to deliver key public services, strengthen sub‐national institutions to respond to citizen priorities, and increase community and citizen engagement with government and local institutions.
Ba Distrito seeks to increase institutional and human capacity at local levels (district, sub‐district, and suco councils) to deliver basic services effectively, and in a manner that is responsive to citizen needs and expectations. Because local institutions that can perform these functions are at a nascent stage in Timor‐Leste, creating the legal foundations for local government and access to legal services is a special priority. Institutional strengthening, and defining the roles of local government and private institutions at local levels, will set the stage for decentralization of power and responsibility to local entities starting in 2013. The decision to decentralize government functions, and allow some local discretionary authority over funding at the suco level as early as 2013, underscores the urgency of strengthening local institutions and building human capacity now.
Eligibility–
- To be eligible for an award, the applicant must submit their application, in its entirety. Interested organizations should successfully demonstrate in their proposals that they are capable of and have the capacity to deliver services in Timor‐Leste. U.S. or non‐U.S. NGOs, are eligible to submit applications. For the purposes of this solicitation, NGOs include any incorporated entity, either non‐profit or for‐profit, other than a governmental organization.
- To be eligible for award of a cooperative agreement, in addition to other conditions of this RFA, organizations must be a politically neutral, and have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non‐discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.
- Pursuant to 22 CFR 226.81, USAID policy is not to award profit under assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the grant program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (22 CFR 226, OMB Circular A‐122 for non‐profit organization) may be paid under the Agreement.
For more information, visit grants.gov and search by funding opportunity number. USAID-TIMOR-SOL-486-13-000009
