USAID Mali Anka Jiko Activity   3

Note: This is a pre-solicitation notice. A full Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted per FAR 5.203.

The goal of this Activity is to improve the quality and sustainability of rural water and sanitation services by building the capacity of key stakeholders in rural Malian communities to construct, maintain, and sustainably manage safe and reliable water systems, as well as to plan and implement Commune-level Sanitation Strategic Plans in the Sikasso, Bougouni and Koutiala Regions. This Activity aligns with the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID's) Agency Water and Development Plan under the U.S. Government's (USG) Global Water Strategy, which aims to increase the availability and sustainable management of safe water and sanitation for the underserved and most vulnerable, in alignment with U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.

The Anka Jiko Activity will be achieved through two interrelated approaches. These approaches are complementary and mutually reinforcing. The first approach focuses on technical assistance and capacity building to strengthen the ability of communes and water service providers to finance, operate with full tariff collection, maintain and repair rural water infrastructure for the full design life of the infrastructure, and to develop and implement Strategic Sanitation Plans (Plan Strat gique d'Assainissement, PSA) as part of the review of communal economic, social and cultural development plans (Plan de d veloppement conomique, social et culturel, PDSEC). The second approach aims to support communes through the process of design, contracting, construction and/or rehabilitation of rural water infrastructure for domestic and productive uses, and fecal sludge infrastructure.

The Activity has two objectives and a series of sub-objectives:

Objective 1 Improved Governance / Capacity Building for Water and Sanitation Delivery

• Sub-Objective 1.1: Increase the capacity of citizens (local government officials at the Commune level, communities and community/civic associations) to participate in policy and planning of water and sanitation services, water resources, and shock mitigation
• Sub-Objective 1.2: Improve the capacity of local government officials at the Commune level and technical service oversight/regulators to manage and oversee the construction of water and fecal sludge infrastructure and implement strategic sanitation plans
• Sub-Objective 1.3: Support infrastructure operators (WUAs, Comit s de Gestion, and private sector contractors) for sustainable management of water and fecal sludge treatment infrastructure, water and fecal sludge management service delivery and of water resources.

Objective 2 Water and sanitation service delivery sustainably increased through new or rehabilitated infrastructure

• Sub-Objective 2.1: Increased availability of sustainable safe drinking water services
• Sub-Objective 2.2: Increased availability of sustainable water for productive purpose
• Sub-Objective 2.3: Increased availability of fecal sludge treatment

A combination of effective governance structures and capacities and appropriate water and sanitation infrastructure is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of rural water and sanitation services. Capacity building efforts for water operators - typically water users associations (WUA) - and local governments must be built around infrastructure investments. Additionally, provision of water and sanitation services should be handled as a package that is within the manageable interest of the communities. This Activity incorporates this integrated approach to community engagement, infrastructure development, and government and service provider capacity to ensure that the necessary political, social, economic, and administrative systems are in place to support water's equitable use as well as the improved management of water and sanitation services.

This notice serves the requirement of FAR 5.203.(a) and 5.204