Empowered Communities Activity

Background
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Mission in Ethiopia (USAID/Ethiopia) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the USAID Empowered Communities Activity. The Activity will support health sector actors to increase utilization of quality health and nutrition services as stated in the Development Objective (DO) 4 of the USAID/Ethiopia Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 2019-2024. The Activity will contribute to community engagement and empowerment and to social accountability efforts outlined by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), and other sector actors to meet the ambitious goals outlined in the Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP II 2020-2025) and the Health Extension Program (HEP) Roadmap (HEP Roadmap 2020-2035). The HSTP II has 14 strategic directions including enhancing provision of equitable and quality comprehensive health services, ensuring community engagement and ownership, and strengthening governance and leadership, which are well aligned with this Activity.

The Activity also focuses on NSAs and community structure/platforms, capacity building to increase organizational capability to engender effective, efficient, and sustainable institutions.

Grant Details
The USAID Empowered Communities Activity aims to achieve better health and nutrition outcomes through improved community ownership of health and strengthened social accountability systems and platforms. The total estimated cost is up to $35 million, out of which, $25 million core activity funding for implementation of activities tied to IR 1-3, with an additional $10 million available for applicants who opt to also respond to the Special IR, IR 4 to deliver health services. The Activity will be primarily funded with family planning, and maternal and child health funding.

It will be implemented in up to 30 selected woredas in three agrarian and one pastoralist regions of Ethiopia, namely Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s (SNNP). The Activity will build on the gains of USAID/Ethiopia historical investments through previous activities such as USAID Transform: Primary Health Care (TPHC) and USAID Transform: Health in Developing Regions (THDR).

Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for this award is not restricted. To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this NOFO.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for federal awards is four years. The selection process includes oral presentations by all qualified applicants in Addis Ababa or virtually followed by a post-award co-design meeting with inputs from other relevant actors.

Grant Value
The total estimated cost is up to $35 million, out of which $25 million is core activity funding for implementation of activities tied to IR 1-3, with an additional $10 million available for applicants who opt to also respond to the Special IR, IR 4 to deliver health services.

Place of Performance
The Activity will be implemented in up to 30 selected woredas in three agrarian and one pastoralist regions of Ethiopia, namely Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s (SNNP).