Request for Application (RFA) to Support Existing and New Early Warning Detection Systems at Creative Associates / Northeast Connection Program

Creative Associates International provides outstanding, on-the-ground development services and forges partnerships to deliver sustainable solutions to global challenges. Its experts focus on building inclusive educational systems, transitioning communities from conflict to peace, developing sustainable economic growth, engaging youth, promoting transparent elections and more. Creative is recognized for its ability to quickly adapt and excel in conflict and post-conflict environments.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Request for Application (RFA) to Support existing and New Early Warning Detection Systems

Locations: Kwaya-Kusar, Hawul - Borno, Guyuk, Lamurde, Numan - Adamawa and Fune - Yobe

Description

• Through this RFA, the Northeast Connection (NE Connection) seeks your assistance to implement activities in support of the program description provided in Section A of Attachment 1. The program description in this RFA may be updated periodically to account for any adjustments in program strategy.
• NE Connection will host three Pre-Application Conferences throughout the BAY States for this RFA. The dates and times for the conferences are below and more information can be found in Section D of Attachment 1. For planning purposes, interested applicants are requested to provide the name(s) of their representative(s) (no more than 2)to the “Grants Department” via email at: grants@connection-nigeria.com prior to the date of the conference.
  • Location: Yola
  • Venue: Duragi Hotel5/7 Gibson Jalo Way, Along Army Barracks Road, Jimeta Yola, Adamawa State
  • Date and Times: 02/15/2022 from 9AM - 4PM.

Attachment 1: Request for Application (RFA)
Program Description

Background

• Northeast Connection (NE Connection), implemented by Creative Associates International on behalf of USAID, aims to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to violent extremist infiltration and conflict.
• The activity targets communities in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states to mitigate the grievances that make communities vulnerable to violent extremism, while building social cohesion within and across communities in northeast Nigeria.
• In addition to helping northeastern Nigerians create a stronger foundation and become more resilient to violent extremist organization (VEO) infiltration and conflict, the NE Connection will help develop local capacity to respond to emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
• In the Northeast Nigeria, conflict management and security governance rely on a complex and overlapping set of agencies that are often poorly coordinated and lacking strategic direction due to the prevailing conflict and the existence of many ungoverned spaces occasioned by years of persistent insurgency. This has prevented effective early warning and response systems and community groups are now considered in the best position to detect early warning signs and report to the relevant agencies.
• Under this RFA, NE Connection, via grantees, will empower civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs,), local government, traditional institutions, and community-based women and youth groups to respond to emergent VEO threats and conflict risks by training them to detect VEO/conflict risks, what to do with the information, and to whom to transmit it for immediate response.

Purpose

• This RFA seeks to increase the number of functional early warning/early response (EW/ER) platforms and exchanges across Wards in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
• The effort seeks grantees to design and implement activities that support the above goal and the key objectives outlined in Section 4 below.
• Through a competitive grant process, NE Connection will award two grants to two (2) competent local organizations: one (1) to implement activities in Adamawa and Borno and one (1) in Yobe states. The anticipated geographic scope for the state includes:
  • Grant 1 - Borno:
    • Hawul LGA – Kwaya Kura Ward – Kwaya Bura, Ngilvi and Durkwa communities
    • KwayaKusar LGA – Wawa ward, Mbula, Wawa and Gundula communities.
  • Adamawa:
    • GuyukLGA - Dummna Ward, Zakowan, Bushikiri, and TsistikiraCommunities
    • LamurdeLGA - Waduku Ward, Tigno Gari, Tito and Sabon LayiCommunities
    • NumanLGA - Kadomti Ward, Kikun, Byemti and ShafaroonCommunities
  • Grant 2 - Yobe
    • FuneLGA – Damagum A Ward,AngwanDutse, AbujanTalakawa, and IdabwoCommunities
• The context of this intervention assumes that each LGA and focal Wards will be at different stages of development of EW/ER platforms and will have various levels of understanding, resources and needs to enable effective early warning.
• The awardees are expected to propose activities that primarily help NE Connection identify and better understand where EW/ER platforms currently exist at the community and Ward-levels within the target Wards and support community leaders to establish new Ward and community-level EW/ER platforms where they are absent. According to the needs of each Ward and community, grantees are also expected to: a) engage community leaders and key interest groups in dialogue to improve functioning of EW/ER platforms; b) enhance feedback loops across the community, and c) sensitize and train local leaders, stakeholders, and volunteer platform members in focal communities on EW/ER platforms and how to cooperate with security actors.
• The NE Connection program will directly procure EW/ER support items such as whistles, flashlights, umbrellas, raincoats, rubber boots.
• As a part of the activity, the grantee is expected to work closely with the NE Connection team to determine the types and quantity of items needed in their target communities and then distribute these items to the appropriate EW/ER platform members.
• In addition, NE Connection will procure one motorcycle per ward and the motorcycles will be stationed at an agreed central point in each of the wards to be utilized essentially for conveying emergency EW/ER messages to critical points in all LGAs under Adamawa State.
• The grantee will support NE Connection in identifying the traditional or community leader who will serve as the central focal point, designing a management and maintenance plan to ensure the motorcycle is accessible and used for the purpose of early warning and response engagements. This assistance will improve the communities' local capacity to respond to VEO risks and prevent infiltration.

3.) RFA Theory of Change

• If we strengthen existing and new EW/ER platforms, provide training and tools to identified community members and platforms, and increase coordination among influential stakeholders; then the coordinated and strengthened EW/ER members and platforms will be able to mitigate the occurrence of violent conflicts and other forms of VEO’s advances in the focal communities.

4.) Purpose & Objectives

• Overall Purpose: Increase the number of functional early warning/early response platforms and exchanges across communities in Adamawa State.

Objective 1 - Conduct Mapping: To identify and map existing EW/ER systems in susceptible communities and establish new EW/ER systems in target communities where none existed:

• Expected Result 1.1: Existing formal and informal EW/ER platforms in the focal communities and Wards identified and mapped.
• Expected Result 1.2: New EW/ER platforms in communities/Wards are established where none previously existed.

Objective 2 – Increased Capacity: To build the capacity of members of EW/ER platforms to understand and identify VEO/conflict risks:

• Expected Result 2.1: Increased capacity of members of EW/ER platforms at the wards and community’s level to identify and analyze early warning signs of VEO/conflict risks.
• Expected Result 2.2: Increased capacity of CSOs/CBOs, local leaders, stakeholders and volunteer platforms to support wards/communities to implement EW/ER systems.
• Expected Result 2.3: Wards and communities-level EW/ER platforms supported with tools/items to increase the sustainability and efficiency of the platforms.

Objective 3 – Increased Collaboration: To increase collaboration and coordination between and among CSOs, CBOs, communities, local government officials and security actors to respond to early warning signs of violence:

• Expected Result 3.1: Increased collaboration and coordination at the ward level between and among CBOs/CSOs, communities, local government officials, and security actors to respond to early warning signals of violence.
• Expected Result 3.2: Feedback loops across communities within the target Wards are established and/or strengthened.

5.) Illustrative Activities

• The proposed activities for this RFA should be guided by the Theory of Change (ToC) and RFA objectives. Grantees are encouraged to propose activities that are applicable to their proposed geographic locations and previous experience.
• NE Connection has prepared the following illustrative examples of the types of activities that grantees could propose to implement under this grant, they include but are not limited to:
  • Map existing community and Ward-level EW/ER platforms in focal Wards and identify existing gaps.
  • Organize dialogue sessions to bring key leaders and stakeholders together to discuss current challenges, gaps and needs for EW/ER platforms and identify ways to solve them.
  • Where EW/ER platforms do not exist, establish Ward-level EW/ER platforms that involve all interest groups.
  • Design workshops/ sensitization activities to help community leaders to understand the value of EW/ER platforms.
  • Identify ways to link EW/ER platforms with LGA and relevant security agencies for efficient reporting and response.  
  • Ensure EW/ER platforms are gender sensitive, culturally appropriate and acceptable to operate in the particular community.
  • Organize community-based training on VEO/conflict risks, EW/ER platforms, and countering violent extremism for local leaders and volunteer platform members in focal Wards.
  • Develop/adapt a training package that provides key modules and handouts for communities to understand various response options and techniques of generating local resources for EW/ER
  • Advocate with traditional institutions to improve engagement with community members and deepen understanding and integration of the EW/ER platforms to drive the process for ownership and sustainability.
  • Develop a user-friendly and simple EW/ER monitoring form/checklist that will be based and managed by stakeholders.
• All activities implemented under this RFA will follow COVID-19 protocols, including but not limited to, the mandatory use of non-medical face masks and limiting sessions to a maximum of 20 people.

6. Draft Output and Outcome Indicators for this RFA

• Number of EW/ER (formal and informal) platforms identified and Mapped
• Number of Ward and community -level early response platforms created
• Number of Ward and community -level EW/ER platforms strengthened
• Number of community members trained on identifying and reporting early warning signs (disaggregated by gender and age)
• % increase in knowledge of community members trained on EW/ER
• % of target stakeholders reporting an increase in coordination between CSOs, CBOs, communities, local officials and security actors to analyze and respond to early warning information
• Number of target stakeholders reporting an increase in coordination between CSOs, CBOs, communities, local officials and security actors to analyze and respond to early warning information
• Number ofWards and communities-level EW/ER platforms supported with tools/items to increase the sustainability and efficiency of the platforms.
• Number of EW/ER motivation and sustainability support tools/items distributed across wards and communities
• Number of actions taken by Ward-level EW/ER response platforms in response to early warning information
• % of target stakeholders reporting an increase in responses facilitated by early warning information
• Number of advocacy actions taken by communities under this activity to strengthen coordination.
• Number of incident cases reported by the ward and level to security agencies
• Number of incident reported cases from wards and communities acted on by relevant security agencies.

B. Award Information
1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated:

• Subject to the availability of funds, Northeast Connection plans to make 2awards under this RFA.The total estimated amount of funding available is 49,320,000.00 NGN($120,000.00 USD).
• The value of the award for Borno and Adamawa activities should not exceed 37,330,000 NGN ($90,000.00 USD).
• The value of the award for Yobe activities should not exceed 12,330,000NGN ($30,000.00 USD). As the amount of an award is subject to negotiation, a negotiated award amount may or may not fall within this range. Furthermore, Northeast Connection is not obligated to issue awards/an award up to the amount of funds available.
• Northeast Connection reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

2. Period of Performance:

• The estimated start date will be upon signature of award aroundMay 2022. The anticipated duration of Northeast Connection’s support is 4-5months.

3. Award Mechanisms:

• Northeast Connection’s final determination on award mechanism will be based on its assessment of the applicant’s capacity and risk prior to award. If this assessment identifies weaknesses or deficiencies that call into question the applicant’s ability to manage an award, Northeast Connection may elect to remove the applicant from consideration or select a mechanism more appropriate for the applicant’s current capacity.
• The most common award mechanisms issued by Northeast Connection are fixed amount awards (FAAs) and in-kind awards. Under FAAs, payments are performance based and issued to an awardee after its successful completion of pre-defined programmatic milestones. Under in-kind awards, Northeast Connection: a) makes payments on behalf of the awardee and/or b) procures/delivers goods and services on behalf of the awardee.
• Northeast Connection also may elect to issue a cost-reimbursable award to an awardee in instances when: a) the applicant demonstrates sufficient financial management capacity to implement this mechanism and b) the mechanism is determined to be appropriate for implementing the program description.

C. Eligibility Information

1.) Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for award under this opportunity, an applicant must demonstrate that it falls into one of the grantee categories below:

• A registered civil society organization, community-based organization, faith-based organizations, and for-profit making organizations.
• Be registered and working in compliance with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations, including, but not limited to, pertinent local laws and status (for example evidence of registration with the National Planning Commission, Corporate Affairs Commission, State Emergency Management Agency (Yobe & Adamawa), or Agency for the Coordination of Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Activities (Borno). In lieu of official registration, a grantee may show proof of effort to secure registration, exemption from registration, or show cause why such registration is either not optional or practicable.
• Proof that the entity or organization is not a debarred organization.
• Individuals and governments are not eligible to apply.

2.) Cost Sharing or Matching:

• Cost sharing is not required under this funding opportunity.

3.) Limit on Number of Applications:

• An eligible organization may submit only one application. Please note that issuance of this RFA does not in any way obligate Northeast Connection to pay for costs incurred by a prospective applicant to prepare and apply.

D. Application & Submission Information

B.    Application & Submission Information

Content and Form of Activity Concept Submission:

• As a first step, interested applicants are requested to submit an activity concept. Each concept will be evaluated in accordance with Section E below.
• An applicant whose concept is accepted will be required to submit technical and cost applications for funding.
• The concept must be submitted using the template provided in Attachment 2, which provides instructions on the required content and format.
• An applicant not adhering to these instructions,risks being considered nonresponsive to the requirements of the RFA and eliminated from further consideration.
• All information must be submitted in English. If an application is in any other language, it will be considered nonresponsive and eliminated from further consideration.Finally,plagiarism is grounds for disqualification.

2. Submission Guidance and Assistance:

• Northeast Connection may provide guidance to an applicant while it prepares an application. However, when such guidance is offered, Northeast Connection’s role is limited to facilitating the application process, ensuring that proposed activities contribute to the program objectives stated in Section A, and co-designing/creating activities with the applicant.
• Actual preparation of the technical and cost applications is the strict responsibility of the applicant.

E. Application Review Information

1.) Application Review Process

• An applicant’s Activity Concept application will be reviewed by Northeast Connection’s senior program staff to ensure that the activities proposed contribute to the program objectives in Section A above.
• During these reviews, the applicant may be requested to submit a revised application and/or respond to clarifying questions.
• However, Northeast Connection reserves the right to award without requesting clarifications or additional detail in an application.
• The Chief of Party or authorized delegee makes the final decision on all awards made under the RFA.

2.) Pre-Award Assessment:

• An apparently successful applicant must first demonstrate that it possesses or can obtain the necessary management competence to practice mutually agreed upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided.
• To this end, the applicant may be required to submit additional information about its organization (e.g., Articles of Incorporation or other documentation substantiating the legal character of the applicant or key individuals within its organization) for vetting purposes.
• Final issuance of an award will be contingent upon the timely receipt of the information requested and the successful completion of the Program’s vetting process and pre-award capacity and risk assessment.
• Northeast Connection will complete the pre-award capacity and risk assessment while the applicant’s technical and cost applications are in review.
• The results will be used by Northeast Connection to make a responsibility determination and, if a decision is made to proceed with award, select the appropriate award mechanism.

3.) Conflict of Interest:

• Throughout the evaluation process, Northeast Connection will take every step to ensure that Northeast Connection staff do not have any conflicts of interest or the appearance of such with any organization/individual applying in response to this RFA.
• An individual shall be considered to have the appearance of a conflict of interest if that individual or that individual’s spouse, partner, child, close friend, or relative works for, is negotiating to work for, and/or has a financial interest (including being an unpaid member of a Board of Directors) in any organization that has submitted an application for review by Northeast Connection. Northeast Connection staff shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from any applicant.

F.  Award Administration Information

1.) Reporting:
Reporting requirements (including a reporting schedule) will be provided in the award document for any award resulting from this RFA. The specific reports required will depend on the award type and project duration; however, examples may include the following:

• Monthly Report(s) with activity updates for the reporting period, photos of project activities, challenges encountered during implementation, activities planned for the next reporting period, etc.
• Final Program Report including lessons learned, success stories, any impacts achieved vis-à-vis the funded project’s goal and objectives, etc.
• Financial Reports including planned obligations, actual expenditures, funds remaining, etc. as well as a detailed Final Financial Report.

Please note that issuance of final payment will be contingent upon Northeast Connection’s receipt and acceptance of the Final Financial Report and/or Final Program Report. For Fixed Amount Awards (FAAs), final payment is also contingent on the completion of the final milestone and acceptance of its deliverables/means of verification.

2. Program Income:

• Any income generated under a grant awarded through this solicitation must be reported immediately to the program's Grants Department and will be evaluated and negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Attachment 2: Activity Concept Template

Interested applicants may obtain a full copy of the RFA and Activity Concept template, which includes detailed instructions by:

• Google Drive here 
• Making a written request to Grants Team at: grants@connection-nigeria.com or when you log in to the program’s SMART grants portal (https://smart.fluxx.io/).

Attachment 3: Provisions

Standard Provisions for U.S. Nongovernmental Organizations:
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303maa.pdf

Standard Provisions for Non-U.S. Nongovernmental Organizations
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/303mab.pdf

Standard Provisions for Fixed Amount Awards to Nongovernmental Organizations
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/303mat.pdf

Attachment 4: Certifications
A.) Conflict of Interest Avoidance Certification

• When signing a grant agreement with Northeast Connection, a successful applicant’s authorized representative will also be required to sign a certification affirming that the entity she/he represents (the Grantee) does not have any conflicts of interest pertinent to the award. Such conflicts would include, for instance:
  • Personal or professional relationships with entities that could directly benefit from the award.
  • Personal or professional relationships with other staff persons involved in administering the award.
  • Personal or professional relationships with government officials that may have influence or oversight of matters directly pertaining to the award.
  • Holding formal or informal positions in organizations that would be relevant to the award.
  • Holding any financial interest in any entity that would be impacted by the award.
• By virtue of the Grantee’s actions in carrying out the award, the authorized representative’s certification will affirm that she/he would endeavor to ensure that conflicts of interest or their appearance do not arise, understanding that such conflicts of interest would arise when there are situations in which the Grantee is involved in multiple interests (financial, personal, or otherwise) that could be conceived of as corrupting the motivation of herself/himself or the Grantee in the discharge of duties pertinent to the award.
• Should such real or perceived conflicts arise, the authorized representative’s certification will affirm that the Grantee will immediately inform the Chief of Party of the project with which the award is associated to discuss the matter.

B.) Other Certifications

When signing a grant agreement with Northeast Connection, a successful applicant will be required to sign the Certifications, Assurances, Representations, and Other Statements of the Recipient referenced here: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf

Deadline for Questions / Clarifications
16th February, 2022 at 5.00 PM Local Time.

Application Closing Date
7th March, 2022 at 5:00 PM Local Time.

Method of Submission
Interested and qualified organizations should submit their Activity Concepts directly to Northeast Connection to: grants@connection-nigeria.com
Or
Click Here to apply via the online grants management portal

Click here for more information MS Word

Application Instruction

• Applicants are encouraged to use the online portal as it significantly reduces administrative burden for both the applicant and Northeast Connection. If the applicant would like to submit its application via the online grant’s management portal, but has not previously registered in the portal, it must complete an initial registration form, which can be found at the following link: https://smart.fluxx.io/apply/connection. After Northeast Connection reviews and validates the form, the applicant will receive an email with its username and password.
• Regardless of the submission method chosen, an applicant should retain for its records one (1) copy of its application and all enclosures that accompany it.

Note

• Any questions concerning this RFA must be submitted in writing using one of the above communication methods. Responses to questions received will be furnished to all potential applicants periodically through amendments to this notice.
• Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of Northeast Connection, nor does it commit Northeast Connection to pay for any costs incurred by a potential applicant while preparing/submitting questions or a concept. All preparation/submission costs are at the applicant's expense. All concepts submitted are at the risk of the applicant.
• Note: AIDAR clause incorporating 22CFR Part 228 prohibits NE connection from procuring any good/services that support police and other law enforcement activities. Therefore, acceptance of grant applications that support or work with security agencies is contingent on 1) USAID approval, and 2) the applicant providing all documentation and information requested by NE Connection for the Leahy vetting process.
• Northeast Connection reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.