Locally Led Development Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 7200AA19APS00007 - Addendum: Empowering Marginalized and Vulnerable Populations in Nepal

Locally Led Development Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 7200AA19APS00007 - Addendum: Empowering Marginalized and Vulnerable Populations in Nepal is sponsored by USAID/Nepal. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

ANNOUNCEMENT CALL FOR LOCALLY LED DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS ON Empowering Nepal’s Marginalized and Vulnerable to Respond to COVID-19 ADDENDUM #7 TO THE LOCALLY LED DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT (APS) No. 7200AA19APS00007 APPLICANTS – PLEASE NOTE : This is an addendum to an existing announcement. All interested organizations must carefully review both this addendum AND the full announcement, which can be found here : https://www.

grants. gov/web/grants/view-opportunity. html?

oppId=314757 This specific addendum does not repeat important information contained in the full worldwide announcement. This program is authorized in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended.

Through this addendum to the Locally Led Development APS No. 7200AA19APS00007 USAID/Nepal makes a special call to local actors to submit concepts focused on Empowering Nepal’s Marginalized and Vulnerable to respond to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The deadline for concept submissions is [6-weeks from publication].

Over four million Nepali youth have migrated abroad since 2009 and several hundred thousand have migrated to India. Workers’ remittances contributed $7. 79 billion in Financial Year 2018/19 to Nepal’s economy.

The United Nations estimates the repatriation of over 500,000 returnees in the coming months as a result of impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. With such a huge influx of returnees combined with the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy, competition in the local labor market is expected to be high, further depriving historically poor and marginalized groups from access to income and services.

To address Nepal's long standing disparities across gender, caste, ethnicity, and other social dimensions, USAID’s Local Works initiative in Nepal intends to work with the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society to address the negative secondary impacts of COVID-19.

The proposed activity or activities are expected to engage the marginalized and vulnerable throughout the development process to ensure that their needs and expectations inform design decisions. The process will promote collaboration and ensure that multiple aspects of vulnerability and marginalization are addressed under Nepal’s new federal system of governance.

Negative secondary impacts of COVID-19 and its associated lockdown are exacerbated for those who are already marginalized and vulnerable. This addendum strives to reduce the negative secondary impacts of COVID-19 on the marginalized and vulnerable in Nepal. > Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum The total prospective funding amount will be $2 million.

Multiple awards may be made not to exceed $500,000 per award. Unless otherwise stated herein, all terms and conditions of the Locally Led Development APS apply (https://www. grants.

gov/web/grants/view-opportunity. html? oppId=314757).

Below please find a summary of some of the secondary COVID-19 impacts to date: ● The Government of Nepal (GoN) ordered a nationwide lockdown from Tuesday, March 24, 2020 to Tuesday, July 21, 2020 (i.e., 120 days), requiring people to stay at home as well as closing schools, businesses, and markets. ● Economic: The World Bank’s best-case scenario for Nepal shows that Nepal’s economy will not return to pre-COVID levels until 2023.

It further projects a 1. 8 percent GDP growth rate in 2020 under its optimistic projection and 1. 5 percent under its downside projection – a steep downgrade from the pre-COVID forecast of 6.

4 percent growth for 2020. The hardest hit segments of the economy will be employment, remittances, trade flows, and tourism. ○ India accounts for 70 percent of Nepal’s total external trade, and Nepal relies heavily on India for food imports and other daily necessities.

○ 56 percent of households receive remittances (which are roughly equivalent to 25 percent of Nepal’s annual GDP). Further lockdowns or economic downturns in the Middle East – where 75 percent of Nepali migrant workers are employed, earning 50 percent of Nepal’s total remittances – could further curtail remittances.

○ 62 percent of the total labor force is in the informal sector, and only 35 percent of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are able to access credit. Many MSMEs will turn to shadow banks and other informal lending institutions for support. ● Education: The national measures taken by the GoN to combat COVID-19 have led to closure of education institutions for all grades.

Final examinations for the last academic year for Grade 12 and tertiary levels of education have been withheld until further notice. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) has taken measures to continue teaching through the Internet, radio, and television for the current academic year.

Teaching and learning materials have been delivered at home to students who cannot access them through the Internet, radio, or television. However, there is no mechanism yet to monitor the use of these materials by students during the extended school closures. Similarly, there is no mechanism to periodically monitor the extent of students’ learning and take needed corrective measures.

Thus, the pandemic has affected the learning of nearly eight million students in Nepal. It is not clear what the magnitude of learning loss is for students. The students from disadvantaged communities, including those with disabilities, are likely to be affected more.

Learning loss is likely to be higher for these students in the event of extended school closures. > Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum ● Gender Based Violence (GBV): Current mechanisms to respond to GBV in the COVID-19 vulnerability context may be inadequate. When households are placed under strain and strategies for self-isolation and quarantine are employed, the risk of family violence tends to increase.

Other forms of GBV such as rape and sexual abuse, among others, are also exacerbated in crisis contexts.

Several reports have indicated that Nepalis face: (a) considerably increased Intimate Partner Violence, including marital rape, domestic violence, suicide and GBV, while they are trapped in their habitations during the lockdown; (b) increased mental health issues, exacerbated by the stress of loss of income, depletion of savings, and added household work; (c) increased vulnerability to accepting more risky jobs including human trafficking; and (d) increased stress for women in the entertainment sector and sex work.

● Health: More than 20,000 COVID-19 positive cases and 55 deaths have been reported in Nepal (Ministry of Health and Population Situation Report August 4, 2020). The number of positive cases increases daily, with the identification of new areas as red spots for COVID-19, increasing the susceptibility to infection.

The four-month nationwide lockdown disrupted health care services as well as exacerbated the shortage of selected key medicines. Though essential health care services resumed in the latter part of the lockdown period, access to services still remains difficult. As a result, utilization of health care has decreased, making pregnant mothers, children, people with comorbid conditions, and people with disabilities more vulnerable.

Moreover, the loss of income has worsened the situation, especially among the marginalized and people living on daily wages, putting children and mothers at risk of malnutrition. USAID/Nepal seeks to support the GoN in mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable during the pandemic and subsequent recovery period.

The impacts and implications of COVID-19 are different for those from marginalized and vulnerable groups. In Nepal, such groups may include: resource poor women, Dalits, Muslims, Adivasi/Janajati, Madhesi, returnee migrant youth and women, persons with disabilities, women-owned MSMEs, women working in the informal economy, and freed bonded laborers and female sex workers to name but a few.

Emerging evidence shows that women, girls, marginalized groups, and vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted in health emergencies due to pre-existing gender and social inequalities and discrimination. In Nepal, gender, age, sexual orientation and identity, caste, ethnicity, religion, disability, class, employment status, and geographical location may intersect and further compound individual experiences of COVID-19.

The Local Works initiative of USAID/Nepal is dedicated to addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on the marginalized and vulnerable in Nepal. Identification of priorities should be locally led and influenced directly by the beneficiaries.

Objectives may include, but are not limited to: > Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum • Reducing the number of marginalized and vulnerable from falling into poverty, falling back into poverty, or falling further into poverty, and • Increasing the long-term resilience of the marginalized and vulnerable.

USAID/Nepal is seeking concepts from eligible organizations for activity(ies) that will identify Nepali organizations/networks who will actively listen to and support the people who are most likely affected by the secondary impacts of COVID-19. Secondary impacts of COVID-19 include other impacts aside from the immediate health response [see the illustrative list in Section 1: Background of this addendum].

These secondary impacts hinder local people from escaping vulnerability or push them back into the vulnerability trap.

The local organizations/networks are expected to have the capacity to facilitate a process to embed the voices and concerns of the most marginalized and vulnerable in policy, resource allocation, and programming at the provincial and local levels; forge partnerships and collaboration with all key stakeholders working on the response; and create and disseminate knowledge.

Activity(ies) are expected to listen to and engage with the marginalized and vulnerable in Nepal; discover their priorities and challenges; and implement and adapt approaches to supporting them in identifying and leading solutions that mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

Local actors are not required to propose a fully designed activity for this addendum, rather -- a concept that suggests a process to identify and then act on solutions from the local context is fully within the intent of the Locally Led Development APS. III. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCEPT SUBMISSIONS A.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY Eligible applicants: 1. Must be local actors in Nepal. When determining if an entity is a “local actor” for the purposes of this APS, USAID will consider: a.

Whether the entity is legally organized under the laws of Nepal; b. Whether the entity has its principal place of business or operations in Nepal; c. Whether the entity is majority owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Nepal; d.

Whether the entity is managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Nepal; and e. Whether the entity has projects, offices, and/or registration in other countries, and whether key management decisions are taken by the office located in Nepal or elsewhere 2. Cannot have received more than $5 million in total direct funding from USAID in the past five years.

> Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum 3. Cannot be a U.S.-based organization. U.S.-based organizations are not eligible as prime awardees under this APS.

Concepts must incorporate at least one of the following learning priorities: 1. Feedback Mechanisms to ensure that information flows in various directions among local actors, partners, and USAID to improve program effectiveness and sustainability. 2.

Systems-and-Networks-Based Analytical Approaches , which may allow USAID to better understand the complex environments in which we operate. 3. Participatory Decision-Making , which includes locally led priority-setting, collaborative design, and other means of devolving control and ensuring inclusive local leadership.

4. Strengthening Local Networks to connect local needs with local resources. 5.

Local Ownership Approaches to Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning that prioritize local definitions of success. 6. Supporting Strategic Transitions , which includes strengthening the role of local institutions and actors to sustain outcomes without foreign assistance.

The available resources are expected to minimize gaps rather than address all the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable. Therefore, Applicants must clearly identify the linkages with other response and recovery support from external stakeholders, including the GoN. Further, USAID/Nepal encourages coordination, partnerships, collaboration, and integration with other programs to leverage resources, avoid duplication and build synergy.

D. AWARD AMOUNT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELF-RELIANCE As part of their concept submissions, Applicants must propose a budget that reasonably reflects their existing resources and capacity to grow and provide justification of this. It is not USAID’s intention to temporarily flood a local organization with funding that artificially expands its size beyond what can reasonably be sustained through local resources after an award ends.

IV. MERIT REVIEW CRITERIA USAID will evaluate concepts meeting the minimum requirements per Section III above based on the following criteria: A. LOCAL OWNERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND RELEVANCE TO LOCAL PRIORITIES The Applicant demonstrates a strong understanding of the local context as well as transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the people they serve.

The proposed approach > Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum substantively responds to local priorities or demonstrates a way to determine local priorities before beginning implementation. The proposed approach, and any teaming arrangements, effectively shift the locus of development priority setting and response to local actors.

The proposed approach aligns with objectives set forth in this addendum and demonstrates a clear theory of change leading to anticipated outputs, outcomes, results, and impacts. The proposed approach integrates issues of gender equality and female empowerment through program design, implementation, and staffing in accordance with USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy.

The proposed approach responds to the secondary impacts of COVID-19 on the targeted population. The Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, Office of Local Sustainability (E3/LS) and USAID/Nepal remain committed to enabling and sharing learning that advances the practice of locally led development for USAID, local partners, and the development community.

The Applicant demonstrates an understanding of the proposed learning priority or priorities and how utilizing learning related to the priority or priorities will advance the overall goals of their approach. The Applicant demonstrates a commitment to flexibility, learning, and adaptive management in response to shifting realities as they carry out the proposed approach. D.

STRENGTHENING LOCAL SYSTEMS USAID expects its investment in this work to contribute to local resources strengthening and greater country self-reliance. The approach itself strengthens a local system within a country or region to sustain a development result over time.

The outcomes, results, and impacts, as well as any activities that need to continue beyond the duration of a USAID award, will be sustainable without continued USAID funding or involvement after the award ends. Proposed concepts must be consistent with USAID legal and policy restrictions, including those set forth in USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

While merit criteria are paramount, cost considerations may also be a factor for award. The U.S. Government is not obligated to make an award on the basis of lowest proposed cost or to the Applicant with the highest merit evaluation score. V.

CONCEPT FORMAT AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Applicants must submit concepts to USAID/Nepal at: kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid. gov. > Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum Further, Applicants must submit concepts no later than [deadline 6-weeks from publication ] for consideration. Below please find the concept page and formatting dimensions and limitations: ○ Letter or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Letter (i.e., 8.

5 by 11. 0 inches or 215. 9 millimeters (mm) by 279.

4 mm); or ○ A4 (i.e., 8. 27 inches × 11. 7 inches or 210mm × 297 mm) ● Type Size: 12-point font ● Font Style: Times New Roman or similar serif typeface ● Margins: One-inch (25.

4 mm) top, bottom, left, and right ● Page Limitation: Not to exceed five pages . USAID will not consider any pages that exceed the prescribed page limitation. Concepts must be submitted in English.

Applicants must provide the following information in concept submissions: 1. Name and contact information of Applicant; 2. Organization type and country of legal registration; 3.

Certification that the Applicant has not received more than $5 million from USAID in the past five years; 4. Title of proposed activity; 5. Location of proposed activity; 6.

Name, contact information, and country of legal registration for other partner organizations collaborating on concept (if any); 7. Name of the USAID Operating Unit (OU) to which this application is submitted; 8. Overall objective of activity (1 – 2 sentences); 9.

Brief description of the learning priority or priorities included in the proposed activity (1 – 2 sentences); 10. Brief description of the approach to local resources included in the proposed activity (1 – 2 sentences) 11. Amount of funding requested from USAID $ _________; and 12.

An explanation of how the requested funding amount reasonably reflects the organization’s existing resources and capacity to grow Successful narrative descriptions will include a discussion of the components below. Please note that each component aligns with a specific merit review criterion. > Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum 1.

LOCAL OWNERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND RELEVANCE TO LOCAL PRIORITIES ● What is the development challenge the concept addresses? ● How do local people experience the challenge, and what is important to them? How do you know?

● What is the proposed approach? ● How will local actors lead priority setting and response? ● How will any partners be involved in the approach?

● How does the approach align with the addendum objectives? ● What is the theory of change? ● How does the approach integrate gender equality and female empowerment?

● How does the approach respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on the targeted population? ● How will the approach enable and share learning to advance the practice of locally led development? What are the specific learning priority(ies)?

● How will focusing on the priority(ies) advance the overall goals of the approach? ● When realities shift in the local context, how will the approach adapt? 4.

STRENGTHENING LOCAL SYSTEMS ● How does the approach contribute to local resources strengthening and greater country self-reliance? ● How does the approach strengthen a local system within a country or region to sustain a development result over time?

● How will the outcomes, results, and impacts, as well as any activities that need to continue beyond the duration of a USAID award, be sustainable without continued USAID funding or involvement after the award ends? VI. CONCEPT REVIEW PROCESS AND CO-CREATION USAID/Nepal is responsible for the review process and management of any awards issued under this addendum.

As per ADS 303. 3. 6.

3(a), USAID will appoint a Selection Committee (SC) to review all applications per the merit review criteria under Section IV above. USAID/Nepal will confirm receipt of the concept within one week of submission.

> Nepal - Locally Led Development APS Addendum If selected to co-create a full application with USAID/Nepal, a USAID/Nepal Agreement Officer (AO) will contact the Applicant and provide further instructions, a template, and an extended due date to submit a full application. Further, USAID will notify applicants not selected to advance.

USAID/Nepal may also review all concept papers and decide to invite selected Applicants to enter a period of multi-stakeholder co-creation, in which they will collaborate on and refine an approach or approaches with one another. Individual Applicants or groupings of two or more Applicants will then submit full applications for USAID/Nepal’s consideration.

Prior to submission of a full application, USAID/Nepal and the Applicant must have significant interaction in-person, via phone, or electronically to co-create the full application’s programmatic approach. Applicants can find the subsequent steps in the full application process and the award process under the Locally Led Development APS Section 8: Concept Submission Instructions and Next Steps for Applicants .

If USAID identifies opportunities to strengthen or fund a concept or application by connecting it with other USAID mechanisms, other potential funders, or external partners, USAID may make that concept or application available internally or externally for appropriate consideration. VIII.

QUESTIONS AND FURTHER ASSISTANCE Applicants may submit questions regarding the substance and objectives of this addendum to the following email address: kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid. gov Applicants may submit questions regarding the substance and terms of the global Locally Led Development APS to the following email address: LLD-APS@usaid.

gov For additional information regarding guidelines and procedures to submit a concept, please refer to the Locally Led Development APS, which can be found at the following website: https://www. grants. gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.

html? oppId=314757 [END NEPAL ADDENDUM COVID-19]