USAID
EFFECTIVE WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE SERVICES (E-WASH) PROGRAM
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) (MULTIPLE ROUNDS)
E-WASH INNOVATION GRANT FUND: STATE WATER UTILITY COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
E-WASH is seeking to issue grant(s) to local non-US organizations including I) large youth-led and women-led organizations, 2) business development service providers and non-governmental organizations, and 3) tertiary institutions for the purpose of implementing scalable innovative solutions to strengthen urban WASH governance and operations. EWASH has a strong interest in leveraging the expertise of new and underutilized partners.
Background on USAID Effective Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services (E-WASH) Program
As part of the United States Government’s (USG) efforts to address gaps in urban water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria, USAID/Nigeria aims to improve urban water service delivery by strengthening the governance, financial and technical viability of six (6) State Water Boards (SWBs) in Abia, Delta, Imo, Niger, Sokoto, and Taraba States (I-STAND). E-WASH will work towards achieving the following mutually reinforcing objectives:
I. Creating professionally managed and commercially oriented SWBs;
II. Improving the financial and operational viability of SWBs;
III. Strengthening policy, institutional and regulatory frameworks for improved WASH services; and
IV. Building national and state WASH advocacy, coordination, and communications for reform.
The E-WASH Program is part of USAID’s wider efforts to build closer coordination with the Government of Nigeria (GON), including the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR), select SWBs of Abia, Delta, Imo, Niger, Sokoto, and Taraba allied stakeholders to advance broad-based economic growth and resilience through improved WASH services in urban areas.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria.
Applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for funding under this REOI.
Be legally registered as a non us non-governmental organization or for-profit private entity and having capacity to operate in Nigeria.
Have a physical office in Nigeria.
Have demonstrative success in the proposed area of intervention and other WASH related solutions
Preferred to have been active for at least 3 years’ operating within their sector and respective state.
Have three (3) or more full time or part time staff.
Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project, not acting as an intermediary/consultant.
Be willing to comply with all technical and financial requirements for participation in the program, including reporting and documentation of project activities, communication strategy and capacity development opportunities.
Be eligible to receive funded awards from the United States government.
Organizations that do not meet the criteria above will not be considered.
Application Process
The application process for the E-WASH Innovation Grant will take place in two steps as described below
1) Stage One – Concept Note:
Applicants will submit a Concept Note using the template provided below, following the instructions contained in this document. RTI will acknowledge the submission of Concept Papers within three (3) business days. RTI will review Concept Papers against the merit review criteria detailed below. Technical Evaluation Committee meet bimonthly through the application open period. RTI will provide individual results to each applicant within 30 working days following the meeting of the Technical Evaluation Committee. Applicants who do not meet the objectives, minimum eligibility requirements or receives inadequate rating will be rejected.
2) Stage Two – Full Application:
Successful applicants from Stage One will be invited to a Co-creation and ideation workshop, which will be facilitated by relevant technical advisors. The ideation workshop will provide successful concept note applicants with support to address weaknesses identified in their concept note and align concepts to EWASH’s objectives. A technical advisor will support the applicant in expansion of the concept note to a program description and grant application.
Applicants will submit a grant application in response to a Request for Application (RFA). Grant Applications will be evaluated based on the technical factors detailed in the RFA
This funding opportunity will be open until October 31, 2020 and concept notes will be accepted through the entire funding opportunity time. Concept notes will be reviewed by Technical Evaluation Committee on a monthly basis in accordance with the stated factors below.
Interested organizations should kindly send their indication of interest by email to grants@ewash.rti.org with the email subject “E-WASH Innovation Grant Fund: UOA” on or before 22nd June, 2020.
