![](media/image1.png){width="5.989583333333333in" height="0.75in"}

Issuance Date: January 17, 2008

Deadline for Receipt of Questions: February 12, 2008

Closing Date for Submission of Applications: March 31, 2008

Closing Time for Submission of Applications: 4:00 pm (16:00) Conakry,
Guinea time

Subject: USAID/Sierra Leone Request for Applications (RFA) Number
636-08-0003

"Transforming Sierra Leone: Linking Democratic Governance, Economic
Growth and Natural Resource Management, While Empowering Women And Youth
And Building Institutional Capacities"

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is
seeking applications from organizations for a Cooperative Agreement to
fund a program entitled "Transforming Sierra Leone: Linking Democratic
Governance, Economic Growth And Natural Resource Management, While
Empowering Women And Youth And Building Institutional Capacities." The
authority for the RFA is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as
amended.

The Recipient will be responsible for ensuring achievement of the
program objectives. Please refer to the Program Description for a
complete statement of goals and expected results.

Pursuant to 22 CFR 226.81, it is USAID policy not to award profit under
assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allocable, and
allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the
agreement program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards
(22 CFR 226, OMB Circular A-122 for non-profit organization, OMB
Circular A-21 for universities, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Part 31 for-profit organizations, and the Mandatory Standard Provision
"Allowable Costs (DEC 2003) for public international organizations), may
be reimbursed under the Cooperative Agreement.

Subject to the availability of funds, USAID intends to provide
approximately \$13,244,000 in total USAID funding to be allocated over a
four (4) year period. USAID reserves the right to fund any or none of
the applications submitted.

For the purposes of this program, this RFA is being issued and consists
of this cover letter and the following:

1\. Section A - Cooperative Agreement Application Format;

2\. Section B - Selection Criteria;

3\. Section C - Program Description;

4\. Section D - Certifications, Assurances, and Other Statements of
Applicant/Grantee;

5\. Section E - Annexes

For the purposes of this RFA, the term \"Grant\" is synonymous with
\"Cooperative Agreement\"; \"Grantee\" is synonymous with \"Recipient\";
and \"Grant Officer\" is synonymous with \"Agreement Officer\".

The preferred method of distribution of USAID assistance solicitation
information is internet at [www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/).
This RFA and any future amendments can be downloaded from
[http://www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/). Click on "Search for
Grant Opportunity," then click on "Browse by Agency" and choose U.S.
Agency for International Development, then click on the Opportunity
titled "Transforming Sierra Leone: Linking Democratic Governance,
Economic Growth And Natural Resource Management, While Empowering Women
And Youth And Building Institutional Capacities.". If you have
difficulty registering or accessing the RFA, please contact the
Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at
<support@grants.gov> for technical assistance. Receipt of this RFA
through grants.gov must be confirmed by written notification to the
contact persons noted below. It is the responsibility of the recipient
of the solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from
Grants.gov in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data
errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted in writing to
Fatoumata B. Camara, via email to <fcamara@usaid.gov> with copy to
Rosalind Sika at <rsika@usaid.gov>. **The deadline for submission of
questions on this RFA is specified on first page of this letter**. If
you decide to submit an application, it must be received by the closing
date and time indicated at the top of this cover letter at the place
designated below for receipt of applications. Facsimile (fax)
submissions are [not]{.underline} authorized.

Applicants are requested to submit their applications by e-mail
attachment, followed by the hard copies. See **Section A: Preparation
and Submission Guidelines** and **Submission of Applications by Email**
for full submission instructions. Following is the submission address.
As noted in Section A, it is recommended that applicants use courier
service instead of international mail for submission of hard copies.

> [By Air Courier or Hand Delivery:]{.underline}
>
> Fatoumata B. Camara
>
> A&A Specialist
>
> USAID/Guinea
>
> c/o American Embassy
>
> Centre Administratif de Kaloma
>
> PO Box 603, transversale 2
>
> Conakry, Guinea
>
> Tel 224 30-42-08-61
>
> [fcamara@usaid.gov](mailto:bathioune@usaid.gov)

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all required
information in its application, including the requirements found in any
attachments to the solicitation in Grants.gov. Applicants should retain
for their records one copy of all enclosures which accompany their
applications. Award will be made to the responsible applicant whose
application offers the greatest value.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part
of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs
incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. In
addition, final award of any resultant cooperative agreement(s) cannot
be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and
committed through internal USAID procedures. While it is anticipated
that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential
applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for
award. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant; should
circumstances prevent award of a cooperative agreement, all preparation
and submission costs are at the applicant\'s expense.

In the event of an inconsistency between the documents comprising this
RFA, it shall be resolved by the following descending order of
precedence:

\(a\) Section B - Selection Criteria;

\(b\) Section A -- Cooperative Agreement Application Format;

\(c\) Section C - The Program Description;

\(d\) This Cover Letter.

> Sincerely,

/s/

> Rosalind Sika
>
> Agreement Officer

**REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS**

**RFA No. 636-08-0003**

**USAID/SIERRA LEONE**

**Transforming Sierra Leone: Linking Democratic Governance, Economic
Growth and Natural Resource Management, While Empowering Women and
Building Institutional Capacities**

**17 January 2008**

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

COVER LETTER 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

SECTION A -- COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT APPLICATION FORMAT 6

1\. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES [6](#CL_URFASEA_PH000002)

2\. TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMAT 8

3\. COST/BUSINESS APPLICATION FORMAT 10

4\. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AWARD 12

5\. AUTHORITY TO OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT 13

SECTION B - SELECTION CRITERIA 14

SECTION C - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 16

PART A -- BACKGROUND 16

A.1 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 16

A.2 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 17

A.3 BACKGROUND 18

PART B -- USAID PROGRAM OVERVIEW 21

B.1 USAID/SIERRA LEONE
STRATEGY...................................................\...\...\.....21

B.2 USAID/SIERRA LEONE
PROGRAM............................................................24

PART C -- TECHNICAL APPROACH AND PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS 28

C.1. PURPOSE AND RATIONALE 28

C.2 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS AND SCOPE 28

C.3 COMPLEMENTARITY AND COLLABORATION 30

C.4 MAJOR PROGRAM
CONSIDERATIONS........................................................30

C.5 TECHNICAL
APPROACH........................................................................\...32

PART D -- PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN, INDICATORS AND DATA
COLLECTION.................................................................................................43

PART E -- REPORTING AND EVALUATION 43

E.1 FINANCIAL REPORTING 43

E.2 PROGRAM REPORTING 44

E.3 NOTIFICATION 45

E.4 RESEARCH, STUDIES AND SURVEY DOCUMENTS 45

E.5 ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 45

E.6 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 46

E.7 REPORT SUBMISSION ADDRESSES 46

E.8 MID TERM AND FINAL EVALUATIONS 46

PART F -- CONDITIONS 47

F.1 SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT 47

F.2 DESIGNATION OF KEY POSITIONS AND PERSONNEL 47

F.3 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 48

F.4 PROPOSED FUNDING SOURCES AND FUNDING
LEVELS...........................\... 48

SECTION D- CERTIFICATIONS, ASSURANCES, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

THE RECIPIENT 49

PART I - CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES 49

PART II - FORMS 49

SURVEY ENSURING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
APPLICANTS..................................50

SECTION E - ANNEXES [52](#CL_URFASEEHD_PH000001)

ANNEX 1 -- LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE 53

ANNEX 2 -- PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE 54

ANNEX 3 -- BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN 58

ANNEX 4 -- OTHER
PROVISIONS..........................................................................\...67

ANNEX 5 -- RESPONSES TO TECHNICAL COMMENTS ON
DRAFT...........................

> PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
> ...............................................................\...\....72

# 

# SECTION A -- COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT APPLICATION FORMAT

## 1. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

[]{#CL_URFASEA_PH000002 .anchor}

All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed for
responsiveness and programmatic merit in accordance with the
specifications outlined in these guidelines and the application format.
Section B addresses the selection criteria for evaluation of submitted
applications.

Applications are to be submitted electronically via e-mail attachments,
in accordance with the instructions below **"Procedures for Submission
of Applications by Email,"** to be followed by hard copies. **\
**

Applications shall be submitted in two separate volumes: (1) technical
and (2) cost/business application. In addition to the email submission,
applicants shall submit an original and four (4) copies of the technical
portion of the application and an original and one (1) copy of the
cost/business portion of application to the address specified in the
cover letter. Faxed applications will [not]{.underline} be considered.

The hard copies of applications and modifications thereof shall be
submitted in sealed envelopes or packages addressed to the office
specified in the cover letter of this RFA, with the RFA number, the name
and address of the applicant, and whether the contents contain technical
and/or cost applications noted on the outside of the envelopes/packages.
Provided that the e-mail submissions have been successfully received by
the due date, the hard copy submissions need not arrive by the due date.
However, they must be received no later than two week after receipt of
the email submission. It is recommended that applicants use courier
service instead of international mail for submission of the hard copies.
The submission address is specified in the RFP cover letter.

The application should be prepared according to the structural format
set forth below in **2. TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMAT** and **3.
COST/BUSINESS APPLICATION FORMAT**. Applications must be submitted no
later than the date and time indicated on the cover page of this RFA, to
the location indicated in the cover letter accompanying this RFA.
Applications which are received late or are incomplete run the risk of
not being considered in the review process. Late applications will be
considered for award only if the Agreement Officer determines it is in
the Government's interest.

Applicants should retain for their records one copy of the application
and all enclosures which accompany their application. Erasures or other
changes must be initialed by the person signing the application. To
facilitate the competitive review of the applications, USAID will
consider only applications conforming to the format prescribed below.

Any prospective applicant desiring an explanation or interpretation of
this RFA must request it in writing by the **Deadline for Receipt of
Questions** indicated on the cover letter of this RFA, to the email
address set forth in the RFA cover letter to allow a reply to reach all
prospective applicants before the submission of their applications. Oral
explanations or instructions given before award of a Cooperative
Agreement will not be binding. Any information given to a prospective
recipient concerning this RFA will also be furnished to all other
prospective recipients as an amendment to this RFA, if that information
is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be
prejudicial to any other prospective recipients.

**Procedures for Submission of Applications by Email**:

1.  Before sending your documents to USAID as email attachments, convert
    them into Microsoft Word (for narrative text), Excel (for tables),
    or PDF format. Documents requiring signature may be sent as scanned
    documents.

2.  Once sent, check your own emails to confirm that your attachments
    were indeed sent. If you discover an error in your transmission,
    re-send the material again and **note in the subject line of the
    email that it is a \"corrected\" submission**. Do not send the same
    email more than one time unless there has been a change, and if so,
    note that it is a corrected email. Do not wait for USAID to advise
    you that certain documents intended to be sent were not sent, or
    that certain documents contained errors in formatting, missing
    sections, etc. Each applicant is responsible for its submissions.

3.  To avoid confusion, duplication, and congestion problems with our
    email system, only one authorized person from your organization
    should send in the email submissions.

4.  If you send your application by multiple emails, indicate **in the
    subject line of the email** whether the email relates to the
    technical or cost proposal, and the desired sequence of multiple
    emails (if more than one is sent) and sequence of attachments (e.g.
    Organization X, Cost Proposal, Part 1 of 4, etc.). However, you are
    requested to consolidate, as much as possible, the various parts of
    your technical application into one technical application document
    and the various parts of your cost application into one cost
    application document.

5.  The attachments should be formatted in Microsoft Word and/or Excel
    (version 2000) or PDF format, with a 3MB limit per email. Because of
    our system restrictions, if you send zipped files do
    [no]{.underline}t use a "zip" extension as part of the file name.
    Also, specify in the body of the email that the attachment contains
    zipped files. Applications and modifications thereof shall be
    submitted with the name and address of the applicant and the RFA
    number (referenced above) inscribed thereon, via email, to
    fcamara@usaid.gov with copy to <rsika@usaid.gov>. Due to phone
    system limitations, faxed applications will not be considered.
    Applicants must confirm with Mrs. Camara that their e-mail
    submissions were successfully received by the required due date.

Applicants are expected to review, understand, and comply with all
aspects of this RFA. Failure to do so will be at the applicant\'s risk.
Each applicant shall furnish the information required by this RFA. On
the hard copies of applications, the applicant shall sign the
application and the certifications, and print or type its name on the
Cover Page of the technical and cost applications. Erasures or other
changes must be initialed by the person signing the application.
Applications signed by an agent shall be accompanied by evidence of that
agent\'s authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished
to the issuing office.

Applicants who include data that they do not want disclosed to the
public for any purpose or used by the U.S. Government except for
evaluation purposes should:

\(a\) Mark the title page with the following legend:

> \"This application includes data that shall not be disclosed outside
> the U.S. Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed -
> in whole or in part - for any purpose other than to evaluate this
> application. If, however, a grant is awarded to this applicant as a
> result of - or in connection with - the submission of this data, the
> U.S. Government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose
> the data to the extent provided in the resulting grant. This
> restriction does not limit the U.S. Government\'s right to use
> information contained in this data if it is obtained from another
> source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are
> contained in pages\_\_\_.\"; and

\(b\) Mark each sheet of data it wishes to restrict with the following
legend:

> \"Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the
> restriction on the title page of this application.\"

Unnecessarily elaborate applications that include brochures or other
presentations beyond those sufficient to present a complete and
effective application in response to this RFA are not desired and may be
construed as an indication of the applicant\'s lack of cost
consciousness. Elaborate art work, expensive paper and bindings, and
expensive visual and other presentation aids are neither necessary nor
wanted.

Applicants shall confirm receipt of the RFA by written email
notification to the contact person specified in the RFA cover letter.
Applicants shall also acknowledge receipt of any amendment to this RFA
by signing and returning the amendment. The Government must receive the
acknowledgement by the time specified for receipt of applications.

## 2. TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMAT 

## 

The technical application will be the most important item of
consideration in selection for award of the proposed activity. It should
demonstrate the applicant\'s capabilities and expertise with respect to
achieving the goals of this program. Therefore it should be specific,
complete and presented concisely. It should take into account and be
arranged in the order of the technical evaluation criteria specified in
Section B SELECTION CRITERIA.

**Application Contents**: The technical application shall contain both a
technical approach section and a management section, as more fully
explained below:

The *[Technical Approach and Strategic Fit section]{.underline}* shall
present the applicant's proposed strategy to achieve three U.S. Foreign
Assistance objectives in the areas of democratic governance, economic
growth and natural resource management and the program elements in an
integrated manner and provide strategies on engaging and empowering
women and youth especially in the productive sectors. Applicants shall
consider building institutional capacities, addressing gender issues, as
well as employing media as integral component in enhancing program
results. Applicants shall also provide a comprehensive monitoring and
evaluation plan, an implementation plan including a first year annual
workplan, and a plan for sustainability.

The *[Management section]{.underline}* should provide information
regarding the applicant's institutional capacity and proposed staffing,
with three annexes: (1) Curriculum Vitae/Résumés, (2) Past Performance
References, and (3) Letters of Commitment from any implementing
partners.

The technical application **may not exceed 50 pages in length**,
exclusive of the three annexes. Following are more detailed instructions
on the two technical application sections:

***[Technical Approach and Strategic Fit section]{.underline}**:*

1.  [Cover Page]{.underline}: [A single page]{.underline} with the
    program title and RFA number, the names of the
    organizations/institutions involved, and the lead or primary
    Applicant clearly identified. Any proposed sub grantees (or
    implementing partners) should be listed separately. In addition, the
    Cover Page should provide a contact person for the prime Applicant,
    including this individual's name (both typed and his/her signature),
    title or position with the organization/institution, address,
    telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address. State whether the
    contact person is the person with authority to contract for the
    Applicant, and if not, that person should also be listed with
    contact information. If applicable, the TIN and DUNS numbers of the
    Applicant should also be listed on the cover page.

2.  [Table of Contents]{.underline}: Listing all parts of the technical
    application, with page numbers and attachments.

3.  [Executive Summary]{.underline} (not to exceed 3 pages): Briefly
    describe the proposed goal, purposes, key activities and anticipated
    results. Briefly describe technical and managerial resources of the
    Applicant. Describe how the overall program will be managed.

4.  [Program Description]{.underline}: Applicants should focus on
    describing how they propose to achieve the program objectives). In
    addition to presenting how the program will make a significant
    contribution towards achieving the foreign assistance objectives and
    program elements identified in the program description, the
    description should present the Applicant's innovative ideas,
    approaches and strategies to achieve the results of the program.
    This section also needs to include strategies on (1) engaging and
    empowering women and youth especially in the productive sectors; (2)
    building institutional capacities, as well as media outreach.
    Applicants are requested not to merely repeat what is already
    described in this RFA. The applications should take into account the
    technical evaluation criteria found in Section B.

5.  [Illustrative Implementation Plan and First Year Annual Work
    Plan]{.underline}: The applicant is encouraged to design innovative
    implementation approaches to reach the desired results and to
    develop an aggressive, but realistic schedule of performance
    milestones as steps towards producing results.  The illustrative
    implementation plan should correlate with the foreign assistance
    program structures (Section C Program Description) and include
    information on the critical activities towards achieving the
    objectives; as well as a timeline, and the partners and resources
    (including human resources) required for carrying out the activity.
    The proposed implementation plan should cover the life of the
    activity and include a more detailed illustrative first-year annual
    workplan.

6.  [Monitoring and Evaluation Plan]{.underline}: The applicant should
    propose an illustrative monitoring and evaluation plan that would
    permit tracking, evaluating, and reporting on progress and
    achievement of the results sought. Two specific types of data will
    be required: i) those that report on progress toward the milestones
    and targets proposed by the applicant, and ii) those that contribute
    to USAID/Sierra Leone's Country Strategy and Operational Plan
    Standard Indicators as discussed in the Section C Program
    Description. The applicant is strongly encouraged to describe how it
    will collaborate with the GOSL and other donor/partner colleagues in
    data collection to ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are
    as cost-effective as possible.

7.  [Sustainability Plan]{.underline}: The applicant is expected to
    build upon and strengthen local capacity for sustainable program
    management and implementation. Applicants are required to develop
    partnerships with organizations that employ local personnel and
    facilities to the maximum extent possible to improve the likelihood
    of attaining quality results, achieve program sustainability and
    minimize recurrent costs. USAID/Sierra Leone strongly encourages
    applicants to fully integrate the skills, capabilities and expertise
    of local organizations in a substantive way.

The ***[Management section]{.underline}*** should provide information
regarding the applicant's institutional capacity and proposed staffing.
This section must include a **Management and Staffing Plan** that
specifies the composition and organizational structure of the program
team, including home office support and implementing partners, if any
for the entire program. It should describe how the various proposed
program components will be managed. "Implementing partners" are
organizations that will have substantial implementation
responsibilities. The plan should identify potential implementing
partners and clearly state the responsibilities of each proposed
implementing partner in achieving the various program results and the
unique capacities/skills they bring to the program. Letters of
commitment from all proposed implementing partners should be included
(in the Annex). The plan should also describe each staff member's role,
technical qualifications and expertise and the estimated amount of time
each will devote to the program. It is expected that each critical area
of the program focus will be represented by relevant technical
expertise. There should also be discussion on how the proposed Key
Personnel and other relevant technical staff will effectively contribute
to the implementing team. The plan should also indicate the names,
positions, titles and provide full resumes (in the Annex) of important
managerial and technical personnel who will be involved in the program
activities.

[Annexes]{.underline}: The technical application should contain the
following three annexes:

*(1) [Curriculum vitae/résumés]{.underline}* should be provided for each
key technical and home office personnel. They should be limited to a
**[maximum of two pages per person]{.underline}**.

*(2) [Past performance references]{.underline}* should present all
contracts, grants and cooperative agreements which the primary Applicant
(as well as any partners substantially involved in implementation) has
implemented of similar or related programs over the past three years.
Include the following for each award listed: name and address of the
organization for which the work was performed; current telephone number
and e-mail address of responsible representative of the organization for
which the work was performed; contract/grant name and number (if any);
annual amount received for each of the last three years; term of award,
i.e., beginning and ending dates; and a brief description of the
program.

*(3) [Letters of commitment]{.underline}* should be provided from all
proposed implementing partners. Such letters do not have to be exclusive
to one applicant.

**Past Performance Questionnaires:** In addition to the past performance
references mentioned above, applicants shall send the [Past Performance
Questionnaire]{.underline} (in Section E -- ANNEXES) to all
organizations provided as past performance references. Applicants shall
request that such organizations complete the questionnaire and return it
directly to the address indicated on the Questionnaire **[no later than
the closing date specified in the RFA cover letter]{.underline}**.

**Sub-agreements**: Applicants shall identify and describe potential
sub-recipients and/or sub-contractors, where possible, indicating the
extent of utilization intended, and the tasks/functions they will
perform. Describe how organizations were or will be selected and how
they will effectively contribute to the activities under this
cooperative agreement. Technical application information for proposed
sub-recipients and/or subcontractors should follow the same format as
that submitted by the applicant. Applicants must clearly identify which
inputs (especially staff) will be provided by sub-grantees or
contractors. Applicants shall describe their plans, systems, resources
and prior experience in coordinating and managing sub-agreements.

## 3. COST/BUSINESS APPLICATION FORMAT

The Cost or Business Application is to be submitted under separate cover
from the technical application. Certain documents are required to be
submitted by an applicant in order for the Agreement Officer to make a
determination of responsibility. However, it is USAID policy not to
burden applicants with undue reporting requirements if that information
is readily available through other sources.

The following sections describe the documentation that applicants for an
Assistance award must submit to USAID prior to award. While there is no
page limit for this portion, applicants are encouraged to be as concise
as possible, but still provide the necessary detail to address the
following:

A. Include a [budget with an accompanying budget narrative]{.underline}
which provides in detail the total costs for implementation of the
program your organization is proposing. The budget should be structured
according to Section C PROGRAM DESCRIPTION, Part F.4: Proposed Funding
Sources and Funding Levels and have a breakdown by objective, program
elements and sub-activity. The **budget narrative** must provide
detailed budget notes and supporting justification of all proposed
budget line items. It must clearly identify the basis of all costs, such
as market surveys, price quotations, current salaries, historical
experience, etc. A summary of the budget must be submitted using
Standard Form 424, 424A and 424B, which can be downloaded from
<http://www.grants.gov/agencies/approved_standard_forms.jsp> The full
budget must include:

-   the breakdown of all costs associated with the program according to
    costs of, if applicable, headquarters, regional and/or country
    offices;

-   the breakdown of all costs according to each partner organization
    involved in the program;

-   the costs associated with external, expatriate technical assistance
    and those associated with local in-country technical assistance;

-   the breakdown of the financial and in-kind contributions of all
    organizations involved in implementing this Cooperative Agreement;

-   potential contributions of non-USAID or private commercial donors to
    the expected Cooperative Agreement;

-   the name, annual salary, and expected level of effort of each person
    charged to the activity. Provide resumes showing work experience and
    annual salary history for at least the three most recent years for
    major personnel.

-   if not included in an indirect cost rate agreement negotiated with
    the U.S. Government, the applicable fringe benefit rates for each
    category of employees, and an explanation of the benefits included
    in the rate.

-   the same individual information for consultants must be provided as
    for regular personnel.

-   a breakdown of allowances by specific type and by person, and they
    must be in accordance with the applicant\'s policies.

-   travel, per diem and other transportation expenses detailed to
    include number of international trips, expected itineraries, number
    of per diem days and per diem rates.

-   financial plans for all proposed sub-grants and subcontracts, with
    the same format and level of detail as those of the applicant.

-   separate cost line items for other direct costs such as supplies,
    communication costs, photocopying, visas, passports and other
    general costs.

B. A current [Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
(NICRA)]{.underline};

C. Required [Certifications and Representations]{.underline}, included
in Section D Certifications, Assurances and Other Statements;

D. Details regarding the level of [cost share]{.underline} your
organization is proposing for this activity. USAID encourages applicants
to contribute cost sharing. Cost sharing may be proposed from any
available and interested local and international funding sources,
including but not limited to, government and public institutions,
individuals, corporations, NGOs, and foundations. While there is no
stated minimum required cost share amount, applicants are encouraged to
give serious consideration to the amount they propose as a signal of the
applicant\'s commitment to the activity. See also Section B Selection
Criteria, under costs.

E. Applicants who do not currently have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate
Agreement (NICRA) from their cognizant government agency shall also
submit the following information:

-   copies of the applicant\'s financial reports for the previous 3-year
    period, which have been audited by a certified public accountant or
    other auditor satisfactory to USAID;

-   projected budget, cash flow and organizational chart;

-   A copy of the organization\'s accounting manual.

F. Applicants should submit any [additional evidence of
responsibility]{.underline} deemed necessary for the Agreement Officer
to make a determination of responsibility. The information submitted
should substantiate that the Applicant:

1.  Has adequate financial, management and personnel resources and
    systems, or the ability to obtain such resources as required during
    the performance of the award.

2.  Has the ability to comply with the award conditions, taking into
    account all existing and currently prospective commitments of the
    applicant, nongovernmental and governmental.

3.  Has a satisfactory record of performance. Past relevant
    unsatisfactory performance is ordinarily sufficient to justify a
    finding of non-responsibility, unless there is clear evidence of
    subsequent satisfactory performance.

4.  Has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; and

5.  Is otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under
    applicable laws and regulations (e.g., EEO).

An award shall be made only when the Agreement Officer makes a positive
determination that the applicant possesses, or has the ability to
obtain, the necessary management competence in planning and carrying out
assistance programs and that it will practice mutually agreed upon
methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided by USAID.
For the organizations that are new to USAID, or organizations with
outstanding audit findings, it may be necessary to perform a pre-award
survey.

G. Applicants that have never received a grant, cooperative agreement,
or contract from the U.S. Government are required to submit a copy of
their [accounting manual]{.underline}. If a copy has already been
submitted to the U.S. Government, the applicant should advise which
Federal Office has a copy.

H. Certificate of Compliance: Submit a copy of your Certificate of
Compliance if your organization\'s systems have been certified by the
USAID/Washington\'s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA).

**4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AWARD**

The Government will award one (1) cooperative agreement resulting from
this RFA to the responsible applicant whose application conforming to
this RFA offers the greatest value (see Section B of this RFA). The
Government may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than
the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, (d)
accept alternate applications, and (e) waive informalities and minor
irregularities in applications received.

The Government will award one cooperative agreement on the basis of
initial applications received, and may not conduct discussions or
negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the
applicant\'s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. As part of
its evaluation process, however, USAID may elect to discuss technical,
cost or other pre-award issues with one or more applicants.
Alternatively, USAID may proceed with award selection based on its
evaluation of initial applications received and/or commence negotiations
solely with one applicant.

A written award mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful
applicant within the time for acceptance specified either in the
application or in this RFA (whichever is later) shall result in a
binding cooperative agreement without further action by either party.
Before the application\'s specified expiration time, if any, the
Government may accept an application, whether or not there are
negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is
received before award. Negotiations or discussions conducted after
receipt of an application do not constitute a rejection or counteroffer
by the Government.

Neither financial data submitted with an application nor representations
concerning facilities or financing, will form a part of the resulting
cooperative agreement unless explicitly stated otherwise in the
agreement.

To be eligible for award of a cooperative agreement, in addition to
other conditions of this RFA, organizations must have a politically
neutral humanitarian mandate, a commitment to non-discrimination with
respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment
practices. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to
race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.

Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law
prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support
to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the
legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these
Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in all
subcontracts/sub-awards issued under the cooperative agreement.

Foreign Government Delegations to International Conferences: Funds in
the cooperative agreement may not be used to finance the travel, per
diem, hotel expenses, meals, conference fees or other conference costs
for any member of a foreign government\'s delegation to an international
conference sponsored by a public international organization, except as
provided in ADS Mandatory Reference \"Guidance on Funding Foreign
Government Delegations to International Conferences
<http://www.info.usaid.gov/pubs/ads/300/refindx3.htm> or as approved by
the Agreement Officer.

**5. AUTHORITY TO OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT**

The USAID Agreement Officer is the only individual who may legally
commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds. No costs
chargeable to the proposed agreement may be incurred before receipt of
either a fully executed Agreement or a specific written authorization
from the Agreement Officer.

# SECTION B - SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection criteria presented below have been tailored to the
requirements of this particular RFA. Applicants should note that these
criteria serve to: (a) identify the significant matters which applicants
should address in their applications and (b) set the standard against
which all applications will be evaluated. To facilitate the review of
applications, applicants should organize the narrative sections of their
applications in the same order as the selection criteria. Applications
will be evaluated in accordance with the selection criteria identified
below. USAID reserves the right to determine the resulting level of
funding for the agreement award.

The technical applications will be evaluated in accordance with the
Technical Evaluation Criteria set forth below. The cost/business
applications of all applicants submitting a technically acceptable
application will be evaluated by the Agreement Officer in accordance
with the criteria specified below in COST EVALUATION CRITERIA. To the
extent that they are necessary (if award is made based on initial
applications), negotiations will then be conducted with all applicants
whose applications, after technical review and evaluation, have a
reasonable chance of being selected for award. Award will be made to the
responsible applicant whose application offer the greatest value, cost
and other factors considered. Applicants are specifically advised that
until a grant document is received and duly signed by a Grant or
Agreement Officer, no program expenditures will be paid by USAID/Sierra
Leone.

To the extent necessary, if award is not made on the initial
applications, USAID may request clarification and supplemental materials
from applicants whose applications have a reasonable chance of being
selected for award. The entry into discussion is to be viewed as part of
the evaluation process and shall not be deemed by USAID or the
applicants as indicative of a decision or commitment upon the part of
USAID to make an award to the applicants with whom discussions are being
held.

**TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (100 POINTS)**

Technical evaluation of applications will be based on the extent and
appropriateness of proposed approaches and feasibility of achieving the
strategic objectives, in accordance with the following criteria.

**[Technical]{.underline} (total of 50 points)**

**Program Description (35 points):**

Applications will be evaluated based on:

-   Viability of the proposed technical approach, i.e., the proposed
    technical approach can reasonably be expected to produce the stated
    results. Applicants should focus on describing how they propose to
    achieve the program objective(s). The application should describe
    the Applicant's innovative ideas, approaches and strategies to
    achieve the results of the program, including (1) the extent to
    which the technical approach responds to engaging and empowering
    women and youth especially in the productive sectors; (2) extent to
    which building institutional capacities, as well as media outreach
    is integrated into the program; (3) an implementation plan which
    correlates with the program elements and provides key activities
    towards achieving the foreign assistance objectives in an integrated
    approach; (4) demonstrates that gender issues are well understood
    and fully addressed.

-   Soundness of the monitoring and evaluation plan and proposed
    indicators to track progress and impact, as well as a valid data
    collection system.

-   The soundness of the Sustainability Plan, which shows continuation
    of the activity beyond USAID funding.

**Strategic Fit** **(15 points):**

The likelihood that the program for which funding is sought will make a
significant contribution towards achieving the goal of USAID/Sierra
Leone's strategy and also meet the U.S. Foreign Assistance objectives as
identified in the program description in Section C. Specifically, this
includes a demonstrated understanding of the relationship between the
program elements and the achieving results in each of the program
elements while also addressing women's empowerment and youth and taking
into consideration the strategic contribution of media to achieving
results. **\--15 Points**

**[Management]{.underline} (total of 50 points)**

**Institutional Capacity (15 points):**

Technical and managerial capacity. i.e., the demonstrated effectiveness
of the organization, in terms of internal structure and technical
capacity, to implement the program as indicated in the program
description in Section C by using state-of-the-art approaches, including
gender-sensitive strategies responsive to women, youth and men.  In
broader terms, the ability of the organization to positively enhance
democratic governance in all program activities in the target sectors.

**Staffing (25 points):**

Qualification of proposed key personnel to manage and to implement
strategies and activities. Ability of key staff to implement activities
that respond to identified gender constraints and opportunities and
contribute to achievement of results.

**Past Performance (10 points):**

Experience and performance of the Applicant (as well as any partners
substantially involved in implementation) in managing and implementing
similar or related programs. This includes relevant past experience of
proposed staff, as presented in their curriculum vitas, as well as the
organization's past performance in both financial management and in
reporting (i.e., that reports are of a high quality and were submitted
in a timely fashion).

**COST EVALUATION CRITERIA**

Cost has not been assigned a weight but will be evaluated for cost
realism, reasonableness, allowability, allocability, and cost
effectiveness. Applications that have more efficient operational systems
that reduce operation costs will be more favorably considered. Cost
sharing will be evaluated on the level of financial participation
proposed and the added value it represents to the program. As technical
scores converge, applications that maximize direct activity costs
including cost sharing and that minimize administrative costs will be
more favorably considered. Other considerations are the completeness of
the application adequacy of budget detail and consistency with elements
of the technical application. In addition, the organization must
demonstrate adequate financial management capability, to be measured by
a responsibility determination.

[]{.mark}

# Notes on [Cost Sharing]{.underline}:

# 

# Cost share is defined by USAID as "contributions, both cash and in-kind, which are necessary and reasonable to achieve program objectives and which are verifiable from the recipient's records." Please take note of the provision on cost-sharing in 22 CFR 226.23.

# Although there is no requirement that applicants propose a specific cost share, USAID policy is that cost sharing is an important element of the USAID-recipient relationship. USAID requires applicants to demonstrate their commitment to program success by addressing the issue of cost-sharing. 

**SECTION C - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION**

**PART A -- BACKGROUND**

**A.1 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS**

  -------- --------------------------------------------------------------
  CBO      Community-Based Organization

  CSO      Civil Society Organization

  DFID     Department of Foreign and International Development

  DRP      Development Relief Program

  EC       European Commission

  EU       European Union

  FFP      Food For Peace

  GDP      Gross Development Product

  GoSL     Government of Sierra Leone

  GTZ      German Cooperation

  HDI      Human Development Index

  HLSC     High Level Steering Committee

  KPCS     Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

  INGO     International Non-Governmental Organization

  HIPC     Heavily Indebted Poor Countries

  NCJM     National Coalition for Just Mining

  LEAD     Livelihood Expansion and Asset Development Program

  LGD      Local Government and Decentralization

  LINKS    Promoting Linkages for Livelihood Security and Economic
           Development

  MDRI     Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative

  MRU      Mano River Union (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea)

  M & E    Monitoring and Evaluation

  NACE     National Association of Coalition of Extractives

  CS       National Commission for Social Action

  NEP      National Environmental Policy

  NEPA     National Environmental Protection Act

  NRM      Natural Resources Management

  PRS      Poverty Reduction Strategy

  PDC      Peace Building Commission

  PDF      Peace Building Fund

  PRSP     Poverty Reduction and Strategy Paper

  RFA      Request for Application

  TRC      Truth and Reconciliation Commission

  UN       United Nations
  -------- --------------------------------------------------------------

**A.2 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW**

The United States Agency for International Development in Sierra Leone
(USAID/Sierra Leone) is seeking applications from qualified applicants
to implement a new integrated development assistance program. The
primary purposes of USAID/Sierra Leone's new Foreign Assistance
Framework[^1] strategy to be implemented under this RFA are to enhance
democratic governance, foster economic growth and improve natural
resource management to the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone.
USAID/Sierra Leone envisions two strong interrelated tracks, economic
growth (poverty reduction) and good governance. Natural resource
management initiatives will enhance and target economic growth
opportunities and good governance. The program is to be designed and
implemented with an integrated, comprehensive, multi-sector approach,
addressing two of the five U.S. Foreign Assistance Framework Objectives:
(1) Governing Justly and Democratically, and (2) Economic Growth, and
three interrelated Elements: (a) Local Government and Decentralization,
(b) Agricultural Sector Productivity, and (c) Natural Resources and
Biodiversity. This RFA focuses on *[integrating]{.underline} the
decentralization and civic participation aspects of governance directly
into all other program activities while also exploiting windows of
opportunity for economic growth*. This program will build on the lessons
learned from USAID/Sierra Leone's interventions since 1999. While this
is an integrated program, [elections and political party strengthening
are not included in this RFA]{.underline}. The sectors of [education and
health are also outside the scope of this RFA]{.underline}, being
supported in Sierra Leone through P.L. 480 funds instead. Linkages
between the program and these other areas, however, are encouraged.

USAID/Sierra Leone's 2006-2008 Country Strategy has one Strategic
Objective, "Enhancing Democratic Governance" and this primary focus will
continue for the foreseeable future, since governance issues are still
seen as the largest constraint to sustainable economic growth and
stability in Sierra Leone. This program, however, will also respond to
the U.S. Embassy's Mission Strategic Plan which has received and will
continue to receive funding for economic growth, good governance and
natural resource management, as the latter facilitates economic growth.
USAID's new program will continue to target activities and achieve
impact in this "Rebuilding Country" as progress moves Sierra Leone
closer to becoming a "Developing Country." The unaddressed needs of the
disenfranchised youth and women and the poor or weak institutional
capacities have long been root causes of Sierra Leone's instability.
Therefore, this new program is to be designed, implemented and managed
with women, youth and institutional capacity building as central and
cross cutting concerns, to the degree possible. Access to information
remains a challenge throughout the country, therefore, though not
mentioned further throughout this document, it is expected that media
also will be cross-cutting and integrated into the program where
appropriate and useful. A significant focus on best practices at a
macro-level (good governance, policy, legislation, accountability,
transparency) in the extractive mineral sector, especially diamonds (men
are the primary workers) and gold (women are the primary workers), will
help combat corruption and boost legitimate national and local revenues.
Also, best practices in natural resource management and promotion of
sustainable, and, where possible, value-added agricultural enterprises
should be promoted at all levels of the marketing chain. Such activities
should be linked to the maximum extent possible to the governance
related activities which affect them. Conceptualizing and designing this
new *consolidated and integrated approach* for USAID's development
assistance program will demand creative and innovative ways to combine
and manage the activities described herein.

**A.3 BACKGROUND**

**A.3.1 Political and Economic Setting**

### Governing Justly and Democratically

Despite its vast mineral resources, Sierra Leone remains one of the
poorest countries in the world, ranking 176 out of 177 in the 2006 UN
Human Development Index (HDI). Seventy percent of the country's five
million people live below the poverty line and over a quarter of the
Sierra Leoneans live in extreme poverty. Long years of authoritarian
single party rule and successive military regimes undermined democracy,
destabilized state institutions, increased corruption, increased poverty
and eventually led to the devastating 11-year civil war (1991-2002).
Consequently, the decade of the 1990s largely shaped the current social,
political and economic situation in Sierra Leone. The war further
paralyzed the economy, caused the collapse of public service, destroyed
the country's infrastructure, and incapacitated government institutions.
Out of a national population of approximately five million people, an
estimated 20,000 people were killed, many thousands maimed and over two
million were displaced, 500,000 of whom fled to neighboring countries.
As a consequence, Sierra Leone's key development challenges remain the
promotion of good governance, security and peace, promotion of pro-poor
sustainable growth for food security and job creation, economic
development, effective and equitable natural resource management,
specifically in the diamond sector, and promoting human development in
the context of the national Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

The causes of the civil war were well documented in the "Report of the
Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission" (TRC)
\[http://www.trcsierraleone.org/drwebsite/publish/index.shtml\], the
most serious identified as pervasive corruption and failure in
governance and institutional processes in the country. According to the
TRC's report, successive governments, well before the start of the civil
war, diminished the state's capacity to meet such critical challenges
such as the security and livelihood of its citizens, let alone provide
for and encourage democratic participation in the decision making
processes. The Commission contended that unsound governance provided a
context conducive to the interplay of poverty, marginalization, greed
(corruption) and unresolved grievances that caused and sustained the
conflict. Attempts at reversing this state of affairs has cost the
international community (and, therefore, indirectly, Sierra Leone)
billions of dollars. However, despite these mammoth dedicated efforts,
there are still fears that the underlying causes of the conflict remain.

In 2002, shortly after the end of the war, the government of Sierra
Leone (GoSL), in close collaboration with the international community,
moved quickly to restore stability to the country and ensure that the
country did not revert to its previous chaos and violence. In 2002 and
2004, respectively, Sierra Leone held its first post-war Presidential
and Parliamentary elections and Local Council elections. In 2007,
Presidential and Parliamentary elections were again held, and an
historical peaceful democratic transition to a new administration took
place. Thanks in part to massive international support and supervision
these elections were judged not only to be free and fair but also
primarily devoid of violence. The country has experienced significant
progress in rebuilding and consolidating peace, promoting democracy at
local and national levels, increasing school enrollment and stabilizing
the economic growth rates at 6-7% annually. Legal diamond exports rose
from a recorded \$1.2 million in 1999, to \$42 million in 2002 and up to
\$125 million in 2006. It is expected that the 2007 diamond export value
will exceed \$160 million. A significant deposit of rutile, the source
of titanium, is also the subject of renewed investor interest, as is
bauxite. Minerals constitute over 90% of exports, but revenues from cash
crops also have increased considerably since the end of the war.

Even though Sierra Leone is past the "post conflict" stage it remains an
extremely "fragile state," with a poorly resourced civil service that
lacks capacity, operates inefficiently and is devoid of even the basic
facilities needed to allow it to deliver adequate services to the
majority of the citizens. An additional challenge is nation rebuilding
with a still fragmented civil society yet lacking the capacity to
advocate effectively. This, coupled with a lack of sufficient training
and low wages for civil servants, means the government is unable to
deliver even the basic services to citizens. Electricity and clean
drinking water are mostly luxuries for the elite, and the national road
infrastructure is almost in complete disrepair. The recovery is still
precarious; progress has been undermined by allegations of pervasive
corruption at all levels of public life and many achievements are
unsustainable because they are heavily donor driven and financed. Sierra
Leone's efforts to institute good governance will be achieved by giving
the people greater opportunities for equitable participation and by
promoting pro-poor, job-creating development initiatives in the
agricultural sector as an alternative to risky and environmentally
unsustainable artisanal mining. President Ernest Bai Koroma has pledged
to make poverty reduction, economic growth and good governance
priorities in his Administration with an "emergency priority" for the
resumption of energy, electricity and clean drinking water for the
citizens of Sierra Leone, and its industrial revival.

**Local Government and Decentralization**

The process of decentralization is intended to ensure that political
power and the activity of government impacts positively on all levels of
society. A decentralized system of government allows for a better
delivery of public services and facilitates constant interaction between
politicians, administrators and those they represent and govern, thereby
helping to fight corruption. To intensify the information exchange
between communities and local councils, the USAID program targeted Ward
Development Committees, where ownership of community priorities and
processes begins. In addition to working with district level civil
society partners, broadening engagement with host government entities to
support building citizens' trust and confidence is critical.
Institutional capacity building of local government is key to Sierra
Leone's future as a democratic, peaceful and economically prosperous
nation.

The USG Strengthening Democratic Program provides training and mentoring
for community and Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders ward
committee members, counselors and traditional leaders to enhance their
skills and increase their capacity to perform their roles and
responsibilities in local governance. Trainings to strengthen local
government and decentralization assist community leaders govern
transparently and help citizens engage their local government, through
development and articulation of community plans for which the local
leaders will be held accountable. The program also provides communities
with appropriate fora to discuss issues of governance**.**

In July 2008, Sierra Leone will again go to the polls, this time to
elect new local government officials, local councilors. After
approximately 30 years without local government institutions Sierra
Leone brought back local councils and ward committees through its first
post-conflict election in May 2004. With little or no experience in
local government, candidates vied for positions without knowledge of
what local representative government meant nor what individual skills
were needed, resulting in erratic council performance throughout the
country (per a Local Council Performance Survey). After four years of
decentralization and strengthening local government structures, citizens
are much better informed about the role and responsibilities of their
local councils and make requisite demands based on that knowledge, while
candidates are far more cognizant of the skills and knowledge needed to
be effective local representatives.

### Economic Growth

Sierra Leone's strong recovery, which began in 2000, continued for a
seventh unbroken year into 2006 when real Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
grew by an estimated 7.4 percent despite high oil prices. Growth in
recent years has been propelled by remittances and investments from the
Sierra Leone expatriate community, selected mining investments, notably
in rutile and bauxite, and by foreign aid. Much of this growth was
concentrated in

the informal agricultural, fishing, mining and services sectors that
make up the bulk of the economy. Formal activity is confined primarily
to large scale mining, construction, retail services, tourism, and
government employment.

Exports grew to 23.5 percent of GDP in 2006 from 22.1 percent in 2005.
This was made possible largely by the initiation of exports from the
newly refurbished rutile and bauxite mines in 2006. The officially
registered export of diamonds in 2006 fell by 11 percent to 574,280
carats relative to the 2005 total of 646,510 carats. Imports contracted
by almost 3 percentage points of GDP, despite rising oil prices, as
heavy investments for the rutile and bauxite mines were completed. The
external current account deficit (including official transfers)
therefore is estimated to have decreased to 5.6 percent of GDP in 2006
from 7.7 percent of GDP in 2005 after accounting for changes in factor
services and net transfers.

The current account deficit was financed mainly by concessional external
assistance and debt relief. Most fundamentally, in December 2006, Sierra
Leone reached the Completion Point under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and, in so doing, also gained
additional relief under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).
Taken together, the total relief will amount to roughly US\$1.6 billion
spread over 30 years.

Fiscal revenues in 2006 were equal to 11.8 percent of GDP, essentially
the same revenue effort achieved in 2005 but short of the IMF program
target of 12.5 percent of GDP. Actual grants received in 2006 were 0.9
percentage points lower than programmed. The combined effect was a loss
of 1.5 percentage points of GDP relative to the IMF program target for
revenues and grants. Expenditures as a share of GDP were sharply reduced
relative to 2005 but they remained 1.4 percentage points of GDP above
the program target. Thus, the fiscal deficit of 3.2 percent of GDP was
2.9 percentage points higher than programmed and 0.5 percentage points
higher than what was achieved in 2005.

Monetary growth in 2006 was well below the outcome for 2005. This
allowed price inflation to slow to 9.5 percent compared to the program
target of 12.2 percent. The nominal, end-of-period rate on treasury
bills increased to 17.7 percent from 16 percent in 2005. The exchange
rate remained almost constant in nominal terms and therefore appreciated
in real terms. The absence of a bourgeoning private sector is inhibiting
sustainable economic growth and unless drastic steps are taken the
situation will only get worse since Sierra Leone is ranked 168 out of
175 countries in the World Bank's latest country index for "ease of
doing business" (World Bank 2006).

**A.3.2 Challenges in the Development of Sierra Leone in Targeted
Sectors**

Sierra Leone is considered to be a "Rebuilding Country" under the new
U.S. Foreign Assistance Framework. The goal of U.S. Foreign Assistance
in the rebuilding category is the creation of a stable environment for
good governance, increased availability of essential social services,
and initial progress to create policies and institutions upon which
future progress will rest. The chief U.S. interest in Sierra Leone is
the consolidation of peace, stability and security in the country and
sub-region, specifically the Mano River Union (Sierra Leone, Liberia and
Guinea), in the aftermath of the civil war which ended in 2002,
especially through better, more transparent governance. The hypothesis
is that civil unrest emerges in the absence of transparent governance.
This risk increases where there are perceptions of public corruption and
inefficiency, where citizens' civil rights are denied, and where
potential "spoilers" have continued access to financing. Furthermore,
the lack of democratic governance leads to the marginalization of
citizens, who end up adopting behaviors that are injurious to peace,
security and stability.

Sierra Leone is next to last on the U.N. Human Development Index,
reporting some of the worst results against established social and
economic indicators. The majority of Sierra Leoneans are unemployed, and
two-thirds of workers engage in subsistence farming, barely eking out a
living. Agriculture sector support is a foundation for economic rebirth
and sustainable peace by ensuring food security, employment and revenue
generation. Irresponsible extraction of non-renewable natural resources
may provide short-term gains but ultimately degrades the environment and
robs the country of a prosperous future.

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) receives international support to
improve governance and strengthen institutional capacity. The newly
elected government is pro-business and anti-corruption so there is a
perceived window of opportunity for economic growth and good governance
to flourish. The private sector needs to benefit from reforms which
enhance and facilitate the business climate. Civil society is emerging
as a successful catalyst for change. There is growing active
coordination and collaboration among the GoSL, private sector, civil
society, and the international donor community, though much work remains
to be done. Weak institutional structures, poor governance and
devastating poverty pose daunting development challenges. Regional
stability among The Mano River Union nations (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra
Leone) and the Ivory Coast is a continuing concern. Sierra Leone's
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), due to be updated by January
2008, provides a Sierra Leone--donor--development partners framework for
development and reform.

USAID/Sierra Leone's new Foreign Assistance Framework strives to foster
economic growth and improve natural resource management via enhanced
democratic governance, to benefit the people of Sierra Leone. Special
attention has been paid to women, youth and institutional capacity
building. Democracy and good governance in this context focuses on
strengthening institutional capacities to promote transparency,
accountability, access to information, anti-corruption and strengthen
civil society, with particular emphasis on the empowerment of women and
youth.

While peace and stability remain fragile in Sierra Leone, the country is
on the positive road to recovery. The international community regards
Sierra Leone as transitioning from strict peacekeeping and stability
efforts to development goals, with attention primarily focused on good
governance, economic growth, and natural resource management. The recent
peaceful democratic elections and resulting transition are significant
achievements that will provide important further opportunities for
advancing this process.

Specific information about current USAID activities in Sierra Leone is
presented in the Program Description Background section below and is
also available at the USAID/Sierra Leone website.

**PART B: USAID PROGRAM OVERVIEW**

**B.1 USAID/SIERRA LEONE STRATEGY**

## B.1.1.Objectives, Program Area and Program Elements

This program, addresses two overarching Program Objectives: (1)
Governing Justly and Democratically, and (2) Economic Growth. Program
Areas, Elements are identified below:

**[OBJECTIVE: GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY]{.underline}**.

**[PROGRAM AREA: GOOD GOVERNANCE]{.underline}**

**PROGRAM ELEMENT 2.3** Local Government and Decentralization

> **PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 2.3.1** Representative and Responsive Local
> Governance
>
> **PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 2.3.2** Delivery of Local Goods and Services

**[OBJECTIVE: ECONOMIC GROWTH]{.underline}**

**[PROGRAM AREA: AGRICULTURE]{.underline}**

> **[PROGRAM ELEMENT 5.2]{.underline}** Agriculture Sector Productivity
>
> **[PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 5.2.3]{.underline}** Rural and Agriculture
> Finance
>
> **[PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 5.2.4]{.underline}** Agribusinesses and
> Producer Organizations

**[PROGRAM AREA: ENVIRONMENT]{.underline}**

> **[PROGRAM ELEMENT 8.1]{.underline}** Natural resources and
> Biodiversity

**[PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 8.1.1]{.underline}** Natural Resources and
Governance

> **[PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 8.1.2]{.underline}** Sustainable Natural
> Resources

Management and Production

> **[PROGRAM SUB-ELEMENT 8.1.5]{.underline}** International Cooperation

**B.1.2 Foreign Assistance Framework Funding Allocation**

**[Table 1: Illustrative Budget by Objectives, Program Area and Program
Elements]{.underline}**

**[Table 1: Illustrative Budget by Objectives, Program Area and Program
Elements]{.underline}**

+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
|                       | Year  | Year  | Year   | Year   | TOTAL  |
|                       | One   | Two   | Three  | Four   |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       | \(2   | \(2   | \(     | \(     |        |
|                       | 008\) | 009\) | 2010\) | 2011\) |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[OBJECTIVE:         |       |       |        |        | *      |
| GOVERNING JUSTLY AND  |       |       |        |        | *3,748 |
| D]{.underline} [AND   |       |       |        |        | ,058** |
| DEMOCRATI             |       |       |        |        |        |
| CALLY]{.underline}**. |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| **[PROGRAM AREA: GOOD |       |       |        |        |        |
| GOVE                  |       |       |        |        |        |
| RNANCE]{.underline}** |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM ELEMENT    | 1,00  | 1,00  | 1,0    | 7      | *      |
| 2.3]{.underline}**    | 0,000 | 0,000 | 00,000 | 48,058 | *3,748 |
|                       |       |       |        |        | ,058** |
| Local Government and  |       |       |        |        |        |
| Decentralization      |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 2.3.1]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Representative and    |       |       |        |        |        |
| Responsive            |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Local Governance      |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 2.3.2]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Delivery of Local     |       |       |        |        |        |
| Goods and Services    |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[OBJECTIVE:         |       |       |        |        | *      |
| ECONOMIC GROWTH       |       |       |        |        | *9,496 |
| PROGRAM AREA:         |       |       |        |        | ,334** |
| AGRIC                 |       |       |        |        |        |
| ULTURE]{.underline}** |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM ELEMENT    | 1,50  | 1,45  | 1,2    | 1,2    | *      |
| 5.2]{.underline}**    | 0,000 | 0,000 | 50,000 | 21,334 | *5,421 |
|                       |       |       |        |        | ,334** |
| Agriculture Sector    |       |       |        |        |        |
| Productivity          |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 5.2.3]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Rural and Agriculture |       |       |        |        |        |
| Finance               |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 5.2.4]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Agribusinesses and    |       |       |        |        |        |
| producer              |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Organizations         |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM AREA:      |       |       |        |        |        |
| ENVIR                 |       |       |        |        |        |
| ONMENT]{.underline}** |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM ELEMENT    | 1,00  | 1,00  | 1,0    | 1,0    | *      |
| 8.1]{.underline}**    | 0,000 | 0,000 | 50,000 | 25,000 | *4,075 |
|                       |       |       |        |        | ,000** |
| Natural resources and |       |       |        |        |        |
| Biodiversity          |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 8.1.1]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Natural Resources and |       |       |        |        |        |
| Governance            |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 8.1.2]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Sustainable Natural   |       |       |        |        |        |
| Resources             |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| Management and        |       |       |        |        |        |
| Production            |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **[PROGRAM            |       |       |        |        |        |
| SUB-ELEMENT           |       |       |        |        |        |
| 8.1.5]{.underline}**  |       |       |        |        |        |
|                       |       |       |        |        |        |
| International         |       |       |        |        |        |
| Cooperation           |       |       |        |        |        |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| **                    | **3   | **3   | *      | *      | **     |
| [TOTAL]{.underline}** | ,500, | ,450, | *3,300 | *2,994 | 13,244 |
|                       | 000** | 000** | ,000** | ,392** | ,392** |
+-----------------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+--------+

**B.2 USAID/SIERRA LEONE PROGRAM**

**Current Intervention Areas**

**B.2.1 Agricultural Sector Productivity**

Sierra Leone is primarily an agriculturally based economy with 75% of
its population residing in rural areas, dependent on subsistence
agriculture and micro/household enterprises. Agriculture employs the
highest proportion of the active labor force, estimated at over 50%
(formal and informal). President Kabbah's 2002 Presidential inaugural
promise that by 2007 Sierra Leone would "achieve food security," is at
the heart of Sierra Leone's Poverty Reduction Strategy. The nation's
objective is to increase and diversify domestic production and reduce
the importation of food, with a view to achieving food self-reliance and
food security in the medium to long term. It also strives to increase
agriculture productivity, output, rural income and employment for young
people, while ensuring adequate protection of the environment. The GoSL
also plans to secure balanced regional agricultural growth and
development, equitable income distribution, and maximize foreign
exchange earnings from agricultural production. Over the last few years,
a positive trend in the production of major food crops has been
recorded. Despite this achievement, however, it is estimated that the
domestic production of rice, the staple food of West Africa, currently
accounts for only 60% of the total national requirement. The total
formal economically active population is approximately 40%. Three
quarters of the current workforce are engaged in the farming, forestry
and fishing sectors and less than one quarter in sales and related
sectors. Paid employment is a rarity and many more workers carve out a
survival in the informal sector. The lack of opportunities means that
young men are attracted to work in artisanal mining with low barriers to
entry and where they get little or no assured financial reward. With
diminishing artisanal diamond reserves, there is little chance of
supplementing low pay with rewards from shares of diamonds found by the
diggers. In the past, artisanal mining provided a safety net for many;
but as mineral deposits run dry and large scale mechanized mining
replaces artisanal mining, the increasingly large numbers of unemployed
young men poses a threat to social cohesion and security if they are
unable to access other economic opportunities.

The adoption of the "Farmer Field School" initiative by the Ministry of
Agriculture, in addressing "food security and agricultural
productivity," has greatly increased the participation of farming
families and communities. It has motivated and built the capacity of
farmers to focus on food production opportunities and challenges. This
has resulted in a greater ability of farmers to demand best practices
through research and extension services, increase land use with improved
and sustainable methods (based on better cropping techniques and crop
varieties with high yield), while ensuring adequate protection of the
environment.

Agriculture thus has been identified as an effective driver of equitable
growth in Sierra Leone, capable of generating jobs and value added
activities that can restore hope and provide constructive livelihoods
for the rising population of energetic youth. There could be high value
realized with the revival of production of major agricultural
commodities. Greater value and employment in this sector, however, will
come primarily from the introduction of value-added activities such as
processing, packing and distribution of agro-products.

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), National Commission for Social
Action (NaCSA), USAID, German Cooperation (GTZ) and the European
Commission(EC), are providing support to the agricultural sector by
improving access to markets and basic economic infrastructure. These
efforts continue to promote agricultural productivity and food security
which create employment opportunities for young people and generate
income, while at the same time creating an enabling environment for the
restoration of public services.

UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports is
supporting rice and cassava cultivation as income generating activities
for 15,000 rural youths. The European Commission plans to support the
re-establishment of the cocoa sector to help create jobs for youth and
generate national and local revenue. The World Bank, through the
National Social Action Project, funds agriculture related activities
geared towards poverty alleviation. Formally declaring Sierra Leone
eligible for the Peace Building Fund (PBF), the UN Peace Building
Commission (PBC) and Peace Building Fund are funding a youth employment
program which is a national priority and addresses one of the four
critical goals identified in the PBC peace building analysis in Sierra
Leone.

USAID has invested substantial time and effort in its "Promoting
Linkages for Livelihood Security and Economic Development (LINKS)"
activity to strengthen the agricultural sector within the context of an
overall program to reduce poverty and enhance the agriculture and
agribusiness sectors. This is being accomplished by increasing the
community level participation and beneficiation of youth, women and
farmers, and enhancing their and the Government of Sierra Leone's
efforts to reduce youth and women unemployment, increase agricultural
productivity, and productively engage youths to prevent another outbreak
of violence. LINKS is built on the foundation created by USAID's Food
for Peace (FFP) Development Relief Program (DRP), "Livelihood Expansion
and Asset Development" (LEAD), to improve the health status while
focusing on agriculture and governance based activities. USAID has been
able to expand community productivity in agriculture, build a
micro-enterprise sector and increase the productivity of livelihood
activities at the community level for socially marginalized youth,
including both men and women. LINKS communities are now proactively
engaged in agricultural production and established and expanded
businesses. They have established youth groups, farmer associations and
business groups with management structures that promote transparency and
accountability within their groups and communities. The Farmer Field
Schools associations are promoting dialogue between large scale farmers
and institutions and the small traditional farmers. Farmers associations
are now catering to other farmers through the input and output shops,
ensuring farmers have the required farm inputs within their communities
to enhance their production.

The LINKS program facilitates the organization of farmers, youth, women
and their associations to leverage commitments from community leaders
and local and national government to improve transparency within the
sector, promote agribusiness and secure more benefits from agriculture
for youths, women and farmers in general. LINKS has also promoted the
expansion of rural and semi-urban economic activities and the
establishment of linkages that integrate previously isolated farm
communities into bigger societies and increase participation in good
governance practices introduced through community-based organizations
such as farm associations, cooperatives and field schools.

Specific activities pursued through LINKS include micro credit lending
to entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths, business skills
development, and agribusiness and agro-processing enhancement. The
initial focus has been on the sale of staple crops of rice, cassava and
vegetables, but has expanded to include other commercially viable
products such as palm oil, cocoa, coffee and ground nuts. These related
projects intersect with environmental concerns in their promotion of
agricultural activities and land usage and their established
relationships with youth and women. All of these factors have been
considered when formulating the recommendations specific to this
project. The capacity building of farmer associations, agribusinesses
and local and national government entities (e.g., the Ministry of
Agriculture) will ground agricultural development.

**B.2.2 Natural Resources and Biodiversity**

**B.2.2.1 Extractive Minerals (especially diamonds and gold)**

The USAID-sponsored diamond sector initiatives worked to transform
diamond trading in Sierra Leone into a transparent system that
contributes positively to peace and prosperity and results in increased
legitimate and reported diamond exports benefiting the nation (national
revenue) and diamond mining communities. During the past five years, the
United States, together with over 30 governments, the European Union,
the international diamond industry, civil society organizations, local
communities and diggers, worked to control the trade of conflict
diamonds while protecting legitimate producers through the Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The Kimberley Process calls on
participating countries to voluntarily establish national certification
schemes to control the trade in rough diamonds. On November 5, 2002, the
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was launched at a ministerial
meeting held in Switzerland. Countries participating in the Kimberley
Process agreed that as of January 1, 2003, they would not allow the
import or export of rough diamonds to or from nonparticipating countries
in an effort to keep conflict diamonds from entering legitimate diamond
trade channels. USAID helped Sierra Leone effectively join the Kimberley
Certification Process to ensure that rough diamonds are traded through
legitimate channels, with tax revenues returning to exporting countries.
As a consequence, legitimate diamond exports rose from \$1.2 million in
1999 to \$126 million in 2006 and export value is expected to exceed
\$160 million in 2007, in large measure due to improved kimberlite
extractive techniques. In 2003 the USG passed the Clean Diamond Trade
Act to further strengthen national and international diamond regulating
structures.

USAID has continued to provide technical assistance in the diamond
sector, both to the private sector and to the Government of Sierra
Leone, helping to develop a certification system that provides a secure
legitimate channel for diamonds to be exported in compliance with the
Kimberley Process and to improve the capacities of local communities and
the private sector to effectively manage the sector. Efforts have
included assisting local diamond-mining communities recover some of the
revenue generated by diamonds for local development, attempting to
decrease the indebtedness cycle of the diggers, empowering the local
diggers to increase their knowledge of basic diamond valuation and the
diamond industry in general. Due to budget constraints, the program has
concentrated its efforts in the Kono District and Tongo Fields of Kenema
District, two of the highest producing diamond regions of Sierra Leone.

An evaluation of the USAID Diamond Sector Program revealed a number of
emerging challenges relating to the sector. The recommendations are
indicated below.

-   Continue the work at the policy level, including regeneration of the
    High Level Steering Committee (HLSC) as a dynamic tool for policy
    makers and donors. Among the issues the HLSC should address include
    strengthening the government's capacity for negotiation with
    international mining companies and interests; and developing a
    strategic vision for the future of the mining sector.

-   Revisit the original concept of the Peace Diamond Alliance, its
    legal basis, structures, and objectives under a national umbrella.

-   Integrate program strategy and activities with other donor programs
    and existing organizations, such as the World Bank, DFID, NACE and
    the Union of Mining Workers in Sierra Leone.

-   Refocus programs from the production side, to professionalism of the
    mining sector, due to the diminishing levels of alluvial diamond
    resources and the move towards mechanized small scale mining. One
    possibility might be to establish a professional resource center for
    training in the mining sector with the full-time presence of an
    independent diamond evaluator.

-   Programs should contribute to a reduction of the informal sector and
    contribute to the move by excess workforce to other income
    generating activities such as agriculture.

**B.2.2.2 Forestry Management and Conservation**

Located within the Upper Guinea rainforest region, Sierra Leone has one
of the most unique and important collections of ecosystems in the world,
including critical habitat for some of the world's rarest species. The
environment and natural resource base, however, are deteriorating
rapidly. The principal threats to biodiversity loss in Sierra Leone can
be attributed broadly to unsustainable land use practices, the influence
of the mining industry and lack of appropriate fisheries management.
Mature forest cover that exists today is estimated to be only five
percent of the country's land area, with logging and slash-and-burn
agriculture as the primary sources of land mismanagement and
environmental destruction.[^2] The relatively small amount of forest
cover remaining in Sierra Leone is alarming given that historically,
Sierra Leone had approximately 1.7 million hectares of closed high
forest. *The aim of USAID's natural resource activities under this
program, however, is not biodiversity for its own sake, but rather to
ensure sustainable management of land and forests, for the sake of long
term economic growth.*

Nearly 80 percent of the Sierra Leone labor force depends on the land
for its agricultural subsistence activities that have resulted in land
degradation. The combined effects of poor farming practices such as
shifting cultivation, recurrent bushfires, and overgrazing, along with
increasing population and shortening fallow periods have all exerted
enormous pressure on the land and its resources for subsistence,
livelihood support and income. Mining has also contributed greatly to
environmental degradation, devastating vast areas of formerly productive
agricultural land.

General environmental management is addressed in Sierra Leone's National
Environmental Policy (NEP) of 1994 and the National Environmental
Protection Act (NEPA) of 2000. In fulfilling its obligation under the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the Government of Sierra Leone
prepared its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 2003.
Although Sierra Leone has endorsed and signed several international
conventions and protocols, they are at different stages of
implementation and in general have not been ratified or harmonized with
the country's existing laws, policies, and programs. The country is
lagging in the implementation of the provisions of these conventions and
therefore the resulting benefits have not been realized. The 2005-2007
country PRSP considers sustainable environmental and biodiversity
management only as a cross-cutting issue. Specific provisions have not
been made for natural resource and biodiversity conservation. The
country is therefore running the risk of accomplishing rebuilding goals
but ending up with a major natural resource crisis which will negatively
impact future productivity and thus economic growth. Conscious effort
should be made to reverse these trends.

In addition to mining and the increasing demand for agricultural land,
urban development has increased the requirement for timber and fuel
wood, which has led to additional deforestation. With population
pressure and commercialization today, the rate of exploitation has far
outstripped the rate of regeneration by natural means. The result is
deforestation and an acute threat to biodiversity. [^3] Additional
threats to biodiversity are unregulated bush meat and pet trades.

Considering the intrinsic link between agriculture and natural resources
management in Sierra Leone, activities in these areas should be
integrated and contribute to economic growth and the same overall
results.

In addition, USAID would like to see transboundary initiatives advanced
for effective co-management of forest resources as they impact economic
growth. The Mission will build on its successful forest co-management
activities that are being conducted in Guinea and elsewhere in region.
Where feasible, the natural resources management program will assist
rural communities to sustainably and economically manage their forests
and improve their livelihoods. There are many opportunities for
institutional capacity building in this integrated sector and the
additional benefit and challenge will be to engage and strengthen
existing entities such as the Mano River Unions Secretariat to foster
and catalyze cross-border transboundary harmonization.

**PART C -- TECHNICAL APPROACH AND PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS**

**C.1 PURPOSE AND RATIONALE**

## 

## PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

### Integrated, Comprehensive and Cross-Cutting Approach

The primary goal of USAID's strategy is to enhance democratic governance
(the poor quality of which is the primary obstacle to effective poverty
reduction) while also meeting the U.S. Foreign Assistance objectives in
the areas of economic growth and natural resource management. \[The
purely social sectors, i.e. education and health, are being addressed
with P.L. 480 funding and are largely outside the scope of this program,
although linkages with such activities are encouraged where possible.\]
Particular emphasis will be placed on increasing active productive
engagement of women and youth and strengthening institutional capacity
where possible. Activities will be administered through a comprehensive,
integrated, multi-sector approach using two of the five U.S. Foreign
Assistance Framework objectives: (1) Governing justly and democratically
and (2) Economic Growth. USAID/Sierra Leone focuses on three
interrelated program elements (noted below) using the Foreign Assistance
Standardized Program Structure and Definitions:[^4] (1) Local government
and decentralization, especially (but not exclusively) as they
interrelate with the other two areas; (2) agricultural sector
productivity in support of overall economic growth, job creation and
income generation, with emphasis on agribusiness and marketing; and (3)
natural resources and biodiversity insofar as this impacts future
productivity. In each element there should be particular attention to
engaging and empowering women and youth and building institutional
capacities, as well as media outreach.

USAID's new program should take into account and be harmonized as much
as possible with existing key protocols and relevant institutions, such
as the Government of Sierra Leone's PRSP, relevant studies and
recommendations and other key donor programs. USAID anticipates that
national level policy dialogue concerning agricultural and natural
resource policies will continue to be led by other donors and assisted
by other USAID funded activities, either regional or bilateral. Insofar
as policy dialogue is concerned, the primary focus of the activities to
be funded under this RFA will involve community and local government.
This, however, does not preclude appropriate involvement at the national
level where possible, and USAID would hope for coordination with the
national policy level efforts underway, regardless of funding source.

**C.2 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS AND SCOPE**

Sierra Leone is still one of the poorest countries in the world. The
entire country is in dire need of the types of program interventions
USAID plans and implements. However, due to the severe USAID funding
limitations it is necessary to consolidate program activities and build
upon results gained in the regions and districts that USAID has worked
within the last five years.

USAID will therefore continue to work in Koinadugu district in the
Northern Province, and the three districts of Kono, Kailahun and Kenema
(primarily Lower Bambara and Nongowa \[Chiefdoms only\] in the Eastern
Province of Kenema). The proposed program will now cover border
chiefdoms which had not been previously targeted due to security
concerns when the war ended in 2002 (e.g., Koindu region of Kailahun).
While activities under this RFA will target the districts outlined,
USAID expects that procedures, guidelines, policy and legal concerns and
reforms that will pursue program objectives and benefit the entire
country will be undertaken at the national level.

>  

There are a number of reasons for the selection of the targeted regions.
The three major districts are border districts, Kailahun District shares
border with Liberia and Sierra Leone while Kono and Koinadugu Districts
share their borders with Guinea. The security situation in Sierra Leone
is greatly improved since the end of war. Liberia is politically stable
and social and economic activities are gradually being restored.
Guinea's volatility significantly diminished as a result of the recent
changes in political leadership. However, the Mano River Basin countries
are still best described as fragile. Although the security situation in
Kailahun border area around Yenga does not present an immediate external
threat to stability in the country and region, there is a potential for
conflict to arise and spill over if the political resolution reached is
not consolidated. Therefore, creating opportunities to build
sub-regional synergies in peace building, conflict mitigation, and
governance strengthening involving all stakeholders in the border
districts at the local and national levels could be a strategy for
consolidating regional peace and stability.

USAID is building upon the successes achieved in current programs to
strengthen sub- regional integration. In the agricultural sector,
increased agricultural productivity and expansion of agribusiness
through processing, marketing and job creation in these districts could
strengthen and expand existing and historic Mano River Union (MRU)
market linkages and initiatives, specifically the revitalization of the
Koindu international market. This RFA presents opportunities for
training, apprenticeships, sharing and research on social, economic and
political issues that will contribute to USAID's strategy and U.S.
Foreign Assistance goal.

The four districts have high potential for agricultural production and
agribusiness both in food and cash crops. Marketing opportunities are
also very high in the districts, especially at the sub-regional level
where cross border trade is increasing significantly. Entrepreneurship
among the citizens is impressive, which is manifested in the high demand
for single loan schemes in conjunction with the existing group
solidarity lending scheme accessible through a national micro-finance
institution that USAID helped to establish.

Considering the physical interconnectedness between target districts and
the other MRU countries in terms of natural resources, USAID would like
to see trans-boundary initiatives advanced for effective co-management
of natural resources including forestry and environmental initiatives.
USAID will build on its successful forest co-management activities that
are being conducted in the Upper Guinea area near the town of Dabola.
Using a democracy and governance focus, the natural resources management
activity is assisting rural communities to sustainably manage their
forests and improve their livelihoods. The resource management problems
in the forest region will be addressed through agriculture and natural
resources management and via the sharing of best practices and
information with similar activities in bordering countries.

Generally, Koinadugu district has the lowest literacy rate of all
districts, at 21%. The female literacy rates of Kenema district,
excluding Kenema Town, and Koinadugu district are the lowest in the
whole of Sierra Leone, at 13% and 14% respectively. Koinadugu district
continues to register the lowest levels of women's participation in
decision making. It was the only district that had no women contestants
in the local government elections of 2004 (USAID is hoping to see that
change in the upcoming 2008 Local election).

For USAID, donor coordination within the districts and among the MRU
countries on sector specific issues remain a high priority in order to
ensure that funding and technical assistance from all bilateral,
multilateral and NGO sources are appropriately programmed and
coordinated to meet the needs described in this RFA.

**C.3 COMPLEMENTARITY AND COLLABORATION**

**C.3.1 Other activities**

**Food for Peace -- PL 480**

Covering six districts in the country and managed by USAID, the Food for
Peace (FFP) PL 480 program, the "Livelihood Expansion and Asset
Development (LEAD) Program," is a three-year \$30 million initiative to
improve human capacities; expand community resiliency with linkages to
health services, community water and sanitation; build agricultural
infrastructure and provide community-managed safety nets. Pregnant and
lactating women and economically marginalized youth, including females,
are among the target sub-populations that benefit from this program. The
program empowers community-based groups to practice and promote
principles of good governance. The project expires September 2009.
Activities proposed in response to this RFA should be coordinated, where
relevant and possible, with ongoing P.L.-480 activities -- and vice
versa. USAID will act as a facilitator in this respect.

**C.3.2 With other donors**

For the foreseeable future, other donors such as World Bank, EU, UN,
DFID, GTZ, Irish Aid, JICO, and China plan to continue supporting Sierra
Leone's development. Areas of support include capacity building and
institutional development of the governance sector: local government and
decentralization, civil society engagement, public sector management,
justice and judiciary, and anticorruption. Other areas of interest are
the mining sector and fiscal sector reforms, including the Public
Expenditure Tracking System implemented by the government of Sierra
Leone. Where appropriate, USAID/Sierra Leone will continue to
collaborate with the other donors working in the same or complimentary
sectors.

**C.4 MAJOR PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS**

1\. Although some specific objectives described in this RFA may have a
primarily sectoral or governance focus, any agreement resulting from
this solicitation is expected to achieve both sectoral and governance
outcomes concurrently and address other cross-cutting issues as well.
Program design should work to "transform Sierra Leone by linking
democracy, economic growth and natural resource management, while
empowering and engaging women and youth and building institutional
capacities."

2\. USAID's new program should be harmonized as much as possible with
existing key protocols, national or sectoral strategies, policies or
plans and relevant institutions, such as the Government of Sierra
Leone's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, National Youth Employment
Policy, the Core Mineral Policy and the National Anti-Corruption
Strategic Plan.

3\. Applicants may wish to create multi-organization partnerships which
bring the necessary expertise and experience to design and implement the
described activities. USAID is cognizant of the potential management
difficulties that such partnerships face, however, and expresses no
preference except as stated below concerning local NGOs. All
applications must designate a clear prime awardee who will be
responsible for the project, for coordinating the activities of all
partners and who will take ultimate responsible for achieving the
results

4\. USAID requires applicants to include local Sierra Leonean NGOs and
over the course of the program increase their management,
implementation, and monitoring and evaluation responsibilities.
Applicants must also describe their approach for institutional
strengthening of civil society in the area of organizational
development, financial accountability, transparency and program
management, with a view to promoting local capacity to interact and
influence local government authorities.

5\. Where activities are multi-sectoral, applicants must explain how
they will track expenditures and results as part of the financial
management plan consistent with the Foreign Assistance Framework.

6\. Proposed interventions should build on existing successes.
Approaches from USAID's current activities which are considered
successful and applicable to the new program are discussed in the
Background, Program Objectives and Activities sections of this RFA.
Community resources, both human and institutional, which have been
built/strengthened and utilized in previous programs, could be good
starting points. More information about USAID's current programs
including evaluation reports is available on the USAID website
\[www.usaid.gov/sl\] and through USAID's Development Experience
Clearinghouse: \[[dec.usaid.gov](http://www.dec.usaid.gov/)\].

7\. Cross-cutting themes such as anti-corruption, increased access to
information, gender equity and equality, women and youth participation,
institutional capacity building, civic education, conflict prevention
and mitigation can be incorporated in all of the activities.

8\. Close donor coordination remains very important to the successful
implementation of USAID's new strategy and program. USAID expects its
implementing partners to be aware of the interventions of other donors
and endeavor to develop an integrated coordinated approach. Recipients
should also inform USAID of any areas of duplication or opportunities
for collaboration if/when these arise.

9\. Leveraging funding and involving international NGOs and/or public
and private enterprises are encouraged (especially Global Development
Alliances).

**C.4.1 Gender**

Applicants are required to consider the following two questions:

1.  Are women and men involved and affected differently by the work to
    be undertaken?

2.  If so, can this difference have an impact on the efficiency or
    equity of the activity? If yes, how will the program address this?

All applicants must demonstrate how they will address gender issues in
their application (both in their own management structure, that of their
local partners, and at the activity level). Women need to be well
represented in all layers of project management, both international and
local organizations, and actual implementation (i.e., program
participants and beneficiaries). Furthermore, USAID has identified key
gender issues that are either critical to the efficiency of program
objectives or constitute gender equity goals in their own right:

-   Striving for more representative government and broader
    participation of citizens in public life necessitates focusing
    specifically on women. In Sierra Leone there is legislated, but
    unenforced, gender parity at the Ward Committee level. However, the
    number of women holding representative positions at the local and
    national government is significantly lower than men. Women occupied
    13% of the total seats in the recently dissolved parliament. At the
    local government level, representation is lower for women in the
    Northern Province than in all other areas.

-   Socio-cultural factors still generally limit women's participation
    in leadership and decision making. Thus women's participation and
    leadership in the democratic practices within CSOs and CBOs,
    agribusiness, producer and market associations/organizations should
    be strengthened and increased.

-   Gender equity and equality should be mainstreamed in all activities.
    Training modules for all participants should include a module(s) on
    gender equity. Training module(s) on strengthening democratic
    governance now used for community groups and ward committee members
    could be used as a model.

-   Both men and women should have equal access to accurate and relevant
    information relating to national and local government, mining,
    agriculture, natural resource/forestry management and related youth
    employment.

-   At 13% and 14% respectively, the female literacy rates of Kenema
    district, excluding Kenema Town, and Koinadugu district are the
    lowest in the entire country. The younger age ranges possess
    "significantly" higher literacy rates than the older (i.e., the
    gender difference in literacy rate is decreasing). Applicants may
    wish to address this issue in their proposed activities.

-   Men and women play different but important roles in governing and
    benefiting from the natural resource base. This must be taken into
    consideration in the design of activities to ensure that both
    benefit and that natural resource management schemes are effective
    and equitable.

**C.4.2 Anticorruption**

Corruption remains a serious threat to peace, stability and development
in Sierra Leone. Although there is no specific allocation of
anticorruption funds, it is expected that every activity under this RFA
is designed to the degree possible to address corruption practices and
provide mitigating options, such as systems to ensure transparency,
accountability, checks and balances.

**C.5 TECHNICAL APPROACH**

While illustrative activities and indicators are suggested below for
each area, applicants are invited to be creative and especially to
propose additional (customized) indicators which will reflect
people-level impact of the activities proposed.

**C.5.1 [PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: GOVERNING JUSTLY AND
DEMOCRATICALLY]{.underline}**

The Program Objective will contribute to strengthening local government
and decentralization, and especially to support better local governance
insofar as it impacts economic growth and natural resource management.
All activities should include a focus, where possible, on the cross
cutting themes or targeted constituencies of civil society participation
and media strengthening, women and youth, and anti-corruption, these
"themes and targeted constituencies" are not budgeted for separately.
Attention should be given to the civil society organizations interaction
and participation in local governance. Effort could be directed to
strengthen the associations of civil society organizations in order to
link local and national interests, strengthening civil society's impact
on local government strategic planning, building more effective civil
society watchdog groups to ensure involvement in policy formulation
process, and promoting civil society interaction with the press and the
government for advocacy on relevant issues such as anti-corruption and,
sustainable and equitable economic growth. Cross cutting media
initiatives could promote active professional independent media,
particularly local or rural radio stations, to cover local affairs and
address lack of transparency. This should include improving the enabling
environment for more professionalism of the media, strengthening the
skills of media and journalists in management, media ethics and codes of
conduct, public service partnership, reporting on corruption issues, and
research analysis and advocacy. For anti-corruption, applications could
include technical assistance to establish and improve financial
management systems and procedures of local governments, budget
reporting, procurement procedures, improved accounting and auditing;
anti--corruption awareness; policy reforms, regulations, and laws
addressing impunity; strengthening accountability institutions such as
the auditor general office/inspector general office, parliamentary
finance commission, the account court, etc. The purpose is to integrate
the governance work (including civil society, women and youth, media and
anti-corruption) in a way that compliments and ensures the effectiveness
of the economic growth and natural resource work, and if possible the
other activities supported by USAID outside this RFA.

***C.5.1.1 Program Element: Local Government and Decentralization***

This Program Element contributes to Program Area "Good Governance." The
program will enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of nascent
local government councils and civil society organizations which support
or provide input to them, through institutional capacity building,
learning-by-doing, training in advocacy skills, civil rights, and
responsibilities for citizens. Previous programs targeted ward committee
members, paramount chiefs, community leaders and the general public and
helped increase the influence of target communities in local governance.

The primary focus of strengthening "local government and
decentralization" is clearly at the local level; however, local
government and decentralization don't work in a "local" vacuum. There
are inconsistencies among various laws that influence the continuing
effective devolution of power through decentralization and governing by
local government.  Working to support legal reform to ensure current
legislation is consistent and appropriate through engaging the
participation of local government, civil society and other relevant
stakeholders and ensuring access to information and the understanding
and dissemination of the information is essential (remembering the
majority of the populace is illiterate). While it is envisioned that
most attention will be at the local level, there are times where
dialogue and/or other engagement with the national government will be
warranted (e.g., Decentralization Secretariat).

This program is hoped to commence near the time of the dissolution of
the 2004 elected local councils in preparation for the local government
elections scheduled for 5 July 2008. It is anticipated that the
elections will usher in more new councilors and ward committee members
who will have had the opportunity to better understand and appreciate
their new roles and responsibilities compared to their predecessors.
This is due to the overall contribution of the current program
"Strengthening Democratic Governance," that has increased the
participation of community members in local government and increased
awareness of the roles of citizens, local government and CSOs in the
targeted Districts.

***C.5.1.1.1 Program Sub-element: Representative and Responsive Local
Governance***

Activities will strengthen civil society interaction and participation
by stressing citizen's preferences for local government services and by
reducing barriers to citizen participation, especially for women and
youth. USAID seeks to strengthen communities' engagement with their
councils in ways that encourage the local government to respond to the
needs of the people in a transparent, consultative and participatory
manner.

USAID believes that good governance and economic growth/natural resource
management are inextricably linked in Sierra Leone and must be
approached in an integrated manner if effective poverty reduction is to
be achieved. The program must promote responsible governance at the
local level while ensuring that issues of economic growth and
sustainable land and forest use are considered and addressed. Activities
should emphasize the sustainability of natural resources as one of the
engines for economic growth and foundations for effective democratic
governance. USAID can continue to work with local communities (e.g.
community-based resource management committees, local and district
councils, civil society, etc.) to ensure that best conservation
management practices are adopted and areas that have been damaged by
reckless and irresponsible mining are restored to agricultural or other
profitable revenue generating conditions.

Ensuring that citizens are better, more accurately and more fully
informed through an effective media strategy would serve as a monitoring
tool that would positively influence the performance of local government
(and CSOs, Paramount Chiefs, etc.). The District Resource and
Information Community Centers will continue to be a safe space for
community interaction on local governance and related development
concerns. They have been equipped to provide a wide variety of materials
but would benefit from additional resources. The centers have the
potential to serve as a clearinghouse for all materials that impact the
welfare and development of the communities. They should be used to
provide and distribute resource materials for community use on a wide
range of development issues covering governance, agriculture, mining,
business, biodiversity, conservation, land use/tenure, and forest
protected area/watershed management, with emphasis on the empowerment
and engagement of women and youth and institutional capacity building.
The Resource and Information Community Centers (RICCs) were constructed
or rehabilitated through USAID's "Strengthening Democratic Governance"
Program, with the participation of local communities. The four RICCs, in
Kono, Kailahun, Koinadugu and Tongo Fields, are used as public fora, for
community or town meetings and the stocking of reading and visual
materials (due to high illiteracy). There are plans for the RICCs to be
turned over to the communities for sustainability.

***Illustrative Results:***

-   Community leaders/citizens/CSOs/ward committees/local councils more
    knowledgeable and experienced in democratic processes

-   Local councils exhibit greater revenue transparency and
    accountability in NRM

-   Broadened community-based political participation, especially women
    and youth

-   Improved dialogue and advocacy by community leaders and CSOs

-   Independent monitoring mechanism to track the performance of the
    local councils established

-   Citizens legally and peacefully challenge corruption at national,
    local and community levels and demand transparent and accountable
    governance

-   Greater transparency and accountability in NRM by relevant
    stakeholders

-   Greater citizen involvement in development planning, especially for
    women and youth

-   Stronger CSOs with improved networking and coalition building among
    CSOs

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of local mechanisms supported with USG assistance for
    citizens to engage their sub-national government

-   Number of individuals who received USG assisted training, including
    management skills and fiscal management to strengthen local
    government and/or decentralization

    ***C.5.1.1.2 Program Sub-element: Delivery of Local Goods and
    Services***

    This sub-element will build the capacity of elected councilors and
    ward committee members, working through their local councils, to
    plan, manage, deliver and account for public goods and services.
    Activities will build upon and expand existing mechanisms that
    increase effectiveness of councilors and ward committees. This is
    also a transparency and accountability initiative, helping to combat
    corruption through better control and effective use of information
    at the local level.

***Illustrative Results:***

-   Citizens better informed about local government processes

-   Local government more effective, transparent, accountable and
    responsive to citizens' needs, especially as they pertain to
    economic growth and natural resource issues.

-   Strengthened local government capacity for democratic governance

-   The Resource and Information Community Centers are well equipped
    with diverse materials (including electronic media) and are
    effectively used to meet community needs

-   Improved access to accurate information through multi-media

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of mechanisms for external oversight of public resource use
    supported by USG assistance

**C.5.2 PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: ECONOMIC GROWTH**

This Program Objective will support economic growth by focusing on the
agricultural and natural resource sectors in the geographic areas
mentioned below. Where possible, activities should focus on linking the
agricultural production in these areas to broader internal and regional
markets, and address key constraints to establishing such market
linkages. The governance activities themselves also should indirectly
contribute to the economic growth objective, since low quality of
governance is a key constraint to economic growth and, hence, poverty
elimination. The natural resource activities should address issues of
long term sustainability of production in the rural areas involved. All
the cross-cutting themes mentioned above for the governance work apply
as well to those dealing directly with the economic growth objective.

For the primary focus on the agriculture, agri-business, job creation,
local government and decentralization, natural resource management,
etc., applicants are encouraged to work closely with the appropriate
Ministries (under the new government the Forestry Commission has been
subsumed back into the Ministry of Agriculture). A productive
partnership among all the relevant stakeholders, where sensible and
appropriate, is expected.

***C.5.2.1 Program Element: Agricultural Sector Productivity***

Agricultural sector productivity contributes to the Agriculture Program
Area with the objective of strengthening economic growth. The Foreign
Assistance Framework describes agriculture as the science and practice
of food, feed and fiber production (including forestry, wildlife,
fisheries, aquaculture and flora-culture) and its relationships to
natural resources, processing, marketing, distribution, utilization
(including nutrition) and trade.

USAID targeted interventions in this sector should focus on initiatives
strengthening farmer, youth and women association in agribusiness,
processing, marketing and youth employment programs through agriculture.
This is intended to substantially increase income and protect and build
assets for farm families and communities. Sub-regional collaboration is
also important to take advantage of the opportunities with sub-regional
markets, to strengthen sub-regional peace and stability (e.g., the
historically important and strategically relevant Koindu international
market, where Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea converge).

Post harvest loss has been identified as an area that needs further
attention so farmers and other beneficiaries can significantly increase
their profitability. The high level of post harvest losses reported in
"Focus Discussion Groups" in the on-going LINKS program suggests that
further attention to post-harvest processing for storage and/or the
reduction of spoilage for all produce would be a cost-effective way to
increase household food security and profitability.

By the end of the program, the agricultural sector should apply
democratic processes (e.g., farmer associations, better local
governance) to agribusiness and agricultural productivity to reduce
poverty, enhance food security, ensure stability and address the land
degradation issues raised in the 2007 USAID/Sierra Leone 118/119
Environmental Analyses. Due to the inter-relatedness between the
Agricultural Productivity Program Element and the Natural Resources and
Biodiversity Program Element, we request that the program design ensure
harmonization and mutual reinforcement among the respective project
activities and results. Again, the results and indicators below are
illustrative and applicants are invited to suggest others.

***C.5.2.1.1 Program Sub-element: Rural and Agricultural Finance***

Rural and agricultural finance increases equitable access to financial
services by both male and female farmers in rural areas and enables
agricultural enterprises to purchase essential inputs, introduce new
technologies, expand productive capacity and finance storage, transport
and marketing costs. It also includes access to mechanisms and products
that reduce seasonal income and consumption variability, protects and
builds assets, and mitigates price and weather risks.

This program sub-element should further develop the micro-finance
initiatives launched by the LINKS program. USAID will build on the
results of the LINKS program to increase the availability of finance to
increase business turnover for agriculture. For petty traders and
service providers, access to financial resources will increase
profitability and improve the business management capabilities of
farmers, youth and women groups, resulting in better utilization of the
finances to provide jobs and other livelihood opportunities.

***Illustrative Results***

-   Youth and women's participation in rural agricultural finance
    increased

-   Improved access to rural finance

-   Increased transparency and accountability in financial management

-   Increased household income

-   Farmers adopt new technologies increasing production and decreasing
    post harvest loss

-   Farmers adopt environmentally sustainable production technologies

-   Increased involvement of farmers in extension services

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of individuals who have received USG supported short term
    agricultural sector productivity training.

-   Number of producer organizations, water users associations, and
    community based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance.

[]{.mark}

***C.5.2.1.2 Program Sub-element - Agribusinesses and producer
organizations***

Program design and results will benefit from using market-led value
chain analyses and strategies to address and increase agricultural
productivity and profitability and develop efficient industries that
benefit small- and larger-scale farmers. This should be done in tandem
with introducing best practices and integrated business systems. This
program sub-element should link production groups such as women groups,
youth, farmer field schools and other rural and semi-urban organizations
to actively participate in agricultural production activities that
generate revenue for the organization or community. Since poor
governance has been identified as the main cause of instability and
constraint to economic growth, the USG will also focus on better
governance in producer organizations, including best practices for
agro-forestry, community forest and trans-boundary forestry management,
protected area co-management, aquaculture, micro-credit and other
service providers, women and youth associations, and agri-businesses.

> Unemployed urban and peri-urban male youth remain a source of concern.
> Based on the lessons learned from the current LINKS program,
> peri-urban youth continue to be marginalized, and given their emphasis
> on rapid cash-flow initiatives to meet daily costs, it is necessary to
> consider creative ways in which existing initiatives can be modified
> to address these concerns. If this is not possible, new interventions
> must be actively researched and implemented.
>
> Functional literacy and numeracy, human right initiatives and business
> management skills contribute significantly to transparency in group
> activities, enhanced planning capacity and success of the business
> activities of groups. Group capacity has been enhanced through the
> provision of cash or physical resources that allowed participants to
> make good use of their newly acquired skills and to progress in
> development. Follow-up on these interventions is required beyond the
> initial start-up period for capacity development to be effective and
> sustainable.
>
> Women account for 80% of the actual farm labor, but they are often
> sidelined from the cash/business nexus. A top priority of USAID's
> program thus is to better engage, train and empower women politically,
> socially and economically, to level and improve the playing field so
> that women have access to financial resources to enable them to
> capitalize upon opportunities and increase their standard of living.

[]{.mark}

The program should expand the scope of services to existing
agribusinesses and assist new client producer organizations engaged in
agricultural productivity to access capital. Increased production from
Farmer Fields School groups in the current LINKS program, coupled with
improved business management training and improved access to market
information, will empower and ensure that farmers and traders (including
women and youth) determine how, where and when they should sell their
produce/products most profitably.

***Illustrative Results***

-   Agribusiness and producer organizations adopt technologies that
    improve production, post harvest and storage technologies and
    increase profit and income

-   Grassroots democratic culture strengthened among agribusiness and
    producer organizations

-   Greater involvement of agribusiness and producer organizations in
    development dialogues and policy advocacy at local and national
    levels

-   Increased business management capabilities of agribusiness and
    producer organizations

-   Increased participation of women and youth in key decision making in
    agribusiness and producer organizations

-   Increased participation of the agribusiness and producer
    organizations in NRM

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of organizations and associations assisted as a result of USG
    interventions

***C.5.2.1.3 Program Sub-element - Markets and Trade Capacity***

Markets and trade capacity sub-element means building capacity to link
small-scale producers (men and women), and small to medium size
enterprises to the economic opportunities of commercial markets. This
includes further developing input and output markets at the local and
national levels, agricultural commodity trading, and accessible market
information systems. Public and private investments that support
efficient marketing such as agricultural storage, packaging and
processing facilities should be encouraged.

Sustainable, dynamic local economies cannot be achieved without engaging
beneficiaries in the expansion of on- and off-farm enterprises. Existing
micro-enterprises are not well equipped to compete and are characterized
by low levels of productivity caused by internal and external factors.
The business culture among target communities generally lacks
experienced entrepreneurship and vision. Incentives such as access to
finance, improved infrastructure and investment-oriented policies are
lacking. To improve the general business conditions for investment and
trade interventions should promote entrepreneurship and build good
business management skills.

[]{.mark}

***Illustrative Results***

-   Improved capacity of associations to advocate for favorable
    services, conditions, protocols and policies from their local
    government, to enhance their production, processing and marketing
    and result in increased jobs and income

-   Agribusiness and producer organizations strengthened into viable
    associations

-   Increased processing, marketing and sales of agricultural and NRM
    products

-   Improved trans-boundary trade in the MRU states (e.g., Koindu
    international market)

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of producer organizations, trade and business associations,
    and community based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance.

-   Percent change in value of intra-regional exports of targeted
    agricultural commodities as a result of USG assistance.

-   Percent change in value of purchases from smallholders of targeted
    commodities as a result of USG assistance

***C.5.2.2 Program Element: Natural Resources and Biodiversity***

Improved natural resources management (NRM) includes activities that
promote economic growth and enhance management of natural resources for
one or more objectives, such as promoting sustainable agriculture and
sustaining soil and/or water resources. Management should be guided by a
stakeholder-endorsed process following principles of sustainable NRM,
improved human and institutional capacity for sustainable NRM, access to
better information for decision-making, and/or adoption of unsustainable
NRM practices (4.8.1 Program Element Definition, Natural Resources and
Biodiversity).

Other USAID programs will take the lead in "establishing a policy and
planning environment" in the forestry sector.  Under the RFA we will be
requesting that, where appropriate, agriculture, DG and NRM initiatives
support and share best practices for natural resource management and
collaborate with the other relevant USAID projects.

Agriculture and NRM are intrinsically linked in many African farming
systems. When managed in an integrated and holistic manner, agriculture
and NRM can produce tangible economic results associated with the
Economic Growth Program Objective. In addition, NRM activities often
contribute to improved democracy and governance. This is accomplished
through the decentralization of government authority for the management
of natural resources, improved capacity of natural resource community
user groups, and improved capacity of government technical service
providers.

USAID will target many of the same interventions for NRM that are
described under the Agricultural Sector Productivity Program Element
above. These interventions focus on initiatives strengthening farmer,
youth and women associations in enterprise development, processing,
marketing and youth employment programs. As with the agriculture sector,
sub-regional collaboration in programming is also a very important
approach to take advantage of the opportunities that exits in
sub-regional markets which result to strengthening sub-regional peace
and stability.

Activities in the Natural Resources and Biodiversity Program Element
should support the other two Program Elements, Agriculture Sector
Productivity and Local Government and Decentralization, and associated
results as appropriate. The Natural Resources and Biodiversity Program
Element includes three supporting Sub-Elements:

-   4.8.1.2 Sustainable Natural Resources Management and Production

-   4.8.1.3 Natural Resources Policy and Governance; and

-   4.8.1.5 International Cooperation.

***C.5.2.2.1 Program Sub-Element 4.8.1.2 Sustainable Natural Resources
Management and Production***

This Program Sub-Element will promote and improve sustainable management
of natural resources (e.g., forestry, wildlife), and incorporate
sustainable NRM practices and technologies into economically productive
sectors (e.g., agriculture, small enterprise). The activities should
increase sustainable production, marketing, and trade of natural
resource-based products and services (4.8.1.2 Sub-Element Definition,
Sustainable Natural Resources Management and Production). One of the
geographical focus areas for these activities will be the watershed and
transboundry protected areas within the Mano River Union (Sierra Leone,
Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast).

As indicated earlier, nearly 80% of the country's labor force depends on
the land for agricultural subsistence. The combined effects of poor
farming practices (e.g., shifting cultivation), recurrent bushfires, and
overgrazing have resulted in land degradation and an associated
reduction in agricultural productivity and income.

USAID would expect applicants to propose ways to address some of the
issues identified in the evaluation of its prior work in the diamond
sector, mentioned in the Background section above.

As artisanal diamond mines become depleted, unemployed youth are now
looking for new economic alternatives. Better agriculture and natural
resources productivity could both conserve the natural resources base
and create local jobs for these youth. This could be accomplished by
improving businesses associated with the production and processing of
agricultural and forest products.

One only needs to look to Sierra Leone's neighbors for examples. In
Guinea, communities have entered into co-forest management agreements
with the National Department of Water and Forests. A community in
Kissadougou has more than tripled the annual community earnings from
US\$10,300 in 1998 to US \$40,400 in 2006. In addition, the forest
vegetation has increased by twenty percent during this period. In
Liberia, farmers returning to their farms after a civil war are in the
process of rehabilitating their cocoa, fruit trees, and other tree
crops.

***Illustrative Results***

-   Tree crop plantations (e.g., cocoa, coffee, fruit trees, and cashew
    nuts) are rehabilitated and subsequent processing and marketing of
    products will yield increased revenues and job creation (a
    priority).

-   Sustainable agriculture, NRM technologies and practices are adopted
    by resource users.

-   Forest committees establish co-forest management awards with the
    GOSL Department of Forestry and other stakeholders (e.g., CSOs,
    INGOs) for the management and utilization of private and classified
    forests.

-   Co-forest management committees obtain increased annual income from
    the utilization of forests resources.

-   Agricultural productivity increases in farms adjacent to targeted
    classified forests and Mano River Union transboundry protected areas
    as a result of the use of improved NRM and agricultural practices.

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of hectares under improved technologies or management
    practices as a result of USG assistance.

-   Number of people with increased economic benefits derived from
    sustainable natural resources management and conservation as a
    result of USG assistance.

***C.5.2.2.2 Program Sub-element: 4.8.1.1: Natural Resources Policy and
Governance***

This sub-element promotes participatory, equitable and transparent
governance structures, policies, laws, regulations and administrative
practices impacting the conservation and sustainable management of
natural resource services, including combating the illegal and corrupt
exploitation of such resources. USAID envisions that activities
conducted under this sub-element will be coordinated with other national
and international stakeholders such as the World Bank, DFID, National
Coalition for Just Mining (NCJM), National Association of Coalition of
Extractives (NACE) and the Union of Mine Workers in Sierra Leone and
existing institutions.

In the mining sector, the RFA program should coordinate and complement
USAID's work outside this RFA at the national/policy level with the
government, private sector and other partners to support and continue
the implementation of the Core Mineral Policy, the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative,
and other diamond/mining regulating initiatives. These policies provide
the framework to regularize operations in the diamond sector and ensure
the equitable and transparent management of the sector, including the
distribution of diamond license revenue funds back to the diamondiferous
chiefdom communities through the elected district councils rather than
directly to the chiefs. The distribution of timely, factual information
on the diamond sector remains a critical issue and support for
maintaining an independent information unit is a requirement. Under our
previous diamond initiatives, USAID/Sierra Leone realized the need for
an "independent" information unit that could gather accurate, unbiased
mining information (focused mostly on diamonds at this point) and ensure
widespread distribution thereof.  Policy makers, stakeholders,
researchers, journalists, activists, etc., need an unbiased source of
factual information. Strengthening an existing appropriate organization
to gather, design for distribution and disseminate current accurate
mining statistics, legislation, issues, etc. would promote increased
transparency in the sector and assist those working to improve the
sector, both at the national (e.g., revenue generation) and local (e.g.,
beneficiation) levels.  An effort required under this RFA is to
strengthen the capacity of one or more existing local organizations to
use the information to advocate for change. The expected impact of both
efforts would be the easy accessibility and broad dissemination of
accurate timely mining (mostly diamonds) related information, resulting
in more informed stakeholders who effectively and efficiently use the
information to improve the management of the sector in order to increase
legitimate revenues to the national and local governments and enhance
livelihoods for the diamond communities, the miners and their families.
Because of low literacy levels, applicants are encouraged to be creative
in proposing methods of accomplishing this objective.

In the forestry sector, RFA activities will complement other activities
which will focus on the establishment of an enabling policy and planning
environment (e.g., policies, laws, procedures) for the sustainable
utilization and management of tropical forest resources (forestry
activities conducted under this Sub-Element will support Sub-Elements
4.8.1.2 and 4.8.1.5). Emphasis on and collaboration among the Manu River
Union ("MRU") countries (Sierra Leone-Liberia-Guinea) are increasing
with the advent of peace and stability in post-war Sierra Leone and
Liberia. MRU non-bilateral USAID projects in NRM and Land
Tenure/Property Rights are underway. USAID/Guinea has been supporting
forestry co-management, agriculture and agri-processing and mining
initiatives for years. USAID/Liberia, as a more recent post-conflict
country, is also rebuilding its agriculture/agri-business, forestry and
mining sectors.

With successful coordination and collaboration among stakeholders,
including other West African countries, the following results would be
expected:

-   Development of an effective land use planning system for forest
    reserves, transboundry protected areas, and private community
    forests; \[primarily via activities outside the RFA\]

-   Facilitation of regional trade in forest products; and \[primarily
    via activities outside the RFA\]

-   Expanded NRM technologies and practices. \[activities within the
    scope of the RFA\]

***Illustrative Results***

-   Full implementation of the Core Mineral Policy \[direct policy work
    will be handled outside the RFA, but policy implementation at the
    local level will fall within the scope of the RFA\]

-   Decentralization of selected classified forests to local communities
    (forest committees). \[primarily via activities outside the RFA\]\]

-   Establishment of regional trade policies and laws in order to
    facilitated regional trade in agriculture and forest products.
    \[primarily via activities outside the RFA\]\]

-   Independent and accurate information available on the use,
    management, and trade of natural resources (e.g., forestry, mining).
    \[primarily via activities within the scope of the RFA\]

-   Coordinated approach to forest management within the Mano River
    region (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone). \[primarily via activities
    outside the RFA\]\]

-   CSOs and CBOs effectively advocate, report on the monitor for
    improved natural resources conservation. \[primarily via activities
    within the scope of the RFA\]

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Value of revenue generated from diamonds, timber, gold transparently
    accounted for in the national budget. \[RFA and other activities\]

-   Number of policies, laws, agreements or regulations promoting
    sustainable natural resources management and conservation that are
    implemented as a result of USG assistance. \[other activities\]

    ***C.5.2.2.3 Program Sub-element: 8.1.5: International
    Cooperation***

Work to advance international cooperation improves the extent to which
international and regional organizations, agreements, and institutions
reflect the natural resources management (including agriculture and
extractive industries/mining), ecosystem services and biodiversity
conservation objectives of U.S. foreign policy and assistance, and are
in turn reflected in national, regional and global policies and action.

It is requested that sensitivity be given to regional cooperation,
particularly with in the MRU. Since this region of West Africa has a
fairly recent history of civil conflict and peace and stability remain
tenuous, we will welcome approaches which engage cross-border
cooperation, build collaboration, and maximize economies of scale --
primarily through a sharing of information.  A positive result of this
approach and effort would be the ease with which MRU issues are
identified and resolved as MRU regional issues through the collaboration
of all three countries. Activities under this Sub-Element should support
inter-regional transboundry initiatives where possible, primarily
through sharing best practices and lessons learned within the region.

***Illustrative Results***

-   Transboundary protected areas and watersheds are managed
    sustainably, in coordination with other Mano River Union countries
    (Liberia, Guinea). \[via activities both within and outside the
    RFA\]

-   Forest products market information is available and used by resource
    users to conduct legal trade in forest products. \[within the scope
    of the RFA\]

-   Forest products agreements are established between the Mano River
    Union countries for the trade of legal forest products. \[activities
    outside RFA\]

-   Polices and agreements provide the enabling environment necessary in
    order to create jobs and increase income associated with activities
    under Sub-Element 4.8.1.2 (Sustainable Natural Resources Management
    and Production) above. \[activities outside RFA\]

-   Integrated NRM polices, best practices, and lessons learned are
    shared within the Mano River Union. \[within the scope of the RFA\]

***Illustrative Operational Plan Standardized Indicators***

-   Number of USG-supported initiatives/mechanism designed to reduce the
    potential for violent conflict over the control, exploitation, trade
    or protection of natural resources.

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-   Number of hectares under improved technologies or management
    practices as a result of USG assistance.

-   Number of people with increased economic benefits derived from
    sustainable natural resources management and conservation as a
    result of USG assistance.

**C.5.2 Approach and implementation mechanisms**

It will be critical for the applicant to describe the approach that will
be used to ensure close collaboration with stakeholders, including
non-traditional partners in the private sector, academic sector, faith
based organizations, other community based organizations; qualified
local NGOs to provide the assistance required for achieving expected
results; and to benefit from opportunities to build on USAID/Sierra
Leone and other USAID funded interventions.

It is imperative that the applicant propose a mechanism that allows for
successful strategies and approaches implemented under this RFA at the
local level to be translated into national policies and practices
adopted by the Government of Sierra Leone, private sector and other
appropriately related institutions, thus leveraging the impact of
USAID's investment.

With limited resources to implement a very targeted but significant
development assistance program for Sierra Leone, applicants are
requested to carefully consider management structures and expenses,
including the number and placement of offices and personnel. It is
envisioned that the majority of the project implementation is far
upcountry, primarily on the northeast, east and south east borders (at
least five hours drive from Freetown). Roads are bad, especially during
the rainy season and wear and tear on vehicles is major. Please take
this into consideration.

# 

# PART D. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN, INDICATORS AND DATA COLLECTION

# 

The program will be characterized by robust monitoring and evaluation,
using strategic information for decision making, analysis, and
programming. The program should continuously gather and analyze data and
information to refine and improve its activities and should be
results-oriented, producing measurable positive outcomes and impact.
Applications should include detailed plans to monitor and evaluate
program performance. Upon award, the selected recipient will work with
USAID/Sierra Leone's Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) to ensure that
indicators are aligned with the U.S. Foreign Assistance Standard
Indicators and also measure results and impacts of the program.

Illustrative results and operational plan standardized indicators are
listed under each of the program sub-element in Section C, Part C.5 of
the RFA. In addition, a List of Standard Indicators can be found on
USAID/Sierra Leone's website (refer to Section E, Annex 1). Applicants
are encouraged to propose an additional limited number of indicators to
measure progress and impact, clearly stating how proposed activities and
indicators relate to the program objectives and how data will be
collected, tracked, verified, and reported.

# 

# 

# PART E- REPORTING AND EVALUATION

# 

# E.1 FINANCIAL REPORTING

Financial Reports shall be in keeping with 22 CFR 226.52. In accordance
with 22 CFR 226.52 the SF 269 "Financial Status Report" will be required
on a quarterly basis, to coincide with USAID's fiscal year calendar.
**The first quarterly report will cover the period of TBD (award date
through June 30, 2008). Subsequent reports will cover the three month
periods ending in September, December, March, and June.**

1.  The recipient shall submit a signed and electronic copy of the SF
    269A "Financial Status Report (Short Form)" to the Cognizant
    Technical Officer with one copy to the Agreement Officer. In
    block 12. "Remarks" of the SF 269 "Financial Status Report" (or as
    an attachment to the SF 269 Report), the recipient shall provide, in
    tabular format, block 10 "Transactions" information (blocks 10.c
    through 10.i.) [by Fund Source for each of the Results]{.underline}.
    Quarterly financial SF 269 reports are due 30 calendar days, after
    the reporting period.

2.  In accordance with 22 CFR 226.70-72, the Recipient shall submit the
    original of the final financial report to USAID/W M/FM, one copy to
    the Agreement Officer, one copy to the Cognizant Technical Officer,
    and one copy to the Financial Analyst.

**E.2 PROGRAM REPORTING**

The Recipient will submit reports to the USAID CTO as described below.
The exact format for preparation of and timing for submission of all
reports will be determined in collaboration with the CTO.

E.2.1 Quarterly and Annual Performance Reports

-   Technical quarterly reports are due one month after the end of each
    quarter according to the USG Fiscal Year. Thus, they are due on:
    January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31.

-   The 4^th^ quarter (July-September) quarterly report also functions
    as the recipient's annual report to USAID (there may be adjustments
    to the due date of the end of year report in order to accommodate
    the Operational Plan requirements) . The annual report contains more
    information than a simple quarterly report. This report is still due
    October 31 because USAID needs the information to write its own
    Operational Plan. In addition to the regular information (listed
    below), the 4^th^ quarter/annual report can be longer and more
    detailed. It should discuss the achievements of the entire year and
    contain a table displaying the indicators that you are responsible
    for reporting on and the indicator values for the year, along with
    prior year values and future year targets. It should include
    explanations for any indicator values falling above or below target.

-   In most cases, quarterly reports should be short. They are designed
    for USAID management purposes and contain basic required
    information. If the recipient wants to prepare a longer, more
    detailed quarterly report for its own purposes or for the sake of
    documentation, it can attach such a report as an annex to the
    quarterly report. The official quarterly report would, in effect, be
    the executive summary of the longer report.

-   The quarterly report should consist primarily of narrative. If the
    recipient wants to provide extensive tables, these should be
    attached in annex.

-   In most cases, it is not appropriate to use the quarterly report to
    report on PMP indicators because most of those indicators are not
    available on a quarterly basis. However if there are data that the
    CTO is interested in seeing on a quarterly basis, the recipient and
    the CTO should design a tracking table which can be updated
    quarterly and attached in the annex of every quarterly report.

-   Quarterly reports must be submitted in English.

-   USAID will provide a basic outline for a Quarterly Report. However,
    the recipient should discuss the quarterly report format with the
    CTO within the first quarter of this activity to come to agreement
    on a format.

*Communications and Media*

The Recipient must adhere to all instructions relating to outreach and
communications. At a minimum, this is to include:

-   Submission of at least two success stories with photos in the form
    required by USAID/Washington (see
    [www.usaid.gov/stories/about.html](http://www.usaid.gov/stories/about.html))
    by November 1 of each year.

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-   Regular and timely communication with the USAID CTO and its
    Development Outreach and Communications Specialist to plan events
    deemed worthy of high-level U.S. Government representation and media
    attention.

-   Full adherence to USAID branding and marking requirements for
    assistance awards (see
    [www.usaid.gov/branding](http://www.usaid.gov/branding)).

E.2.2 Final Performance Report

As USAID requires, 90 days after the completion date of activities under
the Cooperative Agreement, the Recipient shall submit a final report
which includes:

-   An executive summary of the Recipient's accomplishments in achieving
    results and conclusions about areas in need of future assistance

-   An overall description of the Recipient's activities and attainment
    of results during the life of the Cooperative Agreement

-   An assessment of progress made toward accomplishing the Objective
    and Illustrative Results

-   Significance of these activities

-   Comments and recommendations

-   A fiscal report that describes how the Recipient's funds were used.
    See 22 CFR 226.51.

    **E.3 NOTIFICATION**

    The Recipient shall immediately notify USAID of developments that
    have a significant impact on the activities supported under this
    agreement. Also, notification shall be given in case of problems,
    delays or adverse conditions that materially impair the ability to
    meet the objectives of the agreement. This notification shall
    include a statement of the action taken or contemplated, and any
    assistance needed to resolve the situation.

    **E.4. RESEARCH, STUDIES, AND SURVEY DOCUMENTS**

The Recipient shall submit an original and two copies in English of the
terms of reference and of the reports for all research, studies and
survey documents to the Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO). After
receiving written acceptance from the CTO, the Recipient shall also
submit one electronic copy of the reports in English to the USAID
Development Experience Clearinghouse. This should be done within 30
calendar days of receiving written acceptance from the CTO.

**E.5 ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS**

The Recipient shall submit detailed Annual Implementation Plans, with
detailed cost information to the CTO.

The first annual work plan \[TBA\] shall be submitted to the CTO within
60 days of the award. The work plan serves several purposes, including a
guide to program implementation, a demonstration of links between
activities, strategic objectives and intended results, a basis for
budget estimates and the foundation for the monitoring and evaluation
plan. Work plans function on the USG fiscal year October 1-September
30). The work plan, at a minimum, should include:

-   Brief situation analysis

-   Life-of-program results

-   Milestones toward achieving those results

-   Activities to be accomplished that year related specifically to the
    achievement of milestones

-   Level of effort required in terms of staff time and financial
    resources

-   Budget showing individual line items

-   Amount and intended use of counterpart contributions to be provided
    (cash or in-kind)

-   Partner involvement and contributions to achieving the results

-   Timeline

**E.6 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN**

The Recipient shall submit a detailed Performance Management Plan that
contains clear benchmarks and indicators, as well as a timeframe for the
Results to be attained over the life of the award. **The Recipient shall
submit a draft plan within 45 calendar days after award to the CTO.**
The CTO will provide feedback within 15 calendar days. **The Recipient
shall submit the final plan to the CTO within 90 calendar days after
award.** The final approved plan will be incorporated into the award.

**E.7 REPORT SUBMISSION ADDRESSES**

+---+-------------------------+---+--------------------------------------+
| [ |                         | [ |                                      |
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|   |                         | u |                                      |
|   |                         | s |                                      |
|   |                         | e |                                      |
|   |                         | ] |                                      |
|   |                         | { |                                      |
|   |                         | . |                                      |
|   |                         | u |                                      |
|   |                         | n |                                      |
|   |                         | d |                                      |
|   |                         | e |                                      |
|   |                         | r |                                      |
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|   |                         | i |                                      |
|   |                         | n |                                      |
|   |                         | e |                                      |
|   |                         | } |                                      |
|   |                         | : |                                      |
+---+-------------------------+---+--------------------------------------+
|   | USAID/Guinea            |   | Attn: Document Acquisitions          |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | C/O American Embassy    |   | 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 210      |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | Office of Procurement   |   | Silver Spring, MD 20910              |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | BP 613                  |   | Fax: (301) 588-7787                  |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | Conakry, Guinea         |   | E-mail:                              |
|   |                         |   | [[docsubmit@dec.cdie.org]{.underli   |
|   |                         |   | ne}](mailto:docsubmit@dec.cdie.org)) |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   |                         |   | Homepage:                            |
|   |                         |   | [[http://www.dec.or                  |
|   |                         |   | g]{.underline}](http://www.dec.org/) |
+---+-------------------------+---+--------------------------------------+
| [ |                         | [ |                                      |
| C |                         | C |                                      |
| o |                         | o |                                      |
| g |                         | n |                                      |
| n |                         | t |                                      |
| i |                         | r |                                      |
| z |                         | o |                                      |
| a |                         | l |                                      |
| n |                         | l |                                      |
| t |                         | e |                                      |
| T |                         | r |                                      |
| e |                         | ] |                                      |
| c |                         | { |                                      |
| h |                         | . |                                      |
| n |                         | u |                                      |
| i |                         | n |                                      |
| c |                         | d |                                      |
| a |                         | e |                                      |
| l |                         | r |                                      |
| O |                         | l |                                      |
| f |                         | i |                                      |
| f |                         | n |                                      |
| i |                         | e |                                      |
| c |                         | } |                                      |
| e |                         | : |                                      |
| r |                         |   |                                      |
| ] |                         |   |                                      |
| { |                         |   |                                      |
| . |                         |   |                                      |
| u |                         |   |                                      |
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| n |                         |   |                                      |
| e |                         |   |                                      |
| } |                         |   |                                      |
| : |                         |   |                                      |
+---+-------------------------+---+--------------------------------------+
|   | USAID/Sierra Leone      |   | USAID/Guinea                         |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | Technical Office        |   | Financial Management Office          |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | C/O US Embassy          |   | BP 613                               |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | South Ridge-Hill        |   | Conakry, Guinea                      |
|   | Station                 |   |                                      |
|   |                         |   |                                      |
|   | Freetown, Sierra Leone  |   |                                      |
+---+-------------------------+---+--------------------------------------+

**E.9 MIDTERM AND FINAL EVALUATIONS**

The midterm evaluation shall be conducted by the recipient at the end of
the second year of the award; the report shall be due at the end of the
second quarter of year three of the award. The terms of reference for
this evaluation shall be discussed with the CTO. The recipient shall
submit an original and two copies in English and an original of the
midterm evaluation to the Cognizant Technical Officer with a diskette of
the report and annexes in Microsoft Word. The Recipient shall also
submit one copy of the midterm evaluation in English to the Agreement
Officer and one electronic copy in English to the USAID Development
Experience Clearinghouse.

USAID shall be responsible for conducting the final evaluation.

**PART F- CONDITIONS**

**F.1 SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT**

USAID, through its CTOs, shall be substantially involved during the
implementation of any Cooperative Agreement awarded under this RFA in
the areas listed below. After award is made, the recipient will meet
with the CTO(s) in a post-award conference to further clarify and plan
for the following areas of USAID Substantial Involvement:

-   Approval of annual implementation plans, research studies/protocols,
    grant agreements, and all modifications that describe the specific
    activities to be carried out under the Agreements.

-   Designation of key positions and approval of key personnel and any
    changes.

-   Approval of monitoring and evaluation plans.

-   As appropriate, other monitoring as described in 22 CFR 226.

**F.2 DESIGNATION OF KEY POSITIONS AND PERSONNEL**

> Certain skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel
> are essential for accomplishing the work to be performed. These
> individuals are defined as 'Key Personnel'. The Technical Application
> must propose Key Personnel and show how their skills and experience
> support the program. The Chief of Party (COP), a Monitoring and
> Evaluation (M&E) Technical Leader and any senior technical advisors
> are identified as Key Personnel under this RFA. It is the applicants'
> responsibility to propose a staffing structure and designate senior
> technical advisors as appropriate.
>
> Contact information for Key Personnel references must also be
> included, along with a statement of what consideration will be offered
> if proposed key personnel are no longer available at the time of
> award. Curriculum Vitae for proposed key personnel must be included in
> the appendices. Applicant may also include short biographical
> information on non-key personnel.
>
> For purposes of building capacity, cost efficiency and project
> sustainability, USAID strongly encourages applicants to minimize the
> use of expatriate staff. Staff must include some professionals with
> extensive knowledge of Sierra Leone.
>
> **[Chief of Party]{.underline}:** The COP must be a senior manager
> with a primary specialty in rural development, with an emphasis on
> governance issues relevant thereto. Expertise and experience in at
> least one other discipline included in this RFA is a plus. He/she must
> have at least 5 years experience managing large international
> development programs. Experience working within the West Africa region
> is desirable. In addition, the COP must have:

-   USAID management experience and knowledge of more than one technical
    sector;

-   Experience working successfully as part of a multidisciplinary team
    and in partnership with other organizations; and

-   A Masters degree or higher in a relevant field (from an accredited
    academic institution); and

-   Fluency in English

> **[Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Leader]{.underline}**: The M&E
> Technical Leader must have at least 5 years experience working to
> address issues described in this RFA. Experience working within the
> West Africa region is desirable. Familiarity with technical areas
> including democracy and governance, agriculture, youth employment,
> NRM-biodiversity-environment-conservation and/or economic growth is a
> plus. In addition, the M&E Technical Leader must have:

-   At least five years of experience designing, managing and
    implementing multidisciplinary and results-based M&E surveys 

-   A track record using USAID performance monitoring plans and
    reporting procedures with NGO implementation partners

-   A Masters degree or higher in a relevant field

-   Fluency in English

> **[Senior Technical Advisors]{.underline}**: Proposed Senior Technical
> Advisors must have at least 5 years experience working to address
> issues described in this RFA that will fall under their proposed areas
> of responsibility and/or technical field. Experience working within
> the West Africa region and on USAID-funded projects is desirable. In
> addition, the proposed Senior Technical Advisors must have:

-   A Masters degree or higher in a relevant technical field

-   Experience working successfully as part of a multidisciplinary team
    and in partnership with other organizations

-   Fluency in English

All technical positions proposed will be considered Key Personnel to be
approved by USAID.

**F.3 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE**

The cooperative agreement will be awarded for a 4 year period.

**F.4 PROPOSED FUNDING SOURCES AND FUNDING LEVELS**

The Mission estimates that the funding for "Transforming Sierra Leone:
Linking Democratic Governance, Economic Growth and Natural Resource
Management, While Empowering Women and Building Institutional
Capacities"

will total approximately US\$13,244,000 (subject to availability of
funding) to be allocated over the program period (4 years). This funding
currently is broken down by technical areas as follows:

**Local Government & Decentralization = 28%**

**Agricultural Sector Productivity = 41%**

**Natural Resources & Biodiversity = 31%**

# 

# 

# 

#  

# 

**SECTION D- CERTIFICATIONS, ASSURANCES, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF
RECIPIENT**

# 

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

# The certifications and forms included on the links below are to be completed and submitted as part of the Cost/Business Application. Refer to instructions in Section A of the RFA. 

PART I - CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES

Certifications, Assurances, & Other Statements of Recipient:
<http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/303sad.pdf>

# 

# PART II -- FORMS

# [**http://www.grants.gov/agencies/approved_standard_forms.jsp**](http://www.grants.gov/agencies/approved_standard_forms.jsp) 

# Standard Form 424: [**www.grants.gov/techlib/SF424-V2.0.pdf**](http://www.grants.gov/techlib/SF424-V2.0.pdf) ;

Standard Form 424A:http://www.grants.gov/techlib/SF424A-V1.0.pdf

Standard Form 424B:
<http://www.grants.gov/techlib/SF424B->[V1.0.pdf]{.underline}

## 

**OMB CIRCULAR A-133 OR SIMILAR AUDITS**

If applicable, please provide the date of your most recent A-133 or
similar audit, including findings and results of such audits.

Solicitation No.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Application/Application No.
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Date of Application/Application
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Name of Recipient
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Typed Name and Title
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Signature
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Date \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

# SECTION E - ANNEXES

[]{#CL_URFASEEHD_PH000001 .anchor}

**LIST OF ANNEXES**

ANNEX 1. LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE

### ANNEX 2. PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

ANNEX 3. BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN

ANNEX 4. OTHER PROVISIONS

ANNEX 5. RESPONSES TO TECHNICAL COMMENTS ON DRAFT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

**ANNEX 1 -- LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE**

The reference documents listed below can be accessed at the following
USAID/Sierra Leone website:

URL: <http://www.usaid.gov/sl/>, then look for "Contracting", under
which you can click on "RFA No. 636-08-0008: Transforming Sierra Leone:
Linking Democratic Governance, Economic Growth and Natural Resource
Management, While Empowering Women and Youth and Building Institutional
Capacities." to view the following links:

1.  [USAID Strategy Statement
    FY2006-2008](../../../../../../../../P:/Public/RFA%202007/Reference%20Materials/sierra_leone_strategy_statement_2006-08%201%20.pdf)
    (PDF file 112KB)

2.  [118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Assessment Report of
    Sierra
    Leone](../../../../../../../../P:/Public/RFA%202007/Reference%20Materials/Sierra%20Leone%20118-119%20for%20review.30%20Mar07.doc)
    (4,303KB)

3.  [USAID/Sierra Leone Diamond Sector Program
    Evaluation](../../../../../../../../P:/Public/RFA%202007/Reference%20Materials/USAIDSierraLeoneDiamondProgramEvaluationreport_final.pdf)
    (PDF file 1,737KB)

4.  [Evaluation of the "LINKS" Program Promoting Linkages for Livelihood
    Security and Economic
    Development](../../../../../../../../P:/Public/RFA%202007/Reference%20Materials/Final%20Report-LINKS%20Sierra%20Leone.pdf)
    (PDF file 834KB)

5.  [List of Standard Indicators for Use in FY 2008 Operational
    Plan](../../../../../../../../P:/Public/RFA%202007/Reference%20Materials/y_ListofStandardIndicatorsforUseinFY2008OperationalPlans.pdf)
    (PDF file 90KB)

**ANNEX 2 - PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE**

RFA No. 636-08-0003 Transforming Sierra Leone: Linking Democratic
Governance, Economic Growth and Natural Resource Management, While
Empowering Women and Youth and Building Institutional Capacities

###### SEND COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE TO: 

######  ATTN: Christine Sheckler

#  E-mail: CSheckler@usaid.gov

**Fax: (232) 76-515-355 or (232) 22-515-355**

**1. CONTRACT/GRANT/COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT INFORMATION:**

+----------------------+---+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| A. Name of Company   |   |                       |                       |
| Being Evaluated:     |   |                       |                       |
+----------------------+---+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| B.Address:           |   |                       |                       |
|                      |   |                       |                       |
| > .                  |   |                       |                       |
+----------------------+---+-----------------------+-----------------------+
|                      |   |                       |                       |
+----------------------+---+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| C. Contract/Grant    | E |                       | D. Contract/Grant     |
| Number:              | . |                       | Type:                 |
|                      | C |                       |                       |
|                      | o |                       |                       |
|                      | n |                       |                       |
|                      | t |                       |                       |
|                      | r |                       |                       |
|                      | a |                       |                       |
|                      | c |                       |                       |
|                      | t |                       |                       |
|                      | / |                       |                       |
|                      | G |                       |                       |
|                      | r |                       |                       |
|                      | a |                       |                       |
|                      | n |                       |                       |
|                      | t |                       |                       |
|                      | V |                       |                       |
|                      | a |                       |                       |
|                      | l |                       |                       |
|                      | u |                       |                       |
|                      | e |                       |                       |
|                      | : |                       |                       |
+----------------------+---+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| F. Period of         |   |                       |                       |
| Performance:         |   |                       |                       |
+----------------------+---+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**2. DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT/GRANT:**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

> During the contract/grant being evaluated, this firm was the Prime
> Contractor/Grantee;
>
> Significant Subcontractor/Subgrantee; Team Member; Other (Describe)

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

> Does anything other than a customer/supplier relationship exist
> between the firm being evaluated and your organization? If yes, please
> describe the nature of this relationship: No Yes

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

**3. EVALUATOR:**

  --------------- ---- -- --------------------- ------ -------- ---------------------
  Name:                                                         

  Title:                                                        

  Organization:                                                 

  Address:                                                      

  Telephone No.:                                       Fax No.: 

  E-Mail Address:                                               
  --------------- ---- -- --------------------- ------ -------- ---------------------

**This form contains Source Selection Information when completed. See
FAR 3.104.**

**4. PERFORMANCE**

O = Outstanding, VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, P = Poor, N/A = Not
Applicable

A.  Please rate the Contractor/Grantee's [technical
    performance]{.underline} in the following areas:

> 1\. Meeting requirements O VG G F P N/A
>
> 2\. Qualifications of technical staff O VG G F P N/A
>
> 3\. Effectiveness of Key Personnel O VG G F P N/A
>
> 4\. Cooperation with customers O VG G F P N/A
>
> 5\. Timeliness O VG G F P N/A
>
> 6\. Ability to work independently O VG G F P N/A
>
> 7\. Responsiveness to changing
>
> requirements O VG G F P N/A
>
> 8\. Innovation O VG G F P N/A
>
> 9\. Completeness and accuracy O VG G F P N/A

B.  Please rate the Contractor/Grantee's [management]{.underline} in the
    following areas:

> 1\. Utilization of personnel O VG G F P N/A
>
> 2\. Effectiveness of management O VG G F P N/A
>
> 3\. Compliance with contract/grant O VG G F P N/A
>
> 4\. Personnel management O VG G F P N/A

5\. Prompt mobilization of staff and

prompt start-up O VG G F P N/A

6\. Technical Reporting O VG G F P N/A

> 7\. Corporate Support O VG G F P N/A
>
> 8\. Local management autonomy O VG G F P N/A
>
> 9\. Cost Control O VG G F P N/A
>
> 10\. Business Reporting O VG G F P N/A
>
> 11\. Procurement O VG G F P N/A
>
> 12\. Subcontract/Subgrant
>
> Management (if applicable) O VG G F P N/A

13. Success in minimizing turnover O VG G F P N/A

> of key long-term personnel

**5. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE**

> Please indicate whether or not the Contractor/Grantee worked in the
> following activity areas:

+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| **RELEVANT EXPERIENCE**         |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| **ACTIVITY AREA**               | *       | **MOD   | **MIN  | #### |
|                                 | *SIGNIF | ERATE** | IMAL** |  N/A |
|                                 | ICANT** |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Quality Assurance               |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Decentralization                |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Program Sustainability          |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Gender considerations           |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Media Outreach                  |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Improving community capacity to |         |         |        |      |
| participate in Local Governance |         |         |        |      |
| and Natural Resource Management |         |         |        |      |
| (NRM)                           |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Community based awareness       |         |         |        |      |
| raising about Biodiversity and  |         |         |        |      |
| Natural Resource Management/    |         |         |        |      |
| Conservation                    |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Policy implementation at the    |         |         |        |      |
| district and community levels   |         |         |        |      |
| focused on good governance      |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Development and capacity        |         |         |        |      |
| building of women's community   |         |         |        |      |
| organizations or groups         |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Awareness raising and community |         |         |        |      |
| based activities combating      |         |         |        |      |
| barriers to women's             |         |         |        |      |
| participation and leadership    |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Community based good governance |         |         |        |      |
| activities                      |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Training of community members   |         |         |        |      |
| in Agri-business and Enterprise |         |         |        |      |
| Development                     |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Policy implementation at the    |         |         |        |      |
| district and community levels   |         |         |        |      |
| focused on agriculture and      |         |         |        |      |
| extractive mineral sector       |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Youth capacity development and  |         |         |        |      |
| increase of youth employment    |         |         |        |      |
| opportunities                   |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Anti-corruption awareness       |         |         |        |      |
| raising activities              |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Small projects management at    |         |         |        |      |
| the community group level       |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+
| Community based data collection |         |         |        |      |
| and project monitoring and      |         |         |        |      |
| evaluation                      |         |         |        |      |
+---------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+------+

**6. COMMENTS**

> PLEASE COMMENT ON CONTRACTOR/GRANTEE PERFORMANCE IN THE FOLLOWING
> AREAS:

A. Would you recommend this contractor for another contract/grant?

> YES NO, Why not?

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  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Comment on staffing stability in critical skill areas and supervisory
positions.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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C. Overall cost management

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D. Additional Comments

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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**ANNEX 3 -- BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN**

**1. BRANDING STRATEGY -- ASSISTANCE (December 2005)**

\(a\) **Definitions**

***Branding Strategy*** means a strategy that is submitted at the
specific request of a USAID Agreement Officer by an Apparently
Successful Applicant after evaluation of an application for USAID
funding, describing how the program, project, or activity is named and
positioned, and how it is promoted and communicated to beneficiaries and
host country citizens. It identifies all donors and explains how they
will be acknowledged.

***Apparently Successful Applicant(s)*** means the applicant(s) for
USAID funding recommended for an award after evaluation, but who has not
yet been awarded a grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance
award by the Agreement Officer. The Agreement Officer will request that
the Apparently Successful Applicants submit a Branding Strategy and
Marking Plan. Apparently Successful Applicant status confers no right
and constitutes no USAID commitment to an award.

***USAID Identity (Identity)*** means the official marking for the
Agency, comprised of the USAID logo and new brandmark, which clearly
communicates that our assistance is from the American people. The USAID
Identity is available on the USAID website and is provided without
royalty, license, or other fee to recipients of USAID-funded grants or
cooperative agreements or other assistance awards or subawards.

\(b\) **Submission.** The Apparently Successful Applicant, upon request
of the Agreement Officer, will submit and negotiate a Branding Strategy.
The Branding Strategy will be included in and made a part of the
resulting grant or cooperative agreement. The Branding Strategy will be
negotiated within the time that the Agreement Officer specifies. Failure
to submit and negotiate a Branding Strategy will make the applicant
ineligible for award of a grant or cooperative agreement. The Apparently
Successful Applicant must include all estimated costs associated with
branding and marking USAID programs, such as plaques, stickers, banners,
press events and materials, and the like.

\(c\) **Submission Requirements**

At a minimum, the Apparently Successful Applicant's Branding Strategy
will address

the following:

**(1) Positioning**

*What is the intended name of this program, project, or activity?*

Guidelines: USAID prefers to have the USAID Identity included as part of
the program or project name, such as a \"title sponsor,\" if possible
and appropriate. It is acceptable to \"co-brand\" the title with USAID's
and the Apparently Successful Applicant's identities. For example: \"The
USAID and \[Apparently Successful Applicant\] Health Center.\"

If it would be inappropriate or is not possible to \"brand\" the project
this way, such as when rehabilitating a structure that already exists or
if there are multiple donors, please explain and indicate how you intend
to showcase USAID\'s involvement in publicizing the program or project*.
For example: School #123,*

*rehabilitated by USAID and \[Apparently Successful Applicant\]/ \[other
donors\].*

Note: the Agency prefers \"made possible by (or with) the generous
support of the American People\" next to the USAID Identity in
acknowledging our contribution, instead of the phrase \"funded by.\"
USAID prefers local language translations.

*Will a program logo be developed and used consistently to identify this
program? If yes, please attach a copy of the proposed program logo.*

Note: USAID prefers to fund projects that do NOT have a separate logo or
identity that competes with the USAID Identity.

**(2) Program Communications and Publicity**

*Who are the primary and secondary audiences for this project or
program?*

Guidelines: Please include direct beneficiaries and any special target
segments or influencers. *For Example: Primary audience: schoolgirls age
8-12, Secondary audience: teachers and parents -- specifically mothers.*

*What communications or program materials will be used to explain or
market the*

*program to beneficiaries?*

Guidelines: These include training materials, posters, pamphlets, Public
Service Announcements, billboards, websites, and so forth.

*What is the main program message(s)?*

Guidelines: *For example: \"Be tested for HIV-AIDS\" or \"Have your
child inoculated.\"*

Please indicate if you also plan to incorporate USAID's primary message
-- this aid is \"from the American people\" -- into the narrative of
program materials. This is optional; however, marking with the USAID
Identity is required.

*Will the recipient announce and promote publicly this program or
project to host country citizens? If yes, what press and promotional
activities are planned?*

Guidelines: These may include media releases, press conferences, public
events, and so forth.

Note: incorporating the message, "USAID from the American People", and
the USAID Identity is required.

*Please provide any additional ideas about how to increase awareness
that the American people support this project or program.*

Guidelines: One of our goals is to ensure that both beneficiaries and
host-country citizens know that the aid the Agency is providing is
\"from the American people.\" Please provide any initial ideas on how to
further this goal.

**(3) Acknowledgements**

*Will there be any direct involvement from a host-country government
ministry? If yes, please indicate which one or ones. Will the recipient
acknowledge the ministry as an additional co-sponsor*?

Note: it is perfectly acceptable and often encouraged for USAID to
\"co-brand\" programs with government ministries.

*Please indicate if there are any other groups whose logo or identity
the recipient will use on program materials and related communications.*

Guidelines: Please indicate if they are also a donor or why they will be
visibly acknowledged, and if they will receive the same prominence as
USAID.

\(d\) **Award Criteria**. The Agreement Officer will review the Branding
Strategy for adequacy, ensuring that it contains the required
information on naming and positioning the USAID-funded program, project,
or activity, and promoting and communicating it to cooperating country
beneficiaries and citizens. The Agreement Officer also will evaluate
this information to ensure that it is consistent with the stated
objectives of the award; with the Apparently Successful Applicant's cost
data submissions; with the Apparently Successful Applicant's project,
activity, or program performance plan; and with the regulatory
requirements set out in 22 CFR 226.91. The Agreement Officer may obtain
advice and recommendations from technical experts while performing the
evaluation.

**2. MARKING PLAN -- ASSISTANCE (December 2005)**

\(a\) **Definitions**

***Marking Plan*** means a plan that the Apparently Successful Applicant
submits at the specific request of a USAID Agreement Officer after
evaluation of an application for USAID funding, detailing the public
communications, commodities, and program materials and other items that
will visibly bear the USAID Identity. Recipients may request approval of
Presumptive Exceptions to marking requirements in the

Marking Plan.

***Apparently Successful Applicant(s)*** means the applicant(s) for
USAID funding recommended for an award after evaluation, but who has not
yet been awarded a grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance
award by the Agreement Officer. The Agreement Officer will request that
Apparently Successful Applicants submit a Branding Strategy and Marking
Plan. Apparently Successful Applicant status confers no right and
constitutes no USAID commitment to an award, which the Agreement Officer
must still obligate.

***USAID Identity (Identity)*** means the official marking for the
Agency, comprised of the USAID logo and new brandmark, which clearly
communicates that our assistance is from the American people. The USAID
Identity is available on the USAID website and USAID provides it without
royalty, license, or other fee to recipients of USAID funded grants,
cooperative agreements, or other assistance awards or sub-awards.

A ***Presumptive Exception*** exempts the applicant from the general
marking requirements for a *particular* USAID-funded public
communication, commodity, program material or other deliverable, or a
*category* of USAID-funded public communications, commodities, program
materials or other deliverables that would otherwise be required to
visibly bear the USAID Identity. The Presumptive Exceptions are:

Presumptive Exception (i). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would compromise the intrinsic independence or neutrality of a
program or materials where independence or neutrality is an inherent
aspect of the program and materials, such as election monitoring or
ballots, and voter information literature; political party support or
public policy advocacy or reform; independent media, such as television
and radio broadcasts, newspaper articles and editorials; and public
service announcements or public opinion polls and surveys (22 C.F.R.
226.91(h)(1)).

Presumptive Exception (ii). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would diminish the credibility of audits, reports, analyses,
studies, or policy recommendations whose data or findings must be seen
as independent (22 C.F.R. 226.91(h)(2)).

Presumptive Exception (iii). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would undercut host-country government "ownership" of
constitutions, laws, regulations, policies, studies, assessments,
reports, publications, surveys or audits, public service announcements,
or other communications better positioned as "by" or "from" a
cooperating country ministry or government official (22 C.F.R.
226.91(h)(3)).

Presumptive Exception (iv). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would impair the functionality of an item, such as sterilized
equipment or spare parts (22 C.F.R. 226.91(h)(4)).

Presumptive Exception (v). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would incur substantial costs or be impractical, such as items too
small or otherwise unsuited for individual marking, such as food in bulk
(22 C.F.R. 226.91(h)(5)).

Presumptive Exception (vi). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would offend local cultural or social norms, or be considered
inappropriate on such items as condoms, toilets, bed pans, or similar
commodities (22 C.F.R. 226.91(h)(6)).

Presumptive Exception (vii). USAID marking requirements may not apply if
they would conflict with international law (22 C.F.R. 226.91(h)(7)).

\(b\) **Submission.** The Apparently Successful Applicant, upon the
request of the Agreement Officer, will submit and negotiate a Marking
Plan that addresses the details of the public communications,
commodities, program materials that will visibly bear the USAID
Identity. The marking plan will be customized for the particular
program, project, or activity under the resultant grant or cooperative
agreement. The plan will be included in and made a part of the resulting
grant or cooperative agreement. USAID and the Apparently Successful
Applicant will negotiate the Marking Plan within the time specified by
the Agreement Officer. Failure to submit and negotiate a Marking Plan
will make the applicant ineligible for award of a grant or cooperative
agreement. The applicant must include an estimate of all costs
associated with branding and marking USAID programs, such as plaques,
labels, banners, press events, promotional materials, and so forth in
the budget portion of its application. These costs are subject to
revision and negotiation with the Agreement Officer upon submission of
the Marking Plan and will be incorporated into the Total Estimated
Amount of the grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance
instrument.

\(c\) **Submission Requirements**. The Marking Plan will include the
following:

\(1\) A description of the public communications, commodities, and
program materials that the recipient will be produced as a part of the
grant or cooperative agreement and which will visibly bear the USAID
Identity. These include:

\(i\) program, project, or activity sites funded by USAID, including
visible infrastructure projects or other programs, projects, or
activities that are physical in nature;

\(ii\) technical assistance, studies, reports, papers, publications,
audio-visual productions, public service announcements, Web
sites/Internet activities and other promotional, informational, media,
or communications products funded by USAID;

\(iii\) events financed by USAID, such as training courses, conferences,
seminars, exhibitions, fairs, workshops, press conferences, and other
public activities; and

\(iv\) all commodities financed by USAID, including commodities or
equipment provided under humanitarian assistance or disaster relief
programs, and all other equipment, supplies and other materials funded
by USAID, and their export packaging.

\(2\) A table specifying:

\(i\) the program deliverables that the recipient will mark with the
USAID Identity,

\(ii\) the type of marking and what materials the applicant will be used
to mark the program deliverables with the USAID Identity, and

\(iii\) when in the performance period the applicant will mark the
program deliverables, and where the applicant will place the marking.

\(3\) A table specifying:

\(i\) what program deliverables will not be marked with the USAID
Identity, and

\(ii\) the rationale for not marking these program deliverables.

\(d\) **Presumptive Exceptions.**

\(1\) The Apparently Successful Applicant may request a Presumptive
Exception as part of the overall Marking Plan submission. To request a
Presumptive Exception, the Apparently Successful Applicant must identify
which Presumptive Exception applies, and state why, in light of the
Apparently Successful Applicant's technical proposal and in the context
of the program description or program statement in the USAID Request For
Application or Annual Program Statement, marking requirements should not
be required.

\(2\) Specific guidelines for addressing each Presumptive Exception are:

\(i\) For Presumptive Exception (i), identify the USAID Strategic
Objective, Interim Result, or program goal furthered by an appearance of
neutrality, or state why the program, project, activity, commodity, or
communication is 'intrinsically neutral.' Identify, by category or
deliverable item, examples of program materials funded under the award
for which you are seeking exception 1.

\(ii\) For Presumptive Exception (ii), state what data, studies, or
other deliverables will be produced under the USAID funded award, and
explain why the data, studies, or deliverables must be seen as credible.

\(iii\) For Presumptive Exception (iii), identify the item or media
product produced under the USAID funded award, and explain why each item
or product, or category of item and product, is better positioned as an
item or product produced by the cooperating country government.

\(iv\) For Presumptive Exception (iv), identify the item or commodity to
be marked, or categories of items or commodities, and explain how
marking would impair the item's or commodity's functionality.

\(v\) For Presumptive Exception (v), explain why marking would not be
cost-beneficial or practical.

\(vi\) For Presumptive Exception (vi), identify the relevant cultural or
social norm, and explain why marking would violate that norm or
otherwise be inappropriate.

\(vii\) For Presumptive Exception (vii), identify the applicable
international law violated by marking.

\(3\) The Agreement Officer will review the request for adequacy and
reasonableness. In consultation with the Cognizant Technical Officer and
other agency personnel as necessary, the Agreement Officer will approve
or disapprove the requested Presumptive Exception. Approved exceptions
will be made part of the approved Marking Plan, and will apply for the
term of the award, unless provided otherwise.

\(e\) **Award Criteria**: The Agreement Officer will review the Marking
Plan for adequacy and reasonableness, ensuring that it contains
sufficient detail and information concerning public communications,
commodities, and program materials that will visibly bear the USAID
Identity. The Agreement Officer will evaluate the plan to ensure that it
is consistent with the stated objectives of the award; with the
applicant's cost data submissions; with the applicant's actual project,
activity, or program performance plan; and with the regulatory
requirements of 22 C.F.R.226.91. The Agreement Officer will approve or
disapprove any requested Presumptive Exceptions (see paragraph (d)) on
the basis of adequacy and reasonableness. The Agreement Officer may
obtain advice and recommendations from technical experts while
performing the evaluation.

**3. MARKING UNDER USAID-FUNDED ASSISTANCE INSTRUMENTS (December 2005)**

**(a) Definitions**

***Commodities*** mean any material, article, supply, goods or
equipment, excluding recipient offices, vehicles, and non-deliverable
items for recipient's internal use, in administration of the USAID
funded grant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement or subagreement.

***Principal Officer*** means the most senior officer in a USAID
Operating Unit in the field, e.g., USAID Mission Director or USAID
Representative. For global programs managed from Washington but executed
across many countries, such as disaster relief and assistance to
internally displaced persons, humanitarian emergencies or immediate post
conflict and political crisis response, the cognizant Principal Officer
may be an Office Director, for example, the Directors of USAID/W/Office
of Foreign Disaster Assistance and Office of Transition Initiatives. For
non-presence countries, the cognizant Principal Officer is the Senior
USAID officer in a regional USAID Operating Unit responsible for the
non-presence country, or in the

absence of such a responsible operating unit, the Principal U.S
Diplomatic Officer in the non-presence country exercising delegated
authority from USAID.

***Programs*** mean an organized set of activities and allocation of
resources directed toward a common purpose, objective, or goal
undertaken or proposed by an organization to carry out the
responsibilities assigned to it.

***Projects*** include all the marginal costs of inputs (including the
proposed investment) technically required to produce a discrete
marketable output or a desired result (for example, services from a
fully functional water/sewage treatment facility).

***Public communications*** are documents and messages intended for
distribution to audiences external to the recipient's organization. They
include, but are not limited to, correspondence, publications, studies,
reports, audio visual productions, and other informational products;
applications, forms, press and

promotional materials used in connection with USAID funded programs,
projects or activities, including signage and plaques; Web
sites/Internet activities; and events such as training courses,
conferences, seminars, press conferences and so forth.

***Sub-recipient*** means any person or government (including
cooperating country government) department, agency, establishment, or
for profit or nonprofit organization that receives a USAID sub-award, as
defined in 22 C.F.R. 226.2.

***Technical Assistance*** means the provision of funds, goods,
services, or other foreign assistance, such as loan guarantees or food
for work, to developing countries and other USAID recipients, and
through such recipients to sub-recipients, in direct support of a
development objective -- as opposed to the internal management of the
foreign assistance program.

***USAID Identity (Identity)*** means the official marking for the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), comprised of
the USAID logo or seal and new brandmark, with the tagline that clearly
communicates that our assistance is "from the American people." The
USAID Identity is available on the USAID website at
www.usaid.gov/branding and USAID provides it without royalty, license,
or other fee to recipients of USAID-funded grants, or cooperative
agreements, or other assistance awards.

**(b) Marking of Program Deliverables**

\(1\) All recipients must mark appropriately all overseas programs,
projects, activities, public communications, and commodities partially
or fully funded by a USAID grant or cooperative agreement or other
assistance award or subaward with the USAID Identity, of a size and
prominence equivalent to or greater than the recipient's, other donor's,
or any other third party's identity or logo.

\(2\) The Recipient will mark all program, project, or activity sites
funded by USAID, including visible infrastructure projects (for example,
roads, bridges, buildings) or other programs, projects, or activities
that are physical in nature (for example, agriculture, forestry, water
management) with the USAID Identity. The Recipient should erect
temporary signs or plaques early in the construction or implementation
phase. When construction or implementation is complete, the Recipient
must install a permanent, durable sign, plaque or other marking.

\(3\) The Recipient will mark technical assistance, studies, reports,
papers, publications, audio-visual productions, public service
announcements, Web sites/Internet activities and other promotional,
informational, media, or communications products funded by USAID with
the USAID Identity.

\(4\) The Recipient will appropriately mark events financed by USAID,
such as training courses, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, fairs,
workshops, press conferences and other public activities, with the USAID
Identity. Unless directly prohibited and as appropriate to the
surroundings, recipients should display additional materials, such as
signs and banners, with the USAID Identity. In circumstances in which
the USAID Identity cannot be displayed visually, the recipient is
encouraged otherwise to acknowledge USAID and the American people's
support.

\(5\) The Recipient will mark all commodities financed by USAID,
including commodities or equipment provided under humanitarian
assistance or disaster relief programs, and all other equipment,
supplies, and other materials funded by USAID, and their export
packaging with the USAID Identity.

\(6\) The Agreement Officer may require the USAID Identity to be larger
and more prominent if it is the majority donor, or to require that a
cooperating country government's identity be larger and more prominent
if circumstances warrant, and as appropriate depending on the audience,
program goals, and materials produced.

\(7\) The Agreement Officer may require marking with the USAID Identity
in the event that the recipient does not choose to mark with its own
identity or logo.

\(8\) The Agreement Officer may require a pre-production review of
USAID-funded public communications and program materials for compliance
with the approved Marking Plan.

\(9\) Sub-recipients. To ensure that the marking requirements "flow
down\'\' to sub-recipients of sub-awards, recipients of USAID funded
grants and cooperative agreements or other assistance awards will
include the USAID-approved marking provision in any USAID funded
sub-award, as follows:

*"As a condition of receipt of this sub-award, marking with the USAID
Identity of size and prominence equivalent to or greater than the
recipient's, sub-recipient's, other donor's or third party's is
required. In the event the recipient chooses not to require marking with
its own identity or logo by the sub-recipient, USAID may, at its
discretion, require marking by the sub-recipient with the USAID
Identity."*

\(10\) Any 'public communications', as defined in 22 C.F.R. 226.2,
funded by USAID, in which the content has not been approved by USAID,
must contain the following disclaimer:

*"This study/report/audio/visual/other information/media product
(specify) is made possible by the generous support of the American
people through the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID). The contents are the responsibility of \[insert recipient
name\] and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United
States Government."*

\(11\) The recipient will provide the Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO)
or other USAID personnel designated in the grant or cooperative
agreement with two copies of all program and communications materials
produced under the award. In addition, the recipient will submit one
electronic or one hard copy of all final documents to USAID's
Development Experience Clearinghouse.

**(c) Implementation of marking requirements.**

\(1\) When the grant or cooperative agreement contains an approved
Marking Plan, the recipient will implement the requirements of this
provision following the approved Marking Plan.

\(2\) When the grant or cooperative agreement does not contain an
approved Marking Plan, the recipient will propose and submit a plan for
implementing the requirements of this provision within \[***Agreement
Officer fill-in***\] days after the effective date of this provision.
The plan will include:

\(i\) A description of the program deliverables specified in paragraph
(b) of this provision that the recipient will produce as a part of the
grant or cooperative agreement and which will visibly bear the USAID
Identity.

\(ii\) the type of marking and what materials the applicant uses to mark
the program deliverables with the USAID Identity,

\(iii\) when in the performance period the applicant will mark the
program deliverables, and where the applicant will place the marking,

\(3\) The recipient may request program deliverables not be marked with
the USAID Identity by identifying the program deliverables and providing
a rationale for not marking these program deliverables. Program
deliverables may be exempted from USAID marking requirements when:

\(i\) USAID marking requirements would compromise the intrinsic
independence or neutrality of a program or materials where independence
or neutrality is an inherent aspect of the program and materials;

\(ii\) USAID marking requirements would diminish the credibility of
audits, reports, analyses, studies, or policy recommendations whose data
or findings must be seen as independent;

\(iii\) USAID marking requirements would undercut host-country
government "ownership" of constitutions, laws, regulations, policies,
studies, assessments, reports, publications, surveys or audits, public
service announcements, or other communications better positioned as "by"
or "from" a cooperating country ministry or government official;

\(iv\) USAID marking requirements would impair the functionality of an
item;

\(v\) USAID marking requirements would incur substantial costs or be
impractical;

\(vi\) USAID marking requirements would offend local cultural or social
norms, or be considered inappropriate;

\(vii\) USAID marking requirements would conflict with international
law.

\(4\) The proposed plan for implementing the requirements of this
provision, including any proposed exemptions, will be negotiated within
the time specified by the Agreement Officer after receipt of the
proposed plan. Failure to negotiate an approved plan with the time
specified by the Agreement Officer may be considered as noncompliance
with the requirements is provision.

**(d) Waivers.**

\(1\) The recipient may request a waiver of the Marking Plan or of the
marking requirements of this provision, in whole or in part, for each
program, project, activity, public communication or commodity, or, in
exceptional circumstances, for a region or country, when USAID required
marking would pose compelling political, safety, or security concerns,
or when marking would have an adverse impact in the cooperating country.
The recipient will submit the request through the Cognizant Technical
Officer. The Principal Officer is responsible for approvals or
disapprovals of waiver requests.

\(2\) The request will describe the compelling political, safety,
security concerns, or adverse impact that require a waiver, detail the
circumstances and rationale for the waiver, detail the specific
requirements to be waived, the specific portion of the Marking Plan to
be waived, or specific marking to be waived, and include a description
of how program materials will be marked (if at all) if the USAID
Identity is removed. The request should also provide a rationale for any
use of recipient's own identity/logo or that of a third party on
materials that will be subject to the waiver.

\(3\) Approved waivers are not limited in duration but are subject to
Principal Officer review at any time, due to changed circumstances.

\(4\) Approved waivers "flow down" to recipients of sub-awards unless
specified otherwise. The waiver may also include the removal of USAID
markings already affixed, if circumstances warrant.

\(5\) Determinations regarding waiver requests are subject to appeal to
the Principal Officer's cognizant Assistant Administrator. The recipient
may appeal by submitting a written request to reconsider the Principal
Officer's waiver determination to the cognizant Assistant Administrator.

**(e) Non-retroactivity.** The requirements of this provision do apply
to any materials, events, or commodities produced prior to January 2,
2006. The requirements of this provision do not apply to program,
project, or activity sites funded by USAID, including visible
infrastructure projects (for example, roads, bridges, buildings) or
other programs, projects, or activities that are physical in

nature (for example, agriculture, forestry, water management) where the
construction and implementation of these are complete prior to January
2, 2006 and the period of the grant does not extend past January 2,
2006.

**ANNEX 4 -- OTHER PROVISIONS**

[]{.mark}

**1. APPLICABILITY OF 22 CFR PART 226 (May 2005)**

\(a\) All provisions of 22 CFR Part 226 and all Standard Provisions
attached to this agreement are applicable to the recipient and to
subrecipients which meet the definition of \"Recipient\" in Part 226,
unless a section specifically excludes a subrecipient from coverage. The
recipient shall assure that subrecipients have copies of all the
attached standard provisions.

\(b\) For any subawards made with Non-US subrecipients the Recipient
shall include the applicable \"Standard Provisions for Non-US
Nongovernmental Grantees.\" Recipients are required to ensure compliance
with subrecipient monitoring procedures in accordance with OMB Circular
A-133.

**2. "USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ASSISTANCE (December 2004)**

\(a\) The objectives of the USAID Disability Policy are (1) to enhance
the attainment of United States foreign assistance program goals by
promoting the participation and equalization of opportunities of
individuals with disabilities in USAID policy, country and sector
strategies, activity designs and implementation; (2) to increase
awareness of issues of people with disabilities both within USAID
programs and in host countries; (3) to engage other U.S. government
agencies, host country counterparts, governments, implementing
organizations and other donors in fostering a climate of
nondiscrimination against people with disabilities; and (4) to support
international advocacy for people with disabilities. The full text of
the policy paper can be found at the following website:
http://www.usaid.gov/about/disability/DISABPOL.FIN.html.

\(b\) USAID therefore requires that the recipient not discriminate
against people with disabilities in the implementation of USAID funded
programs and that it make every effort to comply with the objectives of
the USAID Disability Policy in performing the program under this grant
or cooperative agreement. To that end and to the extent it can
accomplish this goal within the scope of the program objectives, the
recipient should demonstrate a comprehensive and consistent approach for
including men, women and children with disabilities."

**3. "ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE (JULY 2004)**

The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related activities,
which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and contribute to the
phenomenon of trafficking in persons. None of the funds made available
under this agreement may be used to promote, support or advocate the
legalization or practice of prostitution. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude assistance designed to
ameliorate the suffering of, or health risks to, victims while they are
being trafficked or after they are out of the situation that resulted
from such victims being trafficked. Foreign organizations, whether prime
or subrecipients, that receive U.S. Government funds to fight
trafficking in persons cannot promote, support or advocate the
legalization or practice of prostitution when they are engaged in
overseas activities. The preceding sentence shall not apply to
organizations that provide services to individuals solely after they are
no longer engaged in activities that resulted from such victims being
trafficked."

**4. "PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROMOTE,**

> **SUPPORT, OR ADVOCATE FOR THE LEGALIZATION OR PRACTICE OF
> PROSTITUTION - ASSISTANCE (JULY 2004)**

\(a\) The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. None of the
funds made available under this agreement may be used to promote,
support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution.
Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to preclude
assistance designed to ameliorate the suffering of, or health risks to,
victims while they are being trafficked or after they are out of the
situation that resulted from such victims being trafficked.

\(b\) \[This subsection (b) only applies to foreign non-governmental
organizations and PIOs receiving U.S. Government funds to carry out
programs that target victims of severe forms of trafficking as either
prime awardees or subawardees.\]

\(1\) For programs that target victims of severe forms of trafficking,
as a condition of entering into this agreement or subagreement, the
recipient/subrecipient agrees that in its activities outside of the
United States and its possessions it does not promote, support, or
advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. The preceding
sentence shall not apply to organizations that provide services to
individuals solely after they are no longer engaged in activities that
resulted from such victims being trafficked.

\(2\) The following definitions apply for purposes of this clause:

FOREIGN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION -- The term "foreign
non-governmental organization" means an entity that is not organized
under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of
Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

SEVERE FORMS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. \-- The term ''severe forms of
trafficking in persons'' means---

\(A\) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force,
fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act
has not attained 18 years of age; or

\(B\) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or
obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force,
fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary
servitude, peonage, debt

bondage, or slavery.

\(c\) The recipient shall insert this provision in all sub-agreements
under this award.

\(d\) This provision includes express terms and conditions of the
agreement and any violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral
termination, in whole or in part, of the agreement by USAID prior to the
end of its term."

**5. DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JANUARY
2004)**

\(1\) The recipient agrees to notify the Agreement Officer immediately
upon learning that it or any of its principals:

\(a\) Are presently excluded or disqualified from covered transactions
by any Federal department or agency;

\(b\) Have been convicted within the preceding three-years period
preceding this proposal been convicted of or had a civil judgment
rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in
connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public
(Federal, State**,** or local) transaction or contract under a public
transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or
commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or
destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion, receiving
stolen property, making false claims, or obstruction of justice;
commission of any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity
or business honesty that seriously and directly affects your present
responsibility;

\(c\) Are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly
charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State**,** or local) with
commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1)(b); and

\(d\) Have had one or more public transactions (Federal, State**,** or
local) terminated for cause or default within the preceding three years.

\(2\) The recipient agrees that, unless authorized by the Agreement
Officer, it will not knowingly enter into any subagreements or contracts
under this grant with a person or entity that is included on the
Excluded Parties List System (http://epls.arnet.gov). The recipient
further agrees to include the following provision in any subagreements
or contracts entered into under this award:

> DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, INELIGIBILITY, AND VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION

(DECEMBER 2003)

> The recipient/contractor certifies that neither it nor its principals
> is presently excluded or disqualified from participation in this
> transaction by any Federal department or agency.

\(3\) The policies and procedures applicable to debarment, suspension,
and ineligibility under USAID-financed transactions are set forth in 22
CFR Part 208.

**6. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (JANUARY 2004)**

\(1\) The recipient agrees that it will publish a drug-free workplace
statement and provide a copy to each employee who will be engaged in the
performance of any Federal award. The statement must

\(a\) Tell the employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution,
dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited
in its workplace;

\(b\) Specify the actions the recipient will take against employees for
violating that prohibition; and

\(c\) Let each employee know that, as a condition of employment under
any award, he or she

\(1\) Must abide by the terms of the statement, and

\(2\) Must notify you in writing if he or she is convicted for a
violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace, and
must do so no more than five calendar days after the conviction.

\(2\) The recipient agrees that it will establish an ongoing drug-free
awareness program to inform employees about

\(a\) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;

\(b\) Your policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;

\(c\) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation and employee
assistance programs; and

\(d\) The penalties that you may impose upon them for drug abuse
violations occurring in the workplace.

\(3\) Without the Agreement Officer's expressed written approval, the
policy statement and program must be in place as soon as possible, no
later than the 30 days after the effective date of this award, or the
completion date of this award, whichever occurs first.

\(4\) The recipient agrees to immediately notify the Agreement Officer
if an employee is convicted of a drug violation in the workplace. The
notification must be in writing, identify the employee's position title,
the number of each award on which the employee worked. The notification
must be sent to the Agreement Officer within ten calendar days after the
recipient learns of the conviction.

\(5\) Within 30 calendar days of learning about an employee's
conviction, the recipient must either

> \(a\) Take appropriate personnel action against the employee, up to
> and including termination, consistent with the requirements of the
> Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794), as amended, or
>
> \(b\) Require the employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug
> abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for these purposes
> by a Federal, State or local health, law enforcement, or other
> appropriate agency.

\(6\) The policies and procedures applicable to violations of these
requirements are set forth in 22 CFR Part 210.

**ANNEX 5- RESPONSES TO TECHNICAL COMMENTS ON**

**DRAFT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION**

**(Responses provided below are in response to the e-announcement
entitled \"Draft Program Description" published on Grants.gov from 29
November to 18 December 2007)**

**Comment 1:** Generally, we consider this program to be overly
ambitious considering the budget of \$13.8 M over a four-year period,
and that any real impact in any of the focus areas will be diluted
because of the very broad and diverse mandate.

**We appreciate that what can be seen as "overly ambitious" can also be
seen as an opportunity for creativity and synergies. The geographical
focus is limited and the expected results are key but also focused. We
welcome proposals which creatively, perhaps uniquely, configure
themselves through their process and approach to capture the sectors
goals and results.**

**Comment 2:** [Size and Scope]{.underline}: While we recognize that
USAID seeks a coherent, integrated approach to governance, economic
growth, and natural resource management problems in Sierra Leone,
combining all of these activities into a single, large, omnibus-type
project may create internal conflicts of interest and management
problems that could affect the program's ability to serve local needs
and interests. On page 25, the draft RFA already recognizes the prospect
of management difficulties associated with the partnerships that this
project would require in its current shape and form. In many ways, the
combination of such diverse activities into a single program follows the
unfortunate bundling trend that has emerged throughout USAID-funded
programs in the past few years.

Rather than list the various problems associated with program bundling,
I refer you to a recent analysis and series of recommendations released
by USAID's Advisory Council on Voluntary Foreign Assistance (ACFVA) in
May 2007. The final document can be found at
www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/acvfa/im_recommendations.pdf. In the section
on bundling, the document highlights a number of the pitfalls associated
with this phenomenon, including artificial partnerships, blurred or
fuzzy lines of responsibility and reporting, and conflicts in the
responsibilities of a Chief of Party who tries to manage such a large
program with divergent and potentially conflicting interests. In light
of these concerns, we would encourage USAID to consider alternatives to
a single, broad RFA. Separating the project into two or three smaller
projects---closely coordinated with USAID's support and guidance---would
provide fewer management problems, clearer lines of communications
between beneficiaries and implementing organizations, and a broader and
more diverse range of programmatic expertise.

**We appreciate the complexities of partnerships and consortiums but
have experienced very successful working models in Sierra Leone and in
Guinea (the program alluded to in the cited ACFVA comment). This award
will be made to a single applicant who may or may not choose to have
significant subcontractors or subgrantees. Any choice of appropriate
partners will clearly be key, as will be the right mindset of working
collaboratively for the agreed upon results. Our experience shows that a
constructive \"consortium,\" with collaborative good partners, can offer
greater dividends when comparative advantages and skills are properly
harnessed and directed. Because the USAID/Sierra Leone budget is quite
small, the in-country staff (Operating Unit) is also small (1 USPSC, 3
senior FSNs) and the supporting Administrative operations are limited in
their ability to provide coverage, the USAID Office has decided to
streamline its management units so it can manage better for results.**

**Although the RFA addresses several key sectors which at first glance
may appear "unrelated", there are many areas for appropriate synergies
and collaboration.  Because the funding is limited, and hence the
overall program will be "limited", we believe that with solid
development experience and creativity an integrated development program
can be designed and we are excited to see what ideas, strategies and
approaches are proposed.**

**Comment 3:** We request that USAID clarify the level of effort
expected to establish an enabling policy and planning environment. We
are concerned that the "focus on the establishment of an enabling policy
and planning environment" is overly ambitious, given the timeframe,
budget, and the numerous other types of interventions envisioned in this
RFA.

**We have revised the forestry sector initiative to reflect a less
ambitious emphasis under this RFA. Non-bilateral USAID programs will
take the lead in "establishing a policy and planning environment" in the
forestry sector. Under the RFA we will be requesting that, where
appropriate agriculture, DG and NRM initiatives support and share best
practices for natural resource management and collaborate with the other
relevant USAID projects**.

**Comment 4**: On the cross-border collaboration in this sector, we
request that more information be included in the RFA with regard to what
USAID interventions are ongoing, or planned in the other Mano-River
Union countries that might be coordinated with this program.

*Reference: page 22- 23: Program Sub-element: 4.8.1.1: Natural Resources
Policy and Governance (last paragraph)*

*In the forestry sector, activities will focus on the establishment of
an enabling policy and planning environment (e.g., policies, laws,
procedures) for the sustainable utilization and management of tropical
forest resources (forestry activities conducted under this Sub-Element
will support Sub-Elements 4.8.1.2 and 4.8.1.5). This will include
coordinating with authorities in other West African countries in order
to*

-   *Develop an effective land use planning system for forest reserves*

-   *transboundry protected areas, and private community forests;*

-   *Facilitate regional trade in forest products; and*

-   *Expand the adoption of NRM technologies and practices*

-   

**Emphasis and collaboration among the Manu River Union ("MRU")
countries (Sierra Leone-Liberia-Guinea) are scaling up with the advent
of peace and stability in post-war Sierra Leone and Liberia. MRU
non-bilateral USAID projects in NRM and Land Tenure/Property Rights are
beginning. USAID/Guinea has been supporting forestry co-management,
agriculture and agri-processing and mining initiatives for years.
USAID/Liberia, as a more recent post-conflict country, is also
rebuilding its agriculture/agri-business, forestry and mining sectors.**

**Comment 5:** We request further clarification of the idea of
"maintaining an independent information unit" as well as some further
explanation about the expected impact of this intervention.

*Page 22- 23: Program Sub-element: 4.8.1.1: Natural Resources Policy and
Governance (second to last paragraph)*

*The distribution of timely, factual information on the diamond sector
remains a critical issue and support for maintaining an independent
information unit is a requirement.*

**Under our previous diamond initiatives, USAID/Sierra Leone realized
the need for an "independent" information unit that could gather mining
information (focused mostly on diamonds at this point) and ensure
widespread distribution thereof. Policy makers, stakeholders,
researchers, journalists, activists, etc. need an unbiased source of
factual information to inform them. Strengthening an existing
appropriate organization to gather, design for distribution and
disseminate current accurate mining statistics, legislation, issues,
etc. would promote increased transparency in the sector and assist those
working to improve the sector, both at the national (e.g., revenue
generation) and local (e.g., beneficiation) levels. This is distinct
from the additional need to strengthen existing organization(s) to use
the accurate unbiased information to advocate for change. The expected
impact would be the easy accessibility and broad dissemination of
accurate timely mining (mostly diamonds) related information, resulting
in more informed stakeholders who effectively and efficiently use the
information to improve the management of the sector to the benefit of
the nation -- increased legitimate revenues to the national and local
governments and enhanced livelihoods for the diamond communities, the
miners and their families. Because of low literacy levels, applicants
are encouraged to be creative in proposing methods of accomplishing this
objective.**

**Comment 6**: Under the objective heading, it is stated that the
activities in the program element are not to be budgeted for
separately. However, there are many types of activities mentioned, such
as the capacity building for local councils that might be difficult to
fit under other activity budget lines. We are concerned that it will not
be feasible to program these different types of activities without
allowing for related budgetary provision.

*Page 14: Program Objective: Governing Justly and Democratically (first
sentence)*

*While not budgeted separately, all activities should include a focus,
where possible, on civil society participation and media strengthening,
women and youth, and anti-corruption.  Attention should be given to the
civil society organizations interaction and participation in local
governance*.

**USAID/Sierra Leone is unclear exactly what the question is; however,
we understand the question to indicate the draft RFA language was
ambiguous. Support to strengthening local councils is definitely part of
the budget. What we attempted to say is that while designing the
budgeted local government/decentralization program we request that
maximum consideration be given to the specific approaches and
implementation strategies, so that they result in increased civil
society participation, media strengthening, women and youth and
anti-corruption, where and as appropriate and relevant.**

**Comment 7**: Emphasis is put on policy influencing at both the
national and local levels. Please clarify the level of involvement that
USAID is expecting with regard to the national level. 

*Page 14: Program Element: Local Government and Decentralization (first
sentence)*

*This Program Element contributes to Program Area "Good Governance." The
program will enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of nascent
local government councils and civil society organizations which support
or provide input to them, through institutional capacity building,
learning-by-doing, training in advocacy skills, and civil rights and
responsibilities for citizens.*

**The primary focus of strengthening "local government and
decentralization" is clearly at the local level; however, local
government and decentralization don't work in a "local" vacuum. There
are inconsistencies among various legislations that influence the
continuing effective devolution of power through decentralization and
governing by local government.  Working to support legal reform to
ensure current legislation is consistent and appropriate through
engaging the participation of local government, civil society and other
relevant stakeholders and ensuring access to information and the
understanding and dissemination of the information is essential
(remembering the majority of the populace is illiterate). While it is
envisioned that most attention will be at the local level, there are
times where dialogue and/or other engagement with the national
government will be warranted (e.g., Decentralization Secretariat).**

**Comment 8:** We request that USAID clarify which commodities/products
it feels are the best to prioritize that will benefit the income and
sustainable employment of the target populations, in particular women
and youth.

*Page 16-17: Program objective: Economic Growth*

*USAID targeted interventions in this sector should focus on initiatives
strengthening farmer, youth and women association in the agribusiness,
processing, marketing and youth employment programs through
agriculture.*

**This is left for the prospective applicants to research and propose.**

**Comment 9**: We request further clarification on the actual
involvement that USAID would like to see with regard to this
sub-element, and question the extent to which significant impact could
be achieved within the confines of this program alone. 

*Page 23: Program Sub-element: 8.1.5: International Cooperation (first
paragraph)*

*Work to advance international cooperation improves the extent to which
international and regional organizations, agreements, and institutions
reflect the natural resources management (including agriculture and
extractive industries/mining), ecosystem services and biodiversity
conservation objectives of U.S. foreign policy and assistance, and are
in turn reflected in national, regional and global policies and action.*

**We have revised this section. It is requested that sensitivity be
given to regional cooperation, particularly within the MRU. Since this
region of West Africa has a fairly recent history of civil conflict and
peace and stability remain tenuous, we will welcome approaches which
engage cross-border cooperation, build collaboration, and maximize
economies of scale -- primarily through a sharing of information.  A
positive result of this approach and effort would be the ease with which
MRU issues are identified and resolved as MRU regional issues through
the collaboration of all three countries.**

**Comment 10:** USAID should consider the creation and strengthening of
market institutions such as agri-business training centers to increase
capacity in the areas of food crops, agricultural technology, forestry
and wildlife; and promoted enterprise development in these sub-sectors.
These centers can help facilitate linkages with regional and
international expertise and networks while strengthening the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security.

**We agree.**

**Comment 11:** The RFA should emphasize market-led value chain approach
to increase crop production and to develop an efficient industry that
benefits small-scale farmers while introducing best farming practices
and integrated business solutions.

**We agree. See revised RFA section under Program Sub-Element
Agribusiness and Producer Organizations.**

**Comment 12:** The RFA should promote irrigation and potable water
technology and markets that can facilitate improved water access and
economic benefits to farmers and local manufacturers and
enterprises. For example, water users associations could help to improve
irrigation/drainage infrastructure, develop technically sound water
delivery schedules to the poor, and improve irrigation practices while
reducing soil degradation.

**This is left for the prospective applicant to research and propose.**

**Comment 13:** As part of the transboundary co-management of the Mano
River region USAID should suggest developing a payment of environmental
services mechanism as one compensation options for improve watershed
management and reduction of conflict over resources.

**This is left for the prospective applicant to research and propose.**

**Comment 14:** Resource and Information Community Centers are mentioned
several times in the draft RFA. Are these centers donor funded/created,
or are they a new government initiative?

**The Resource and Information Community Centers (RICCs) were
constructed or rehabilitated through USAID's "Strengthening Democratic
Governance" Program, with the participation of local communities. The
four RICCs, in Kono, Kailahun, Koinadugu and Tongo Fields, are used as
public fora, for community or town meetings and the stocking of reading
and visual materials (due to high illiteracy). There are plans for the
RICCs to be turned over to the communities for sustainability.**

**Comment 15:** Greater emphasis should be placed on working and
collaborating closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Food Security, as well as the National Commission on the Environment and
Forestry. There is mention of collaboration with the Forestry
Department, but does USAID envision a formal relationship with the
Forestry Department and the selected contractor. This will be key in
ensuring the sustainability of co-management and transboundary
management initiatives as well as the Natural Resources Policy and
Governance component proposed by the RFA.

**As indicated above, the RFA is revised to deemphasize primary focus on
the forestry sector, though not to its exclusion. For the primary focus
on the agriculture, agri-business, job creation, local government and
decentralization, natural resource management, etc., sectors it is
understood and encouraged to work closely with the appropriate
Ministries (with the new government the Commission has been subsumed
back into the Ministry). A productive partnership among all the relevant
stakeholders, where sensible and appropriate, is expected.**

**Comment 16:** For the transboundary management component, will USAID
expect the contractor to make the initial contact with the appropriate
governmental institutions in other Mano River Union countries, or will
this be something that the contractor should coordinate with USAID
missions/offices in those countries? Political support from the
concerned countries is imperative if interstate organizations are to
achieve the goals set at their creation.

**USAID/Sierra Leone will require that all initial meetings with the
Government of Sierra Leone and any other government with whom our RFA
activities are involved are initiated with and through USAID/Sierra
Leone and that USAID/Sierra Leone be kept informed on a timely basis
about the meetings, participants and results. Depending on the purpose
of the meeting, USAID may or may not attend.**

**Comment 17:** Is there a preference for food crops over cash crops or
vice versa?  I believe that LINKS has been more focused on food crops.
 I would think that the new project would focus much more so (although
probably not exclusively) on cash crops.

**It is envisioned that the RFA activities will focus more on cash crops
and agri-business/job creation, coordinating and sharing "food crops"
best practices with or from the PL-480 Food for Peace program.**

**Comment 18:** Is Freetown considered to be one of the project target
areas, especially if a key activity there would improve natural resource
management elsewhere in Sierra Leone? By this, we are referring to a
Freetown-targeted fuel-efficient cookstove program, which would
significantly reduce charcoal production, saving thousands of forested
hectares.  Ideally, the saved forested area would be in one of the three
targeted eastern districts.   This activity is based on similar
successful activities funded by USAID in West Africa in the past 15
years, including Senegal, Mali, Benin, and Ghana.  Those programs have
resulted in sales of approximately 500,000 fuel-efficient cookstoves
that have saved about 500,000 tons of charcoal or 3 million tons of
wood. A Sierra Leone program would result in the sale of 50,000-100,000
cookstoves that would save 300,000-600,000 tons of wood and several
thousand hectares of forest.

**Freetown is not a targeted project area, except regarding National
Policy issues, and with the one exception under consideration of an
agri-business hub in the Freetown region.**

**Comment 19:** What does USAID anticipate the level (%) of matching
funds required under this effort?

**No minimum, but any applicant proposing a significant cost sharing
will have an advantage in that respect.**

**Comment 20:** [Performance Indicators and Reporting]{.underline}**:**
The draft program description states on page 13, "... applicants are
invited to be creative and especially to propose additional (customized)
indicators which will reflect people-level impact of the activities
proposed" and on page 28, "Awardees will be expected to develop and
report on both Standardized Indicators (under the new U.S. Foreign
Assistance Framework) and sector-based indicators." To ensure adequate
planning and budgeting, the final program description might include the
mandated performance indicators USAID will require the project to
develop, monitor and report.

**The "standard" Performance Indicators are found in Annex I, but
applicants are encouraged to propose additional, more people-level,
indicators.**

**Comment 21:** [Earmarks:]{.underline} The draft program description
does not mention specific funding earmarks or related financial
reporting requirements. Does USAID anticipate funding earmarks would or
might be included in the financial reporting requirements? Could
information about any anticipated earmark reporting requirements (or
lack thereof) be included in the final program statement?

**Currently USAID/Sierra Leone does not have any hard earmarks, although
the FY 08 and 09 budgets have yet to be finalized and we may well have a
small Global Climate Change earmark to satisfy. We are asked to report
separately on support to Womens Leadership and Microfinance
activities.**

**Comment 22:** [Other Projects:]{.underline} The draft program
description states on page 14, "The purpose is to integrate the
governance work (including civil society, women and youth, media and
anti-corruption) in a way that compliments and ensures the effectiveness
of the economic growth and natural resource work, and if possible the
other activities supported by USAID outside this RFA." What specific
projects does USAID intend to fund in addition to the draft program
description for governance and existing projects? Is the information
available on the USAID website \[www.usaid.gov/sl\] and through USAID's
Development Experience Clearinghouse:
\[[[dec.usaid.gov]{.underline}](http://www.dec.usaid.gov/)\]
comprehensive?

**Currently, the only activity funded outside this RFA is our Election
and Consensus Building initiative. A national policy initiative is under
consideration, which would assume primary responsibility for national
policy results in the NRM, agriculture and mining sectors. Again, this
would not preclude or exclude RFA activities from also supporting
national policy reforms and would require cooperation and collaboration
among the relevant implementing partners.**

**Comment 23:** [Coordination:]{.underline} Ensuring a successful
program will require linkage and coordination with the PL 480 education
and health programs.  It would be important to describe the Mission's
role in ensuring this coordination.

**Where there could be productive cross-over and/or potential synergies
between the RFA activities and the Food for Peace PL-480 education and
health initiatives, USAID/Sierra Leone will support discussions among
relevant stakeholders to facilitate appropriate collaboration.
USAID/Sierra Leone believes that all USAID funded implementing partners
in Sierra Leone (regardless of USAID funding source) are part of the
USAID/Sierra Leone "family". Thus, we believe in maximizing fruitful
collaborations and sharing information and best practices.**

**Comment 24:** [Start date:]{.underline} The rainy season can have a
major impact on the start-up on this project. We therefore see it as
important for the start date to be in September 2008 as opposed to June
2008.

**This program should commence once the solicitation and negotiation
process has been completed and all pre-award requirements have been
met. There are start up activities, learning curves and all activities
are not weather based.  We understand the question focuses on the
agriculture cycle, but believe there is plenty to do in addition to some
of the rainy season dependent agricultural activities.**

**Comment 25:** [Resource and Information Centers:]{.underline} It will
be important to have a clear description of USAID's expectations of the
Resource and Information Centers, including the basic services and
equipment to be offered.

**The services and equipment "to be offered" can be proposed in the
application to the degree specifics are known or estimated. What is
relevant is that there are existing Resource and Information structures
available upon which the RFA activities can build (future community
needs assessment).**

**Comment 26:** [Timing of the results:]{.underline} The sectoral and
governance objectives of the proposed project can be accomplished
concurrently or sequentially. The governance results tend to take
longer, and could be seen as long-term results. The sectoral results, on
the other hand, tend to be immediate. With respect to results, we see
this sequencing versus concurrence to be an importance distinction in
the project design.

**We recognize that some results are accomplished in the short term vs.
some in the longer term, be they governance or sectoral. We agree that
governance results often take longer to attain. Prioritization of needs
and results should be factored into the application.**

**Comment 27:** [Focus of Local government Component:]{.underline} The
new program for local government could focus on local councils and on
the ward committees. Will the implementer be expected to cover all ward
committees under a local council?

**No.**

**Comment 28:** [Geographic Code:]{.underline} Can the 935 geographic
code be assigned to support efficiency?

**The Geographic Code for this RFA is 935.**

**Comment 29**: [Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative:]{.underline} With regard to the RFA's natural resource
management component, we would encourage you to add efforts to support
Sierra Leone's participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative (EITI). Launched in 2002, EITI is an international effort
that promotes revenue transparency by encouraging governments and their
private sector counterparts to adhere to a voluntary set of principles
that includes publication and verification of company payments and
government revenues from oil, gas and mining.

The EITI---a coalition of governments, companies, civil society groups,
investors and international organizations---has developed a robust yet
flexible methodology in support of a global standard for companies to
publish what they pay and for governments to

disclose what they receive. Fifteen countries---Azerbaijan, Cameroon,
Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania,
Mongolia, Niger, Nigeria, Peru and Yemen---are EITI candidate countries
currently working toward implementation of the EITI principles. Within
this group, seven have published audited reports. Sierra Leone is among
a group of nine "intermediate" countries that have expressed their
intent to join the initiative. The EITI Secretariat, based in Oslo, is
awaiting required information from each of them by the end of 2007
before considering them candidate countries. Supporting Sierra Leone's
participation in EITI could contribute to numerous sub-elements of the
proposed program's Natural Resources and Biodiversity component.

**USAID/Sierra Leone supports the EITI initiative in principle and where
appropriate would also do so through an RFA activity. We've added
mention in the RFA.**

**Comment 30:** Are there anticipated funding allocations to each of the
sectors of work under this RFA?

**Yes, per the Foreign Assistance Framework. Please see the budget
allocation in Section B.1.**

**Comment 31:** Page 14.  In the description of the program objective
for governing justly and democratically, there is mention of a number of
activities that take place at the national level, however, there is no
program element that addresses activities at this level of government.

**The primary focus of the RFA is at the local level, empowering and
improving the lives and livelihoods of the citizens and communities.
However, improving lives at the local level does not exclude or preclude
the importance of national level policies and supporting institutions
and mechanisms. While working at the Element level, it is important to
maximize results by creating opportunities to address National level
issues too. It is important to strengthen national-local government
dialogue and mutual understanding.**

**Comment 32:** In the post-conflict context there are needs to address
the root causes of the conflict to end the cycle of violence and prevent
recurrence. These were presented in the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) Report currently in circulation. Hence, it is critical
for the Inter-Religious Councils in Sierra Leone (IRCSL) to maintain
initiatives related to national peace building and improvement of
democratic governance. These will have regional implications taking into
consideration the linkages to the sub-region and the protracted
conflicts which have caused devastation and weakened the economies of
several Countries of the sub-region including Liberia, Guinea, and Cote
d'Ivoire. 

To ensure success of this endeavor, it is necessary to mainstream women
of faith through sensitization and capacity building of religious
leaders nationwide. It is also necessary to advocate for active
participation of the IRCSL in promoting good governance through support
of USAID as a key international partner.  This support will ensure
institutional sustainability of the IRCSL.

While this draft program description does not take into consideration
the critical role of faith based communities in the process of peace
building and societal transformation underway in West Africa, I use this
presentation to advocate and appeal for modification of the framework to
include the IRCSL.

**Implementation of this RFA does not preclude the role of faith based
communities. This is left for the prospective applicant to research and
propose.**

**Comment 33:** Can USAID provide information on the recent and current
implementing partners funded with USG funds in Sierra Leone?

**Yes. Current/recent implementing partners: Management Systems
International (plus International Rescue Committee, World Vision,
Christian Children\'s Fund), Search for Common Ground, CARE Consortium
(CARE, World Vision, Catholic Relief Services, American Rescue
Committee; plus Africare for FFP program).**

**Comment 34:** While the importance of literacy skills is referenced in
the draft Program Description, it is not clear whether literacy is
expected to be a key strategy of the Transforming Sierra Leone Program.
Could USAID provide further information in terms of targets or
illustrative results to clarify how much of a priority literacy
activities will be under the program?

**Extremely high illiteracy is a major impediment to development in
Sierra Leone. USAID/Sierra Leone, however, does not have sufficient
funding to support an education program per se. Therefore, where
appropriate, necessary, and helpful, literacy and numeracy programs will
be welcomed if they help empower the constituency and maximize the
results.**

**Comments 35:** The following questions are in anticipation of the RFA:

\(a\) May graphics and tables be excluded from the page limit? **Yes,
but they must be kept to a minimum.**

1.  

\(b\)  Could USAID/Sierra Leone provide applicants with its Mission
Local Compensation Plan (LCP)?

**Yes**

\(c\)  Could USAID please confirm that the Branding strategy and marking
plan will NOT be due as part of the original proposal submission?

**They will NOT be due as part of the original proposal submission.**

[^1]: ^1^ US Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure and
    Definitions FY2007 Operational Plan Guidance, Annex C

[^2]: ^2^GoSL, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP),
    2003

[^3]: USAID/Sierra Leone, *118/119 Biodiversity and Tropical Forestry
    Assessment for Sierra Leone*, March 2007, pp. 11-17

[^4]: US Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure and
    Definitions FY2007 Operational Plan Guidance, Annex C