Opportunity Information: Apply for S OES 09 RFA 0002
Apply for S OES 09 RFA 0002
- The Ocean and International Environmental Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ambassadors Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (AWASH) in Schools Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 19, 2008 and posted on Dec 19, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 2, 2009 Submission of Application by 600 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) February 2, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $148,500.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $148,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Eligibility is limited to not for profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to 501(c)(3) of the tax code and international organizations. Applicants must have technical expertise in water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion and experience in creating partnerships and working in developing countries.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Ambassadors Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (AWASH) in Schools Initiative is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run through the Office of International Health and Biodefense in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, which means the selected grantee is expected to work closely with the Department of State and, in practical terms, with U.S. Embassies in participating countries. The overall purpose is not just to fund isolated infrastructure improvements, but to use visible, well-run school projects as models that can spark broader action and commitment around safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in schools.
The initiative is designed to catalyze change at multiple levels. At the school level, the focus is on delivering sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services for children in targeted schools. At the community and national levels, the initiative aims to raise awareness about why WASH in schools matters for health, attendance, dignity, and learning outcomes, and to build political will so local and national leaders prioritize basic sanitation and hygiene needs. In other words, the program is structured to pair practical improvements with advocacy and public visibility so the results can be replicated and supported long after the initial activity ends.
A central expectation of the award is that the grantee (and any partners) will collaborate with OES and U.S. Embassies to help transform selected schools into "WASH friendly" schools. These model schools are expected to include core elements such as handwashing stations, separate latrines for girls and boys, teacher training, and a comprehensive hygiene education curriculum that can be integrated into school routines. The emphasis on trained teachers and curriculum signals that AWASH is not limited to construction or equipment; it also targets behavior change and the day-to-day practices that make facilities effective and lasting.
Beyond improving conditions in the schools themselves, the grantee is also expected to support high-level public events and media outreach in coordination with OES and U.S. Embassies. These events are meant to spotlight the importance of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, amplify the visibility of the model activities, and help drive broader engagement from governments, communities, and other stakeholders. The public diplomacy component is therefore a built-in part of the project design, not an optional add-on.
In terms of funding, the Department of State sets estimated total funding at $148,500, with an award ceiling of $148,500 and an award floor of $148,000, and it anticipates making one award. The announcement also explains that U.S. Embassies in the host countries are expected to match or exceed the State Department contribution, meaning total U.S. Government support for the initiative could approach $297,000 or more. The grantee is expected to provide additional cost sharing to match or exceed the U.S. Government contribution up to that $297,000 level, even though the listing flags the formal "CostSharingOrMatchingRequirement" as "No." Practically, applicants should read this as a strong expectation that the implementing organization will bring meaningful leveraged resources, whether through cash, in-kind support, or partner contributions, so the initiative can be scaled across many countries.
The planned scope is ambitious relative to the base award size: the total combined funding is intended to support at least one target school in each of 15 to 20 target countries. That framing suggests the Department of State is looking for an organization that can coordinate a multi-country effort efficiently, work through embassy relationships, standardize a replicable "model school" package, and manage implementation and communications across diverse settings without losing quality or sustainability.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and international organizations. Applicants are expected to bring technical expertise in WASH promotion and demonstrated experience creating partnerships and operating in developing countries. The opportunity explicitly encourages NGOs with experience coordinating international water projects to apply, which reflects the operational reality that the awardee will need strong field networks, the ability to manage local implementers or subcontractors, and the capacity to coordinate with diplomatic missions and host-country counterparts.
Key administrative details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number S-OES-09-RFA-0002, a posting date of December 19, 2008, and a closing deadline of February 2, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, with an archive date of March 4, 2009. The program is categorized under Environment and references the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 as its underlying policy context. For access issues or questions tied to the announcement, the listed contact is Dano Wilusz at the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (wiluszdc@state.gov).
AWASH in Schools Initiative (U.S. Department of State) - FAQs
1) What is the AWASH in Schools Initiative?
The Ambassadors Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (AWASH) in Schools Initiative is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity focused on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in schools. It is designed to create visible, well-run model school projects that can be replicated and used to build broader support for WASH in schools.
2) Which U.S. government office is running this opportunity?
This opportunity is run through the Office of International Health and Biodefense in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES) at the U.S. Department of State.
3) What type of award is this?
It is offered as a cooperative agreement. This means the selected grantee is expected to work closely with the U.S. Department of State and, in practical terms, with U.S. Embassies in participating countries.
4) What is the main purpose of the initiative?
The purpose goes beyond isolated infrastructure upgrades. The initiative aims to use strong, visible school WASH projects as models that can spark broader action, raise awareness, and build commitment to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools over the long term.
5) What outcomes is AWASH trying to achieve at the school level?
At the school level, the initiative focuses on delivering sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services for children in targeted schools, while also strengthening hygiene practices through training and education.
6) What outcomes is AWASH trying to achieve at the community and national levels?
At the community and national levels, AWASH aims to raise awareness about why WASH in schools matters (including health, attendance, dignity, and learning outcomes) and to build political will so local and national leaders prioritize sanitation and hygiene needs.
7) What does it mean to transform a school into a "WASH friendly" school?
In this initiative, "WASH friendly" model schools are expected to include core elements such as handwashing stations, separate latrines for girls and boys, teacher training, and a comprehensive hygiene education curriculum integrated into school routines.
8) Is this grant only for construction or infrastructure?
No. The opportunity emphasizes teacher training and hygiene education curriculum, signaling that AWASH is intended to support behavior change and daily practices in addition to any facilities or equipment.
9) What role do U.S. Embassies play in the project?
U.S. Embassies in participating countries are expected to work with the grantee and OES. The grantee should anticipate close coordination with embassies as part of implementation and public-facing activities.
10) Are public events and media outreach required?
Yes. The grantee is expected to support high-level public events and media outreach in coordination with OES and U.S. Embassies. This public diplomacy component is presented as a built-in part of the project design.
11) Why does the opportunity emphasize public visibility and advocacy?
The initiative is structured to pair practical improvements with advocacy and public visibility so the model school results can be replicated and supported long after the initial activity ends.
12) How much funding is available from the Department of State?
The estimated total funding is $148,500. The award ceiling is $148,500 and the award floor is $148,000.
13) How many awards does the Department of State expect to make?
The announcement anticipates making one award.
14) Is additional funding expected from U.S. Embassies?
Yes. The announcement states that U.S. Embassies in host countries are expected to match or exceed the State Department contribution, meaning total U.S. Government support could approach $297,000 or more.
15) Is cost sharing required from the grantee?
Although the listing flags the formal cost sharing/matching requirement as "No," the narrative indicates a strong expectation that the grantee will provide additional cost sharing to match or exceed the U.S. Government contribution up to the approximately $297,000 level. This may include cash, in-kind support, or partner contributions.
16) How many countries and schools are expected to be covered?
The combined funding is intended to support at least one target school in each of 15 to 20 target countries, suggesting a multi-country effort with a replicable model school package.
17) What kind of implementing organization is this opportunity seeking?
The announcement points toward an organization that can coordinate across many countries, work through U.S. Embassy relationships, standardize a replicable model approach, and manage implementation and communications across diverse settings while maintaining quality and sustainability.
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and international organizations.
19) What experience or expertise should applicants have?
Applicants are expected to bring technical expertise in WASH promotion and demonstrated experience creating partnerships and operating in developing countries. The opportunity explicitly encourages NGOs with experience coordinating international water projects to apply.
20) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is S-OES-09-RFA-0002.
21) When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The posting date is December 19, 2008. The closing deadline is February 2, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
22) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is March 4, 2009.
23) What program category does this opportunity fall under?
The program is categorized under Environment.
24) What law or policy context is referenced?
The opportunity references the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 as underlying policy context.
25) Who is the contact for questions or access issues?
The listed contact is Dano Wilusz at the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES). Email: wiluszdc@state.gov.
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