Assessment and Strengthening Program (ASP) for Civil Society Organizations and Government of Pakistan | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Assessment and Strengthening Program (ASP)?

The Assessment and Strengthening Program (ASP) is a USAID/Pakistan grant opportunity designed to help USAID work more effectively with local Pakistani civil society organizations and Government of Pakistan institutions that are important to USAID development goals but are not yet fully prepared to manage U.S. Government (USG) funds under USAID rules.

2) What is the main goal of ASP?

The main goal is to create a practical, structured mechanism to identify key local partners with capacity gaps and provide targeted support so those partners can meet USAID compliance and management standards and become viable implementers for future USAID-funded activities.

3) Who is ASP intended to support?

ASP is intended to support local Pakistani organizations and Government of Pakistan institutions described as strategically important "key partner organizations" that currently have institutional weaknesses or capacity gaps that prevent them from qualifying for direct USAID funding.

4) What problem is ASP trying to solve?

ASP addresses the reality that many important local partners have capacity gaps that keep them from meeting USAID minimum standards for responsible financial management and administration of USG funds. Instead of excluding these organizations, ASP is designed to strengthen their systems and controls so they can eventually manage donor funding correctly, transparently, and in line with USAID requirements.

5) What are "pre-award surveys" in the context of ASP?

Pre-award surveys are assessments used to evaluate an organization's capacity before USAID provides funding directly to that local entity. Under ASP, these surveys help determine whether an organization meets USAID minimum standards for responsible financial management and administration of USG funds.

6) What do the pre-award surveys assess?

The surveys assess whether an organization meets the minimum standards required for responsible financial management and administration of USG funds, as defined by USAID regulations and procedures.

7) Does ASP exclude organizations that do not meet USAID minimum standards?

No. A core feature of ASP is that it does not simply exclude organizations that fall short in pre-award assessments. Instead, it aims to strengthen internal systems and controls through technical assistance so those organizations can meet USAID standards over time.

8) What kind of support or strengthening does ASP provide?

The announcement indicates targeted technical assistance intended to raise institutional performance to USAID standards. While it does not list every technical assistance area, it strongly implies support in areas USAID typically expects for funding eligibility, such as financial controls, procurement practices, internal governance, documentation, reporting, compliance, and general grants management capacity.

9) Is ASP primarily an assessment program or a capacity-building program?

It is both. ASP uses assessments (pre-award surveys) to identify capacity gaps and then provides strengthening support (technical assistance) to close those gaps so key partners can eventually qualify to manage USAID funds.

10) What type of funding instrument is this opportunity?

This opportunity was issued as a discretionary funding opportunity under a Cooperative Agreement, which means USAID anticipated substantial involvement during implementation rather than a fully hands-off grant.

11) What is the funding activity category for ASP?

The funding activity category is listed as Regional Development.

12) How many awards was USAID expecting to make?

USAID expected to make up to two awards.

13) What was the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding available was $25,000,000.

14) What was the expected size (range) of individual awards?

Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of $12,500,000 up to a ceiling of $25,000,000.

15) Was cost-sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the announcement.

16) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was restricted to Pakistani organizations. The eligible applicant category was noted as "Others" and further clarified as limited to Pakistani entities.

17) Which USAID office issued this opportunity?

The issuing agency was USAID/Pakistan (Islamabad).

18) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 30, 2010.

19) What was the application deadline?

The original and final closing date was April 23, 2010.

20) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was May 23, 2010.

21) What is the practical role of ASP for USAID and local partners?

ASP functions like an enabling platform by identifying strategically important local organizations with capacity gaps and helping close the gaps preventing them from qualifying for direct funding. The intended result is a stronger pool of local organizations that can implement future USAID-funded activities in compliance with USAID requirements.

22) Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?

The contact listed for assistance accessing the full announcement was Ousmane Faye, Contracting/Agreement Officer.

23) What contact details were provided for the listed point of contact?

Phone: 051 208 0000. Email: oufaye@usaid.gov.