Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 388 12 000007
Apply for RFA 388 12 000007
- The Bangladesh USAID Dhaka in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Climate Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CREL)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 2, 2012 and posted on Apr 2, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2012 Applications shall be due at 1400 hours Bangladesh Local Time on May 30, 2012.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $36,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
Climate Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CREL) is a USAID Bangladesh funding opportunity that aimed to support a five year cooperative agreement focused on strengthening natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in selected regions of Bangladesh while directly addressing climate risks. The core idea behind CREL is to provide hands on technical advisory services and practical assistance to a broad mix of actors, especially community based and co management organizations, alongside relevant Government of Bangladesh ministries and technical agencies. By improving how ecosystems are managed and how benefits are shared, the activity was designed to increase resilience in three connected areas: social resilience for communities, ecological resilience for critical habitats and species, and economic resilience through more stable and sustainable livelihood options.
CREL was positioned as a continuation and evolution of earlier USAID co management efforts in Bangladesh, particularly the Integrated Protected Area Co Management (IPAC) project, the Nishorgo Support Project (NSP), and the Management of Aquatic Ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH) project. While those initiatives helped establish and expand co management approaches, CREL emphasized a clearer and more explicit focus on climate resilience and adaptation. In practice, that meant shifting beyond conventional conservation and governance support toward helping institutions and communities anticipate, plan for, and respond to climate driven stresses such as flooding, salinity, cyclones, changing rainfall patterns, and ecosystem degradation that can undermine both biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
The opportunity described four required components that together define the intended program structure. First, CREL sought improved governance of natural resources and biodiversity, which typically involves strengthening co management systems, clarifying roles and responsibilities among stakeholders, supporting transparent decision making, reducing conflict over resource use, and improving the policy and institutional environment that enables protected areas, wetlands, forests, and other critical ecosystems to be managed effectively. Second, it called for enhanced knowledge and capacity of key stakeholders, recognizing that durable conservation and climate adaptation depend on local and institutional skills. This component points to training, technical support, applied learning, and strengthening the ability of community groups and government counterparts to use data, enforce or follow rules, and implement sound management practices.
The third component focused on strengthened planning and implementation of climate resilient natural resource management and adaptation. This goes beyond building capacity in the abstract and emphasizes taking climate information and risk considerations into real plans, investments, and on the ground actions. It implies helping stakeholders identify vulnerabilities, prioritize adaptation measures, integrate climate considerations into management plans, and implement practical interventions that protect ecosystems while reducing climate related risks to communities that depend on them. The fourth component aimed at improved and diversified livelihoods that are environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change. This reflects the idea that conservation is more likely to succeed when households have viable income options that do not degrade ecosystems and that can better withstand climate shocks. Livelihood diversification can also reduce pressure on sensitive habitats by providing alternatives to overharvesting, unsustainable fishing, or destructive land use.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the award was issued as a discretionary USAID Request for Applications under a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning USAID expected substantial involvement during implementation compared to a more hands off grant. The announcement anticipated a single award, with an estimated funding range between $32.5 million (floor) and $36.5 million (ceiling) over the five year period. Cost sharing or matching was required, so applicants were expected to contribute resources in addition to USAID funding, consistent with the terms in the full solicitation.
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity was open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional conditions in the full application package. The opportunity was posted on April 2, 2012, with applications due by 1400 hours Bangladesh local time on May 30, 2012, and it was later archived on June 29, 2012. The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement at the time, the point of contact was M. Sirajam Munir, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID Dhaka.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Climate Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CREL) - USAID Bangladesh
What is the Climate Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CREL) opportunity?
CREL is a USAID Bangladesh funding opportunity that aimed to support a five-year cooperative agreement focused on strengthening natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in selected regions of Bangladesh while directly addressing climate risks.
What was the main goal of CREL?
The core goal was to strengthen how ecosystems are managed and how benefits are shared so that communities and institutions become more resilient to climate-related risks, while also improving biodiversity conservation outcomes.
What kinds of resilience did CREL aim to improve?
CREL was designed to increase resilience across three connected areas: social resilience for communities, ecological resilience for critical habitats and species, and economic resilience through more stable and sustainable livelihood options.
What approach did CREL emphasize in its work?
CREL emphasized hands-on technical advisory services and practical assistance delivered to a broad mix of actors, especially community-based and co-management organizations, along with relevant Government of Bangladesh ministries and technical agencies.
How did CREL relate to earlier USAID projects in Bangladesh?
CREL was positioned as a continuation and evolution of earlier USAID co-management efforts in Bangladesh, particularly the Integrated Protected Area Co-Management (IPAC) project, the Nishorgo Support Project (NSP), and the Management of Aquatic Ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH) project.
What was different about CREL compared to earlier co-management efforts?
While earlier initiatives helped establish and expand co-management approaches, CREL emphasized a clearer and more explicit focus on climate resilience and adaptation. This included helping institutions and communities anticipate, plan for, and respond to climate-driven stresses that affect ecosystems and livelihoods.
What climate-related stresses was CREL intended to address?
The opportunity described climate-driven stresses such as flooding, salinity, cyclones, changing rainfall patterns, and ecosystem degradation, all of which can undermine biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
How many required components were described for the CREL program structure?
The opportunity described four required components that together defined the intended program structure.
What was the first required component of CREL?
The first component sought improved governance of natural resources and biodiversity. This typically involves strengthening co-management systems, clarifying roles and responsibilities among stakeholders, supporting transparent decision-making, reducing conflict over resource use, and improving the policy and institutional environment needed for effective ecosystem management.
What was the second required component of CREL?
The second component focused on enhanced knowledge and capacity of key stakeholders, recognizing that long-term conservation and climate adaptation depend on local and institutional skills. This points to training, technical support, applied learning, and strengthening the ability of community groups and government counterparts to use data, follow or enforce rules, and implement sound management practices.
What was the third required component of CREL?
The third component focused on strengthened planning and implementation of climate-resilient natural resource management and adaptation. It emphasized integrating climate information and risk considerations into real plans, investments, and on-the-ground actions, including identifying vulnerabilities, prioritizing adaptation measures, integrating climate considerations into management plans, and implementing practical interventions.
What was the fourth required component of CREL?
The fourth component aimed at improved and diversified livelihoods that are environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change. The opportunity framed this as important because conservation is more likely to succeed when households have viable income options that do not degrade ecosystems and that can withstand climate shocks.
What funding mechanism did USAID use for CREL?
The award was issued as a discretionary USAID Request for Applications under a cooperative agreement mechanism. This means USAID expected substantial involvement during implementation compared to a more hands-off grant.
Was USAID expecting to make one award or multiple awards?
The announcement anticipated a single award.
What was the anticipated funding range for CREL?
The estimated funding range was between $32.5 million (floor) and $36.5 million (ceiling) over the five-year period.
How long was the planned period of performance?
The opportunity was focused on a five-year cooperative agreement.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, so applicants were expected to contribute resources in addition to USAID funding, consistent with the terms in the full solicitation.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity was open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional conditions included in the full application package.
What was the CFDA number associated with CREL?
The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 2, 2012.
What was the application deadline and time zone?
Applications were due by 1400 hours Bangladesh local time on May 30, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was later archived on June 29, 2012.
Who was the point of contact for accessing the full announcement?
The point of contact listed was M. Sirajam Munir, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID Dhaka.
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