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Community Engagement Program (CEP) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled the Community Engagement Program (CEP).

2) Who is the issuing agency and where is it based?

The opportunity was issued by USAID South Sudan, based in Juba, South Sudan.

3) What type of solicitation is this?

It was announced as a discretionary funding opportunity issued as a Request for Applications (RFA).

4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is SOL 668 15 000006.

5) What award instrument will be used?

USAID planned to fund this activity through a Cooperative Agreement.

6) What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?

A Cooperative Agreement indicates USAID expected to be substantially involved during implementation, rather than providing a grant with limited interaction.

7) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is community development.

8) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?

USAID anticipated making a single award under this opportunity.

9) What is the intended duration of the program?

The CEP was designed as a three-year pilot initiative.

10) What is the purpose of the Community Engagement Program (CEP)?

The CEP was intended to shape and guide how USAID engages at the community level in the Republic of South Sudan going forward, using a pilot approach to generate learning and evidence to inform future development interventions.

11) What approach was CEP expected to use at the community level?

The program was expected to use a Community Driven Development (CDD) approach, working with a range of different community types across South Sudan.

12) What does Community Driven Development (CDD) mean in this context?

CDD in this opportunity referred to supporting communities to identify their own priorities and needs, structuring local participation and decision-making, and using assessments alongside community engagement to produce actionable evidence.

13) What role do assessments play in this program?

Structured assessments were expected to be conducted alongside community engagement to generate actionable evidence. The findings were expected to support near-term community engagement work and also inform the design of future USAID development interventions.

14) What kinds of results were expected from the assessments and engagement work?

The information provided indicates results were expected to include clarity on what different communities actually need and how best to work with them, so that CEP learning could inform future USAID programming, while also supporting immediate engagement activities.

15) Who defines the methodology and implementation approach?

USAID planned to outline the program objectives and desired results, but applicants were responsible for proposing the methodology and implementation approach.

16) What did applicants need to explain in their applications?

Applicants needed to explain how they would operationalize CDD in South Sudan, how they would conduct and use assessments, how they would manage community engagement across different contexts, and how they would ensure performance monitoring and accountability.

17) How much flexibility did applicants have in designing the program?

Applicants had room to propose structures, sequencing, tools, and staffing models that fit the country context and the pilot nature of the effort, as long as the approach was sound and cost-effective and aligned with the stated objectives and desired results.

18) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed for this opportunity.

19) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $23,600,000.

20) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling was $23,600,000.

21) What is the award floor for this opportunity?

The award floor was $5,225,000.

22) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broadly open (unrestricted) to many types of legally recognized organizations, including U.S. and non-U.S. NGOs, private businesses, associations, foundations, faith-based organizations, international organizations, colleges and universities, and civic or regional organizations.

23) Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Individuals were not eligible to apply.

24) Do applicants need to be legally recognized entities?

Yes. All applicants had to be legally recognized entities under applicable law.

25) Does USAID encourage consortium applications?

Yes. The opportunity encouraged, but did not require, implementation through a consortium that could include Public International Organizations (PIOs) and local organizations.

26) If a consortium is used, who is responsible for overall implementation and performance?

Even with partners, USAID stated the prime applicant should retain principal responsibility for implementation and for monitoring performance, meaning the lead organization would remain ultimately accountable for delivery, coordination, and results.

27) When was the opportunity posted?

The posted date was April 15, 2015.

28) What was the original closing date, and was it extended?

The original closing date was May 14, 2015, and it was later extended to May 27, 2015.

29) What time zone and local time applied to the submission deadline?

Applications were required to be submitted by 5:00 PM local time in Juba, South Sudan (GMT+3).

30) What was the archive date for the opportunity?

The archive date was June 13, 2015.

31) Who is the listed point of contact for access issues or administrative questions?

The listed contact was John Gemenze, an Agreement Specialist.

32) How can the point of contact be reached?

John Gemenze was listed as reachable by phone at 202-216-6279.