Opportunity Information: Apply for USAID W OAA GRO LMA 11 033613
Apply for USAID W OAA GRO LMA 11 033613
- The Agency for International Development in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Democratic Engagement at the Community Level" 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 Jul 13, 2011 and posted on Jun 13, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 25, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The USAID grant opportunity titled Democratic Engagement at the Community Level is a discretionary funding program run by USAID's Latin America and Caribbean bureau, specifically the Office of Cuban Affairs, aimed at strengthening democratic participation in Cuba through practical, community-driven projects. USAID planned to make multiple cooperative agreement awards (expected: 2) to support a Community Engagement Program designed to expand the capacity of independent civil society groups to work directly with neighborhoods and local communities. The program emphasizes helping communities identify their own needs, set priorities, and complete independent, nonpartisan self-help projects that demonstrate what people can accomplish without relying on the state. USAID framed these small, tangible community wins as a pathway to building confidence, leadership, and longer-term democratic habits at the grassroots level.
Funding was structured with an estimated total of $9,000,000 across the program, with about $3,000,000 anticipated for the first year (subject to availability of funds). Individual awards were expected to fall between an award floor of $1,000,000 and an award ceiling of $9,000,000. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA number listed was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The opportunity was posted June 13, 2011, created July 13, 2011, and had a closing date that moved from July 18, 2011 to July 25, 2011, with an archive date of August 31, 2011. Eligible applicants included US-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding universities), as well as public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.
At the center of the program is support for independent Civil Society Groups (CSGs), both existing organizations and emerging groups with the potential to become stronger civic actors. USAID envisioned implementers working with a broad range of community-based partners such as independent neighborhood groups, producer associations, cooperatives, water user groups, professional associations, church groups, and sports clubs. The target CSGs were expected to show interest in democratic principles and citizen roles, willingness to help communities carry out community-based activities, and some experience (or at least readiness) in identifying and organizing projects that communities can plan and implement themselves. A key theme throughout the announcement is flexibility: applicants were encouraged to adapt to local opportunities, seek early visible successes, and operate creatively in a politically closed and challenging environment.
The program design combines training, mentoring, and hands-on project implementation. Implementers were expected to build the organizational strength of CSGs by improving administrative systems, financial management, outreach, communications, and general implementation capacity. In parallel, they were expected to train community members in civic rights and responsibilities, participatory development methods, and citizen oversight of local projects. USAID emphasized that training should not be purely classroom-based; it should be reinforced with technical assistance and mentoring so that both CSGs and communities can apply what they learn while selecting and delivering real projects. The idea is that practical collaboration on community priorities becomes the mechanism through which leadership skills develop, trust grows, and democratic participation becomes more normal and achievable.
USAID did not mandate a single implementation model, but it did lay out the kinds of planning details it wanted to see in applications to judge whether an applicant understood the Cuban context and had a workable approach. Applicants were asked to explain how they would select CSG partners, including whether they had an assessment method to gauge leadership, management, organizational strength, planning capacity, and financial controls. They also needed to explain how they would choose communities, what criteria would signal readiness and likelihood of success, and how they would tailor support depending on whether a community or CSG had prior exposure to international assistance. Another required element was a realistic plan for building confidence and trust: how the implementer would establish relationships with local leaders and members, how long that might take, and what activities would sustain trust over time. Finally, applicants were expected to name the tools or methodologies they would use for participatory problem identification, project selection, and implementation, including whether those tools would need testing or adaptation before being rolled out widely.
The announcement also describes what USAID considers common features of successful small-grants community programs. These include meaningful community participation in diagnosing problems and designing subprojects; some form of local contribution (labor, materials, land, or cash) to reinforce ownership; transparent budgeting that clearly separates what the community provides from what the US government provides; and a preference for smaller starter projects in new communities so people can build confidence through quick, visible wins. USAID highlighted the value of selecting projects that benefit the whole community, can be completed quickly, and have tangible results, while staying nonpartisan in purpose and carried out by nonpartisan groups. Another repeated point is expansion: projects may begin with a small core of participants but should quickly grow to include more residents to broaden support and strengthen social capital.
In terms of staffing and sourcing expertise, USAID encouraged building on previous US government efforts in Cuba by re-engaging individuals or groups that had successfully participated in earlier community development programs, if available. The program also anticipated using Cuban technical assistance organizations and personnel where possible, but it allowed for bringing in community and organizational development experts from other Latin American countries if sufficient expertise was not accessible inside Cuba. This reflects the practical needs of delivering training and mentorship while navigating constraints in-country.
Expected outcomes were framed around independence, capability, and democratic practice at the local level. USAID expected assisted communities and groups to complete self-help projects without government assistance, strengthen leadership skills through hands-on project delivery, and build confidence and social capital as they learn and apply participatory methods. Over time, communities were expected to move from smaller projects to larger ones as their abilities grow. On the democratic side, the program aimed to increase understanding of democratic principles and procedures by giving people opportunities to practice citizen participation, decision-making, and oversight in real community initiatives. USAID also anticipated a demonstration effect, where initially passive communities would be influenced by the visible successes of participating communities and later become active implementers themselves. Finally, participating CSGs were expected to emerge stronger, better organized, and more capable of serving as local catalysts for participatory development and civic engagement.
For administrative contact, the announcement listed Paul Burford, Contract Specialist, with phone number 202-567-5303, for applicants who had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the name of this USAID funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Democratic Engagement at the Community Level.
Which USAID office is running this program?
It is a discretionary funding program run by USAID's Latin America and Caribbean bureau, specifically the Office of Cuban Affairs.
What is the main purpose of the opportunity?
The program is aimed at strengthening democratic participation in Cuba through practical, community-driven projects. It focuses on helping communities identify their own needs, set priorities, and complete independent, nonpartisan self-help projects that demonstrate what people can accomplish without relying on the state.
What type of award was USAID expecting to make?
USAID planned to make multiple cooperative agreement awards.
How many awards were expected?
USAID expected to make 2 awards (anticipated).
What program or approach were awardees expected to implement?
Awardees were expected to support a Community Engagement Program designed to expand the capacity of independent civil society groups to work directly with neighborhoods and local communities.
What kinds of activities does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes community-led priority setting and delivery of small, tangible, nonpartisan self-help projects, paired with training, mentoring, and hands-on technical assistance so civil society groups and community members can apply participatory methods while implementing real projects.
What is the total estimated funding amount for the program?
The estimated total funding was $9,000,000 across the program.
How much funding was anticipated for the first year?
About $3,000,000 was anticipated for the first year, subject to availability of funds.
What was the expected award size range per cooperative agreement?
Individual awards were expected to range from an award floor of $1,000,000 to an award ceiling of $9,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed was 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included:
- US-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding universities)
- Public/state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Are universities eligible?
Institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private) were listed as eligible. However, the notice specified that US-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status were eligible excluding universities under that nonprofit category.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted June 13, 2011 and created July 13, 2011.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date moved from July 18, 2011 to July 25, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed was August 31, 2011.
Who are the primary intended local partners or beneficiaries?
The program centers on supporting independent Civil Society Groups (CSGs), including both existing organizations and emerging groups with the potential to become stronger civic actors.
What kinds of community-based partners were envisioned?
USAID envisioned implementers working with a broad range of community-based partners, such as independent neighborhood groups, producer associations, cooperatives, water user groups, professional associations, church groups, and sports clubs.
What qualities were expected of target Civil Society Groups (CSGs)?
Target CSGs were expected to show interest in democratic principles and citizen roles, willingness to help communities carry out community-based activities, and some experience (or readiness) in identifying and organizing projects that communities can plan and implement themselves.
Did USAID require a single fixed implementation model?
No. USAID did not mandate a single implementation model, and repeatedly emphasized flexibility to adapt to local opportunities and operate creatively in a politically closed and challenging environment.
What types of capacity-building for CSGs were expected?
Implementers were expected to strengthen CSG organizational capacity by improving administrative systems, financial management, outreach, communications, and general implementation capacity.
What training topics for communities were emphasized?
Training was expected to cover civic rights and responsibilities, participatory development methods, and citizen oversight of local projects.
Was training expected to be classroom-only?
No. USAID emphasized that training should not be purely classroom-based and should be reinforced with technical assistance and mentoring so participants can apply what they learn while selecting and delivering real projects.
What planning details did USAID want applicants to explain about selecting CSG partners?
Applicants were asked to explain how they would select CSG partners, including whether they had an assessment method to gauge leadership, management, organizational strength, planning capacity, and financial controls.
What planning details did USAID want applicants to explain about selecting communities?
Applicants were asked to explain how they would choose communities, what criteria would signal readiness and likelihood of success, and how support would be tailored depending on whether a community or CSG had prior exposure to international assistance.
What did USAID say about building trust and relationships?
Applicants were expected to present a realistic plan for building confidence and trust, including how relationships with local leaders and members would be established, how long that might take, and what activities would sustain trust over time.
What tools or methods did USAID expect applicants to describe?
Applicants were expected to name the tools or methodologies they would use for participatory problem identification, project selection, and implementation, including whether tools would need testing or adaptation before wide rollout.
What did USAID describe as common features of successful small-grants community programs?
USAID highlighted features such as meaningful community participation in diagnosing problems and designing subprojects; some form of local contribution (labor, materials, land, or cash) to reinforce ownership; and transparent budgeting that clearly separates what the community provides from what the US government provides.
Did USAID prefer certain types of projects for new communities?
Yes. USAID expressed a preference for smaller starter projects in new communities so people can build confidence through quick, visible wins.
What project characteristics were encouraged?
Projects were encouraged to benefit the whole community, be completed quickly, and have tangible results, while remaining nonpartisan in purpose and carried out by nonpartisan groups.
What did USAID say about participation and expansion within communities?
Projects could begin with a small core of participants, but were expected to expand quickly to include more residents to broaden support and strengthen social capital.
What did USAID suggest about staffing and sourcing expertise?
USAID encouraged building on previous US government efforts in Cuba by re-engaging individuals or groups that had successfully participated in earlier community development programs (if available). The program anticipated using Cuban technical assistance organizations and personnel where possible, and allowed bringing in experts from other Latin American countries if sufficient expertise was not accessible inside Cuba.
What outcomes did USAID expect at the community level?
Expected outcomes included communities completing self-help projects without government assistance, strengthening leadership skills through hands-on project delivery, and building confidence and social capital through participatory methods. Over time, communities were expected to move from smaller projects to larger ones as their abilities grow.
What outcomes did USAID expect related to democratic participation?
The program aimed to increase understanding of democratic principles and procedures by giving people opportunities to practice citizen participation, decision-making, and oversight through real community initiatives.
What is the "demonstration effect" mentioned in the announcement?
USAID anticipated that visible successes in participating communities could influence initially passive communities, encouraging them to become active implementers themselves later.
What outcomes were expected for participating Civil Society Groups (CSGs)?
Participating CSGs were expected to emerge stronger, better organized, and more capable of serving as local catalysts for participatory development and civic engagement.
Who is the administrative contact listed for help accessing the full announcement?
The administrative contact listed was Paul Burford, Contract Specialist, phone 202-567-5303, for applicants who had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.
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