Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 442 13 000004
Apply for RFA 442 13 000004
- The Cambodia USAID Phnom Penh in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Empowering Communities for Health (ECH) Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 13, 2013 and posted on Jul 18, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Open to Cambodian nongovernmental organization (NGOs).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Empowering Communities for Health (ECH) Project was a USAID Phnom Penh discretionary funding opportunity, issued as a cooperative agreement, focused on strengthening community-level health systems in Cambodia. The core purpose of the project was to build up the capacity and effectiveness of Village Health Support Groups (VHSG) by improving their practical skills, tightening their technical connections to Health Centers (HCs), and formally embedding VHSG functions within local government structures so the model could continue beyond the life of donor support. In other words, the opportunity targeted both day-to-day performance improvements at the village level and longer-term governance and sustainability by making VHSG work more institutionalized rather than informal or project-dependent.
The grant emphasized three linked results. First, it aimed to enhance VHSG skills, which typically implies better training, clearer roles and responsibilities, stronger community outreach practices, and improved ability to support health promotion and basic preventive activities. Second, it sought to strengthen technical linkages between VHSG and Health Centers, meaning VHSG were expected to coordinate more effectively with formal health facilities, follow consistent technical guidance, and support referral and follow-up in a way that aligns with the public health system. Third, it aimed to institutionalize VHSG under local government structures, signaling a priority on long-term sustainability, accountability, and integration into existing subnational administration and planning processes rather than operating as a parallel structure.
Administratively, this opportunity was identified as Funding Opportunity Number RFA 442 13 000004 and titled "Empowering Communities for Health (ECH) Project." It was categorized under the Health funding activity area and offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means the funder expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. USAID anticipated making up to three awards under this announcement, with an estimated total funding level of $15,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between an award floor of $10,000,000 and an award ceiling of $15,000,000, indicating relatively large awards intended to support significant program scale or depth.
The solicitation included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were expected to contribute some level of resources (financial and/or in-kind, depending on the specific terms) as part of the project budget structure. Eligibility was limited to Cambodian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as stated in the eligibility information, with the listing noting "Others" and directing readers to additional eligibility details in the full announcement. The agency listed was Cambodia USAID Phnom Penh.
Key dates for the opportunity were also clearly defined. The opportunity was posted on July 18, 2013, with a creation date of August 13, 2013. The original and current closing date were both August 30, 2013, and the archive date was September 29, 2013, indicating the competition is no longer active. For applicants who had issues accessing the full announcement electronically, the contact provided was Honey Sokry, AA Specialist, reachable by phone at 855 23728345, with the opportunity number referenced for clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Empowering Communities for Health (ECH) Project (USAID Phnom Penh)
What is the Empowering Communities for Health (ECH) Project?
The Empowering Communities for Health (ECH) Project was a USAID Phnom Penh discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement. It focused on strengthening community-level health systems in Cambodia by improving the capacity, effectiveness, and sustainability of Village Health Support Groups (VHSG).
What was the main purpose of the ECH Project funding opportunity?
The core purpose was to build up VHSG capacity and day-to-day performance at the village level while also improving long-term governance and sustainability. The opportunity aimed to make VHSG functions more formal and institutionalized (embedded within local government structures) so they could continue beyond donor support.
Which country and health system level did this opportunity focus on?
The opportunity focused on Cambodia and emphasized strengthening health systems at the community (village) level, specifically through VHSG and their connection to Health Centers (HCs).
What were the three key intended results of the ECH Project?
The grant emphasized three linked results: (1) enhancing VHSG skills, (2) strengthening technical linkages between VHSG and Health Centers, and (3) institutionalizing VHSG under local government structures to support sustainability and accountability.
What did "enhancing VHSG skills" mean in the context of this opportunity?
It referred to improving VHSG practical capacity, which typically includes stronger training, clearer roles and responsibilities, better community outreach practices, and improved ability to support health promotion and basic preventive activities.
What did "strengthening technical linkages" between VHSG and Health Centers involve?
It meant VHSG were expected to coordinate more effectively with formal health facilities, follow consistent technical guidance, and support referral and follow-up in a way that aligns with Cambodia's public health system through Health Centers (HCs).
What did it mean to "institutionalize VHSG under local government structures"?
This signaled a priority on long-term sustainability by embedding VHSG functions into local/subnational government structures and planning processes. The goal was to move VHSG work away from being informal or project-dependent and toward being integrated, accountable, and durable within local governance systems.
What type of funding mechanism was used for this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically means the funder (USAID) expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
What was the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The funding activity area was Health.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for the ECH Project?
The Funding Opportunity Number was RFA 442 13 000004.
How many awards did USAID expect to make under this announcement?
USAID anticipated making up to three awards under this announcement.
What was the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding level for the opportunity was $15,000,000.
What was the expected funding range for individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to fall between an award floor of $10,000,000 and an award ceiling of $15,000,000, indicating relatively large awards intended to support significant program scale or depth.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The solicitation included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were expected to contribute resources as part of the project budget structure (the specific terms would be detailed in the full announcement).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to Cambodian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The listing also noted "Others" and directed readers to additional eligibility details in the full announcement.
Which USAID office or agency issued the opportunity?
The agency listed was Cambodia USAID Phnom Penh.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 18, 2013.
What was the creation date listed for the opportunity?
The creation date listed was August 13, 2013.
What was the application closing date?
The original closing date and the current closing date were both August 30, 2013.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity has been archived. The archive date was September 29, 2013, which indicates the competition is no longer active.
Who was the contact person for issues accessing the full announcement electronically?
The contact listed was Honey Sokry, AA Specialist.
How could applicants contact the listed point of contact?
The phone number provided for Honey Sokry was 855 23728345. Applicants were advised to reference the opportunity number for clarity when contacting the office.
What kinds of improvements at the village level were prioritized by this opportunity?
The opportunity prioritized practical performance improvements through stronger VHSG skills and better coordination with Health Centers, alongside long-term improvements by formally embedding VHSG responsibilities within local government structures.
What sustainability approach did the opportunity emphasize?
Sustainability was emphasized through institutionalization: making VHSG functions part of local government structures and planning processes so the VHSG model could continue beyond the life of donor support rather than relying on an informal or project-dependent setup.
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