Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 688 12 000001
Apply for RFA 688 12 000001
- The Mali USAID Bamako in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Northern Mali Development Program" 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 30, 2012 and posted on Feb 23, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by The RFA is cancelled. USAID will not be accepting applications. Please see the attached RFA amendment number three for details.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $12,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- USAID encourages applications from potential new partners. All Malian and non Malian organizations are encouraged to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Northern Mali Development Program (NOMADE) was a USAID/Mali grant opportunity designed to help stabilize and rebuild northern Mali by linking visible community improvements to peace, reconciliation, and greater trust in government. The program focused on the three northern regions of Tombouctou, Gao, and Kidal, where insecurity, distance, and limited public resources had severely weakened basic service delivery. The central idea was that if communities see practical, near-term improvements in daily life, and if those improvements are planned and carried out with meaningful civic participation, citizens are more likely to view both local communes and the national government as legitimate and responsive.
Programmatically, NOMADE aimed to deliver quick, tangible results through small-scale, high-impact local subprojects. These were expected to address common gaps in essential services such as health facilities, schools, and water access (for example, wells and boreholes). A key feature of the approach was that solutions would not automatically mean building new facilities; the program emphasized diagnosing what is actually missing or preventing services from functioning. In some areas that might mean renovating dilapidated structures rather than constructing from scratch. In others it might mean adding complementary investments that unlock service delivery, such as staff housing to help attract and retain teachers or health workers. It could also include non-construction components like training local management or maintenance committees so that facilities remain functional after the initial investment.
Because even small infrastructure can create long-term financial and maintenance burdens, the opportunity highlighted sustainability and lifecycle costs as a real constraint for communes with limited budgets. Applicants would have been expected to factor in how communities and local authorities would maintain and operate any supported assets over time, rather than leaving communes with obligations they cannot afford.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was issued as a discretionary USAID Request for Applications under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-688-12-000001, with awards intended as a Cooperative Agreement. The activity category was community development, the estimated total funding was $12.5 million, and the stated award floor and ceiling were both $12.5 million, implying a single large award structure in the original design. Cost sharing was not required. USAID encouraged applications from new partners, and eligibility was open to both Malian and non-Malian organizations (with further clarification referenced in the full announcement). The opportunity was posted on February 23, 2012, had an original closing date of April 10, 2012, and an archive date of May 15, 2012.
Most importantly, USAID/Mali later issued Amendment No. 3 (dated 4/30/12) canceling the solicitation. As a result, USAID stated it would not accept applications, and the expected number of awards became zero. Questions about accessing the announcement were directed to Cheick Oumar Coulibaly, Assistance Specialist (phone 202-216-6211).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Northern Mali Development Program (NOMADE) - USAID/Mali
What is the Northern Mali Development Program (NOMADE)?
NOMADE was a USAID/Mali grant opportunity intended to help stabilize and rebuild northern Mali by linking visible community improvements to peace, reconciliation, and increased trust in government.
What problem was NOMADE designed to address?
The opportunity targeted weakened basic service delivery in northern Mali, where insecurity, distance, and limited public resources had significantly undermined essential services.
What regions of Mali were the focus of NOMADE?
The program focused on the three northern regions of Tombouctou, Gao, and Kidal.
What was the core idea behind NOMADE's approach?
The central idea was that practical, near-term improvements in daily life, planned and carried out with meaningful civic participation, could strengthen perceptions that local communes and the national government are legitimate and responsive.
What types of activities or projects were expected under NOMADE?
NOMADE aimed to produce quick, tangible results through small-scale, high-impact local subprojects intended to address gaps in essential services such as health facilities, schools, and water access (including wells and boreholes).
Did NOMADE only fund construction of new facilities?
No. The opportunity emphasized diagnosing what was actually missing or preventing services from functioning. In some cases that could mean renovating existing dilapidated structures rather than building new facilities.
What does "diagnosing what is missing" mean in this opportunity?
It refers to identifying the specific bottlenecks that keep a service from working properly. The solution might be physical repairs, missing complementary infrastructure, or support systems needed to make a facility usable and sustainable.
What are examples of "complementary investments" mentioned in the opportunity?
An example given was staff housing to help attract and retain teachers or health workers, which can unlock service delivery even if the primary facility already exists.
Could NOMADE include non-construction components?
Yes. The opportunity noted that projects could include non-construction elements such as training local management or maintenance committees so supported facilities remain functional after the initial investment.
Why did the opportunity stress sustainability and lifecycle costs?
Because even small infrastructure can create long-term financial and maintenance burdens, especially for communes with limited budgets. Sustainability and lifecycle costs were highlighted as a real constraint.
What were applicants expected to consider regarding long-term operations and maintenance?
Applicants were expected to factor in how communities and local authorities would maintain and operate supported assets over time, rather than leaving communes with obligations they cannot afford.
What type of funding instrument was planned for NOMADE?
The opportunity was issued as a discretionary USAID Request for Applications (RFA), with awards intended to be made as a Cooperative Agreement.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number for NOMADE?
The Funding Opportunity Number was RFA-688-12-000001.
What activity category was NOMADE listed under?
The activity category was community development.
How much funding was USAID expecting to provide?
The estimated total funding was $12.5 million.
What were the award floor and award ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling were stated as $12.5 million, which implied a single large award structure in the original design.
Was cost sharing required for this opportunity?
No. Cost sharing was not required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was open to both Malian and non-Malian organizations, with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement.
Did USAID encourage applications from new partners?
Yes. USAID encouraged applications from new partners.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 23, 2012.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was April 10, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was May 15, 2012.
Was the NOMADE solicitation ultimately awarded?
No. USAID/Mali later issued Amendment No. 3 (dated 4/30/12) canceling the solicitation.
What did the cancellation mean for applications?
USAID stated it would not accept applications after the cancellation.
How many awards were expected after the cancellation?
After the cancellation, the expected number of awards became zero.
Who was the point of contact for questions about accessing the announcement?
Questions about accessing the announcement were directed to Cheick Oumar Coulibaly, Assistance Specialist, at 202-216-6211.
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