Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA SOL 306 13 000019
Apply for RFA SOL 306 13 000019
- 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 "Strengthening Political Entities and Civil Society (SPECS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 20, 2013 and posted on Dec 9, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 27, 2013 The application submission date is extended to February 27, 2013 at 430pm local Kabul time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $18,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- 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:
USAID/Afghanistan's Strengthening Political Entities and Civil Society (SPECS) opportunity is a cooperative agreement aimed at improving Afghanistan's electoral and political processes ahead of the 2014 and 2015 elections. Planned to run from 2013 through 2016, the program is designed to help elections be more credible, transparent, and inclusive by strengthening the ability of political actors and civic groups to participate effectively and responsibly. The central idea is to build the practical skills, organizational capacity, and public accountability needed for healthier competition during campaigns and stronger engagement between citizens and political representatives over time.
A major portion of the program focuses on strengthening political entities, defined broadly to include political parties, independent candidates, and coalitions. Activities are intended to help these actors develop and communicate clear political platforms, organize more professionally, and conduct meaningful outreach within their constituencies. This includes training and support that improves planning, internal party development, and campaign readiness, with the goal of helping political stakeholders compete in elections in a way that is more structured, issue-driven, and responsive to community needs. In the pre-election period, the program emphasizes laying the groundwork for credible election events by helping political stakeholders institutionalize planning for future elections, attract supporters, and build durable organizational practices rather than operating only during election seasons.
Another explicit priority is broadening democratic participation, especially for groups that have historically faced barriers to influence. SPECS aims to increase the participation of Afghan citizens in political life, with particular emphasis on youth and women. The program seeks to help political entities not only appeal to women and young voters, but also recruit, retain, and empower them as party leaders and candidates. The listed activities include support for increased participation of women candidates through education efforts, both internal (within parties and political structures) and external (public-facing or community-oriented), alongside other training that helps candidates and parties engage voters more effectively.
Alongside political entity strengthening, the program includes a substantial domestic election monitoring component. USAID plans to work with local Afghan monitoring organizations to train and deploy domestic observers who can monitor election activities. The intent is to strengthen the capacity of these monitoring groups so they can prepare monitoring plans, observe polling and other election processes, and report in a way that supports transparency and public confidence. This component includes not only technical monitoring training, but also organizational and administrative management support so monitoring organizations can operate more effectively and sustainably.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is posted as a pre-solicitation notice under Funding Opportunity Number RFA SOL 306 13 000019, categorized under governance, with an estimated total funding level of $18,000,000 and an expectation of one award. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, and there is a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning applications are open broadly to different types of entities unless further limits are specified in the full Request for Applications. The original notice indicated the full RFA would be advertised shortly, and the application submission deadline was extended to February 27, 2013 at 4:30 pm Kabul local time. The program is also required to be implemented in line with USAID's Political Party Assistance Policy (referenced in the announcement). For access issues related to the full announcement, the contact listed is Sajia Tokhi, Acquisition Assistant, at STokhi@usaid.gov and phone number 301-490-1042 ext. 4994.
FAQs: USAID/Afghanistan Strengthening Political Entities and Civil Society (SPECS)
What is the USAID/Afghanistan SPECS opportunity?
SPECS (Strengthening Political Entities and Civil Society) is a USAID cooperative agreement opportunity intended to improve Afghanistan's electoral and political processes, with a focus on making elections more credible, transparent, and inclusive by strengthening political actors and civic groups.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to build practical skills, organizational capacity, and public accountability among political actors and civic groups so they can participate more effectively and responsibly in electoral competition and in ongoing engagement between citizens and political representatives.
What elections is SPECS intended to support?
SPECS is aimed at strengthening Afghanistan's electoral and political processes ahead of the 2014 and 2015 elections.
What is the planned period of performance for SPECS?
The planned program timeframe is 2013 through 2016.
What types of activities are supported under the political entity strengthening component?
Activities described include training and support to help political entities develop and communicate clear political platforms, organize more professionally, conduct meaningful constituency outreach, improve planning, strengthen internal development, and increase campaign readiness. A stated goal is to encourage structured, issue-driven competition that is responsive to community needs.
How does SPECS define "political entities"?
The notice defines political entities broadly to include political parties, independent candidates, and coalitions.
What does SPECS emphasize in the pre-election period?
Before elections, SPECS emphasizes laying the groundwork for credible election events by helping political stakeholders institutionalize planning for future elections, attract supporters, and build durable organizational practices rather than operating only during election seasons.
Does SPECS include a focus on inclusion and expanding participation?
Yes. An explicit priority is broadening democratic participation, particularly for groups that have historically faced barriers to influence.
Which groups are specifically emphasized for increased participation?
The program places particular emphasis on youth and women, including efforts to increase their participation in political life and strengthen their roles within political entities.
How does SPECS plan to support women and youth within political entities?
The program aims to help political entities appeal to women and young voters and also to recruit, retain, and empower women and youth as party leaders and candidates. The notice mentions support for increased participation of women candidates through education efforts that can be internal (within parties and political structures) and external (public-facing or community-oriented).
Is domestic election monitoring included in the program?
Yes. A substantial domestic election monitoring component is included, with USAID planning to work with local Afghan monitoring organizations to train and deploy domestic observers.
What is the purpose of the domestic election monitoring component?
The intent is to strengthen the capacity of domestic monitoring groups so they can prepare monitoring plans, observe polling and other election processes, and report in ways that support transparency and public confidence.
What kinds of support are described for monitoring organizations?
In addition to technical monitoring training, the notice describes organizational and administrative management support to help monitoring organizations operate more effectively and sustainably.
What is the funding opportunity number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RFA SOL 306 13 000019.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What is the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level is $18,000,000.
How many awards does USAID expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of one award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice states that there is a cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning applications are open broadly to different types of entities unless further limits are specified in the full Request for Applications (RFA).
When was the application deadline, and what time zone applies?
The application submission deadline was extended to February 27, 2013 at 4:30 pm Kabul local time.
What is the status of the notice described?
It is posted as a pre-solicitation notice, and the original notice indicated the full RFA would be advertised shortly.
Under what category is this opportunity listed?
The opportunity is categorized under governance.
Are there policy requirements tied to implementation?
Yes. The program is required to be implemented in line with USAID's Political Party Assistance Policy, which is referenced in the announcement.
Who is the contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The contact listed is Sajia Tokhi, Acquisition Assistant.
How can applicants contact the listed point of contact?
Email: STokhi@usaid.gov. Phone: 301-490-1042 ext. 4994.
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