Opportunity Information: Apply for AID RFA 641 14 000009
Apply for AID RFA 641 14 000009
- 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 "USAID/GHANAS STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS PROJECT" 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 May 23, 2014 and posted on May 23, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,340,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,340,000.00 in funding.
- 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/Ghanas Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms Project (GSAM) is a democracy and governance cooperative agreement aimed at improving local governance performance in a decentralized government setting by making accountability more practical and enforceable at the local level. The opportunity is grounded in the idea that when citizens can reliably access information about local government decisions and results, they are better positioned to monitor officials, reduce opportunities for corruption, and push for better delivery of basic public services. USAID frames accountability as a key driver of better development outcomes because it can change the incentives of local politicians and technocrats, encouraging stronger effort, reduced corruption, and improved allocation and execution of development spending. Over time, these shifts are expected to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness of local capital budgeting and implementation, while also strengthening public confidence in the quality of governance.
A central feature of the broader GSAM initiative is the intention to generate evidence on what works, including the use of a randomized control trial design for a potential impact evaluation that can credibly identify cause-and-effect relationships between accountability interventions and changes in governance and service delivery. This emphasis signals that the program is not only meant to implement activities, but also to produce rigorous learning about how different accountability approaches, including hierarchical and social accountability, influence local government behavior and citizen outcomes.
Although the overall GSAM project is described as having three components, applicants under this specific opportunity are explicitly limited to implementing Component 2 only. Component 2 focuses on improving accountability through bottom-up social accountability mechanisms within local governance. In practical terms, this means strengthening the ability of citizens and civil society to observe, document, and act on information about how well local government-funded development projects are planned and carried out, particularly those financed through local government capital budgets.
Component 2 activities emphasize increasing both the quality and the volume of information available to the public regarding the effectiveness of local development investments. The approach includes extensive civil society monitoring of development projects, the production of scorecards that summarize performance and results in a form that communities can understand and use, and public information campaigns designed to mobilize citizens to engage with the scorecards. The underlying theory is that when communities have credible, accessible performance information and are encouraged to use it collectively, they can more effectively demand improvements in local development planning, budgeting decisions, and execution, creating ongoing pressure for better governance and service delivery.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Funding Opportunity Number AID-RFA-641-14-000009. It anticipated a single award with an estimated total funding amount of $9,340,000, with the award floor and ceiling both listed as $9,340,000, indicating a single fixed-size award expectation. The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID would likely expect substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. Cost sharing or matching was not required, and eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted on May 23, 2014, and the closing date was July 7, 2014. For access issues with the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Matthew Cullinane, Assistance Officer, at 202-621-1276.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the USAID/Ghana Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms (GSAM) opportunity?
It is a USAID democracy and governance cooperative agreement focused on improving local governance performance in a decentralized government setting by making accountability more practical and enforceable at the local level.
What problem is GSAM trying to address?
The opportunity is grounded in the idea that when citizens can reliably access information about local government decisions and results, they are better positioned to monitor officials, reduce opportunities for corruption, and push for better delivery of basic public services.
How does USAID describe the role of accountability in development outcomes?
USAID frames accountability as a key driver of better development outcomes because it can change the incentives of local politicians and technocrats, encouraging stronger effort, reduced corruption, and improved allocation and execution of development spending.
What longer-term results does the project expect from stronger accountability?
Over time, the opportunity expects improvements in the effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness of local capital budgeting and implementation, along with stronger public confidence in the quality of governance.
Is this opportunity about implementation only, or also about learning and evidence?
It is intended to implement activities and to generate evidence on what works, including an emphasis on a randomized control trial design for a potential impact evaluation to identify cause-and-effect relationships between accountability interventions and changes in governance and service delivery.
What kinds of accountability approaches are referenced?
The description references learning about how different accountability approaches, including hierarchical accountability and social accountability, influence local government behavior and citizen outcomes.
Which GSAM component can applicants implement under this specific opportunity?
Applicants under this opportunity are explicitly limited to implementing Component 2 only.
What is the focus of Component 2?
Component 2 focuses on improving accountability through bottom-up social accountability mechanisms within local governance.
What does "bottom-up social accountability" mean in this context?
In practical terms, it means strengthening the ability of citizens and civil society to observe, document, and act on information about how well local government-funded development projects are planned and carried out, particularly those financed through local government capital budgets.
What types of activities are emphasized under Component 2?
Component 2 emphasizes increasing both the quality and the volume of information available to the public regarding the effectiveness of local development investments. The approach includes civil society monitoring of development projects, producing scorecards that summarize performance and results in a community-usable format, and public information campaigns designed to mobilize citizens to engage with the scorecards.
What are "scorecards" in this opportunity?
Scorecards are described as products that summarize performance and results in a form that communities can understand and use, helping citizens engage with information about local development investments and project implementation.
Why are public information campaigns part of the approach?
The public information campaigns are designed to mobilize citizens to engage with the scorecards, supporting collective use of credible and accessible performance information to demand improvements in planning, budgeting decisions, and execution.
What is the underlying theory of change for Component 2?
The theory is that when communities have credible, accessible performance information and are encouraged to use it collectively, they can more effectively demand improvements in local development planning, budgeting decisions, and execution, creating ongoing pressure for better governance and service delivery.
What agency issued this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically USAID/Ghana.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is AID-RFA-641-14-000009.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for project implementation?
Based on the description, a cooperative agreement means USAID would likely expect substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $9,340,000.
What were the award floor and ceiling amounts?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling were listed as $9,340,000, indicating a single fixed-size award expectation.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 23, 2014.
What was the closing date for submissions?
The closing date was July 7, 2014.
Who should be contacted for access issues with the full announcement?
For access issues with the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Matthew Cullinane, Assistance Officer, at 202-621-1276.
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