SPONSORED

Annual Programme Statement (APS) No. 03

Dear Applicant:

USAID’s VukaNow: Combating Wildlife Crime in Southern Africa Activity, implemented by Chemonics International, is seeking concept papers for implementation of activities designed to address a multi-faceted programme that aims to significantly reduce the level of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife through innovative approaches to: enhancing law enforcement capacity, enhancing judiciary systems, minimizing wildlife crimes and illegal trade, enforcing the law more effectively, and reducing the root causes and enablers of wildlife crime. The grants will be awarded and implemented in accordance with USAID and US Government regulations governing grants under contracts, and USAID’s VukaNow internal grant management policies. The funding from this grant shall not provide any direct benefits to the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) or any department, ministry, or organ of the GoZ, including entities or parastatals owned in whole or part by the GoZ unless specifically approved, in advance, in writing by USAID.

For the Annual Programme Statement (APS) containing the application instructions and the associated documents, please follow the GoogleDrive link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rcD73j-dpnihc_hO7hQm8r8GKjCr6O8-?usp=sharing. All applications with supporting documents should be submitted to [email protected] on close of business 5pm local time (South Africa)  September 30 2020.

USAID’s VukaNow and Chemonics employees may not ask for, and applicants are prohibited from offering, any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation to obtain or reward improper favourable treatment regarding this solicitation. Any improper request from a project employee should be reported to the chief of party or [email protected].

The following Annexes are included with this APS:

• Annex A – Grant Concept Paper Template
• Annex B – Grant Budget Template
• Annex C – Implementation Plan Timeline Template
• Annex D – Required Certifications (To be completed and submitted only by selected grantees prior to grant award. These required certifications are provided at this time for informational purposes only.)
• Annex E – Mandatory and Required As Applicable Standard Provisions.

Standard Provisions for Non-US nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) receiving a fixed

amount award can be accessed through the following URL: http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mat.pdf

Standard Provisions for Non-US, nongovernmental recipients receiving all other types of grants

can be accessed through the following URL: http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mab.pdf

          
SECTION I. PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

IA.        OBJECTIVE

USAID’s VukaNow is awarding grants to local, or regional, or international not-for-profit and for-profit NGOs, associations, and private sector firms legally registered and recognised under the laws of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) member country. Preference will be given to NGOs, associations, and firms that have experience working in the geographic footprint of the VukaNow Activity. The objective of grant activities awarded through this APS is to contribute to co-ordination of learning from multiple landscape-based combating wildlife crime activities awarded by USAID and to support strategic regional activities that are necessary to address the wildlife crime challenges that fall outside any discreet landscape.

USAID’s VukaNow is a four-year activity financed by USAID and implemented by Chemonics International. The activity started in March 2018 and is currently anticipated to end in March 2022. The goal of the project is to dramatically decrease wildlife crime across Southern Africa. To achieve this purpose, UVN has two main objectives:

1. Catalyse learning and sharing for improved results to combat wildlife crime
2. Increase collaborative action to reduce wildlife crime in targeted areas.

IB.        BACKGROUND

Wildlife crime is a multi-billion-dollar illicit business that is decimating Africa’s iconic animal populations and undermining the economic prosperity and sustainable development of countries and communities throughout Southern Africa. It threatens the region’s natural capital and undermines sustainable development from legal nature-based enterprises such as tourism. Wildlife crime also threatens social stability and cohesion as it robs and impoverishes citizens of their cultural and natural heritage, while its organised criminal networks threaten regional peace and security.

In response to these threats, USAID/Southern Africa has embarked on a multi-faceted regional programme to address wildlife crime. In March 2018, USAID launched the “USAID’s VukaNow” (UVN) activity to complement six projects in four landscapes across Southern Africa undertaken in partnership with regional bodies. The aim of this region-wide programme is to significantly reduce the level of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife, to enhance law enforcement capacity and promote sustainable utilisation of natural resources.

UVN supports the shared commitments of the US Government (USG), SADC, member states, private sector partners and civil society to significantly decrease wildlife crime across Southern Africa. Its approach is rooted in a theory of change and a fundamental belief that a collective impact model is necessary to achieve USAID’s goal of significantly decreasing wildlife crime across Southern Africa. Broader and more systematised than collaboration alone, collective impact recognises that complex social problems such as wildlife trafficking require intentional cross-sectoral co-ordination rather than isolated, individual efforts to achieve lasting change. UVN promotes four principles needed to achieve collective impact: clarity and alignment of purposes and activities; clear communication; co-creation and progress tracking; and partnership growth and fundraising.

Chemonics and its partners — CollaborateUp and TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network — implement UVN with a collective impact model by working closely with landscape partners to catalyse learning and knowledge sharing among themselves as well as with SADC to implement its Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching (LEAP) strategy. The LEAP strategy objectives are focused on the following areas:

• Enhancing judiciary systems;
• Minimising wildlife crimes and illegal trade;
• Enforcing the law more effectively;
• Promoting sustainable trade and use of natural resources; and
• Reducing the root causes and enablers of wildlife crime.

Geographic focus: UVN specifically focuses on co-ordinating learning from other USAID supported efforts with relevant partners in four priority landscapes: 1) the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA); 2) the north western regions of Namibia; 3) Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area; 4) the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, which includes areas in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

USAID’s VukaNow works closely with the following activities in the region:

Partner	Landscape
World Wildlife Fund US (WWF-US)	Kavango-Zambezi Landscape and Northwest Namibia
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)	Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier landscape
WWF South Africa	Great Limpopo Transfrontier landscape
Sustainable Agricultural Technology	Lowveld areas of Zimbabwe linked to the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Lowveld Rhino Trust	Lowveld areas of Zimbabwe linked to the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area

IC.        PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

Grant activities funded by USAID’s VukaNow must meet the following general criteria.

THEMES

The following themes are open for grant application:

Applicants must indicate the primary theme to which they are applying and describe how the proposed grant activity fulfils the theme.

As USAID VukaNow operates regionally, grantee applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how the proposed activity supports multi-actor collaborations at transboundary levels.

USAID’s VukaNow recognises that some grantees may need technical assistance to more effectively carry out their activities. Consequently, applicants are encouraged to specify their needs for technical assistance and/or training in their application. 

ID.        AUTHORITY/GOVERNING REGULATIONS

USAID’s VukaNow grant awards are made under the authority of the US Foreign Affairs Act and USAID’s Automated Directive System (ADS) 302.3.5.6, “Grants Under Contracts.” Awards made to non-US organisations will adhere to guidance provided under ADS Chapter 303, “Grants and Co-operative Agreements to Non-Governmental Organisations” and will be within the terms of the USAID Standard Provisions as linked in the annexes, as well as the USAID’s VukaNow grants procedures.

ADS 303 references two additional regulatory documents issued by the US Government’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the US Agency for International Development:

-2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Subpart E (US applicants are subject to 2 CFR 200 in its entirety)

-Full text of 2 CFR 200 can be found at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl.  USAID’s VukaNow is required to ensure that all organisations receiving USAID grant funds comply with the guidance found in these circulars, as applicable to the respective terms and conditions of their grant awards.

Under the USAID’s VukaNow grant program, USAID retains the right at all times to terminate, in whole or in part, USAID’s VukaNow grant-making authorities.

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

USAID’s VukaNow anticipates that each grant award may range from between the local currency equivalent of $30 000 and $150 000, but the final amount will be dependent upon grant activities and final negotiation, and may be lower or higher than that range. The duration of any grant award under this solicitation is expected to be no more than 18 months. The estimated start date of grants awarded under this solicitation is variable, depending on when grantees are selected. UVN anticipates that grant implementation will begin within 45 days following grantee selection. The types of grants awarded will be determined during the negotiation process with selected grantees.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY

IIIA.      ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS

• Applicants must be local, regional or international not-for-profit and for-profit NGOs, associations, private sector firms and any firms legally registered under the laws of a SADC member country. Applicants must be formally constituted, recognised by and in good standing with appropriate authorities, and compliant with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations.

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate successful past performance in implementation of programmes related to the priority areas of USAID’s VukaNow.
• Applicants with minimal USG funding exposure are also encouraged to apply.

• Applicants must display sound management in the form of financial, administrative, and technical policies and procedures, and present a system of internal controls that safeguard assets; protect against fraud, waste, and abuse; and support the achievement of programme goals and objectives. USAID’s VukaNow will assess this capability prior to awarding a grant.
• Additionally, grantees must sign the required certifications prior to receiving a grant. The certifications are attached to this solicitation (Annexure E) for informational purposes; USAID’s VukaNow will review them with applicants selected for grant awards.
• For any grant award(s) resulting from this solicitation that is other than in-kind and equivalent to $25 000 or more, grantees will be required to provide a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number at the time of award. If the applicant already has a DUNS number, it should be included in their application. Otherwise, applicants will be expected to get a DUNS number before an award is made. USAID’s VukaNow will assist successful applicants with this process. DUNS numbers can be obtained online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp
• The project will work with the successful grantee to draft a marking and branding plan which will be annexed to the grant agreement.
• Faith-based and community groups will receive equal opportunity for funding in accordance with the mandated guidelines laid out in ADS 303.3.28, except for faith-based organisations whose objectives are for discriminatory and religious purposes, and whose main objective of the grant is of a religious nature.
• Applicants will also be required to provide a list of their current USG funding sources.

USAID’s VukaNow encourages applications from new organisations that meet the above eligibility criteria.