Working with USAID

1
Working with USAID

• Opportunities
• for Higher Education

2
I. The Way USAID Works Implications for Higher
Education
3
Main Program Areas

• USAID advances US foreign policy objectives
• by supporting work in three program areas
• ECONOMIC GROWTH, AGRICULTURE AND TRADE
• - Education (Basic, Primary, Secondary)
• GLOBAL HEALTH
• DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT PREVENTION AND HUMANITARIAN
  ASSISTANCE

4
B. Field Mission Structure

• CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
• Although headquartered in Washington, DC
• the Agency operates first and foremost
• through its overseas Missions.

5
C. Implications of Mission Structure

• Primary USAID/W Role
• Support Missions
• Primary Means
• Procurement Mechanisms
• Technical Assistance

6
D. Implications of Mission Structure

• Primary Client
• Mission
• Primary Considerations
• Mission Objectives and Processes
• (See later slides)

7
E. Implications for Higher Education Institution
Proposals

• Focus on Mission Needs
• How will the development of local institutional
  capacity help USAIDs work, in particular the
  work of the Mission? So what?
• What specific Mission strategic objectives and
  results are effectively served by the proposed
  activity? So what?
• (See Section II below)

8
II. Opportunities for Higher Education

• What are the ways in which USAID provides
  funding to higher education institutions and
  programs?

9
Opportunities for Higher Education

• USAID/W Mechanisms
• EGAT/ED ALO/ACE Agreement
• Regional Bureau RFPs and RFAs
• Technical Bureau RFPs and RFAs
• Other
• Mission RFPs and RFAs
• Unsolicited Proposals
• (See later slides for specifics)

10

• A. USAID/W Mechanisms

11
1. USAID Agreement with ALO/ACE
12
USAID EGAT/ED ALO/ACE

• Annual Grants Competition
• Special Solicitations
• Mission
• MEPI
• EDDI
• Special Initiatives (Thematic)
• Technical Assistance Requests
• Research Requests

13
ALO Proposal GuidelinesRecall USAID Structure

• Focus on Mission Needs
• How will the development of local institutional
  capacity help USAIDs work, in particular the
  work of the Mission? So what?
• What specific Mission strategic objectives and
  results are effectively served by the proposed
  activity? So what?
• (See Section II below)

14
2. USAID/W Mechanisms (cont)Regional
Technical BureauRFPs RFAs
15
RFPs RFAs

• Where to find them
• http//www.usaid.gov/business/
• http//www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportuniti
  es/
• http//www.fbo.gov
• (Solicitation Examples)
• (Activity Examples)

16

• A. Mission Mechanisms
• RFAs RFPs

17
RFPs RFAs

• Where to find them
• http//www.usaid.gov/business/
• http//www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportuniti
  es/
• http//www.fbo.gov
• (Solicitation Examples)
• (Activity Examples)

18
Mission RFPs

• Example
• LocationKazakhstan USAID-Almaty
• PostedMay 04, 2004
• Type Synopsis TitleR -- ECONOMICS AND
  BUSINESS EDUCATION IN CENTRAL ASIA
  SOLEF176-04-006
• PostedMay 04, 2004
• Type DRAFT RFP EF176-04-006 01 TitleR -
  ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS EDUCATION IN CENTRAL ASIA
  SOLEF176-04-006

19
Examples

• Description of a Mission HE Activity
• (Recently issued RFP for Macedonia)

20
III. WORKING WITH MISSIONS

• The Absolute Essentials
• Strategic Plans
• Strategic Planning Cycles
• Strategic Objectives
• Intermediate Results
• Proposal Development

21
A. Strategic Plans Planning Cycles

• What are USAIDs strategic objectives and why
  should I care?
• How does the Strategic Planning cycle help me
  with proposal development?
• Where can I find out about Mission planning
  cycles?

22
What are USAIDs strategic objectives and why
should I care?

• Development objectives and goals against which
  all funding decisions must be measured and
  legitimated (via intermediate results and
  related indicators).
• Organizational objectives and goals against which
  personnel will be evaluated.
• Performance objectives and goals by which
  Congress holds Agency accountable.

23
What are USAIDs strategic objectives and why
should I care?

• Examples of Strategic Objectives and Intermediate
  Results
• Agency vs. Mission SOs

24
Sample Strategic Objectives and Intermediate
Results

• Mali Health
• Strategic Objective Increased use of proven,
  effective services in child survival and
  reproductive health, by motivating and empowering
  individuals and communities to take greater
  control of their health.
• Morocco
• http//www.usaid.gov/ma/USAIDMoroccoCSP200420
  08.pdf

25
What are USAIDs strategic objectives and why
should I care?

• Considerations
• Does your proposed activity advance the
  intermediate results and strategic objectives
  against which all funding decisions will be made?
  Does it do so more effectively than other options
  available to the Mission?
• Does your proposed activity provide personnel
  with the opportunity to achieve SOs and IRs more
  effectively than other options?

26
How does the Strategic Planning cycle help me
with proposal development?

• Timing, timing, timing
• Anticipate
• Client focus

27
Where can I find out about Mission planning
cycles?

• Insert Contact info/link
• Handout
• Excel TableMission Planning Cycles

28
III. Working with Missions (cont)

• B. Proposal Development
• Suggestions and Guidance

29
Proposal Development Key Considerations Revisited

• Considerations
• Does your proposed activity advance the
  intermediate results and strategic objectives
  against which all funding decisions will be made?
  Does it do so more effectively than other options
  available to the Mission?
• Does your proposed activity provide personnel
  with the opportunity to achieve SOs and IRs more
  effectively than other options?

30
Proposal Development Key Considerations Revisited

• Considerations (cont)
• Does your proposed activity correspond to the
  Congressional Budget Justification and advance
  the objectives and programs and priorities set
  out in the CBJ? Does it do so more effectively
  than other options available to the Mission?
• Does your proposed activity parallel, support,
  and add value to the program activities set forth
  in the Mission Strategic Plan? Does it do so
  more effectively than other options?

31
Monitoring, Assessing Learning

• Mutual Interest
• Critical to Resource Acquisition
• Demonstrating Comparative Value

32
How important are indicators and how do I develop
them in my proposal?(Discussion)
33
What three questions should I keep asking as we
frame a proposal for USAID consideration?

• 1. So what?
• 2. How will the development of local
• institutional capacity help USAIDs
• work, in particular the work of the
• Mission? So what?
• 3. What specific Mission strategic
• objectives and results are effectively
• served by the proposed activity? So
• what?

34
How should I approach Missions?

• Strategically
• 1. Advance notice
• 2. Planning Cycle
• Timing
• 3. Coordinate
• w/partners
• 4. Think Marketing

35
How should I approach Missions?

• Logistics
• 1. Desk Officers
• 2. Program Officers
• 3. SO Team Leaders
• 4. Via partners in
• country
• 5. EGAT/ED Higher
• Education Team

36
Who may I contact with questions?