Opportunity Information: Apply for 72063622RFA00001
USAID issued this Notice of Funding Opportunity for a cooperative agreement called Civic Engagement in Local Governance for Accountability (CELGA) in Sierra Leone. The activity is designed to strengthen the relationship between citizens and local government by reinforcing what is often described as the social contract: citizens engage, participate, and hold leaders to account, while local authorities respond with better, fairer, and more transparent services. The program is focused on scaling up initiatives that have already shown success, rather than starting entirely from scratch, and it aims to connect local governance work with relevant national-level institutions, civil society organizations, and everyday community members.
The central goals of CELGA are twofold. First, the program seeks to increase citizens participation in local government and political processes. In practice, that points to efforts that help people understand how local governance works, create practical ways for them to contribute to decisions, and reduce barriers that keep women, youth, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups from being heard. Second, the program aims to improve the delivery of critical services by local governance institutions by making decision-making and service delivery processes more transparent and accountable to citizens. This implies support for mechanisms that let communities see how decisions are made, how funds are used, what standards services should meet, and how complaints or feedback can be safely raised and acted upon.
The opportunity is a discretionary award and uses a cooperative agreement, which typically means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. The legal authority for the funding is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. USAID stated that it intends to make one award and will select the applicant that best meets the objectives described in the NOFO, based on the published merit review criteria and a risk assessment. In other words, a strong technical proposal is necessary, but USAID will also consider the applicants organizational capacity and risk factors before finalizing an award.
Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to any qualified entity (for example, nonprofits, NGOs, private firms, universities, or other organizations), subject to any clarifications included in the full NOFO. The opportunity is managed under USAID (Agency for International Development) with the listing showing USAID-Conakry, and the CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) is 98.001. Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number 72063622RFA00001, an award ceiling of $3,500,000, and an expectation of one award. The opportunity was posted May 18, 2022, with an original closing date of June 27, 2022.
Overall, CELGA is positioned as a governance and accountability effort centered at the local level, aiming to deepen civic participation while also improving how local institutions plan, manage, and deliver services in ways citizens can observe, question, and influence. The intent is not only to improve government performance, but also to make that performance more visible and answerable to the communities it serves, which USAID frames as essential to building public trust and a more responsive local governance system in Sierra Leone.Apply for 72063622RFA00001
- The Agency for International Development, Guinea USAID-Conakry in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Civic Engagement in Local Governance for Accountability (CELGA) in Sierra Leone" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,500,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Civic Engagement in Local Governance for Accountability (CELGA), Sierra Leone
1) What is the CELGA funding opportunity?
CELGA stands for Civic Engagement in Local Governance for Accountability. It is a USAID Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a cooperative agreement in Sierra Leone. The activity is designed to strengthen the relationship between citizens and local government by reinforcing the "social contract" where citizens engage and hold leaders accountable, and local authorities respond with better, fairer, and more transparent services.
2) What problem is CELGA trying to address?
CELGA is intended to improve how citizens and local government interact. It focuses on increasing meaningful civic engagement and making local decision-making and service delivery more transparent and accountable, so communities can better understand, question, and influence local governance and public services.
3) What are the main goals of the CELGA program?
CELGA has two central goals:
- Increase citizens participation in local government and political processes.
- Improve the delivery of critical services by local governance institutions by making decision-making and service delivery processes more transparent and accountable to citizens.
4) What does "increase citizens participation" mean in practice under CELGA?
Based on the NOFO description, this points to efforts that help people understand how local governance works, create practical ways for citizens to contribute to decisions, and reduce barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from being heard, including women, youth, people with disabilities, and others.
5) What does "improve service delivery through transparency and accountability" mean under CELGA?
It implies support for mechanisms that allow communities to see how decisions are made, how funds are used, what standards services should meet, and how complaints or feedback can be safely raised and acted upon by local governance institutions.
6) Is CELGA meant to start new initiatives or expand existing ones?
CELGA is focused on scaling up initiatives that have already shown success rather than starting entirely from scratch. The intent is to build on proven approaches and expand them.
7) Does CELGA focus only on local-level work, or does it connect to national institutions too?
While CELGA is centered on local governance, it also aims to connect local governance work with relevant national-level institutions, civil society organizations, and everyday community members.
8) What type of award is USAID offering for CELGA?
This is a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.
9) What does USAID "substantial involvement" generally indicate for implementation?
In this opportunity, it indicates that USAID anticipates being actively engaged during implementation (more than under a standard grant). The specific form of that involvement would be defined under the cooperative agreement framework described in the NOFO.
10) What is the legal authority for this funding opportunity?
The legal authority is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
11) How many awards does USAID plan to make under this NOFO?
USAID stated it intends to make one award.
12) What is the award ceiling for CELGA?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $3,500,000.
13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for CELGA?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 72063622RFA00001.
14) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing number is 98.001 (formerly commonly referred to as CFDA).
15) Who is managing this opportunity within the U.S. Government?
The opportunity is managed under USAID (Agency for International Development). The listing shows USAID-Conakry.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to any qualified entity, such as nonprofits, NGOs, private firms, universities, or other organizations, subject to any clarifications included in the full NOFO.
17) Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean any organization can apply automatically?
It means the competition is open broadly, but applicants still must be qualified and must follow any clarifications or requirements included in the full NOFO.
18) How will USAID choose the recipient?
USAID will select the applicant that best meets the objectives described in the NOFO, based on the published merit review criteria and a risk assessment.
19) What is the role of the risk assessment in selection?
Beyond having a strong technical proposal, USAID will also consider organizational capacity and risk factors before finalizing an award.
20) When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The NOFO was posted on May 18, 2022, with an original closing date of June 27, 2022.
21) What kinds of outcomes is CELGA ultimately aiming for in Sierra Leone?
CELGA is positioned as a governance and accountability effort aimed at deepening civic participation and improving how local institutions plan, manage, and deliver services in ways citizens can observe, question, and influence. USAID frames this as essential to building public trust and a more responsive local governance system in Sierra Leone.
22) What does CELGA mean by reinforcing the "social contract"?
In this context, reinforcing the social contract means strengthening expectations and behaviors on both sides: citizens engage, participate, and hold leaders to account, while local authorities respond by delivering better, fairer, and more transparent services.
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