USAID RFP: Institutional Capacity Building for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning in Health Programs

This USAID RFP is a critical opportunity for local health organizations to directly access funding for strengthening their M&E systems. The call is part of USAID's broader Local Capacity Strengthening Policy, which aims to shift from sub-award relationships to direct partnerships with local entities. The RFP specifically targets organizations that currently administer health programs but have gaps in M&E, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. The funding is intended to cover costs for upgrading data management infrastructure, training staff, developing standard operating procedures, and establishing learning agendas. The urgency is high because the deadline is July 1, 2026, and preparation requires significant time for organizational assessments, consortium building, and proposal writing. The RFP is unique in that it does not prescribe specific health areas but rather supports organizations in strengthening systems that can be applied across any health focus, such as maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, malaria, or nutrition. This flexibility allows applicants to tailor their proposals to their current programs and contexts. The grant is expected to be awarded to multiple recipients across different regions, with individual awards ranging from $1 million to $5 million for up to five years. USAID encourages innovative approaches, such as digital health tools and community-based monitoring. The RFP requires a co-investment from the applicant in the form of staff time or in-kind contributions. A key aspect is that the proposal must include a theory of change showing how M&E improvements lead to better health outcomes. The evaluation criteria weigh technical approach (40%), organizational capacity (30%), management plan (20%), and cost (10%). Thus, a strong technical narrative is essential. GSLI's courses in M&E and financial management can directly strengthen the organizational capacity score. Additionally, the proposal must demonstrate how the organization will sustain the systems after the grant period, which is where GSLI's fundraising and resource mobilization training becomes valuable. Overall, this RFP is a stepping stone for local organizations to become independent and competitive recipients of international aid, reducing reliance on intermediaries.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This opportunity is designed for local organizations based in USAID-presence countries, particularly those currently or previously implementing USAID-funded health programs. Eligible entities include local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations, academic institutions, research institutes, and government agencies at the sub-national or national level. Organizations must demonstrate experience in health program implementation and institutional capacity building, especially in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The RFP strongly encourages consortia formed by multiple local entities to pool expertise, as well as partnerships with international organizations but only as technical advisors, not lead applicants. Successful applicants will show readiness to transition from being sub-recipients to direct recipients of USAID funding. The target audience includes M&E directors, program managers, finance officers, and executive directors seeking to professionalize their organizations. Organizations with existing M&E systems that need strengthening, or those starting from scratch, are both considered. The RFP looks for entities with a clear vision of how improved M&E will drive program quality and accountability. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of operational experience in health programming and a legal registration as a non-profit or government entity. Financial management capacity is critical; organizations must demonstrate sound internal controls and audit history. The RFP also prioritizes organizations working in underserved regions or with vulnerable populations, such as women, children, and rural communities.

Priorities

USAID's global priorities for this RFP are deeply rooted in the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy and the goal of sustainable development. The donor's key investment KPIs include: 1) Institutional strengthening of M&E systems to meet international standards, measured by the percentage of staff trained and systems upgraded; 2) Enhanced data quality, evidenced by reduced error rates in program data; 3) Increased use of data for decision-making, tracked through documented instances where data influenced program adjustments; 4) Improved accountability through regular performance reporting to USAID; and 5) Sustainability of M&E practices after the award period, measured by the continuation of data collection and use. USAID emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in M&E, requiring disaggregated data by sex, age, and disability. Additionally, the donor prioritizes digital health innovations, such as mobile data collection tools and cloud-based data management systems, to improve efficiency and real-time monitoring. Climate resilience is a cross-cutting priority, with expectations that M&E frameworks track environmental impact and adaptation measures. USAID also focuses on collaborative learning and adaptive management (CLA), encouraging partners to share lessons learned and adjust strategies based on evidence. Building local partnerships with government health systems is another priority to ensure alignment with national health strategies. The RFP expects applicants to propose a theory of change that links M&E improvements to better health outcomes, such as reduced maternal mortality or increased immunization coverage. Finally, USAID values cost-effectiveness, so proposals should demonstrate that the proposed M&E activities offer value for money.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this RFP is stringent and requires a comprehensive financial, spatial, and corporate legal audit. Financially, applicants must provide audited financial statements for the past two fiscal years, demonstrating positive cash flow and no material weaknesses in internal controls. The organization must have a minimum annual operating budget of $500,000 over the last three years. They must have a DUNS number or Unique Entity ID (SAM.gov) and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with no active exclusions. The organization must also have a bank account in the name of the entity, with the ability to receive and manage U.S. government funds. Spatially, the organization must operate in a country where USAID has a health program, and the majority of staff and beneficiaries must be local nationals. The proposed activities must take place within the country, and any international travel must be justified. Corporate legal audit requires the organization to be legally registered as a non-profit, NGO, or government entity in the country of operation, with bylaws, board of directors, and a clear organizational chart. The organization must have a written conflict of interest policy, anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies, and a whistleblower protection mechanism. Additionally, the organization must demonstrate at least three years of experience in implementing health programs and two years of experience in M&E. They must have a qualified M&E staff, with at least one staff member holding a master's degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related field. USAID also requires that the organization has a physical office with necessary infrastructure (computers, internet, secure data storage). Past performance in USAID or other donor projects will be evaluated, with references required. Organizations found to have committed fraud or human rights violations are disqualified.

Path to Success

The strategic roadmap to securing this USAID funding and ensuring successful implementation involves four critical steps, each integrated with GSLI training to bridge capacity gaps. Step 1: Pre-proposal Capacity Assessment and Readiness. Start by conducting a thorough organizational audit of your M&E systems, financial management, and governance structures. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to train your staff on advanced M&E frameworks, data quality assurance, and indicator development. Simultaneously, enroll your finance team in the 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to ensure alignment with USAID's financial compliance requirements. This step will identify gaps and inform your proposal's capacity strengthening plan. Step 2: Proposal Development with Evidence-Based Design. Build a proposal that clearly outlines your current M&E capabilities and how grant funds will strengthen them. Include a detailed work plan with milestones, a results framework, and a budget that allocates funds for training, system upgrades, and staff salaries. Leverage GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to craft a compelling narrative that demonstrates your understanding of USAID's priorities. Use data from your pre-proposal assessment to show baseline and target improvements. Include a sustainability plan that shows how M&E systems will be maintained post-funding. Step 3: Partnership and Consortia Building. Form a consortium with other local organizations to pool expertise and fill gaps, such as partnering with a university for research capacity or a tech firm for digital M&E tools. Use GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course to structure the consortium's governance and reporting lines. Clearly define roles and responsibilities in a memorandum of understanding. This strengthens your proposal by showing collaborative reach and reduces risk of capacity gaps. Step 4: Implementation and Continuous Learning. Upon award, immediately launch a capacity building plan based on your proposal. Use GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course to enhance staff skills in health data analysis. Implement a Learning Agenda as per USAID's CLA approach, documenting lessons learned and adapting programming. Regularly report to USAID using your strengthened M&E system. GSLI's 'Grants Management' course will help you comply with reporting and audit requirements. By following these steps, you maximize your chances of winning and successfully implementing the grant.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
Project Management for Development
Writing Winning Proposals
Grants Management

Deadline: 2026-07-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal