USAID Resilience and Food Security Activity in the Horn of Africa – RFP for Capacity Building Partner
USAID seeks a capacity-building partner to strengthen local organizations in the Horn of Africa under the Resilience and Food Security (RFS) framework. The activity focuses on enhancing institutional capacity in monitoring and evaluation, financial management, fundraising, proposal writing, and data-driven project management to improve resilience and food security outcomes. The partner will deliver tailored training and technical assistance to local NGOs and government entities. Strategic alignment with USAID's Journey to Self-Reliance and Global Food Security Strategy is critical. The scope includes longitudinal impact validation and adaptive management to respond to recurrent crises such as drought and conflict. The opportunity requires deep expertise in humanitarian sector capacity building, with emphasis on accountability, governance, and data use for decision-making. Proven experience in complex humanitarian emergencies and multi-sectoral programming is essential. The award size is estimated at $10-15 million over 5 years, with a focus on institutional strengthening and sustainability.
Strategic Overview
USAID seeks a capacity-building partner to strengthen local organizations in the Horn of Africa under the Resilience and Food Security (RFS) framework. The activity focuses on enhancing institutional capacity in monitoring and evaluation, financial management, fundraising, proposal writing, and data-driven project management to improve resilience and food security outcomes. The partner will deliver tailored training and technical assistance to local NGOs and government entities. Strategic alignment with USAID's Journey to Self-Reliance and Global Food Security Strategy is critical. The scope includes longitudinal impact validation and adaptive management to respond to recurrent crises such as drought and conflict. The opportunity requires deep expertise in humanitarian sector capacity building, with emphasis on accountability, governance, and data use for decision-making. Proven experience in complex humanitarian emergencies and multi-sectoral programming is essential. The award size is estimated at $10-15 million over 5 years, with a focus on institutional strengthening and sustainability.
Who is it For?
Consortia led by international NGOs with deep local presence in the Horn of Africa, or specialized capacity-building organizations with a track record in USAID-funded resilience programming. Eligible applicants include US and non-US organizations, with preference for partnerships that enhance local ownership. Target demographics include local NGOs, government agencies, and community-based organizations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan.
Priorities
Aligned with USAID's Resilience Policy and Global Food Security Strategy (2022-2026), focusing on reducing chronic food insecurity, strengthening local systems, and enabling self-reliance. Key priorities include gender integration, youth empowerment, climate-smart agriculture, and social accountability. Donor emphasis on adaptive management, evidence-based decision-making, and sustainable exit strategies.
Eligibility
Applicants must demonstrate minimum 5 years of experience in capacity building for development/humanitarian programs, presence in at least 2 Horn of Africa countries, and past performance in M&E, financial management, and governance training. Compliance with USAID's ADS 201, 2 CFR 200, and environmental review procedures is required. Audited financial statements and institutional policies on anti-fraud, child protection, and data privacy must be submitted.
Path to Success
Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4): Conduct a rapid institutional capacity assessment of target local partners using GSLI's M&E frameworks and data analysis tools (course: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning & Data Analysis for Project Management). Phase 2 (Months 2-6): Deliver a comprehensive training series on financial management, grants management, and proposal writing to address identified gaps, leveraging GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs and Grants Management Training Workshop. Phase 3 (Months 7-12): Integrate accountability and leadership modules (Leadership, governance and accountability for the humanitarian sector) to foster ownership and sustainability. Phase 4 (Year 2+): Establish a peer-learning network and refresher cohorts, using longitudinal impact validation metrics. GSLI courses provide the competitive edge by ensuring staff are credentialed in USAID-compliant M&E, financial stewardship, and resource mobilization, which directly respond to donor requirements for sound management and local capacity strengthening.
Recommended GSLI Courses
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
- Financial Management for NGOs
- Fundraising & Resource Mobilization For NGOs Training Workshop
- Data Analysis for Project Management
- Project Planning and Management
- Writing Winning Proposals
- Grants Management Training Workshop
- Leadership, governance and accountability for the humanitarian sector
Deadline: 2026-07-15
Persona: General
Urgency: Normal