Usaid LEAD Nigeria Requests For Applications Round 2 From Civil Society Organizations`

The Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Development (LEAD) project works to improve local governance in Nigeria. LEAD, initiated and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is implemented by RTI International and its partners. Currently, the project implementation is in Bauchi and Sokoto States.

1.) Strengthened capacity of local governments by focusing on practices that build better relations with local communities, promote council effectiveness, and strengthen the management capacity of local government service departments. In addition, LEAD builds dialogue with State-level actors on legislative improvement to enhance citizens’ access to information and decision-making.

2.) Increased transparency of local government operations through assistance to a more participatory budget process based on sound analysis of services and revenue potential. LEAD works on facilitating policy dialogue with State actors on the allocation process and innovative options to strengthen capacity in budget monitoring and legislative reforms.

3.) Increased capacity of local organIzations by strengthening the organizational and service capacity of a broad range of organizations at the community and State levels. Particular focus is on capacity strengthening aimed at engagement with local governments on service planning, budgeting, and monitoring.

4.) Improved service delivery on specific service improvements in health, education, and other local government core services such as; water and sanitation as well as solid waste management.

RTI International seeks local implementing partners with capability to provide rapid and strategic technical assistance to state, local governments, and civil society organizations (CSOs). Through this announcement, sub-awards are intended to be issued for the illustrative types of activities enumerated below. In applying, interested organizations should provide a technical response to one or more of the illustrative activities in accordance with the applicant’s area(s) of experience and expertise. Interested applicants are at liberty to respond to single or multiple illustrative activities as they deem capable to implement. Supporting budget proposals must include unit costs relevant to activity proposed. Should an organization elect to submit more than one technical application, budget templates should be completed for each corresponding illustrative activity.

Types of Illustrative activities to be funded include:

• Assessments of local government performance and citizens’ satisfaction (citizens score card).
• Community mobilization, community priority setting, and participatory planning
• Training and technical assistance to local governments: community relations; budget planning and management (participatory processes, systems monitoring); local revenue mobilization; service improvement (analysis, delivery, performance analysis, cost and funding); public-private partnerships (PPPs); and capital investment planning.

4.) Training and technical assistance to Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs): organizational management advocacy; budget monitoring; internal governance; strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation systems; financial management; fund raising; programming; human resource management; public-private partnerships; internal controls; conflict of interest coalition building; networking; and constituency building.

5.) Organizing and hosting conferences and meetings at the local government levels.

6.) Developing and disseminating best practices through newsletters, websites, etc. 

7.) Developing and carrying out media campaigns.

8.) Advocacy Campaigns on; community relations; strategic planning; budget planning and management (participatory processes, systems, monitoring, reforms);policy reforms; local revenue mobilization; service improvement (analysis, delivery, performance analysis, cost and funding); public-private partnerships (PPPs); and capital investment planning.

9.) Community Dialogue and lnterface with LGA Officials on Budget process, participatory planning, inclusive decision making process and project implementation.

Local Government 'Champions’

While all Local Government Authorities (LGAs), in targeted States, will benefit from LEAD’s assistance in the long run, however, as part of roll-out of activities, the under-listed LGA ‘Champions’ are the target for project implementation.

Bauchi State

• Gamawa 
• Jama’are
• Kirfi 
• Misau
• Bauchi
• Dass 
• Ningi 
• Katagum

Sokoto State

• Goronyo
• Gudu
• Kebbe
• Rabah
• Sokoto South
• Tambuwal
• Bodinga
• Dange/Shuni
• Wamakko
• Silame
• Illela
• Isa

Eligibility Criteria

LEAD seeks applications from CSOs with capacity to work in the aforementioned ‘Champion’ LGAs. To be eligible, applying CSO must:

• Applicants should be civil society organizations registered with the state or legally registered in Nigeria.
• Be non-partisan and committed to carrying out work in a non-partisan manner
• Demonstrate experience and capacity to implement the proposed activity.
• Have presence in Bauchi and Sokoto States to work in one or more of the above listed Local Government Areas.

Application Closing Date: 
Tuesday, 25th September 2012 

Method Of Application:

Please request for RFA Round 2 via 

cso@lead.rti.org 
or contact the LEAD’s offices for a copy, additional information, detailed application; and procedures