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April 2016

Feed the Future UgandaYouth Leadership for Agriculture

Activity

YLA-APS-001Pre-Application Forum

TODAY'S AGENDA

• Introduce the Youth Leadership for Agriculture Activity (YLA) and YLA-APS-001

• Provide you with practical advice on how to develop a Concept Paper application in response to this APS

• Question and Answer Sessions

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ABOUT YLA

YLA ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

• A five-year Activity managed by Chemonics International Inc.

• Part of USAID’s Feed the Future (FtF) initiative

• To increase economic opportunities for approximately 350,000 Ugandan

female and male youth ages 10 to 35 in agriculture-related fields in order to

increase their incomes and build entrepreneurship, leadership, and

workforce readiness.

Goal

YLA ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

1. Increased incomes of youth working in agricultural value chains

• Increased adoption of technologies that improve productivity

• Increased provision of market-driven technical skills development services by private sector firms

• Increased access to input and output markets by youth

• Increased employment opportunities for youth along the value chain

Expected Results

YLA ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

2. Improved skills and competencies of Youth

• Increased provision of quality technical, workforce readiness, and

entrepreneurship skills

• Increased opportunities to demonstrate leadership, social

entrepreneurship, and community engagement

• Improved provision of life skills for healthy living

Expected Results

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GRANT BASICS

• Grants fund creative and innovative projects that extend the

Activity’s impact and further the Activity’s expected results

WHAT IS A USAID GRANT?

• Grants are financial assistance providing support or stimulation to

accomplish a public (project) purpose, consistent with grantee’s mandate

• Governed by a specific set of regulations

• Relationship is one of partnership

• Often entails capacity building

• Cannot be used for any other purpose other than original intention.

GRANTS MUST:

1. Contribute to the objectives of the YLA Activity:

• increase the incomes of youth working in agriculture value chains;

• improve skills development (entrepreneurship, employability

leadership, and life skills) obtained through formal and non-formal

education and training organizations.

2. Be for a period of no more than 18 months

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ABOUT YLA-APS-001

• Annual Program Statement

• A broad-reaching solicitation mechanism for grant proposals that encourages fair and open competition

What is an APS?

YLA-APS-001

• Will remain open until 11 October 2016

• First round deadline is 5:00pm on 30 April 2016

• Late applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, or until funds or no longer available

ELIGIBILITY• Registered Ugandan organizations in good reputation; international

organization operating legally in Uganda or in another country also eligible to apply

• Types of organizations:

o organizations engaged in coffee, maize, and beans value chains, in addition to other value chains with employment opportunity for youth

o Local agricultural inputs, financial services, and business development and extension service providers; civil society organizations; regional and district-level organizations; and business, technical, vocational education and training institutions

o Those who are innovatively engaging women and youth in media skills development and marketing

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APPLICATION GUIDANCE

THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR APPLICATION

• The concept

• How the concept is presented

HOW & WHEN TO SUBMIT

• Follow formatting and submission instructions in Section IV and each of the Annexes.

• First round deadline is 5:00pm local time on 30 April 2016.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

• Grant Snapshot Idea (template in Annex A)

• Certification entitled “Prohibition on Providing Federal Assistance to Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements – Representation (April 2015): (Annex B)

Phase I: All Applicants

Submission of Grant Idea Snapshot & Supporting

Documentation

Selected to Continuation to

Phase II

Not Selected for

Continuation

PHASE I

EVALUATION CRITERIA : PHASE I

Evaluation Category

Does the organization meet the eligibility requirements?

Does the proposed activity fit within the YLA objectives (as described in Section 1B of the APS) and the program description (as described in Section IC)?

Does the organization’s grant idea snapshot highlight relevant past performance in the geographical area and/or the technical area, or demonstrate potential and relevant capability and performance related to YLA’s priority areas?

Is the request for funding proportionate with the potential impact and leveraged resources proposed?

Is the product or service sustainable?

Submit Concept Paper & Budget Template; Oral

Presentations Conducted

PHASE II Selected to Continuation to

Phase II

Selected for Award*

Not Selected for Award

GRANTS CONCEPT PAPER

• Item 1-3: Describe your organization, it’s purpose, and past related experience.

• Item 4: Proposed activity to address the problem

• Item 5: Why is it critical to you to address the issue, and why should YLA invest in this activity?

• Item 6: Other resources you can bring to the activity

• Item 9: Assignment plan

GRANTS CONCEPT PAPER

Items 8-9:

• What is an indicator?

o Used to observe progress and measure actual results compared with expected results. Used to measure intended changes over time

EVALUATION CRITERIA : PHASE II

Evaluation Category Rating (Points)

Feasibility of Design & Technical Approach 25

Impact on Target Group 25

Sustainability 15

Innovation 15

Management & Programmatic Capacity 10

Ability to Perform 10

Cost Efficiency N/A

Overall Rating (out of 100 points) 100

Assist YLA to finalize necessary risk assessment,

budget, and other grant certification information

Selected for Award

Grant Awarded

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QUESTIONS???

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BUDGET GUIDANCE

INTRO TO GRANTS CONCEPT PAPER BUDGET

• Use template (Annex D)

• Show costs (line item by line item) of the grant activities you are proposing

Phase II: Invited Applicants

BUDGET REMINDERS

• Grantee contribution is encouraged.

o “Grantee contribution” means any unique resources your organization will contribute to supplement funds from the YLA Activity. This could include cash or in-kind contributions. In-kind could be volunteer services, equipment, or property.

• Period of performance be and should be for a period of no more than 18 months.

BUDGET : COSTS SHOULD BE:

• Reasonable for the performance of the award

• Allocable to the award

• In conformance with limitations/exclusions in the award

• Consistent with the organization’s policies and procedures

• Accorded consistent treatment

• Not used to meet other cost-sharing requirements

• Adequately documented

• Reviewed and approved by management

Allowable :

BUDGET REMINDERS

• Charged to a cost objective on the basis of relative benefit received

• Incurred specifically for the award and in accordance with the budget in the award agreement

• To the benefit of the award and other work, and can be distributed in reasonable proportion in accordance with relative benefit received

• Treated consistently with other costs for the same purpose in like circumstances

Allocable Costs:

BUDGET REMINDERS

• Ordinary and necessary for the performance of the award

• Processed at arm’s length with sound business practices

• Not a significant deviation from an organization's established practices and procedures

• Not in excess of what would be incurred by a prudent person under the prevailing circumstances at the time the decision was made to incur the costs

Reasonable Costs:

BUDGET REMINDERS

• The organization can provide original legible receipts, vouchers, purchase orders, contracts, delivery orders, timesheets, etc.

• “Who, when, where, why, how much, etc.” is fully explained

Adequately Supported:

INELIGIBLE COSTS

The following items may not be purchased under any circumstances:

• Military equipment

• Surveillance equipment

• Commodities/services for support of police or other law enforcement activities

• Abortion equipment/services

• Luxury goods and gambling equipment

• Weather modification equipment

RESTRICTED GOODS

The following items require prior written approval from USAID:

• Agricultural commodities

• Motor vehicles – including motorcycles!

• Pharmaceuticals and contraceptives

• Pesticides

• Fertilizer

• Used equipment

• US Government-owned excess property

PROHIBITED SOURCES

You may not procure items made in, shipped from, or transported through, the following countries:

• Burma (Myanmar)

• Cuba

• Iran

• North Korea

• North Sudan

• Syria

GRANT CONCEPT PAPER BUDGET

• Use template (Annex D)

• Show costs (line item by line item) of the grant activities you are proposing

• Budget categories

o Salary

o Benefits

o Other Direct Costs

o Security Costs

o Activity Service Delivery

o Travel and Transportation

o Procurement

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FINAL THOUGHTS

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

• Link your concept – with the YLA Activity’s objectives, expected results, and focus commodities

• Be complete – include all required text and documents

• Format properly – follow the instructions (page limits, font)

• Consider your presentation – maximize use of space, use consistent line spacing, put specific text in appropriate locations

WHAT ELSE?

• Ensure your budget is clear, complete, reasonable, and linked with all activities proposed

• Consider activity sequencing – does your proposal make fundable sense?

• Include tools and approaches for internal capacity building, and how capacity building will strengthen your organization

AND DON’T FORGET…

• Showcase your organization – history, achievements, similar past experience, relevant current activities, visibility, structure, leadership, networks, links with decision makers (unique access)

• Read the APS…then read it again

• Check the YLA website periodically for amendments

• Demystify USAID and USG rules and regulations—use Google!

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QUESTIONS ???

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