Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) for
Local Organizational Capacity Building Initiative

The Helen Keller International (HKI) led Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, Resilience and Gender Equity (SAPLING) project is seeking Expression of Interest (EOI) from CHT based Local Organizations who have worked in the Bandarban District within the last 5 years and are legally registered to operate in Bandarban Sadar, Lama, Ruma, Rowngchari and Thanchi for the Stage 1 of Local Organizational Capacity Building initiative.

CHT based Local Organizations willing to be part of the Local Organizational Capacity Building initiative will be required to undertake an Organizational assessment, commit to developing an Improvement plan and working towards addressing the assessment findings with the support of SAPLING in Stage 1 of the Local capacity building initiative.

Background:
HKI was awarded cooperative agreement (CA) No. AID-FFP-A-15-00010 to lead the Development Food Security Assistance (DFSA) SAPLING by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on September 30, 2015 through September 30, 2020. Under this five-year program, HKI, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas/Bangladesh and five local implementing partners will work in partnership with individuals, communities, traditional institutions and the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) through the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA), to apply a multi-sectoral, integrated approach to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in the sub-districts of Thanchi, Ruma, Lama, Rowangchari, and Bandarban Sadar, within the Bandarban District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
SAPLING will provide an opportunity to local organizations from Bandarban with limited or no experience with managing USAID funding directly or indirectly to apply for the Fixed Amount Awards (Innovation Small grants) with the purpose of building the Local Organization Capacity to understand and build Institutional Capacity enabling them to be ready to participate in USAID funding opportunities directly or as sub-awardee.
The SAPLING Local Organizational Capacity building initiative will be executed in 2 stages.

Stage 1: SAPLING will select Local organizations based on an evaluation of the Expression of Interest’s (EOI) and selection criteria set for the Local Capacity building initiative as a first stage. SAPLING Grants Team will conduct a Capacity Assessment and jointly identify areas for improvements using the assessment tool focusing on 10 areas of 1. Personnel 2.Financial systems  3. Documentation and recordkeeping 4.Internal control 5.Financial reporting 6.Inventory control 7. Fixed assets management 8.Receivables management  9.Other assets and payables 10. Procurement function . SAPLING and Partner will prioritize areas for improvement based on the “Internal control improvement plan” and implement them within a set timeframe. SAPLING and Partner will monitor the progress jointly and SAPLING will accompany the partner in the said process.

SAPLING will provide support to the partners in areas of Policy strengthening, Policy development in identified areas by Partner. SAPLING will also organize trainings in specific areas in prioritized areas to assist the partners strengthen, develop and/or implement them into their daily works.

Stage 2: Organizations who show progress and commitment to develop and improvement of their Organizations in line with the SAPLING approach of Local capacity building will qualify to the Second stage of the Award. Organizations who will qualify for second stage will be provided an opportunity   to submit a Concept note which will enable them to access Fixed Amount Award (Innovation Small grant) to undertake a specific programmatic activity in one of the following areas of Livelihood, DRR, Water/WASH, Health and nutrition, gender, promotion of Equality among Ethnicity leading to food security.

• Criteria for selection for Local capacity building initiative:
• Local Organizations who have operated in Bandarban Sadar, Lama, Ruma, Rowngchari and Thanchi in last five years and legally registered to operate in  Bandarban
• Preference will be given to organizations who have Head office in Bandarban.
• Local Organizations having shared vision with SAPLING Goals and Objectives.
• Commitment to develop and improve their organization in line with SAPLING approach.
• Technical capacity to undertake FIXED AMOUNT AWARDS (INNOVATION SMALL GRANTS) in one of the following areas of Livelihood, DRR, Water/WASH, Health and nutrition, gender, promotion of Equality among Ethnicity leading to food security.

Note: The entry into the program does not imply approval of the second phase, instead, it enables eligibly for consideration only.  All Awards will be subject to approval, including the No Objection from USAID, MOCHTA and CHRCT. The Successful Organizations in STAGE 1 will receive a finding of assessment, Technical support to strengthen policies and procedures prioritized from the assessment findings, training. The Successful organizations in STAGE 2 will have a Small grant upto 800,000BDT

HOW TO APPLY:
Submission of Expression of Interest
ONE original and TWO copies of EOIs (in English) must be received in one sealed envelope not later than October 15, 2017 at 03:00 pm. The envelope must be clearly labelled with the title of the bid. Late applications will be rejected.
The list of documents, forms and guidance required for EOI submission can be downloaded at HERE
The address for submission is: SAPLING Program, BHDC Rest House, Chimbuk Road, Bandarban Sadar, Bandarban.