The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued Amendment 2 to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 72069524RFA00003 regarding the Integrated Community Health Activity. This amendment, dated May 22, 2024, extends the application deadline to June 17, 2024, at 16:30 Burundi time. Additionally, it includes responses to questions raised during the pre-application conference held on May 10, 2024, outlined in Attachment 1. The revised NOFO is enclosed as Attachment 2. This update is part of USAID's continuing effort to solicit applications for funding aimed at improving community health initiatives, ensuring clarity for potential applicants, and providing necessary guidance for a successful application process.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement to implement the Integrated Community Health Activity in Burundi, focusing on improving access and utilization of community health services among women, children, and infants. The program emphasizes local engagement to better align health interventions with community needs and aims to address challenges such as high maternal and child mortality rates, low contraceptive prevalence, and inadequate malaria service provisions. The initiative outlines several key objectives, including enhancing community involvement in health decision-making, ensuring a seamless continuum of services between health facilities and communities, and providing comprehensive training for community health workers (CHWs). The target areas include seven provinces with significant health burdens. The funding opportunity, authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act, will be open until June 17, 2024, with a total of $12 million allocated over five years. Priority will be given to local Burundian organizations, and compliance with specific federal guidelines, including risk assessments for applicants, is mandatory. This funding initiative seeks to strengthen Burundi's healthcare system by enhancing the quality of services provided and increasing community capacity to manage health challenges sustainably.

The budget summary spreadsheet shows the estimated amount in US dollars for various categories of expenses over the course of 3 years. The costs for years 4 and 5 are not specified. The spreadsheet also provides breakdowns for personnel, fringe benefits, travel and transportation, equipment, supplies, subawards and contracts, construction, and other direct costs.

USAID is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement to implement the Integrated Community Health Activity in Burundi. The activity aims to improve community engagement and access to quality community health services, with a focus on malaria, maternal and child health, and family planning. The activity will work with local organizations and strengthen the referral system between community and health facilities.

The document is an amendment to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 72069524RFA00003 for the Integrated Community Health Activity by USAID, providing clarification on technical application guidelines and eligibility criteria. Key points include that the technical application must not exceed 25 pages, including the executive summary, and that the organizational capacity section is increased to 7 pages. Eligibility for the award is restricted to local Burundian organizations as prime applicants, although international NGOs can serve as sub-recipients. The submission deadline for applications has been extended to June 17. Additionally, applicants are reminded that they must include proof of registration with SAM.gov upon submission, and any job descriptions in Annex 2 can vary without an overall page limit. The document emphasizes the importance of community engagement, a technical approach, and collaboration with local health stakeholders. It also addresses questions regarding supply chain responsibilities and monitoring and evaluation requirements. This amendment is part of a competitive funding initiative aiming to enhance community health practices in Burundi.