Local Empowerment And Resilience Network (LEARN) Activity | 72048222RFA00003

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72048222RFA00003

The Local Empowerment And Resilience Network (LEARN) Activity is a USAID/Burma grant opportunity that aims to strengthen community-level resilience and local governance in Burma by supporting collaboration across key local actors. USAID is looking for one implementing partner to carry out a multi-year effort focused on empowering citizens and communities to work together more effectively, particularly by building stronger relationships and coordination among civil society organizations, ethnic service providers, and local administration or community-established governance structures. The underlying idea is that communities are better able to identify priorities, resolve challenges, and withstand shocks when local groups cooperate, trust is strengthened, and decision-making and service delivery are closer to the people affected.

USAID plans to award this funding through a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the agency expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. The total potential funding is up to $30,000,000 over a performance period of up to five years, making it a relatively large, long-term community development activity. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 98.001, associated with USAID foreign assistance. The program anticipates making a single award, indicating that USAID intends to select one primary organization (often with partners or sub-awardees) to manage and deliver the full scope of work.

The program purpose centers on three closely linked outcomes. First, it seeks to increase local agency, meaning communities have greater ability and confidence to shape decisions, set priorities, and act collectively to address local problems. Second, it aims to encourage social cohesion, which generally involves strengthening relationships and trust across different groups so communities can cooperate despite social, political, or ethnic divisions. Third, it focuses on meeting community needs through more effective collaboration and coordination, especially among civil society, ethnic service providers, and local governance structures that may already be operating at community level. In practice, an activity like this often supports local networks, joint planning, community-driven initiatives, and mechanisms that help communities identify needs and connect to services or resources in a coordinated way.

Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning both US and non-US organizations may apply, and USAID is not limiting the competition to a specific applicant type in the headline eligibility rules. The funding opportunity number is 72048222RFA00003, issued by USAID’s Burma mission (USAID - Rangoon). The opportunity was created on February 9, 2022, with an original closing date of March 23, 2022.

• The Agency for International Development, Burma USAID - Rangoon in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Empowerment And Resilience Network (LEARN) Activity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 09, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 23, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 72048222RFA00003

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