New Economic Opportunitites Initiative.pdf - Economic Growth - usaid

SOL-114-10-000002Outcome: Housing associations (or other mechanisms) are functioning after one year ofoperation, including the existence and use of sustainable housing maintenance programs.Local municipalities have the capacity to provide services to IDP houses.5. GrantsA critical theme of NEO is enabling vulnerable groups to engage in the social andeconomic life of their respective communities. Grants will be an important tool toaccomplish this objective and will be used in all components. Whenever feasible,financing from national or local governments and or in-kind contributions frombeneficiaries will be sought to leverage the impact of grant-funded activities, and to fosterownership or buy-in from beneficiaries. Grants will be used to support and complementrelated training, technical assistance or demonstrations. The total amount of grants willnot exceed $5 million over four years, and no grant will exceed $100,000 in size withoutspecific approval from USAID. At the direction of the COTR, the contractor shallrespond to natural or man-made disasters or similar emergencies that may occur inGeorgia. Such responses would be in the form of grants to local or international NGOsthat are appropriate to the emergency needs. $200,000 per year will be reserved and if alesser amount is disbursed in a year, then the difference shall be used to address othercontract requirements. In addition to the discussion of the use of grants in eachcomponent, grants will be utilized to:1. Implement small-scale infrastructure projects that will contribute to economicdevelopment in targeted communities. Priority will be placed on rehabilitating orupgrading water, sewage, and irrigation systems.2. Establish or enhance community level economic activity, including constructingor rehabilitating farm to market roads, community market centers, or other infrastructurenecessary to increase trade or access to markets.3. Form groups of individuals into organized economic entities, and contribute totheir development and engagement in market-based, demand driven activities.4. Support the development, enhanced capacity, and competitiveness of individuals,enterprises or other organizations in sectors targeted for economic development.5. Assist economic enterprises (e.g., partnerships, cooperatives, producerorganizations, associations, individuals) to start or expand operations.6. Introduce and disseminate applicable and appropriate technologies concurrentwith providing technical assistance to individuals, enterprises or other organizations.7. Establish or expand access of rural poor to information, inputs and or financialservices.8. Assist highly vulnerable households and individuals to start micro businessactivities and/or to engage in social and economic activities in their community.9. Promote partnerships between education institutions, NGOs, private sector andcommunities.