The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Ethiopia Rapid Response Mechanism" issued by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) outlines a cooperative agreement aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia for vulnerable and shock-affected populations. The program emphasizes establishing an effective rapid response mechanism, meeting humanitarian needs through community engagement, and improving the adaptive and absorptive capacities of affected communities.

The funding opportunity provides a total of $90 million over a three-year period. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions, faith-based organizations, and non-U.S. entities, while individuals and parastatal organizations are excluded. Applicants must adhere to USAID's registration requirements, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and registering in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). The anticipated start date for the program is on or around March 2025.

The NOFO stresses the importance of a multisectoral approach encompassing nutrition, health, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), shelter, settlements, protection, and multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA). Proposed interventions should align with international standards and local government strategies and incorporate lessons learned from past rapid response mechanisms in Ethiopia. The program aims to provide timely, context-specific, and evidence-based solutions while ensuring coordination with local and international humanitarian actors.

Applications are expected to detail technical approaches, programmatic coordination, management structures, and exit strategies. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to implement interventions across all regions of Ethiopia, ensuring a robust supply chain, collaboration with clusters, and responsiveness to shocks. Additional requirements include developing a Theory of Change (ToC) and incorporating indicators to monitor and assess program performance.

Merit review criteria prioritize the technical approach, institutional capacity, sustainability efforts, management structure, and adaptive learning strategies. The submission deadline for applications is December 19, 2024, at 4:59 PM EST. Only applications submitted through Grants.gov will be considered. Applicants should note that the NOFO does not permit cost-sharing as a requirement, though it may be included voluntarily. Evaluation will consider cost reasonableness and compliance with USAID regulations.

This opportunity emphasizes gender equality, inclusivity, and local engagement. Additionally, applicants must integrate measures to protect beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and ensure their safety and well-being. The award process includes responsiveness, merit, and risk reviews, followed by potential post-selection clarifications. Final awards are contingent upon funding availability and compliance with USAID’s administrative requirements.