Request for Information to Participate in Customized Locally Focused Workshop Series on “How to Work with USAID” | 72039124RFI00003

FAQs: USAID Pakistan RFI 72039124RFI00003 (How to Work with USAID Workshop Series)

1) What is this opportunity?

This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by USAID Pakistan (Islamabad) under funding opportunity number 72039124RFI00003. It is a listening and market-research exercise to gather information from Pakistani local organizations so USAID can design a Pakistan-specific workshop series focused on "How to Work with USAID."

2) Is this a grant or contract solicitation?

No. This RFI is not a traditional grant or contract solicitation. It is not requesting applications for an award and is not offering funding on its own.

3) Does responding to this RFI provide funding?

No. The opportunity does not provide funding by itself. The listed award ceiling is 0 and there are no expected awards.

4) Why is USAID issuing this RFI?

USAID is using the RFI to collect baseline information from Pakistani local organizations. The goal is to design a practical, tailored workshop series that reflects the realities, needs, and entry points relevant to organizations in Pakistan.

5) What is USAID planning to create based on the responses?

USAID intends to develop a customized series of workshops focused on "How to Work with USAID," informed directly by the information gathered from local Pakistani organizations.

6) What is the main focus of the planned workshop series?

The workshops are intended to help Pakistani organizations understand and access multiple pathways for engaging with USAID, rather than relying on a single, one-size-fits-all explanation of funding and partnerships.

7) What does "multiple pathways for engaging with USAID" mean in this RFI?

Based on the RFI description, it means USAID wants to highlight different entry points and avenues local actors can use to work with the Mission, and use workshop content to clarify those routes to engagement.

8) Who should respond to this RFI?

The RFI states that participation is aimed at local Pakistani organizations. The specific definition of "Local Organization" is referenced as being provided within the RFI itself.

9) What is meant by a "Local Organization" here?

The opportunity states that the definition of "Local Organization" is included within the RFI document. The summary provided does not reproduce that definition, only notes that USAID references it.

10) What is the deadline to respond?

The closing date for responding to the RFI is October 14, 2024.

11) What are the expected awards under this opportunity?

None. The opportunity lists no expected awards, consistent with the fact that this is an RFI rather than an award solicitation.

12) What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling is listed as 0, reflecting that this RFI does not provide funding.

13) What is co-creation, as described in this RFI?

USAID describes co-creation as a participatory design approach intended to produce better development outcomes by drawing on the ideas, resources, and energy of people and organizations that have a stake in solving the problem.

14) Why does this RFI emphasize co-creation?

The emphasis signals that USAID wants local organizations to have meaningful input into program design and solution-building, not simply implement projects that have already been designed.

15) How does the workshop series relate to co-creation?

The workshops are intended to make local organizations more ready to participate in co-creation processes with USAID, so they can contribute substantively earlier in the program cycle, before formal solicitations are released.

16) What kinds of capabilities does the RFI suggest organizations may need for co-creation?

The RFI notes that co-creation opportunities often require a mix of technical insight, facilitation skills, partnership readiness, and an understanding of USAID processes and compliance expectations.

17) How does this connect to USAID/Pakistan's localization strategy?

The RFI frames the workshop series as supporting USAID/Pakistan's broader localization strategy, which is described as shifting more leadership, agenda-setting, and solution development to local actors.

18) What is USAID trying to change through localization, according to this description?

In practical terms, the localization agenda is described as encouraging local organizations to bring their own expertise and resources and take a more leading role in USAID-supported development work in Pakistan.

19) Is the workshop series intended to help local organizations become direct partners rather than subrecipients?

Yes. The description indicates the workshops aim to strengthen local organizational capacity so local organizations can play a more leading role and not remain on the sidelines or participate only as subrecipients.

20) What barriers is USAID trying to reduce through these workshops?

The RFI indicates the workshops are meant to reduce common barriers that can prevent local Pakistani entities from directly engaging with USAID systems, including informational barriers (not knowing routes to engagement), procedural barriers (uncertainty about USAID requirements), and strategic barriers (how to position an organization for partnership and co-creation).

21) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 98.001.

22) What is the opportunity category and instrument type?

Both the opportunity category and instrument type are labeled "Other," which matches the nature of an RFI as an information-gathering tool rather than a funding instrument.

23) What is the key takeaway for organizations considering whether to respond?

The key takeaway is that USAID is inviting local Pakistani organizations to provide input that will directly shape a tailored capacity-building workshop series, with a longer-term intent to increase local leadership in USAID programming and improve readiness for future collaborative program design (co-creation) efforts.