IMPROVING AND EXPANDING EARLY WARNING EARLY RESPONSE SYSTEMS TO MITIGATE CONFLICT IN NIGERIA | USAID NIGERIA NPI APS ADDENDUM 2021

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this USAID/Nigeria grant opportunity about?

This opportunity invites concept papers focused on reducing violent conflict and preventing the killing of civilians in Nigeria by strengthening Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) systems. The intent is to help communities and authorities detect conflict risks early and respond quickly and credibly before disputes escalate into broader violence or harden into ethno-religious conflict.

2) What does USAID mean by Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) in this addendum?

Based on the notice, EWER is not limited to collecting incident reports. It includes practical systems and processes that help people recognize emerging conflict patterns early, organize around prevention, and connect more effectively to formal security and governance actors so that credible responses can happen quickly.

3) Is this opportunity only about reporting incidents and sharing alerts?

No. USAID explicitly notes that the work goes beyond simply collecting incident reports. Concept papers are expected to describe practical ways to create or improve platforms for conversation, negotiation, and dispute resolution at the community level, including efforts that bridge ethnic and faith divides.

4) What are the main objectives USAID highlights for this addendum?

The notice lists three objectives:

• Key stakeholders work together to create and/or sustain EWER systems that foster peace and tolerance while helping communities mitigate banditry and criminality in areas affected by violence or at risk.
• Diverse stakeholders engage in community-based initiatives that strengthen communication, enable dialogue, support advocacy for peace, and improve local dispute resolution and reconciliation mechanisms.
• Stakeholders collaborate on initiatives that build social cohesion and improve trust and confidence within communities and between communities and security forces, addressing relationship gaps that worsen insecurity and undermine legitimate conflict response.

5) Who is expected to be involved in the proposed EWER structures?

Proposed EWER structures are expected to involve all relevant stakeholders, not just one set of actors. The notice emphasizes multi-stakeholder approaches so responses address security, social, governance, and community dynamics together rather than in isolation.

6) What kinds of activities does USAID want to see in concept papers?

Examples of the kinds of activities described in the opportunity include:

• Creating or improving platforms for conversation, negotiation, and dispute resolution at the community level.
• Efforts that bring groups together across ethnic and faith lines.
• Approaches that help communities recognize emerging conflict patterns and organize around prevention.
• Strengthening connections between communities and formal security and governance actors.
• Initiatives aimed at rebuilding trust among community members and between communities and government institutions (including security entities).
• Efforts to revitalize livelihoods disrupted by conflict, recognizing economic instability can fuel recruitment, criminality, and retaliation.

7) How important is trust-building in this opportunity?

Trust-building is a major theme. USAID emphasizes rebuilding trust within communities and between communities and government institutions, including security entities, because relationship gaps can worsen insecurity and undermine legitimate conflict response.

8) Does USAID require inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities?

Yes. The notice prioritizes meaningful inclusion of marginalized groups, especially women, youth, and persons with disabilities, not as symbolic participants but as contributors to solutions and community decision-making.

9) Can proposed activities include livelihoods or economic recovery components?

Yes. The opportunity notes that proposals can include efforts to revitalize livelihoods disrupted by conflict, since economic instability often fuels recruitment, criminality, and cycles of retaliation.

10) How should proposed work relate to other USAID conflict mitigation efforts in Nigeria?

Applicants are expected to complement existing USAID conflict mitigation programs rather than duplicate them. Concept papers should show a clear, direct link between proposed activities and the objectives established under the broader NPI CPRP APS framework referenced in the addendum.

11) What strategies or frameworks does this opportunity align with?

The opportunity is designed to support USAID/Nigeria's 2020-2025 Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), specifically Development Objective 3: strengthening accountable, inclusive, and responsive governance. It is also meant to align with the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability.

12) What is required regarding sustainability of EWER systems?

Sustainability is an explicit requirement, especially if a concept proposes creating a new EWER structure. Any new system must be tied to an existing group or groups so it can continue functioning after the award ends, rather than becoming a stand-alone project mechanism that disappears when funding stops.

13) If an applicant proposes a new EWER structure, can it operate as a stand-alone mechanism?

No. The notice is clear that new EWER systems must be connected to existing group(s) so they can continue beyond the life of the award.

14) What should concept papers say about learning, testing, and adaptation?

Concept papers should briefly but clearly explain how the organization will conceptualize solutions, test them, assess what works, and then apply and adapt those solutions to strengthen conflict prevention and response through EWER systems.

15) What does USAID say about expanding the partner base?

USAID signals a strong preference for expanding its partner base by working with new and under-utilized development actors, including new and underutilized local entities and locally established partners (LEPs).

16) Are partnerships or sub-awards to local entities encouraged?

Yes. The addendum stresses participation by new and underutilized local entities and LEPs, including arrangements where a prime partner makes sub-awards to LEPs and local entities.

17) What is a leverage partner award structure in this notice?

The notice mentions a leverage partner award structure as a pathway, emphasizing collaboration and resourcing models that bring in additional capabilities or networks. (No further operational details are provided in the information given.)

18) What eligibility rules apply?

Applicants must follow the eligibility requirements in the underlying NPICPRP APS (especially Section III), in addition to addendum-specific requirements. The source listing also notes eligible applicants as city or township governments.

19) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number provided is "USAID NIGERIA NPI APS ADDENDUM 2021."

20) What is the maximum award amount mentioned?

The opportunity notice lists an award ceiling of $7,800,000.

21) What was the original closing date listed for submissions?

The original closing date shown in the notice is March 1, 2021.

22) Which USAID operating unit is associated with this opportunity?

The agency identified is USAID Nigeria, located in Abuja.

23) What is the opportunity type, instrument type, and activity category?

The listing indicates an "Other" category for opportunity type, instrument type, and activity category.

24) What geographic focus is implied by the opportunity description?

The opportunity is focused on Nigeria, with attention to areas already affected by violence or at risk, including contexts involving banditry, criminality, and escalating community disputes.

25) What is USAID trying to prevent through strengthened EWER systems?

The notice emphasizes preventing disputes from escalating into wider violence, preventing the killing of civilians, and preventing the hardening of disputes into ethno-religious conflict by enabling earlier, faster, and more credible responses.