USAID Ecosystems / Protibesh Activity | 72038820RFA00006

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72038820RFA00006

USAID Ecosystems / Protibesh Activity is a USAID/Bangladesh funding opportunity to support a five-year environmental program focused on improving ecosystem conservation in Bangladesh. USAID plans to make a single award under a Cooperative Agreement, with total funding not to exceed $20.5 million, assuming funds are available and USAID chooses to move forward as planned. Within that total, $1.0 million is specifically set aside as a dedicated crisis and/or emergency response budget line, meaning the implementer is expected to maintain the ability to pivot resources and operations to respond to urgent shocks or emerging environmental or social emergencies that affect the targeted landscapes.

The program is designed around conservation outcomes in and around Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), with early geographic emphasis on two high-value ecological regions: the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in Khulna Division and the forest and wetland ecosystems in Sylhet Division that have been identified as ecologically critical. In practical terms, the activity is aiming to reduce major threats to biodiversity while also improving the systems that govern and manage natural resources. That includes strengthening environmental governance, supporting better day-to-day management of protected or sensitive areas, and encouraging market-based incentives that make conservation economically viable for communities and local stakeholders living in and near these biodiversity hotspots.

A central theme of the opportunity is building durable local institutions and improving how decisions are made and enforced at local levels. USAID highlights several focus areas: improving local environmental governance; strengthening co-management organizations so they are more sustainable and capable over time; and building the capacity of local government units to integrate environmental management into local development planning, rather than treating conservation as a separate or optional issue. The activity also prioritizes the role of civil society organizations in environmental governance, community mobilization, and inclusive participation. Inclusion is spelled out clearly: women, minority populations, and youth are expected to be actively integrated into conservation and protection efforts, not just consulted. On the national policy side, the program will provide policy support to key Government of Bangladesh ministries, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Land, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, reflecting an intent to address cross-cutting drivers of ecosystem degradation that sit across multiple agencies and mandates.

Strategically, this activity is positioned as part of USAID/Bangladesh broader resilience and development agenda. It is linked to the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Development Objective 4, “Strengthened Resilience to Natural Hazards,” specifically contributing through improved ecosystem conservation (Intermediate Result 4.1) in and around targeted KBAs. It also aligns with Objective 3.3 of the Bangladesh Integrated Country Strategy, focused on strengthening resilience to natural hazards. Because USAID/Bangladesh was developing a new CDCS at the time of the notice, applicants are implicitly expected to design approaches that can remain aligned with an evolving results framework and remain consistent with other relevant US Government policies, strategies, and initiatives as they are updated.

The notice also frames the activity within USAID “Journey to Self-Reliance” approach. The intent is not only to generate conservation gains, but to do so in ways that increase local capacity, promote enterprise-driven development where appropriate, mobilize public and private revenues, and leave behind results that can be sustained locally. USAID references Bangladesh performance on its Self-Reliance Roadmap, pointing to relative weaknesses in biodiversity protection, government and civil society capacity, open and accountable governance, and inclusive development. In that context, the activity is expected to function as both an implementation program and a learning platform, generating lessons that can be applied to other conservation and governance initiatives in Bangladesh to improve long-term ownership and sustainability.

Beyond Bangladesh, USAID connects the activity to regional cooperation goals under the US Government Indo-Pacific Vision, which emphasizes strengthened natural resource management as part of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Sundarbans and Sylhet ecosystems are described as parts of broader transnational landscapes shared with India, and the notice signals that lessons learned should be relevant beyond national borders. USAID highlights particular regional priorities such as mitigating threats to biodiversity, combating illegal logging and wildlife poaching, promoting environmental safeguards, fostering private sector engagement, and conserving ecosystems, all of which are framed as important to Bangladesh long-term sustainable growth.

In terms of competition mechanics, the selection process is explicitly multi-phase. Phase 1 requires applicants to submit a Technical Approach describing how they would achieve the program objectives and results. USAID then evaluates these submissions using merit review criteria and intends to down-select to up to three of the most promising approaches (though it reserves the right to select fewer or more depending on quality and competitiveness). Only those selected advance to Phase 2. Phase 2 is a full application round that includes a revised Technical Approach that responds to questions from the selection committee, plus a management and staffing plan and a statement covering institutional capacity and past performance. A Cost Application is also required in Phase 2. Applicants who advance are expected to turn around a complete Phase 2 package quickly, with an anticipated submission window of about 15 days, with the exact deadline set by the Agreement Officer in the Phase 2 instructions. After Phase 2 evaluation, USAID selects an Apparently Successful Applicant for discussions; if negotiations or discussions do not conclude successfully, USAID can move to another finalist from Phase 2 or decide not to make an award.

Key administrative details from the notice include the funding opportunity number 72038820RFA00006, the agency listed as USAID Bangladesh (USAID-Dhaka), the assistance listing under CFDA 98.001, and eligibility described as unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to any specific clarifications in the full eligibility language). The opportunity anticipated one award with an award ceiling of $20.5 million, originally posted August 26, 2020, with an original closing date of October 11, 2020.

• The Agency for International Development, Bangladesh USAID-Dhaka in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID Ecosystems / Protibesh 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 Aug 26, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2020. (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 $20,500,000.00 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.

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