Introduction

Tetra Tech ARD, the implementing partner for USAID’s Feed the Future Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA) Program pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and in accordance with USAID Contract No. 72060520C00001, is authorized to provide Grants under Contract (GUC) to meet its program objectives. GFRA is seeking concept papers from qualified organizations to implement programs within the GFRA framework that will complement GFRA’s five key strategic approaches and that will ultimately contribute GFRA’s goal to establish a durable basis for the ecological recovery of Ghana’s small pelagic fisheries sector. GFRA employs an approach that reduces fishing overcapacity and increases controlled access over Ghana’s small pelagic fisheries sector in order to encourage ecological sustainability while enhancing socio-economic well-being and local resilience of artisanal fishing communities.

This Annual Program Statement (APS) is a two-tier process in which USAID’s Feed the Future Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity Program will review concept papers on a rolling basis and if the application is deemed to be responsive to the solicitation and demonstrates a link to GFRA objectives, the applicant will be asked to submit a full application. Submission of a full application constitutes the second tier. The final selection for award will be made on the basis of the second tier-applications, which will be evaluated and scored by the Review and Evaluation Committee (REC).

GFRA’s goal is to support the government and local communities to implement fisheries management measures that reduce overcapacity in the small pelagic fishing sector to encourage ecological sustainability while at the same time enhancing socio-economic well-being and local resilience of artisanal fisherfolk and their communities through the following set of interdependent strategic approaches:

• Strategic Approach 1: Align fisheries capacity with ecological carrying capacity of the small pelagic fisheries while enhancing the socio-economic well-being and resilience of artisanal fisherfolk (Livelihoods).
• Strategic Approach 2: Increase the quality and value of artisanal fish products to maintain household income and enhance availability of nutritious foods for local and regional markets (Post Harvest).
• Strategic Approach 3: Strengthen transparency, accountability, and co-management in governance practices for fisheries policymaking, regulation, and enforcement (Fisheries Management, Governance and Addressing IUU Fishing).).
• Strategic Approach 4: Strengthen constituencies to promote and implement sustainable fisheries management (Fisheries Advocates, Gender and Child Labor).
• Strategic Approach 5: Improve use of science and research for policy and management decisions (Science for Decision-Making).

Purpose, Objectives, and Illustrative Grant Activities

The achievement of GFRA’s five strategic approaches requires a diverse set of partnerships. One method that GFRA will utilize to engage partners is grants. It is the expectation of GFRA that grantee activities will address at least one of the give GFRA strategic approaches noted above. In certain instances, grantee activities may address multiple strategic approaches concurrently. GFRA grantees must share a commitment to GFRA objectives and their activities must be based on a proven methodology and/or successful program that has already been underway, All grant activities must either be national in nature or take place within GFRA’s priority sites as identified in the Geographic Focus sectoin.

GFRA invites project concepts from qualified organizations to propose effective actions for achieving key results under GFRA strategic approaches as outlined below:

Geographic Focus

Some proposals can include activities that are national in nature, for example scientific research or observer training. Any proposals that present activities that target fisheries communities must limit activities to the following GFRA sites:

• Jomoro District, Half Assini (Western Region)
• Nzema East District, Axim (Western Region)
• STMA, Sekondi (Western Region)
• Shama District, Shama Enclave (Western Region)
• KEEA, Elmina (Central Region)
• Gomoa West, Mumford (Central Region)
• Ada East, Azizanya (Greater Accra Region)
• TMA, Tema (Greater Accra Region)
• Ketu South, Denu (Volta Region)
• Keta Municipal, Keta (Volta Region)

Number and Value of Awards

GFRA anticipates awarding approximately five to ten (5-10) awards as a result of this APS. Awards are anticipated to range from $20,000 to $100,000. The value to a US organization will not exceed $100,000. The number and value of awards is dependant on the quality of the concept papers received, and their link to USAID GFRA’s strategic approaches and the available funding. The applying organization may submit no more than two (2) Concept Papers in the first review cycle. GFRA and USAID reserve the right to award none, one, or multiple grants as a result of this solicitation.

Period of Performance

The applicant shall specify the period of performance of the project being proposed. It is anticipated that the duration of the grants will be twelve to eighteen (12-18) months but may be shorter or longer depending on the technical proposal.

Eligible Applicants

GFRA invites Concept Papers from the following types of eligible organizations:

• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs);
• Community Based Organizations (CBOs);
• National, regional, and local organizations;
• Non-US NGOs;
• US NGOs (limited to $100,000 budget);
• Private foundations and universities;
• Private enterprises or firms (profit is not allowed under GFRA grants);
• Business and professional associations;
• Public International Organizations (PIOs);
• Others as approved by USAID.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Submission Instructions
The full Annual Program Statement (APS) and submission information will be provided to respondents’ email upon request to

Gfra.Grants@tetratech.com . Please insert the following text into the subject line of the submission email: GFRA-APS-001.

Attention: Grants and Subcontract Specialist

• GFRA.Grants@tetratech.com
• Opportunity Number: APS-GFRA-001
• Issuance Date: April 11, 2022

Questions: Questions should be submitted to: Gfra.Grants@tetratech.com. For the first round of Concept Papers, questions must be received no later than April 18, 2022 at 5:00 PM GMT. For subsequent rounds, responses to question received will be posted by the 1st of each month.A consolidated list of questions and answers will be shared with all potential applicants.

Closing Dates: The closing date for the first round of Concept Papers is May 20, 2022, at 5:00 PM GMT. Concepts received after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis as determined by the project and depending on the number of concepts received. This APS will close on April 20, 2023

Phase 2: Full Application Those applicants selected to proceed to submit a Full Application will be notified shortly after review.

Physical address

Ghana Postal Address: 28th 5th Circular Road Cantonment Accra