USAID Host and Impacted Community Resilience Activity (HICRA) | 72038823RFA00002

FAQs: USAID Host and Impacted Community Resilience Activity (HICRA) - Bangladesh

What is the USAID Host and Impacted Community Resilience Activity (HICRA)?

HICRA is a USAID/Bangladesh (Dhaka) grant opportunity to fund a locally led program that strengthens the well-being and resilience of communities affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh. The activity is framed around helping communities cope with shocks and stresses tied to displacement, prolonged humanitarian pressure, and the resulting social and economic strains.

Which USAID mission is issuing this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by USAID/Bangladesh (Dhaka).

What is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) number?

The NOFO number is 72038823RFA00002.

What type of award mechanism will USAID use?

USAID intends to use a Cooperative Agreement structured as a Fixed Amount Cooperative Agreement.

What does a Fixed Amount Cooperative Agreement generally mean for payments?

It means payments are typically tied to completion of defined milestones or outputs, rather than reimbursing actual incurred costs.

What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?

The overall intent is to support interventions that improve resilience and well-being for communities experiencing shocks and stresses connected to the Rohingya displacement context, including social, economic, and social cohesion-related impacts.

What communities are considered the geographic focus of HICRA?

The focus includes both "host" and "impacted" communities in areas affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh.

Which areas are defined as "host communities" under this opportunity?

Host communities are identified as the Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas where the Rohingya refugee camps are located.

Which areas are defined as "impacted communities" under this opportunity?

Impacted communities include the broader Cox's Bazar district and communities across the three Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts: Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachari.

Why does the opportunity include the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts?

By including the CHT districts, the activity signals attention to longer-term and second-order effects of the crisis across the wider region, including issues related to social cohesion and conflict prevention, not only immediate pressures near the camps.

Who is eligible to apply as the prime applicant?

Eligibility is restricted to Bangladeshi local entities (local Bangladeshi organizations). The opportunity is designed to channel resources directly to domestic organizations rather than international implementers as prime applicants.

Are international organizations eligible to apply as prime applicants?

Based on the eligibility restriction stated in the posting, prime applicants must be Bangladeshi local entities, meaning the call is not aimed at international organizations applying as the prime recipient.

What should interested applicants review before applying?

Eligible applicants are encouraged to review the full solicitation package to understand the program USAID is seeking, how applications must be submitted, and how USAID will evaluate and select awardees.

How is this funding opportunity categorized?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.

What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?

The CFDA/Assistance Listing number shown is 98.001.

What is the listed award ceiling?

The posted award ceiling is 70,198,757 (as listed in the source data excerpt).

When was this opportunity created?

The posting indicates the opportunity was created on October 9, 2023.

What was the original closing date listed for applications?

The original closing date shown is December 2, 2023.

Does the excerpt list specific technical components or detailed result areas?

No. The excerpt does not provide a full breakdown of technical components or expected results areas, but it clearly frames the activity around resilience and well-being and highlights social, economic, and cohesion-related impacts linked to the Rohingya crisis.

What are the key themes or problem statements emphasized in the opportunity description?

The opportunity emphasizes shocks and stresses associated with displacement, protracted humanitarian pressure, and related social and economic strain, with attention to social cohesion and conflict prevention concerns across a wider region beyond the immediate camp-adjacent areas.

Were any amendments issued for this NOFO?

Yes. The notice includes amendments that clarify and update solicitation materials.

What does Amendment 1 cover?

Amendment 1 updates relevant sections of the NOFO (with a tracked-changes version and a clean copy provided) and publishes questions submitted by prospective applicants along with USAID's responses.

What does Amendment 2 cover?

Amendment 2 further updates NOFO sections and releases materials from the pre-application conference held on November 7, 2023, including presentation slides and an attendance list, plus supplemental or clarification questions raised during the conference and the corresponding answers.

Do the amendments change the fundamental purpose of the activity?

The amendments are described as mainly clarifications and updates to the solicitation materials rather than changes to the fundamental purpose of the activity.

Do the original terms and conditions still apply after the amendments?

Yes. USAID emphasizes that except for the specific changes and posted clarifications, the original terms and conditions of the NOFO remain in effect.

Was there a pre-application conference for this opportunity?

Yes. The materials from a pre-application conference held on November 7, 2023 are referenced in the posting (slides and an attendance list), along with additional Q&A from that event.

Where can applicants find official clarifications to questions about the opportunity?

Official clarifications are provided through the published questions and answers included with Amendment 1 and the supplemental/clarification questions and answers released with Amendment 2.

Is this opportunity specifically focused on communities near the refugee camps only?

No. While Ukhia and Teknaf (camp-adjacent host areas) are explicitly included, the geographic scope also covers the broader Cox's Bazar district and the CHT districts (Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachari), reflecting a wider, longer-term regional focus.

What does "locally led" mean in the context of this posting?

In this posting, the locally led emphasis is reinforced by the eligibility restriction to Bangladeshi local entities, indicating an intent to fund domestic organizations as prime implementers.