ACED Program Grants

• Ensure ASEZA and ADC have the capacity to deliver services to their clients, especially in the areas of municipal services, regulation, inspection, enforcement, and planning, policy formulation, promotion and development of ASEZ;

• Provide the skills needed by local micro, small and medium enterprise owners (MSME's) and by (both male and female) citizens of Aqaba to enable them to maximize their benefits from the investments coming into the ASEZ; and

• Prepare (both male and female) citizens living in Aqaba to participate in decision-making in the zone, and to improve access to social infrastructure. Need to ensure that the urban growth translates into a higher standard of living for residents.

The ACED Program will comprise the three components described below. Woven through each will be a public outreach activity with access to grants. Under each component, there will be both public and private sector activities and opportunities so that both sectors can effectively work together. ACED’s three principle components are:

• Strengthened Government Institutions

• Strengthened Private Sector

• Enhanced Community Development

A grants program will allow the contractor to provide funds for various organizations internal strengthening/institution building, as well as supporting activities of other potentially viable organizations. Each of the components will have a public outreach element to provide the local community with information on how the various programs affect and improve their lives. A strong monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment unit will be created under the project to establish baselines, targets and measure results for ACED, while also strengthening the capacity of ASEZA and ADC to measure results.

The design of ACED builds on lessons learned through implementation of USAID/Jordan’s programs in Aqaba between 2000-2006, particularly ATASP and AZEM. Designed as a five-year program, ACED will be the key USG program in Aqaba. Although it follows the former AZEM project, there are significant changes in the program’s design and types of results expected. ACED will not only focus on public sector reform and institutional strengthening, but it will build the capacity of the private sector and communities more systematically than has been the case with USAID programs in Aqaba in the past. Therefore, the program will interface with a diverse group of public, private and non-governmental (NGO) institutions and organizations.

Component 1: Strengthened Government Institutions

The objective of the Strengthened Government Institutions Component is to ensure that ASEZA and ADC become sustainable efficient institutions capable of carrying out their respective roles as regulator and developer of the Zone. This will be accomplished through legislative and regulatory reform if required; through internal institutional capacity strengthening of both organizations; and by building linkages with other public and private institutions, including civil society, to ensure that development in ASEZ is broad-based and sustainable over the long-term.

Component 2: Strengthened Private Sector

The objectives of the Strengthened Private Sector Component are twofold: 1) to ensure that Aqabites are in a position to join the modern workforce; and 2) to improve the ability of the private sector in Aqaba to be competitive. This component will work directly with the private sector to enhance the ability of MSMEs (both male and female) to provide services and products for the tourism industry, support manufacturing and the logistical (ports, trucking, warehousing, etc.) services sectors. It will also work jointly with the private sector and the government through the Vocational Training Centers to prepare better trained labor to fill the 66,000 long-term jobs that will be created in Aqaba over the next five to ten years.

Component 3: Enhanced Community Development

The objectives of the Enhanced Community Development Component are: 1) to establish mechanisms for the local community to participate in development decision-making for the ASEZ; 2) to enhance the capacity of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide relevant services to members; and 3) through a range of activities to encourage local citizens (both male and female) to participate in the modern economy and have access to social services and infrastructure.

The ACED Program is currently accepting concept papers for activities to be funded under its grants program for potential activities between October 11, 2007, and October 10, 2012. The concept papers should support activities and programs that complement existing ACED projects and help achieve the program’s intermediate results. Specifically, the grants will provide assistance to programs yielding the following results. Please note these results will change as ACED’s performance management plan is being developed. The following are intended as illustrative activities.

• Technical assistance;

• Training;

• Strategic planning;

• Sector analyses, feasibility studies and policy briefs;

• Human Resources improvements;

• Business Practice reforms;

• Supply chain analysis;

• Program support grants;

• Public awareness and advocacy services;

• Public/Private Forums;

• Commodities and equipment procurement;

• Program results monitoring, reporting and coordination.

Eligible Applicants (See below Section B “Eligibility of Beneficiaries”) should submit a two-page concept paper to the Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program Grants Manager containing the following information:

• The purpose and objectives of the organization and the proposed program;

• A general description of who will benefit from the proposed program and the proposed impact on them (including number of men and women and what part of Jordan they are from);

• A description of who and how the program will be implemented as an integral part of the applicant's Implementation Plan;

• An estimate of the total amount of Grants Program funding which would be required to implement the program; Elements of applicant’s contribution, in cash and in kind.

Concept papers should be submitted prior to submitting a full grant application. Applicants whose concept papers are accepted will then be invited to submit a formal full grant application.

Applications will be evaluated and reviewed according to the following criteria:

(To qualify for consideration, applicants must meet the following mandatory criteria 1-6.)

1. Is the purpose of the activity specified in the application consistent with USAID/Jordan and Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program objectives?
2. Is the Applicant an eligible organization as defined in the Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program Grants Manual?
3. Does the proposed Beneficiary have the organizational capability to successfully implement the activity specified in the application?
4. Does the proposed Beneficiary have the financial accounting system to adequately account (as per USAID regulations) for the funds that would be provided via the award?
5. Is the proposed Beneficiary contributing to/or causing contributions to the overall activity cost in cash or in kind?
6. Has the Applicant completed the Environmental checklist? If the applicant meets the foregoing mandatory criteria and is eligible for consideration, the application will be scored according to the following supplementary criteria 7-11.
7. Does the activity have a realistic and well thought out implementation plan with clearly defined objectives, expected results, and quantifiable target/benchmarks that takes gender issue into consideration? (30 Pts)
8. Is the activity budget realistic and in line with costs for similar programs in Jordan? (20 Pts)
9. Is the proposed beneficiary contributing to the overall activity cost in cash or in kind, or using other methods to leverage resources? Is the proposed cost share appropriate to the proposed beneficiary’s financial capacity? Cost share is required. (10 Pts)
10. Does the activity address issues of sustainability and replicability? (30 Pts)
11. Does the proposed activity target beneficiaries primarily involved with both public and private sector activities and opportunities? (10 Pts)

The maximum total is 100 points. Applicants must receive a minimum overall score of 75 points total, as well as achieve a minimum of 50% under each individual supplementary criterion to be considered for funding support. A score of 75 or greater does not guarantee an award.

The Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program is authorized in accordance with the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act and USAID under USAID contract Number 278-C-00-08-00301-00. Awards will be administered in accordance with provisions contained in the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS), Section 302.5.6, “Grants Under Contracts,” ADS Chapter 303, “Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Non-Governmental Organizations,” and/or within the terms of the USAID Standard Provisions applicable to Non-U.S. Non-Governmental Recipients. Information on these provisions can be accessed through the USAID external website at www.info.usaid.gov "Business & Procurement" section or by contacting the Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program Grants Manager. All grant awards will be made in Jordanian Dinars.

Concept papers shall be submitted by e-mail to grants@aced-jordan.com or by mail to the Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program Grants Manager at:

Grants Manager

Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program

Email: grants@aced-jordan.com

Tel: 962-3-201-7761
Fax: 962-3-201-7760

Please include with your application. The name and the phone number of the person in your organization who will be the organizational liaison and who is empowered to manage the grant on behalf of your organization. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Instruction Manuals with detailed information on how to apply for funding are available through the Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program office at the above address.

The Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program and USAID/Jordan reserve the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.