Mozambique Resilient Coastal Communities BAA | BAA 720 656 07 2021

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Mozambique Resilient Coastal Communities Broad Agency Announcement (BAA 720 656 07 2021)?

The Mozambique Resilient Coastal Communities Broad Agency Announcement (BAA 720 656 07 2021) is a USAID/Mozambique opportunity designed to bring in new partners and fresh ideas to strengthen the resilience of Mozambican coastal communities and the ecosystems they rely on. It is structured to support innovative, practical approaches that address urgent barriers such as environmental stress, climate impacts, and economic vulnerability.

Is this a traditional grant with a fixed project plan?

No. This opportunity is not described as a traditional grant with a pre-defined, fixed workplan. Instead, it is collaboration-oriented: organizations submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and, if selected, may work with USAID through co-creation and co-design to shape pilot activities.

What is an Expression of Interest (EOI) in this context?

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is the initial submission step described for this BAA. The EOI is used to signal an organization’s interest and outline an idea or approach. Based on responsiveness to the BAA, USAID may invite organizations to participate in co-creation and co-design to develop pilot activities.

What does co-creation and co-design mean for applicants?

Co-creation and co-design means the final shape of pilot activities may be developed collaboratively with USAID rather than being fully defined upfront by the applicant. The intent is to jointly refine, test, and adapt practical solutions as the work is developed and implemented.

What is the main goal of the BAA?

The core aim is to test and refine innovative, practical approaches that strengthen resilience in coastal areas of Mozambique. The BAA is focused on solutions that can address urgent challenges facing coastal communities, including environmental pressures, climate-related impacts, and economic vulnerability.

What themes or areas of interest does USAID emphasize?

Based on the information provided, the BAA emphasizes: youth engagement in sustainable natural resource management; sustainable management of coastal and marine resources; improvements to food and fisheries systems; climate resilience; and economic diversification through locally appropriate enterprise and diversified livelihoods.

How important is youth engagement in this opportunity?

Youth engagement is a major emphasis and described as a defining priority. USAID signals specific interest in approaches that increase young people’s productive participation in sustainable natural resource management in coastal communities.

What kinds of activities might fit under sustainable natural resource management and fisheries/food systems?

The opportunity points to interventions that connect environmental stewardship with tangible economic and nutrition outcomes. Examples mentioned include more sustainable fisheries practices, stronger local seafood value chains, improved post-harvest handling and processing, and community-based approaches that protect habitats while maintaining livelihoods.

Does the BAA focus only on environmental conservation?

No. While sustainable resource management is central, the opportunity explicitly links environmental stewardship to economic viability, livelihoods, and food/fisheries system improvements. The framing suggests interest in approaches that protect ecosystems while also supporting incomes, nutrition outcomes, and community resilience.

What does climate resilience mean in this BAA?

Climate resilience is described as helping coastal households and communities build livelihoods that can withstand climate shocks and long-term change. The BAA seeks approaches that are both resilient and economically viable.

What is meant by economic diversification in coastal communities?

Economic diversification is described as developing diversified income sources and locally appropriate enterprise development to reduce reliance on a single vulnerable activity. The intent is to reduce economic vulnerability and improve the ability of households to cope with climate and environmental stressors.

What are "pilot activities" and why does USAID emphasize pilots?

Pilots are described as smaller-scale, testable efforts. USAID emphasizes pilots because they can generate evidence, be adapted based on results, and potentially be expanded later if they prove effective.

Is the opportunity intended to generate evidence and learning?

Yes. The description highlights testing and refining approaches, adapting based on results, and generating evidence through pilot efforts, with the possibility of later expansion if approaches are effective.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive. Entities that may apply include public and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, universities and other higher education institutions, public international organizations, NGOs, U.S. and non-U.S. government entities, and multilateral or international donor organizations, unless an individual addendum places additional limits.

Can for-profit organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes for-profit entities among those that may apply, unless an addendum limits eligibility.

Can non-U.S. organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes both U.S. and non-U.S. entities, including non-U.S. government entities, unless an addendum places additional limits.

Can universities or higher education institutions apply?

Yes. Universities and other higher education institutions are explicitly listed as eligible, unless an addendum limits eligibility.

Are government entities eligible to participate?

Yes. The eligibility description includes U.S. and non-U.S. government entities as potentially eligible applicants, unless an addendum places additional limits.

What does it mean to be "responsive" to the BAA?

Participation depends on being considered responsive to the BAA, meaning the idea and submission align with the goals and themes described in the announcement. The BAA is oriented toward solutions that strengthen coastal resilience in Mozambique by linking sustainable resource management, stronger food and fisheries systems, climate resilience, diversified livelihoods, and youth involvement.

What does it mean to be "responsible" to carry out the work?

USAID indicates that applicants must be sufficiently responsible to carry out the work or contribute to the final award arrangement. This reflects USAID’s standard due diligence expectations described in the information provided.

What is the submission deadline shown for this opportunity?

The listed opportunity details state the original closing date for submissions was September 6, 2021.

What does it mean that the award ceiling is shown as 0?

The award ceiling being shown as 0 typically signals that funding levels and award structures are not pre-set in the announcement. Instead, they may be determined through addenda and the co-creation process rather than promised upfront.

Does the BAA guarantee a specific funding amount?

No specific funding amount is indicated in the details provided. The award ceiling shown as 0 suggests that funding levels are not pre-set and may be determined later through addenda and the co-creation process.

How should this opportunity be understood overall?

Overall, the BAA is best understood as a partnership-oriented call for innovators to propose and jointly develop pilot solutions that improve coastal resilience in Mozambique. It emphasizes linking sustainable coastal and marine resource management with stronger food and fisheries systems and climate-resilient, diversified livelihoods, with youth involvement as a defining priority.

What kinds of outcomes does USAID appear to be seeking?

Based on the description, outcomes of interest include improved resilience of coastal communities, more sustainable management of coastal and marine resources, stronger food and fisheries systems (including value chains and post-harvest practices), livelihoods that are better able to withstand climate impacts, diversified and economically viable income strategies, and increased productive participation of youth in sustainable natural resource management.