USAID Heshimu Bahari Project
Request For Application-Mafia Seascape
Heshimu Bahari RFA1/2024

The USAID/Tanzania Heshimu Bahari (Respect the Ocean) Project is a five-year project that aims to improve the ecological resilience and productivity of Tanzania’s high marine biodiversity areas. Tanzania’s coral reefs are among the world’s fifty most climate-resilient reefs based on biological and oceanographic characteristics, and Tanzania’s marine and coastal ecosystems support a diverse range of coral reefs, seagrasses, open-ocean pelagic habitats, and mangroves. Not only do the ecosystems support species such as dugongs, sea turtles, and sharks and rays, but they also support a variety of livelihoods such as artisan fishing, aquaculture, and marine/coastal-related tourism activities. Overfishing, poorly planned infrastructure projects, and climate change all threaten not only these ecosystems and their fauna and flora, but also livelihoods and food security. These obstacles, together with the lack of a functional marine management area (MMA) framework, underdeveloped governance systems, insufficient funding, and an unincentivized private sector, severely limit effective management and measurable impact in marine biodiversity conservation.

To help address these challenges, Heshimu Bahari aims to establish an enabling environment and science-driven framework for sustainable MMA and wild-caught fishery co-management by government, communities, and the private sector. The Activity has four integrated objectives:

1. Strengthen an enabling framework for a network of MMAs and fishery replenishment zones (FRZs) for resilient biodiversity conservation, climate resilient communities, and enhanced wild-caught fisheries production.
2. Community co-management of MMAs/wild-caught fisheries and climate resilience strengthened.
3. Private sector investment in MMAs and wild-caught fisheries expanded.
4. Integration of relevant science to MMA and fisheries policy and management improved.

Objective.

The USAID Heshimu Bahari seeks to award a grant to NGOs or Civil Society Organizations(CSOs)to undertake implementation of project activities in Mafia Island seascape. The objective of the grant is to contribute to measurable delivery in each of the following three expected outcomes:

1. Improved implementation of existing fisheries replenishment zones (FRZs) or no-take zones.
2. Establishment and implementation of new FRZs
3. Improved management effectiveness in selected marine management areas (MMAs).

Geography coverage and target.

Applicants should apply to provide services in one or more marine management areas (MMAs) within the Mafia Island seascape, which specifically covers the following MMAs:

• Bweni Kanga (BK) Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas (CFMA)
• JOJIBAKI CFMA including Nyororo & Mbarakuni Island Marine Reserves
• DOKICHUNDA CFMA including Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve
• Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) – especially existing core zones

Applicants have to demonstrate residency and a wider footprint in the Mafia seascapes with a higher rapport with seascape stakeholders and specifically National and Local government counterparts and should demonstrate implementation of various community engagement interventions along with viable structures and human resources in the respective seascape.

Eligible Recipients:

• Applicants must be a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) formally constituted, recognized by and in good standing in Tanzania & Zanzibar.
• Applicants may only submit one application per organization under this RFA.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate successful past performance in implementation of community level activities including marine, coastal community fishing activities, livelihood along the coast of Tanzania Mainland or Zanzibar livelihoods. Minimum five years’ experience in implementation of marine interventions.
• Applicants must display sound management in the form of financial, administrative, and technical policies and procedures and present a system of internal controls that safeguard assets: protect against fraud, waste, and abuse: and support the achievement of program goals and objectives. USAID Heshimu Bahari will assess this capability prior to awarding a grant.
• For any grant award(s) resulting from this solicitation that is other than in-kind, equivalent to $25,000 USD or more, and has no anticipated sub-awards, grantees will be required to provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at the time of award. If the applicant already has a UEI number, it should be included in their application. Otherwise, applicants will be expected to get a UEI number before an award is made. USAID Heshimu Bahari will assist successful applicants with this process.
• Faith-based and community groups will receive equal opportunity for funding in accordance with the mandated guidelines laid out in ADS 303.3.28 except for faith-based organizations whose objectives are for discriminatory and religious purposes, and whose main objective of the grant is of a religious nature.

USAID Heshimu Bahari encourages applications from new organizations who meet the above eligibility criteria.

Funding:

This is the renewal award with the initial period of performance of 12 months from 01 September/October 2024 through 30 September 2025 with the possibility of renewing the award for a further 18 months from 10ctober 2025 to 31 March 2027 in line with USAID Heshimu Bahari period of performance through 2027. Renewal is subject to performance, availability of funds and final agreement during negotiation. The type and amount of the grant will be determined during the negotiation process based on the submitted proposal.

USAID Heshimu Bahari intends to award a grant of $350,000 for the initial 12 months

Successful Applicant will be invited for co-creation to review and align proposed activities in reflection of approved USAID Heshimu Bahari workplan and budget for FY25

Application and Submission Information.

Interested agencies are invited to request for RFA through the mail address HBAprocurement@HeshimuBahari.com

The deadline for submitting of Request for proposals is July 22^nd 2024,5.00p.m. All interested agencies must submit their proposals in electronic version through HBAprocurement@HeshimuBahari.com . with subject clearly marked RFA 1/2024.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of Heshimu Bahari, nor does it commit Heshimu Bahari to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Further, Heshimu Bahari reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received and reserves the right to ask for further clarifications from the applicants.