Bokamoso Activity | 72067424RFA00005

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USAID Bokamoso Activity (Lesotho)

1) What is the Bokamoso Activity?

The Bokamoso Activity is a USAID-funded cooperative agreement opportunity designed to reduce HIV risk and improve overall wellbeing for children and young people in Lesotho, with a strong focus on those facing the highest vulnerability.

2) What are the primary goals of this opportunity?

The opportunity aims to reduce HIV vulnerability among children and youth by combining HIV prevention approaches with practical supports that help young people stay healthy, safe, and connected to services. It also seeks to strengthen the broader enabling environment for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and where appropriate, adolescent boys and young men (ABYM).

3) Which populations does Bokamoso prioritize?

The activity prioritizes orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) across Lesotho and emphasizes support for children and young people facing the highest vulnerability. It also places a strong emphasis on AGYW, and includes broader programming that may also involve ABYM where appropriate.

4) Where will services be delivered?

Comprehensive OVC services are expected to be delivered across all ten districts of Lesotho. DREAMS HIV prevention interventions are expected to be implemented in four priority districts: Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, and Mohale's Hoek.

5) What is DREAMS in the context of this opportunity?

DREAMS refers to HIV prevention interventions focused on adolescent girls and young women, typically using layered interventions to reduce risk and increase protective factors across multiple levels (individual, family, community, and systems). In this opportunity, DREAMS interventions are targeted to four priority districts.

6) What does "integration" between OVC and DREAMS mean for applicants?

USAID expects strong integration between OVC programming and DREAMS programming in the DREAMS-targeted districts. Services are not intended to operate as separate tracks; they must be delivered in a seamless and coordinated way so beneficiaries experience one connected set of supports.

7) What specific elements are expected to be integrated between OVC and DREAMS?

Integration is expected to include alignment of referral systems, case management approaches, service delivery points, and monitoring. The intent is improved efficiency and stronger combined outcomes.

8) What types of services and supports does Bokamoso expect to improve access to?

The activity is expected to measurably improve access to accurate HIV information, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, social protection mechanisms, violence prevention services, and pathways to educational and economic opportunity.

9) What factors driving HIV vulnerability does the activity aim to address?

The opportunity recognizes that HIV vulnerability is driven by overlapping factors such as poverty, school dropout, gender-based violence, limited access to youth-friendly health services, and unequal power dynamics. The activity is designed to address these drivers together rather than in isolation.

10) Does the activity include work beyond direct service delivery?

Yes. In addition to direct services, the activity includes programming meant to strengthen the broader enabling environment for AGYW (and potentially ABYM), with the intent that these improvements benefit youth more broadly.

11) What does USAID mean by strengthening the "enabling environment"?

Based on the information provided, this refers to broader structural interventions intended to shift the environment around AGYW (and potentially ABYM) in ways that reduce risk and increase protective factors. Applicants are expected to follow DREAMS guidance for these types of interventions.

12) How important is innovation in the proposed approach?

USAID expects the implementer to use innovative strategies that reach the most vulnerable OVC and AGYW and that can measurably improve access to the priority information and services described in the opportunity.

13) What is the role of the Government of Lesotho (GOL) in this activity?

The activity is designed to support the Government of Lesotho and its multi-sector strategies for HIV mitigation and prevention. The opportunity emphasizes alignment with existing and planned GOL structures, systems, and processes.

14) What does sustainability mean for Bokamoso?

Sustainability must be mainstreamed across all program areas, not treated as an add-on. The approach is expected to plan from the start for continuity beyond the life of the award by aligning with GOL systems and building durable linkages with government and community systems.

15) What kinds of systems or functions should be sustained beyond the award?

The opportunity highlights continuity of core functions such as service coordination, youth-friendly referrals, violence response pathways, and social protection connections.

16) Is USAID looking for parallel systems or integration with existing systems?

USAID signals a preference for strengthening local systems rather than creating parallel ones, and for demonstrating a realistic path to continuity after external funding decreases.

17) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

This is a USAID cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement indicates USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.

18) Which USAID office/agency is associated with this funding opportunity?

The agency listed is USAID-Pretoria, South Africa.

19) What sector/category does this opportunity fall under?

The program falls under the health category.

20) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 98.001.

21) How many awards does USAID anticipate making?

USAID anticipates making one award.

22) What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is up to $60,000,000.

23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for Bokamoso?

The funding opportunity number is 72067424RFA00005.

24) What is the official opportunity title?

The opportunity title is "Bokamoso Activity."

25) What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date listed was March 12, 2024.

26) When was the opportunity posting created?

The posting indicates it was created on February 12, 2024.

27) Who is eligible to apply as the prime applicant?

Applications are limited to local entities in the Southern Africa region, and this restriction applies specifically to the principal (prime) applicant. Only organizations that meet USAID's definition of a local organization as described in Section C.1 of the NOFO are eligible to apply as the prime.

28) Does the local-entity restriction apply to all partners or only the prime applicant?

Based on the information provided, the restriction applies specifically to the principal or prime applicant.

29) What guidance is this eligibility restriction tied to?

The restriction is tied to PEPFAR FY 2020 Country Operational Plan guidance, reflecting an emphasis on locally led implementation and strengthening regional ownership of HIV prevention and OVC programming.

30) In which districts must OVC and DREAMS integration be especially strong?

USAID highlights integration expectations in the DREAMS-targeted districts: Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, and Mohale's Hoek.