Request for Information - Human Rights potential design | 72051421RFI00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72051421RFI00001

USAID/Colombia released a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Request for Information - Human Rights potential design" (Opportunity No. 72051421RFI00001) to gather input from organizations and other interested parties to help shape the early design of a future human rights activity in Colombia. This notice is strictly a market research and planning step, not a funding competition. It is not a Request for Proposals or Applications, does not guarantee that USAID will later issue a solicitation or award, and it will not reimburse any costs associated with preparing or submitting responses. Even though the listing references a cooperative agreement as the anticipated instrument type and indicates one expected award, the RFI itself is primarily about collecting ideas and feedback before any formal funding opportunity is developed.

The core purpose is to inform USAID/Colombia as it develops a new activity that will build on current and past human rights programs. USAID is asking respondents to provide comments, opinions, and recommendations that can help identify priority results, promising approaches, key programming areas, and innovative ideas that are grounded in Colombia's current human rights context. A major emphasis is on realism about the operating environment: respondents are encouraged to factor in the broader country dynamics, the range of relevant actors, and the forces that either support progress or undermine it. This includes identifying likely champions who could drive reforms or protections forward, as well as spoilers who may resist, obstruct, or distort human rights efforts.

USAID is specifically looking for insight into challenges and opportunities in Colombia's human rights landscape, including what tends to go wrong in coordination across institutions and stakeholders, and what incentives or disincentives influence behavior and potential change. In other words, the agency wants more than general statements of need; it is seeking actionable design-oriented thinking about what outcomes matter most, what has historically enabled or blocked progress, and where new or different priorities could produce better results. The RFI also signals an interest in innovation, suggesting USAID is open to new ideas as long as they are tied to clear results and grounded in the realities of the Colombian context.

A key instruction in the notice is that submissions should focus on the desired results, meaning the "what" USAID should aim to achieve, rather than describing in detail how a particular organization would carry out the work. This is an important distinction: respondents should prioritize articulating potential objectives, end-states, and results frameworks, rather than offering a fully developed implementation plan, staffing model, or organizational pitch. The activity falls under the Law, Justice, and Legal Services category (CFDA 98.001), and eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the RFI is open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications that might appear in the full notice.

Responses were requested by the stated closing date of June 8, 2021, and were to be submitted via email to bogotausaidofficeaa@usaid.gov. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an invitation to help shape a potential future USAID/Colombia human rights program by advising on priorities, expected results, and contextual factors that should guide program design, rather than as an immediate funding opportunity.

• The Agency for International Development, Colombia USAID-Bogota in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information - Human Rights potential design" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 07, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 08, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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