USAID Senegal Governance for Local Development Plus (GoLD +) | 72068524RFA00008

FAQs: USAID Senegal Governance for Local Development Plus (GoLD +)

1) What is the USAID Senegal Governance for Local Development Plus (GoLD +) opportunity?

GoLD + is a four-year, decentralization-focused USAID grant opportunity in Senegal intended to strengthen how local governments function and how they are perceived by the people they serve. The program aims to improve local government effectiveness and accountability so communes and other subnational entities can raise more of their own resources and translate those resources into better, more equitable public services.

2) What problem is GoLD + trying to address?

GoLD + is designed to improve local government effectiveness, accountability, and public trust. It focuses on helping local authorities mobilize more local resources, make decisions more transparently, engage citizens more meaningfully, and follow through on local priorities in ways that citizens can see and experience through improved services.

3) What are the main goals or objectives of GoLD +?

The opportunity is structured around several mutually reinforcing objectives:

• Increasing local revenue mobilization so local governments can finance services more sustainably
• Advancing inclusive development so planning and benefits reach women, youth, and marginalized groups
• Reinforcing accountability so citizens can monitor performance and leaders respond
• Strengthening service delivery so basic services improve in quality, equity, and reliability

4) How does GoLD + define improved governance in practice?

Improved governance is framed as stronger legitimacy and credibility of local authorities, achieved through more meaningful citizen engagement, clearer decision-making, and stronger follow-through on local priorities, alongside better performance in managing resources and delivering public services.

5) Is GoLD + a new program or a continuation of an earlier activity?

GoLD + is designed as a continuation and reinforcement of the earlier USAID GoLD program implemented from 2016 to 2023. It is intended to consolidate gains already achieved, scale approaches that worked, and deepen reforms where persistent gaps remain.

6) How long is the GoLD + activity expected to run?

The opportunity is described as a four-year activity.

7) Which regions in Senegal are targeted by GoLD +?

The program targets the following regions: Kolda, Sedhiou, Kedougou, Tambacounda, Ziguinchor, and Dakar.

8) What types of government entities are expected to benefit?

GoLD + focuses on communes and other subnational entities, with the broader aim of strengthening local government performance and accountability.

9) What does GoLD + mean by “local revenue mobilization”?

Based on the description, local revenue mobilization refers to improving the ability of local governments to raise more of their own resources, so they can finance public services more sustainably rather than relying primarily on external funding.

10) How does GoLD + address inclusion?

Inclusive development is a stated objective, with an emphasis on ensuring planning processes and resulting benefits reach women, youth, and marginalized groups.

11) What does GoLD + aim to change about citizen-government relationships?

A major emphasis is improving the relationship between citizens and local authorities by boosting legitimacy and credibility. This is expected to happen through meaningful engagement, clearer decision-making, and stronger follow-through on local priorities.

12) How does GoLD + approach accountability?

Accountability is an explicit objective. The description emphasizes enabling citizens to monitor performance and strengthening the expectation that leaders respond to citizen priorities and oversight.

13) What does “strengthening service delivery” mean in this opportunity?

Service delivery strengthening is described as improving basic services in quality, equity, and reliability, supported by better local governance, stronger resource mobilization, and improved accountability.

14) Does GoLD + involve coordination with the central government?

Yes. The design intends to strengthen coordination between local governments and the central government to reduce fragmentation, align priorities and budgets, and support coherent implementation of local development strategies.

15) Does GoLD + expect collaboration with organizations outside government?

Yes. GoLD + intends to build practical partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector, and to facilitate collaboration among subnational government entities.

16) What is meant by “integrated programming” in GoLD +?

GoLD + is framed as an integrated governance program expected to produce results not only in governance but also across key sectors such as health, education, and economic growth. The premise is that governance reforms matter most when they lead to visible improvements in day-to-day services and economic opportunities.

17) Which sectors are explicitly mentioned as part of the integrated approach?

The description explicitly mentions health, education, and economic growth as sectors where GoLD + is expected to contribute to results through improved local governance.

18) Why does USAID link governance improvements to sector outcomes?

The rationale provided is that linking governance improvements to sector outcomes can make interventions more consistent across regions, amplify the effectiveness of local development initiatives, and increase citizen satisfaction with public services.

19) What broader societal outcomes are expected from improved local governance and services?

Improved satisfaction and responsiveness are expected to contribute to social cohesion and socio-political stability, particularly in more vulnerable regions.

20) What type of funding opportunity is this?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by USAID Senegal (USAID-Dakar).

21) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for GoLD +?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 72068524RFA00008.

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

The CFDA number listed is 98.001.

23) What is the funding instrument for GoLD +?

The instrument is a cooperative agreement.

24) What does it mean that the instrument is a “cooperative agreement”?

The description notes that a cooperative agreement typically implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation through collaboration on planning, monitoring, and key decisions.

25) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of applicants may apply if they meet the standard requirements set out in the full announcement.

26) What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is $25,225,000.

27) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2023-12-01.

28) What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date is listed as 2024-03-01.

29) Which USAID office issued the opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by USAID Senegal (USAID-Dakar).

30) Does the description specify the exact activities or interventions applicants must propose?

The information provided describes goals, focus areas, and expected collaboration and integration, but it does not list specific required activities, deliverables, or prescribed intervention packages. Those details would typically be found in the full announcement.