About

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the USAID Acting on Climate Change Together Program.

Program Goals and Objectives

• The goal of the Acting on Climate Change Together (ACCT) Activity is to reduce the adverse impacts of climate-related disasters on education for children, including children with disabilities (CwD). The activity will meaningfully engage communities, children, schools, disabled person organizations and provide opportunities to collaboratively develop and implement disability-inclusive climate programs and approaches.

• Objective 1: Develop and implement disability-inclusive school disaster risk mitigation plans

  • Anticipated results:

    • All targeted schools have disability-inclusive disaster risk mitigation plans, building on the recently developed COVID-19 school response plans and school safety plans to comprehensively include other emergencies such as responding to climate-related disasters. These plans should be linked to Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)’s community Local Adaptation Plans (LAPs) and include activities to respond/mitigate to disasters and/or continue teaching and learning in the face of school closures; 

    • All targeted schools will implement select activities, to be determined, under the disaster risk mitigation plans. 

    • Participation of Disabled Persons’ Organizations (DPOs) in disaster planning processes; 

    • Communities, parents, teachers and students' knowledge and awareness increased on disaster risk mitigation.

• Objective 2: Increase enrollment and participation of children with disabilities (CwD) into schools to benefit from the protective factors of school settings, especially during disasters

  • Anticipated Results: 

    • A complete survey of children with disabilities both in and out of school in Western Province

    • Increased enrollment of children with disabilities

    • 28 special schools and schools with special units have improved classroom and school environment for children with disabilities 

    • increased school attendance and participation of learners with disabilities; 

    • improved pedagogy for inclusive education.

• Objective 3: To increase knowledge and climate action of children, including children with disabilities 

• Anticipated Results: 

  • establishment/strengthening of inclusive environmental clubs; 

  • Increased participation of learners with disabilities in climate environmental club activities; 

  • Increased student-led climate change mitigation practices

Funding Information

• Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $3,400,000 in total USAID funding over a three-year period. 

Geographic Focus

• The activity will operate in 26 special schools and schools with special units in Western Province and 1 special school and 1 school with a special unit in the Lusaka city area for piloting and testing purposes. Annex 2 provides more considerations on the geographic focus including a list of schools with disability services.

Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants

  • Eligibility for this NOFO is not restricted

  • USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.

  • Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.

Post Date: September 16, 2024