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Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships |
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Colleagues,
I’m delighted to share that Dr. Peter Mandaville has joined USAID as a Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement. In this role, Peter will lead the Agency’s efforts to partner with faith-based organizations and religious communities to advance shared goals. I hope you will extend a warm welcome to Peter and that you will stay tuned for a special welcome message from him in next month’s newsletter.
To mark World Malaria Day and Earth Day in April, USAID celebrated the incredible efforts of our partner organizations in combating preventable disease, encouraging sustainable practices, and enhancing climate resilience. Despite this progress, there is still more work to do. Check out new funding announcements related to the President’s Malaria Initiative and the Save Our Seas Initiative that are working to address these challenges.
April also marked one year since the start of the crisis in Sudan. In response, USAID announced new humanitarian funding to reach those in need of life-saving assistance in Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and other vulnerable communities around the world.
Finally, the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships invites our partners to join us for over 30 public webinars during the Agency’s Learning and Evidence Month, including a session hosted by our team on May 28. We look forward to seeing you there!
With deep appreciation,
Amanda Vigneaud Initiative Lead, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships USAID
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Partner Resources:
Agency Updates & Funding Opportunities
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ICYMI: On April 14, Administrator Samantha Power released a statement marking one year since the start of the crisis in Sudan that has killed thousands of civilians, forced over eight million people to flee their homes, and left five million people on the brink of famine with an additional 25 million in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Administrator Power announced an additional $100 million in emergency food assistance, nutrition support, and other life-saving aid to respond to this conflict, increasing the total U.S. humanitarian aid to more than $1 billion since the start of the conflict. To find more information on USAID’s response efforts and how to donate to reputable relief organizations, visit USAID’s Center for International Disaster Information. |
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Celebrating Earth Day: On April 22, USAID celebrated Earth Day by highlighting our work to fight ocean plastic pollution and enhance climate resilience in communities that are more frequently experiencing climate shocks and extreme weather. In a statement, Administrator Power announced an additional $37.5 million in funding for the Agency’s flagship Save our Seas Initiative and highlighted how improving waste management and supporting the 3Rs - reduce, re-use, recycle - can help stop plastic from entering the ocean in the first place. Visit usaid.gov/climate to learn about USAID’s holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis and commitment to work with governments, civil society, and the private sector to build climate resilience in communities around the world. |
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World Malaria Day: On April 25, USAID and the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) marked World Malaria Day by recognizing global efforts to control malaria and underscoring the ongoing need for malaria treatments and prevention. Since 2000, PMI has helped lead global efforts that have saved 11.7 million lives and prevented more than two billion malaria infections. By focusing on reaching the unreached, strengthening community health systems, keeping malaria services resilient, and investing locally, PMI and partner organizations are regaining momentum in the battle to end one of history’s deadliest diseases. Learn more about the President’s Malaria Initiative. |
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Funding Opportunity: USAID/Senegal is seeking applications for grants to implement the "Malaria Elimination in Senegal, Community Health and Strengthening MNCH” activities. Applications for potential awards of up to $3,000,000 are due by June 28, 2024. The activities aim to advance Senegal toward its goal of malaria elimination by 2030. The activities also seek to strengthen the quality of healthcare services, including family planning, maternal and child health (MCH), and nutrition services, in addition to supporting obstetrical surgical units and neonatal care services. Finally, the activity seeks to increase preventive and care-seeking behaviors for MCH, family planning, nutrition, and zoonotic diseases. For more information, visit the award page at Grants.gov. |
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Funding Opportunity: USAID’s Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Bureau is accepting applications for the Regional Fund to Expand Inclusive Access to Quality Basic Education grant opportunity. Applications for potential awards of up to $25,000,000 are due by May 13, 2024. The primary goal of the activity is to expand inclusive access to quality basic education for marginalized and vulnerable learners over a sustained period of time. For more information, visit the award page at Grants.gov. |
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USAID Learning and Evidence Month: This May, join USAID for Agency Learning and Evidence Month, a celebration of research, evaluation, and learning. This event brings together diverse development actors to share insights and the latest evidence on global priorities. Under the theme of ‘What Works and Where to Find It’, USAID will host 30 sessions exploring evidence-driven approaches and resources to further global priorities, including climate change, migration, locally led development, resilience, affirmative development, anti-corruption, and inclusive development. Find the 2024 Event Program, individual session details, and registration information at USAIDLearningLab.org. |
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New Funding Resource: Are you trying to determine the best funding approach for your organization? WorkwithUSAID.gov has a new page on Funding Essentials. On this page, you can explore the basics of USAID funding terminology such as “acquisition” and “assistance,” and view USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategies (CDCS) to learn about USAID’s development objectives in the country in which you want to work. Finally, you can track USAID’s upcoming and current solicitations to find funding opportunities that are right for you! Check out the new page here. |
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ICYMI: “Building Bridges in Development: USAID’s Strategic Religious Engagement Policy” is now available in French and Spanish. The policy affirms the essential role religious actors play in their communities and is working to align Agency practices to elevate the distinct perspectives, expertise, and leadership of faith-based and religious communities through partnerships that drive development progress worldwide. Check out the policy webpage to find the translated policy and other resources. |
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At USAID, partnerships are at the center of everything we do – and woven throughout our history of partnerships are examples of religious actors on the front lines of development and humanitarian assistance across the globe. This new video celebrates USAID’s first-ever Strategic Religious Engagement Policy and highlights the principles and framework guiding the Agency’s approach to faith-based partnerships.
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Strategic Religious Engagement in Practice:
FHI360 Trains Local Imams to Raise Awareness for Tuberculosis Treatment in Tajikistan
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Doctors review patient scans to identify and treat tuberculosis in Tajikistan. (Photo Credit: USAID/Tajikistan)
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Through USAID's End Tuberculosis (TB) Tajikistan Activity, FHI 360 works with local partners, including Dure Technologies, Stop TB Partnership Tajikistan, Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan Amali Nek, Solimi, SPIN Plus, Afif, SVON Plus, and Gender & Development, to advance data-informed solutions to increase early tuberculosis detection, improve treatment access, and stop the cycle of transmission to prevent TB and multidrug-resistant TB. Read the selection below from an FHI360 article to learn how the organization is training local Imams in Tajikistan to educate communities and improve access to TB treatment.
Tajikistan is on the World Health Organization’s 2023 list of the 30 high-burden TB countries. The country struggles specifically with multidrug-resistant TB, or TB that does not respond to the two most effective first-line antibiotics used to treat it. This means that treatments that are expensive, time-consuming and difficult to take are necessary for many people living with TB in the country.
Imam Azalshoh is aware of how serious TB is in his country and community, but his journey to becoming an advocate for TB awareness was not without challenges, as societal misconceptions around the disease often result in fear.
“For many years I had a negative attitude toward TB,” he admits. “When I was in school, I was afraid of people with TB. We always had a negative perception … that this is the most terrible infectious disease, and we can’t even get close to talk to them.”
Imam Azalshoh, who is pursuing a PhD in history, changed his perspective after he participated in trainings organized by the USAID End TB Tajikistan Activity. Funded by USAID and led by FHI 360, the activity trains religious leaders on a method called the “results-based sponsorship model.”
In Tajikistan, imams are trusted and influential community leaders. The results-based sponsorship model engages them in supporting, advocating for, and mobilizing community support for people on treatment for TB.
s of December 2023, 81 imams and 16 community health and outreach workers from local civil society organizations have been trained on the model. They, like Imam Azalshoh, are now equipped with knowledge, tools and skills to support eliminating TB in Tajikistan.... In 2024, the USAID End TB Tajikistan Activity will expand the results-based sponsorship model to all areas of Tajikistan in which it operates. The goal is to continue connecting faith and public health initiatives and mobilizing the transformative power of education and advocacy to help people living with TB lead full and healthy lives.
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The Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is part of the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub, situated within USAID's Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI).
The LFT Hub focuses on strengthening USAID’s ability to partner with non-traditional and diverse actors including local, faith-based, and community organizations; schools and hospitals; minority-serving institutions; foundations; diaspora communities; cooperatives; and volunteer organizations. Learn more about how LFT is harnessing the power of partnerships through the following:
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