Deadline: 5 September 2019

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the Democracy Indicators Monitoring Survey 3 (DIMS3) program.

Through DIMS3, the US Agency for International Development, Bureau of Latin America and the Caribbean, Office of Regional Sustainable Development, Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance team (USAID/LAC/RSD/DRG) aims to support citizen-responsive governance and democratic development with rigorous public opinion research on democratic norms, attitudes, and experiences in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.

This will be achieved through four primary work streams: 1) collaborative, periodic, innovative public opinion surveys and research on democratic values, behaviors, and perceptions in LAC; 2) dissemination of data, analysis, and research about democratic norms and attitudes in LAC; 3) support and development of innovative topics and methodologies in public opinion research and analysis; and 4) building the local capacity of researchers and institutions on survey design, data collection, data analysis and reporting, and evidence based policy making.

Objectives

1. Statistically rigorous, cutting edge public opinion data that: (1) accurately captures, tracks, and analyzes citizens’ views related to democratic attitudes and behaviors, citizen security, and migration in LAC countries (at regional, national, and sub-national level) on a periodic basis (every two years, minimum); (2) monitors long-term trends important to the democracy sector in LAC; and (3) is relevant for informing policy, engagement, and activism around democracy related issues in LAC for the donor community, participating country governments, civil society actors, and researchers in the United States and in LAC countries.
2. Improve access to, and utilization of, periodically collected data and analysis by host country stakeholders (civil society organizations, citizens, government, media, donors), USAID, the broader USG, donors, and academia engaged in evidence-based programming, policy-making, and legislation.
3. Support and develop innovative topics and methodologies in public opinion research and analysis that have the potential to enrich the donor community, participant country governments’, and regional civil society actors’ understanding of – and ability to respond to – trends and changes in the LAC region.
4. Advance participant country self-sufficiency by building the local capacity of researchers and institutions on survey design, data collection, data analysis and reporting, and evidence based policy making.

Expected Results

• Expected Result 1: Statistically rigorous, inclusive public opinion data is periodically gathered and analysis is produced that accurately reflects citizens’ views related to democratic governance and citizen security in their countries, including regional, national, and sub-national comparative and longitudinal trends.
• Expected Result 2: Access to – and utilization of – collected data and resulting analysis by USAID, the broader USG, the donor community, host country stakeholders, local and international civil society organizations, academia, and think tanks is improved.
• Expected Result 3: Innovative topics and methodologies in public opinion research and analysis that have the potential to enrich the donor community, participant country government, think tank, and regional civil society actors’ understanding of trends and changes in the LAC region are developed and supported.
• Expected Result 4: Self-reliance of host country stakeholders is improved by greater capacity to gather, access, understand, and utilize public opinion data and analysis for policy making, advocacy, discussion, and education.

Geographic Focus

• Most of the countries in which USAID envisions supporting survey research through DIMS3 have USAID Missions or programs managed from Washington. While the countries where USAID supports public opinion research may vary over time, USAID currently anticipates supporting survey research, analysis, dissemination, and capacity building efforts in the following countries: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. This list is not exclusive and USAID may choose to add or remove countries from this list over the life of the project, as determined appropriate by USAID.
• While USAID may not directly support fieldwork, survey research, or dissemination in other countries of the region, USAID may support comparative analysis that includes public opinion research done in other countries from other funding sources, at the discretion of USAID.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $10,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for this RFA is not restricted. USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.

How to Apply

Applicants must be registered in SAM before submitting its application.

For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=319339