Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance & Regional Financial Management Office

Quarterly Publication by Hala Elattar
October, 2016

Grant and Cooperative Agreement Course: Class of October 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka

In the spotlight: Safe Water Network India

Developing the Capacity of USAID Implementing Partners: USAID/India Grants Compliance Course

USAID/India welcomed 25 implementing partners to its 6th Grant and Cooperative Agreement Course that was held in the Leela Palace Hotel. Implementing Partners from 11 organizations from different sectors along with 5 USAID staff members participated in this 5 day training that aimed to improve their understanding of the agency policies and procedures and enhance their capacity to effectively manage USAID grants and cooperative agreements. The training is part of USAID/India's Local Capacity Building Program. To date, USAID/India has trained 176 local partners' staff and 40 USAID/India staff, a total of 216 participants.

USAID/India Director of the Regional Office of Acquisition & Assistance, Charles "Chuck" Pope, and Regional Controller Amr Elattar kicked off the conference with opening remarks welcoming the participants to engage and to take advantage of each other's expertise.

Trainers Timothy Beans and Joseph Steele introduced the participants to the course and engaged them in activities that introduced the Legal Landscape, U.S Government Structure and the Hierarchy of Rules. The course also included financial and audit management sessions presented by USAID staff.

Implementing Partners in Attendance

  • PSI
  • STIR
  • JHPIEGO
  • Room to Read
  • BBC Media Action
  • Kaivalya Education Foundation
  • NIUA
  • Ernst Young
  • SARCD/CTA
  • Pragat Shikshan Sanstha (PSS)
  • STIR Education/ARK

Financial Management Session

  • Pooja Bagga, Supervisory Financial Analyst presented the financial and the audit management session.
  • Mathew Jacob, Voucher Examiner with RFMO also participated in the presentation.

Upcoming Training Opportunity

USAID/India Grant Compliance Course
Feb 27 – March 3, 2017
The Leela Palace, New Delhi

Visit Us

https://www.usaid.gov/india
https://www.usaid.gov/india/work-with-us/partnership-opportunities
https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/resources-for-partners

Spotlight: Safe Water Network

Safe Water Network was co-founded in 2006 by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, along with prominent civic leaders. In 2008 Safe Water Network established field offices in Accra, Ghana and New Delhi in India. Their team of local water experts began laying the groundwork for an approach to developing the community capability to own and manage Safe Water Stations.

On August 31, 2016, Safe Water Network hosted a side session with USAID/India to advance the Urban Small Water Enterprise (USWE)* market in India, and globally. This event shared the progress (i) development of a sustainable model (including proposed 'benchmarks' and digital tools). (ii) advancing the establishment of policies, commitment of resources and (iii) integration of the USWE concept within the government's plans and budgets so that poor beyond the pipe can get safe water access.

*Urban Small Water Enterprises (USWEs), are defined as water purification kiosks that sell affordable water to the urban poor. Panelist from left:

  • Neeraj Mandloi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development India;
  • Dana Kishore, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewage Board, India;
  • Poonam Sewak, Knowledge and Partnerships Manager, India, Safe Water Network;
  • Anand Rudra, Senior Project Management Specialist (water & Sanitation) USAID/India;
  • Sean Kerrigan, Senior Director, WASH, World Vision.

With approximately 100 participants in attendance, the discussion focused on understanding challenges to local sustainability and overcoming barriers to scale with the tools and resources needed to support the growing market of USWEs, a crucial element in addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6.1. It highlighted the potential and requirements for Small Water Enterprises (SWEs) to augment piped water supply where water supply was insufficient or required additional 'polishing'. Emphasis was placed on the need for SWEs to be incorporated into the government's planning and policy to serve the urban poor.

We envision a world with healthy, thriving communities, each managing its own sustainable supply of safe water. Our mission is to develop and demonstrate affordable, economically viable solutions, to share sector knowledge, and to build partnerships that reach millions in need.

"Working with USAID in India has been a delight. We cherish the partnership for their willingness to share knowledge, experience and network to advance the project. USAID has a long term commitment and vision to address developmental issues and the thoughts and actions are not limited to just 'a project'. The Fixed Obligation Grant has brought in special value and stature to Safe Water Network internationally." Poonam Sewak, Knowledge & Partnerships Manager, Safe Water Network India.

At A Glance:

  • Total Access: 413,577
  • Total Stations: 118
  • Active Since: 2010

For more information visit www.safewaternetwork.org/countries-regions/india

New Awards:

ROAA/India, Sri Lanka & Maldives is proud to announce that new awards have been executed with the following organizations:

1) Plan India: Urban WASH Urban WASH – Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya.

2) RG Infotech: Program Cycle Modeling for developing an integrated IT system that will support the program cycle compliance requirements as per ADS 201.

3) Financial Management Services BPAs: These performance-based BPAs will allow USAID/India to obtain financial management services as needed for USAID/India, USAID Missions in Central and South Asia and for engagement in the 18 countries*** in which USAID/India is involved in trilateral development activities. The scope of the BPA is broad and includes the following:

  • Financial Management Support
  • Project Management Support
  • Local Solutions Strengthening Support.
  • Transition In and Out Services

***At this time, USAID/india engages in trilateral activities in the following 18 countries: Afghanistan, Botswana, Burma, Cambodia, Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

4) National Institute of Urban Affairs: Innovation Hub for Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Solutions in India.

5) The University of Chicago: Enabling Air Quality with Better Monitoring, Energy Efficiency and Market Measures.

6) SELCO Foundation: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Poverty Reduction.

7) The Tibet Fund: Program for Self-Reliance and Resilience of Tibetan Communities in South Asia.

Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) of the Quarter: Anuradha Jain In recognition of exemplary competence, reliability and teamwork

Hot Topics

This section is meant to provide guidance in the form of Q&A. We encourage you to submit your question(s) to helattar@usaid.gov. We will address them and feature the answer. We hope you will find this section helpful and informative.

Q: What are BPA’s?
A: A blanket purchase agreement (BPA) is a simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services by establishing “charge accounts’’ with qualified sources of supply. BPAs should be established for use by an organization responsible for providing supplies for its own operations or for other offices, installations, projects, or functions. Such organizations, for example, may be organized supply points, separate independent or detached field parties, or one-person posts or activities. The use of BPAs does not exempt an agency from the responsibility for keeping obligations and expenditures within available funds.For more information, please refer to FAR 13.303

Q: Is there a possibility of an award/grant being made directly from USAID/W to implementing partners, considering there is a ceiling of funds from the USAID Mission Office?
A: Yes, USAID/W has a number of offices located in Washington with worldwide portfolios. They have the ability to issue awards/subawards with their funds that may contribute to USAID/India's overall Country Development Cooperation Strategy. Examples of this could include a Leader With Associate Award issued to an organization that has a worldwide program focused on Tuberculosis risk reduction, which could include work in India.

Q: What is the structure of departments and offices within USAID/India Mission?
USAID/India Mission Organization Chart
Director’s Office
Health Office
Food Security Office
Clean Energy and Environment Office
Program Support Office
Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance
Regional Financial Management Office
Executive Office
Office of Partnerships for Innovation

Please direct questions or comments about this newsletter to Hala Elattar at helattar@usaid.gov or to Chelsea Lynn at clynn@usaid.gov