Opportunity Information: Apply for 72016918RFA00007
The STRATEGIC ADVOCACY APPROACHES ACTIVITY is a USAID/Serbia funding opportunity designed to strengthen how civil society organizations in Serbia plan and carry out advocacy. The core idea is to move beyond ad hoc or purely technical advocacy efforts and instead promote advocacy that is deliberately strategic, rooted in real citizen support, and tailored to the kinds of influence that are realistically possible for the specific issues being pursued at any given time. In practice, the activity is meant to help experienced organizations work across a range of advocacy topics while consistently focusing on what will actually shift outcomes: citizen engagement, credible public backing, and well-chosen pathways for influencing decision-makers.
A central purpose of the activity is to support Serbian CSOs in improving the full advocacy cycle, from identifying problems and setting priorities to designing interventions, implementing campaigns, and evaluating results. USAID emphasizes approaches that actively involve citizens not as passive audiences but as participants who help define the issues, shape the advocacy strategy, and assess whether the effort is working. The activity also highlights learning and adaptation by encouraging CSOs to test different advocacy methods, measure what works, and then scale up approaches that demonstrate effectiveness. This suggests an emphasis on practical experimentation, evidence-based decision-making, and the ability to replicate successful models across organizations, communities, or issue areas.
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity falls under the community development activity category and is administered by the Agency for International Development, Serbia (USAID-Belgrade). USAID anticipates making one award with a maximum ceiling of $1,300,000, indicating a single, relatively sizable activity intended to serve as a focal point for building and spreading stronger advocacy practices among CSOs rather than funding many smaller, separate projects.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title (STRATEGIC ADVOCACY APPROACHES ACTIVITY) and number (72016918RFA00007). It was posted on April 17, 2018, with an original closing date of May 29, 2018. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the solicitation. Overall, this opportunity is aimed at enabling more effective, citizen-centered advocacy in Serbia by helping CSOs develop strategies that are realistic, measurable, and scalable, while building a stronger link between public engagement and policy or institutional change.Apply for 72016918RFA00007
- The Agency for International Development, Serbia USAID-Belgrade in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "STRATEGIC ADVOCACY APPROACHES ACTIVITY" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 17, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 29, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Strategic Advocacy Approaches Activity (USAID/Serbia)
What is the Strategic Advocacy Approaches Activity?
The Strategic Advocacy Approaches Activity is a USAID/Serbia funding opportunity designed to strengthen how civil society organizations (CSOs) in Serbia plan and carry out advocacy. The focus is on helping organizations move beyond ad hoc or purely technical advocacy and instead use approaches that are deliberately strategic, grounded in real citizen support, and matched to influence pathways that are realistic for the issue and context.
What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The main goal is to enable more effective, citizen-centered advocacy in Serbia by improving the full advocacy cycle within CSOs, promoting learning and adaptation, and helping organizations develop strategies that are realistic, measurable, and scalable. A key theme is building a stronger link between public engagement and policy or institutional change.
Who is the funder and administering office?
The funder is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The opportunity is administered by the Agency for International Development, Serbia (USAID-Belgrade).
What type of award is being offered?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. This means USAID expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant in this opportunity?
Based on the information provided, a cooperative agreement involves substantial USAID involvement during implementation. In practical terms, applicants should expect more active engagement from USAID throughout the activity than would typically occur under a standard grant structure.
How many awards does USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipates making one award. The design suggests a single, relatively sizable activity intended to serve as a focal point for building and spreading stronger advocacy practices among CSOs, rather than funding many smaller, separate projects.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The maximum ceiling for the anticipated award is $1,300,000.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls under the community development activity category.
What kinds of organizations is this activity meant to support?
The activity is meant to help experienced civil society organizations in Serbia work across a range of advocacy topics while improving how they plan, implement, and evaluate advocacy efforts.
What does USAID mean here by "strategic" advocacy?
In this opportunity, "strategic" advocacy is described as advocacy that is deliberately planned rather than ad hoc, rooted in credible public backing and citizen engagement, and tailored to influence pathways that are realistically possible for the specific issue being pursued at a given time.
Does the activity focus on specific advocacy topics?
The activity is described as supporting organizations that work across a range of advocacy topics. The consistent emphasis is not on one single topic, but on improving advocacy practice: citizen engagement, credible support, and well-chosen influence pathways.
What parts of the advocacy process are expected to be strengthened?
The activity aims to improve the full advocacy cycle, including identifying problems, setting priorities, designing interventions, implementing campaigns, and evaluating results.
How does citizen engagement fit into the activity?
Citizen engagement is central. USAID emphasizes approaches that involve citizens as participants rather than passive audiences. Citizens are expected to help define issues, shape advocacy strategy, and assess whether advocacy efforts are working.
What does "credible public backing" mean in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity highlights the importance of advocacy being rooted in real citizen support and credible public backing. The intent is to ensure advocacy is connected to genuine public engagement that can help shift outcomes and influence decision-makers.
What is meant by "pathways for influencing decision-makers"?
The activity emphasizes choosing influence approaches that are realistically possible for the issue at a given time. This suggests planning advocacy around practical routes to change, based on what is feasible in the current context, rather than relying on generic or purely technical advocacy tactics.
Is learning and adaptation part of the program design?
Yes. The activity highlights learning and adaptation by encouraging CSOs to test different advocacy methods, measure what works, and scale up approaches that demonstrate effectiveness.
Does the opportunity emphasize evidence and measurement?
Yes. The description points to practical experimentation, evidence-based decision-making, evaluation of results, and scaling approaches that demonstrate effectiveness.
What does "scalable" mean for this opportunity?
Based on the description, scalable approaches are those that can be expanded or replicated after proving effective, potentially across organizations, communities, or issue areas.
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The title is STRATEGIC ADVOCACY APPROACHES ACTIVITY. The funding opportunity number is 72016918RFA00007.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the closing date?
It was posted on April 17, 2018, with an original closing date of May 29, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the solicitation. The summary provided does not include the detailed eligibility criteria.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The summary indicates that additional clarification is expected in the full eligibility section of the solicitation. The detailed eligibility requirements would therefore be found in the full solicitation documentation for this funding opportunity.
What is the overall intended impact in Serbia?
The overall intended impact is stronger, more effective advocacy by Serbian CSOs that is citizen-centered, realistic in its influence approach, measurable in results, and capable of being replicated or scaled, thereby strengthening the link between public engagement and policy or institutional change.
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