Municipal Governance Support Program for Afghanistan

The contract outlines a municipal governance program aimed at enhancing democratic, transparent, accountable, and gender-sensitive local governance in Afghanistan. USAID intends to collaborate with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to clarify the local governance framework, provide policy guidance to sub-national entities, and strengthen the legal, fiscal, economic, and service delivery functions of municipalities. A key component of the program is to increase citizen participation in municipal governance, ensuring that Afghan residents understand local leadership responsibilities, know where to seek better services, and view local governance structures as legitimate. The program plans to operate in at least 40 municipalities, including Kabul. USAID will issue a Request for Proposal in late March 2009, with a pre-proposal conference tentatively scheduled for April 14, 2009, in Dubai. The solicitation falls under the NAICS code 541990 and is managed through the Agency for International Development’s office based in Dulles, Virginia. Interested parties are advised not to contact USAID personnel directly regarding this solicitation beyond the provided contacts. The program is positioned to support improved governance at the municipal level through strategic assistance and policy support to foster sustainable local government efficacy.