Submit Full Proposal to: Diana.Fahrenbruck@colostate.edu
This request for proposals issued by the Feed the Future Food Security Innovation Lab:
Collaborative Research on Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change
Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO 80523-1644 USA; www.lcccrsp.org
This RFP is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development
(Cooperative Agreement #EEM-A-00-10-00001)
*Formerly known as a CRSP: Collaborative Research Support Program, name change mandated by USAID in 2013
1 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels

The primary aim of our Feed the Future Collaborative Research Innovation Lab is to perform research that will assist in adapting livestock systems to climate change. We focus on eco-regions and/or river systems that extend across national boundaries and meet the following criteria: 1. Climate change is significantly increasing the vulnerability of livestock systems in the area, 2. Opportunities for collaborative research activities exist with other institutions and organizations,
3. Opportunities exist for trans-boundary research that has applicability at the community level.
Our Innovation Lab supports U.S. university collaborative research that helps livestock holders make choices and take actions that lead to improved health and sustainable livelihoods under changing climatic conditions. Our geographic focus is Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia where smallholder livelihood and health are linked to interactions with the land and livestock.
The goal of the Innovation Lab is to increase resilience and augment the income of livestock producers in regions where agricultural systems are changing, available resources are shrinking, and climate change is having an impact. The
Innovation Lab focuses on the following key principles to achieve its goals:

Improving the health and productivity of livestock of the poor, small-scale farmers to support their efforts to nourish their families and increase village resiliency to shocks that affect food security.

Research should be informed by the local realities of small-scale farmers, providing evidence-based solutions that are relevant and affordable.

Research should contribute toward increasing livestock productivity and enhance animal, human, and environmental health.

Women are central to the research that we fund. We recognize that women are fundamental to the success of farm-based initiatives and expect research solutions to address gender gaps and inequalities.
Through our new initiative for livestock systems, THRIVE (Toward Health Research Integration in Value chains and agro-
Ecosystems), we are funding research that examines the interdependencies of human, animal, and environmental health that affect human nutrition and the sustainability of livestock systems. With this new initiative, we are encouraging research approaches that integrate advances in public health, veterinary science, and animal husbandry to improve health outcomes and enhance sustainability.
Livestock disease presents a continual drain on the livelihoods of pastoralists and smallholder farmers in Africa, at times even threatening survival, and is clearly a major factor contributing to lack to resilience. One of the challenges in implementing control programs to mitigate these losses is to better understand the major causes of livestock morbidity and mortality. Diseases with diverse etiology often present with the same clinical picture (e.g. pneumonia or sudden death), and all too often multiple disease entities are misdiagnosed and attributed to some other disease that may or may not actually be a relevant cause of loss. A similar problem often exists for human diseases, for example, in the widespread attribution of febrile disease to malaria when there are demonstrably multiple pathogens at play, some of which have pandemic potential. The problem with misdiagnosis based on clinical signs is that the real cause of mortality remains unknown and there is little chance of adopting appropriate treatment or control strategies. An additional concern is that climate change is altering the spectrum and distribution of livestock diseases, and it is imperative that we begin to better map these changes in order to better predict future distribution of disease.
Improvements in the etiologic diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious livestock diseases would promote resilience among underserved communities and benefit production for all species of livestock, but at this time camels are a
2 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels

important target for such research. Among the major livestock species in East Africa, camels are increasingly recognized as a species that can promote resilience, due largely to their abilities to resist conditions of drought and to subsist in areas where grasslands have been degraded and taken over by brush. Drought and loss of grasslands are both conditions that many predict will increase in frequency, intensity or magnitude as a result of climate change, and camels represent a drought resilient asset to livestock owners. Interest in diversifying livestock holdings to proportionally reduce cattle and increase camels is occurring in many areas of East Africa. In addition to the hedge against climate and landscape change, market opportunities for camel meat (largely export) and milk (especially local consumption) are expanding and camel herds are growing larger. The huge and bustling trade in camel milk is dominated almost exclusively by women, providing opportunities for advances in gender equity. This increase in camel populations and in herder’s dependence on camels is accompanied by concern that we have an impoverished understanding of camel diseases.
Efforts to improve camel health and promote resilience and food security face multiple obstacles, but two stand out as important and amenable to progress:
1.
There exists a very poor understanding of the spectrum of camel diseases that are reducing productivity and animal survival in Africa. Certainly, some diseases are well recognized (e.g. anthrax, trypanosomiasis), but there are almost certainly many others that are not recognized by those capable of assisting in their control.
2.
There is an almost total lack of affordable and professional veterinary diagnostic services to smallholder farmers and pastoralists. This deficit is the result of both lack of adequately trained field and laboratory veterinary diagnosticians, and lack of funding to support their efforts.
The fundamental goal of this RFP is to jumpstart a sustainable program for improving camel health in East Africa, focusing initially on improving disease diagnostics in Ethiopia. This country was chosen to allow this program to be complementary with livestock research programs we support that are already underway. Four components are envisioned for this initial period of study and should be incorporated into any proposal:
1.
Apply modern diagnostic methods (pathology and microbiology) to obtain an accurate mapping of the major causes of camel morbidity and mortality. It would be desirable for these disease surveys to be conducted in two regions of Ethiopia (e.g. Afar and Borana) and across both rainy and dry seasons. Promotion of the keeping of morbidity and mortality logs by the camel keepers, with monthly collection of data into a database may be useful.
2.
Capacity building in veterinary pathology and microbiology for local university veterinarians. A major emphasis should be placed on capacity building in the form of training veterinarians to perform field necropsies and diagnostics. Short-term training of these individuals at veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. would likely be valuable and they should be incorporated into the program early on in order to participate in Item 1.
Because U.S. diagnosticians are unlikely to be able to spend large amounts of time in country, the program should incorporate some form of telepathology so that after initial training, the local veterinarians can readily consult with experts in the U.S., including conveyance of images and perhaps video from the field. This does not need to be a 24x7 availability, but real-time communications should not be an obstacle.
3.
Production of educational materials (local language manuals, workshops) for livestock keepers to allow them to better identify probable causes of morbidity and mortality among their camels, make their aware of the human health risks from some livestock diseases (e.g. brucellosis) and ultimately to apply available treatments or control strategies to minimize disease impact. This effort is considered critical to achieve sustainability in camel disease control due to the difficulty in travel to many areas where the camels are raised.
3 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels

4.
5.
Researchers must incorporate a significant component on the impact of climate change into their proposed work plan. Some possible areas to consider are:
1.
With a geographical diagnosis of the major causes of camel morbidity and mortality within Ethiopia, assess which of these causes are dependent on climate-related factors (e.g. host immune system suppression, climate-dependence of vectors and disease reservoirs, transmission rate dependence, etc.)
2.
Assessment of current and future climatological “average” conditions and how the variability in these conditions impact the resultant variability in camel health and disease.
3.
Understand the climatic dependence and vulnerability of geographical transition zones of disease distribution.
4.
Assessment of the impact of climate change on these transition zones and how that may lead to the possible contraction or expansion of disease burden along with the levels of uncertainties associated with these assessments.
To ensure the substantive inclusion of climate-change impacts in the research approach, researchers are encouraged to develop their proposal in consultation with a climate scientist at their institution or with the
Innovation Lab’s climate science adviser, Dr. Tom Hopson at NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research).
Additional research support for the climate-change research component can be provided through the NCAR advising team through funding independent of this RFP.
Eligibility
This call for proposals is limited to investigators at U.S. universities and their partners (universities, non-governmental organizations, and research institutes). Project implementation must identify at least one host-country institution or organization.
Technical Assistance in Proposal Preparation
This RFP is targeted toward investigators with expertise in veterinary diagnostics and pathology. Prior experience in working with livestock diseases in Africa is advantageous, but assistance in recruiting partners in Ethiopia can be provided by the Innovation Lab. Please feel free to send queries about technical or administrative issues related to proposal development to Richard.Bowen@colostate.edu
Funding Period and Availability
The award period for this RFP will be 1.5 years, November 2013 to April 15, 2015. Initial grants are a maximum of
$400,000 (including F&A). Successful projects may have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of larger scope pending renewal of the Innovation Lab in April 2015.
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs
Institutions may claim a maximum of 20% (MTDC) F&A.
Cost-share
Cost share of 25% is required. Institutions may use unrecovered F&A to meet this requirement.
4 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels

Proposals should address the cross-cutting themes of Gender Equity and Capacity Building and be synergistic with the
Innovation Lab’s program objectives and indicators of success (see Table 1).
Gender Equity
Research proposals must integrate gender equity throughout the research program. Options for addressing gender equity in a research program could include (but are not limited to):

Ensuring that women as well as men are active participants in the process of research planning and research management, receiving the training and skills that they need
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Measuring progress through changes in nutrition of both women and men in rural areas
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Advancing women’s leadership in science and technology through proactive recruitment, mentoring, and targeted capacity building
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Understanding the role of gender in microbiome management
Capacity Building
Well-trained, innovative scientists and leaders are essential to building a sustainable, prosperous future. Our Innovation
Lab enhances research capacity by training graduate students, supporting professional research networks, strengthening research and educational institutions, and providing opportunities for research collaboration. Proposals should include a training plan that outlines the strategies proposed for building capacity. Training plans could include (but are not limited to):
• Degree Training: Funding for operational and research costs for both U.S. and host-country graduate students
• Non-Degree Training: Short-term training as a cost-effective way to build capacity with students, community members, project participants, development professionals, host-country professionals, and others
• Institutional Capacity: Within host-country partner institutions, build institutional capacity through university linkages, technology transfer, mentoring, training, and other program enhancement activities
1. Proposals MUST include strategies to address gender constraints, opportunities, or ways to create an environment that broadens the participation of women. See above section on Gender Equity for details.
2. At least 50% of the funds should be expended in or on behalf of the host-country. Show these costs in the budget justification. Expenditures that originate in the U.S. are U.S. shares and those that occur in the host-country are hostcountry shares.
3. U.S. institutions are required to provide a 25% cost-share commitment. This is a key consideration for an award of
CRSP funding. Each U.S. institution must provide strong institutional support through cost-sharing efforts.
5. PI(s) will be responsible for fulfilling all USAID reporting requirements in a timely manner, including university compliance with the use of human subjects and animals for research purposes, participant training, and a monitoring, evaluation, and impact plan.
6. USAID concurrence for projects in host countries is required prior to the award. The Managing Entity (ME) will obtain concurrence on behalf of highly ranked applicants via USAID/Washington.
7. Programs must adhere to USAID environmental compliance requirements.
5 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels

Proposals should cover the funding period (approximately November 1, 2013 through April 15, 2015).
One file in .pdf format (less than 2 MB in size) should be submitted that contains the following:
1.
Cover sheet with Authorized Institutional signature
2.
Title page with Proposal title and list of project PIs, Co-PIs, and partners including titles, affiliation, and complete contact information (address, phone, fax, email, organization websites) for all
3.
Project Abstract (250 words maximum)
4.
Research Narrative (5 pages maximum) a.
Introduction and vision for the project b.
Description of hypotheses or research questions c.
Description of the research methods d.
Description of expected results and development impact e.
Description of capacity building, outreach, dissemination efforts, and strategies for gender inclusivity
5.
Literature Cited
6.
Two Forms : Budget Form, Signed Assurances Form
7.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Plan (1-page limit)
8.
List of Current and Pending Support for PIs and Co-PIs: Please note if the support is related to the project proposal
9.
Past Experience: describe similar, well-managed projects that have produced expected results (past international experience, especially if in the focus countries, should be highlighted) (1-page limit)
10.
CVs of Lead PI and all U.S. and host-country Co-PIs (2-page limit per CV)
Proposal Format
Paper Size—standard 8.5 x 11
Line Spacing—single space
Minimum Page Margin—1 inch on all sides
Minimum Font Size—11 point (10 point for tables, 9 point for header or footer)
File type—.pdf
Each page after the cover page must identify the PI, proposal title, and page number in the footer
Proposal Submission Guidelines
1.
Submit your full proposal via email to: Diana.Fahrenbruck@colostate.edu by the deadline as stated.
2.
Do not exceed the page limit. Proposals that exceed the page limit will not be considered in the review process.
3.
Budgets must not exceed $400,000 and must be within the award period indicated above. Requests exceeding this amount will not be reviewed.
4.
Proposal packets must have each institution’s authorized signature.
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Proposal Evaluation Criteria
1.
Scope (20 points)
Projects must demonstrate relevance to the Innovation Lab’s vision. In addition, each project must address the research objectives described above, include cross-cutting themes of Gender Equity and Capacity Building, and reflect the Innovation Lab’s program objectives and indicators of success (see Table 1).
2.
Quality of Ideas and Work Proposed (20 points)
Research should be scientifically credible and of value to the scientific community. The research rationale should be clear and objectives achievable within the time and budget of the proposed project.
3.
Demand-Driven and Potential for Regionalization (10 points)
The team has ensured that local, national, and regional needs and priorities will continue to be incorporated into the evolution of the research agenda. Regional collaborators and team members have a substantive role throughout the life of the project. The project is regional or has a regional application, and the rationale for the mode of regionalization is clear.
4.
Team Qualifications (10 points)
The PIs of a sub-award must demonstrate qualifications to achieve the outlined project. The projects should be interdisciplinary and use a systems approach to problem solving that looks at how different elements in a system may mitigate or contribute to a problem. PIs should consider this grant as an opportunity to include
more disciplines in their research. Projects should have a plan for building the local capacity of researchers, professionals, and para-professionals in West Africa.
5.
Impact (30 points)
The projects should have immediate, measureable impact within the project time-frame and should build capacity to sustain some goals over the long-term. A well thought-out description of how impact will be assessed and evaluated is essential. The proposal should have a plan to evaluate short-term and long-term impact(s) that are aligned with the Innovation Lab’s objectives and indicators (see Table 1).
6.
Budget (10 points)
The budget must adequately cover the costs of proposed activities in terms of sufficient personnel, materials, and travel to achieve successful outcomes. Ideally, projects should be able to gain value through additional
support from other funding sources.
7 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels

Objective 1: Apply Science and Technology and Build Human and Institutional Capacity to Address Hunger and Poverty


Number of scientific studies published or conference presentations given as a result of USG* assistance for research programs

Number of new, USG-funded awards to institution in support of research

Number of new research collaborations established between USG-supported beneficiaries and other institutions
Number of awards made directly to local organizations
Objective 3: Extend and apply research findings and technical knowledge to livestock producer households, associated industries and public and private extension and agricultural services to strengthen their capacity to adapt to and cope with unpredictable climate variability
 Number of climate vulnerability assessments conducted as a result of USG assistance

Number of technologies or management practices in one of the following phases of development: Phase 1— under research as a result of USG assistance; Phase II— under field testing as a result of USG assistance; Phase
III—made available for transfer as a result of USG assistance

Number of stakeholders using climate information in their decision making as a result of USG assistance
Objective 2: Build local human and institutional capacity for livestock productivity, veterinary and human health and environmental sciences
 Number of farmers and others who have applied new technologies or management practices as a result of
USG assistance

Number of individuals who have received USG supported long-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training

Number of individuals who have received USG supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or



 food security training
Number of private enterprises, producer organizations, water user associations, women’s groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance
Number of public-private partnerships formed as a result of Feed the Future assistance
Number of rural households benefiting directly from
USG interventions
Number of climate vulnerability assessments conducted as a result of USG assistance

Number of farmers and small businesses receiving business development services from USG-assisted sources

Number of vulnerable households benefiting directly from USG assistance

Number of people trained in child health and nutrition through USG-supported programs

Number of children under five reached by USGsupported nutrition programs

Number of firms (excluding farms) or Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) engaged in agricultural and food security related manufacturing and services now operating more profitably (at or above cost) because of
USG assistance
Objective 4: Develop policies that support national and regional programs to support livestock producers, traders, veterinary and human health officials and government agencies in planning for and responding to climate-change induced resource variability
 Number of Policies/Regulations/Administrative Procedures in each of the following stages of development as a result of
USG assistance in each case; Stage 1—Analyzed, Stage 2: Drafted and presented for public/stakeholder consultation, Stage
3: Presented for legislation/decree, Stage 4: Passed/approved, Stage 5: Passed for which implementation has begun
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9 Promoting Resilience in East Africa by Enhancing Diagnostic Medicine for Diseases of Camels