Alliances for Analysis and Communication (AA&C) Activity | 72052319RFA00001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Alliances for Analysis and Communication (AA&C) Activity?

The Alliances for Analysis and Communication (AA&C) Activity is a USAID/Mexico competitive funding opportunity focused on strengthening civil society oversight of Mexico's justice sector. It supports efforts to improve how justice-sector performance information is collected, analyzed, and communicated so that accountability can increase within justice institutions.

What problem is this funding opportunity trying to solve?

The opportunity addresses persistent barriers that limit public oversight of Mexico's justice system, including (1) major information gaps because justice institutions are often difficult to access for non-specialists, (2) research and analysis that may be credible but fades quickly from public discourse, and (3) weak targeting and dissemination, where findings do not reach specific people and groups positioned to influence policy, outreach, and political decision-making.

What is the main goal of AA&C?

The main goal is to strengthen civil society's ability to hold justice-sector institutions accountable by improving the full chain from performance information (collection and analysis) to influence (clear public-facing communication and targeted dissemination to stakeholders who can shape outcomes).

Why does AA&C emphasize communication, not just research?

USAID notes that even strong justice-sector analyses often do not translate into sustained accountability because large segments of the population do not understand the findings or do not see them as relevant. AA&C emphasizes communication so that technical evidence is translated into messages that make sense to broader audiences and remains present in public and stakeholder conversations long enough to matter.

What does "performance information" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this opportunity, performance information refers to data and evidence about how justice-sector institutions are functioning. AA&C focuses on improving the collection, analysis, and communication of that information so it can be used by civil society and understood by non-specialist audiences.

Who are the intended audiences for the communication and dissemination efforts?

The opportunity highlights several target audiences: the private sector, academia, media, and the general public. The aim is to expand engagement beyond legal specialists and build broader demand for improved justice-sector performance.

What does the opportunity mean by supporting "alliances"?

AA&C is structured to support alliances and strategies that connect technical justice-sector performance work with communication and dissemination approaches. Based on the description, alliances are meant to help bridge the gap between credible analysis and high-impact outreach to the audiences most likely to influence policy, public opinion, and institutional behavior.

How does AA&C expect civil society oversight to improve?

The activity is designed to help civil society convert technical findings into sustained public understanding and targeted influence. By improving how information is produced and communicated, local actors can apply more consistent accountability pressure on justice-sector institutions.

What is meant by "local actors" and why is their participation emphasized?

The opportunity explicitly seeks increased participation by local actors in oversight and analysis. This signals an emphasis on locally grounded monitoring and advocacy rather than externally driven assessments, with the expectation that local participation strengthens relevance, credibility, and the ability to sustain engagement over time.

What type of award is AA&C, and what does that imply for implementation?

The award is a discretionary cooperative agreement. This typically implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation, including close collaboration to refine plans, monitor progress, and coordinate activities.

Who is the issuing agency for this opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Mexico (USAID-Mexico City).

What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The funding opportunity number is 72052319RFA00001. It is listed under CFDA 98.001 (USAID foreign assistance).

How many awards did USAID anticipate making under this announcement?

USAID anticipated making one award.

What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $2,500,000.

When was the opportunity created and what was the closing date?

The opportunity was created on March 22, 2019, and the original closing date was May 22, 2019.

Is this a competitive funding opportunity?

Yes. The AA&C Activity is described as a USAID/Mexico competitive funding opportunity.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The excerpt notes there is additional clarification referenced in an eligibility text field that is not included here, so applicants would need to confirm the specific eligibility requirements in the full announcement.

What kinds of organizations is this opportunity aimed at?

In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at organizations that can produce credible justice-sector performance analysis and also demonstrate the ability to communicate findings effectively and strategically so that evidence reaches high-impact audiences.

What is the underlying theory of change behind AA&C?

The core idea is that better data and better public-facing communication can increase accountability in justice-sector institutions. When local actors can translate technical performance findings into accessible messages that reach influential stakeholders, the resulting public understanding and targeted pressure can contribute to improved transparency and accountability.

What makes this opportunity different from purely academic or technical research grants?

Based on the description, AA&C is not only about generating credible evidence. It also prioritizes ensuring that the evidence reaches the right people and is communicated in ways those audiences can understand and use, with a deliberate focus on dissemination and influence rather than analysis alone.