Background on USAID Special Funds

The Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF), the Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF), and the Victims of Torture Fund (VTF) are three special sources of funding reserved each year by Congress and managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). More than 60 international assistance programs receive over $25 million in support from these funds. DCOF works to strengthen the capacity of families and communities to provide care, support, and protection for orphans, unaccompanied minors, and war-affected children. LWVF provides financial and technical assistance for civilian victims of war and those individuals who are living with mobility related disabilities. VTF assists in the rehabilitation of individuals who suffer the physical and psychological effects of torture. All three funds work through nongovernmental organizations (NGO) overseas that (1) provide direct services to people in need, their families, and communities; (2) strengthen the capacity of country-based institutions in their delivery of services; and (3) increase the level of knowledge and understanding of the challenges faced by these individuals.

The Technical Support Contract

In September 2004, the U.S. Agency for International Development awarded MANILA Consulting the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund/Leahy War Victims Fund/Victims of Torture Fund Technical Support Contract. The technical support contract provides technical and logistical services to USAID’s fund manager, regional bureaus, and missions as they plan, implement, and oversee the programs supported by the three funds.

The DCOF/LWVF/VTF Technical Support Contract provides a broad range of services to USAID. The contract maintains a roster of highly qualified technical experts in diverse development fields. Along with core contract staff, these technical experts provide hands-on assistance to USAID in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Staff members make periodic trips to review USAID programs and work with the more than 50 NGOs in developing countries around the world that directly implement these programs. Additional activities include:

• Collecting and analyzing data,
• Maintaining databases,
• Awarding and managing subgrants,
• Planning and conducting conferences,
• Attending workshops and conferences on issues relating to the program's three technical areas, and
• Preparing ad hoc studies and reports

© Copyright 2009. MANILA Consulting Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 1420 Beverly Rd Suite 220, McLean, VA, 22101