USAID-Kosovo RFAs: Inviting Local NGOs for Justice Matters Activity

Deadline: 15 March 2019

USAID’s Justice Matters activity is seeking applications from qualified local Non-Governmental Organizations – NGO for projects that will focus on strengthening informed demand to improve legal literacy and empower citizens, especially vulnerable individuals and groups, by providing actionable legal information, leveraging existing information platforms, and activating a network of CSOs, grassroots organizations, and young people to deliver information.

As a result of these interventions, citizens will have access to better information on their legal rights that is actionable enabling them to seek the enforcement of those rights within the justice system. In, addition, through this RFA disadvantaged and marginalized groups will benefit integrated services that address their legal and non-legal needs through innovative ideas for free legal aid service delivery.

Justice Matters strengthens systems for legal aid service delivery, increases supply of quality legal aid services, and increased informed demand for legal aid through three inter-connected objectives:

Strengthen the Capacity of Kosovo’s Legal Aid System
Enhance the Quality and Responsiveness of Legal Aid Services
Strengthen Legal Literacy and Citizen Empowerment

Thematic Areas

Justice Matters activity assistance for grantees is based on two thematic areas:

Youth-led literacy initiatives targeting vulnerable communities: Anticipated results under this theme include:
- School based education activities for future “educators”;
- Local street actions and town halls facilitated by clinics students and high school students;
- Traveling students of Justice Matters legal clinics for legal information, advice, assistance with complaint drafting, etc.
Innovative ideas for free legal aid service delivery: Anticipated results under this theme include:
- Idea form approach for innovative concepts for free legal aid service delivery;
- New ideas that use technology or other means to facilitate legal aid service delivery;
- New ideas of working closely with other agencies that provide social and support services to disadvantaged and marginalized groups, in achieving more integrated services that address their legal and non-legal needs.

Award Information

Proposed projects should last no less than six (6) months and no more than twelve (12) months. A total fund of $ 125,000 is available under this RFA to fund projects of a value not to exceed $ 25,000 for any individual project.
Justice Matters Activity will award two types of grants for each of two thematic areas: Medium-Scale Grants and Small-Scale Grants.
- Medium-scale grants are expected to range from $ 15,000 up to $ 25,000
- Small-scale grants are expected to range from $ 1,000 up to $ 6,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Justice Matters activity will issue grants to organizations that are legally registered and recognized under the laws of Kosovo and not prohibited from receiving USG funding.
To be eligible for funding, an organization must:
- Have a valid registration to operate in Kosovo.
- Have an established track record of successful work in areas related to the goals of the Program.
- Refrain from activities that violate applicable U.S. laws, directly or indirectly.
In selecting Program for grants funding, the Program will pay particular attention to the following criteria:
- The organization has the capacity to receive and administer funding.
- The organization has the capacity to operate without the grant.
- The organization has a track record of successful work in implementing advocacy, monitoring, and/or public education activities.
- The proposed program is unique, creative, likely to yield impact, and sustainable.
- The proposed program does not duplicate programs previously or currently implemented in Kosovo.
- Activities that partner local organizations with government agencies or offices (including FLAA, Legal Aid Council, etc.) in a public-private partnership are strongly encouraged
- Joint activities (consortium) of different civil society organizations and partnership with law firms are looked upon favorable.
To be eligible, an applicant must:
- Show proof of a valid registration under the Kosovo Law on Freedom of Association in NonGovernmental Organizations;
- Show proof of a valid bank account at a bank in Kosovo;
- Demonstrate it is in good standing with Tax Administration of Kosovo; and
- Provide DUNS Number