U.S. Embassy Bamako, Mali inviting NGOs for 2020 Julia Taft Refugee Fund

Deadline: 10 February 2020

U.S. Embassy Bamako in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) is accepting proposals for its Julia Taft Refugee Fund from potential partners working to assist refugees in Mali. This support is meant to meet low-cost gaps in refugee protection and assistance. Similarly, the intent of this initiative is to provide U.S. Ambassadors with the means to respond to critical gaps that have not been addressed in larger multilateral refugee programs.

Funding Information

Minimum Award Amount: $5,000
Ceiling Award Amount: $25,000

Eligibility Criteria

The funds are meant to support projects that assist refugees or refugee returnees.
Requests to provide funding to populations other than refugees/returnees are discouraged, but exceptions can be made in some regions with “populations of concern” to PRM, such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), vulnerable migrants, and stateless persons.
Consideration for support is also given to projects that benefit both populations of concern and their host communities.
The fund is not meant as an emergency fund.
Applicants must be a registered organization (e.g.: NGO, community-based organization, faith-based organization).
Local NGOs will be given priority.

Review and Selection Process

A selection committee at U.S. Embassy Bamako, Mali, will review all applications received under this announcement based on the following criteria:

Capacity of the organization – the organization has experience in implementing activities related to vulnerable groups, is focused on economic and social development, and demonstrates the ability to implement the activities proposed;
Sustainability Plan – the proposal demonstrates a clear sustainability plan beyond the life of the award;
Cost Application – the proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results;
Monitoring and Evaluation – the applicant should provide a clear monitoring and evaluation plan that includes specific, measurable, and achievable indicators.

Once the review process is completed, U.S. Embassy Bamako will notify successful applicants as well as unsuccessful applicants. Prospective grantees will receive further instructions along with the notification of successful proposal. Once awarded, each grantee will be responsible for the program and financial reporting as specified in the award agreement.

Examples of Activities

Below are just a few examples of activities that can be funded under this program (Please make sure that there is a strong tie to the local context building on the competencies/capacity of the proposing organization):

Improve the mental health of the refugee community.
Build a playground for refugee children.
Start an income-generating cooperative for returnees.
Support an education program for refugees.
Develop a youth program for refugees.
Support livelihoods training and sports programs.
Support a transit center for unaccompanied minor refugees and asylum seekers.
Support early childhood education, health, and nutrition activities.
Support water, sanitation, health, and livelihoods.
Provide protection for vulnerable refugees.
Provide a shelter for women and girls refugees who are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
Support a vocational training program for refugees.
Support returnees with manufacturing of soap or other income-generating activities.
Train refugees in gardening and running small businesses.
Support an income-generating project and provide health care to disabled residents.
Support an urban refugee training and girls’ empowerment project.
Train mothers of youth, who participate in non-formal out-of-school programs, on furniture re-upholstery and also provide the women with basic hygiene awareness.
Provide agricultural support to returnee families.
Any other activities that support refugees or returnees.