U.S. Mission to Malawi: Improve Oversight Functions of Key Stakeholders in Mining Sector

Deadline: 18-Jun-21

The U.S. Embassy Malawi and the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), has announce this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a grant under the fiscal transparency innovation fund. The funding opportunity seeks to Improve the oversight functions of key stakeholders in the mining sector.

The program will provide support to organizations seeking to enhance social accountability (civic engagement) for the realization of fiscal transparency (duty bearer’s responsiveness) in the mining sector in Malawi. With an improved oversight role among key stakeholders, the elected oversight structures on Public Finance Management will be empowered to act with a common voice and enforce fiscal transparency in the sector.

Objectives

It is expected that the proposed initiative will meet the following objectives:

Objective 1: Mobilize CSOs, (Local and International non-governmental organizations (NGOs)) to engage duty bearers for just resource governance in mining sector; and
Objective 2: Improve processes (contracting and licensing agreements and publishing what is earned) among duty bearers in the mining sector.

Main Activities

Activities under this program may include training sessions, stakeholder meetings, and situation analysis among others.

To achieve the goals and expected results, the program could include the following:

Conduct baseline analysis to understand the status at the beginning and help to set realistic target indicators given the project period;
Conduct national conference with Mining experts, CSOs, members of parliament, media, and government;
Facilitate development and capacity building for mining sector champions; and
Develop a comprehensive report documenting issues in the mining sector and recommendations to improve fiscal transparency.

Funding Information

Funding Amount: $ 25,000 U.S. Dollars
Period of Performance: 12 months
Number of Awards: 1
Anticipated Award Date: September 2021
Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 2022

Priority Region: Malawi

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and CSOs/NGOs;
- Public and private educational institutions;
- Individuals; and
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions.
Technically eligible submissions are those which:
- arrive electronically to www.Grants.gov by the designated deadline;
- have heeded all instructions contained in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including registrations and length and completeness of submission; and
- do not violate any of the guidelines stated in the solicitation and this document.
For-profit and commercial firms are not eligible to apply in response to this NOFO.