Deadline: 29 June 2020
The Advancing Community Empowerment in Southeastern Myanmar (ACE) project, funded by USAID, has announced a request for applications (RFA) seeking to fund projects that improve the inclusion of vulnerable and excluded groups in Southeastern Myanmar in governance and decision-making.
Advancing Community Empowerment in Southeastern Myanmar (ACE), supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Burma, aims to empower vulnerable communities to engage in local decision-making processes by reducing community vulnerabilities, strengthening community participation, and making local governance systems more inclusive, responsive, and accountable.
Objectives
ACE uses integrated development approaches that promote local engagement and leadership and create links between communities, service providers, and governance systems to meet locally prioritized needs. The project also empowers youth and women to take leadership roles. ACE aims to achieve its goal of ‘vulnerable communities empowered to engage in local decisionmaking processes’ through three objectives:
- Reduce community vulnerabilities
- Strengthen community participation
- Strengthen local governance systems
Funding Information
Pact may award up to $150,000 in funding for a successful applicant for a maximum of 18 months.
Geographic Area
ACE defines Southeastern Myanmar as: Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, southern Shan State, northern Tanintharyi Region, and eastern Bago Region. Applicants proposing activities improving inclusive governance in these geographic areas are invited to submit proposals through this RFA. ACE focuses direct implementation in eight townships: Demoso, Hpruso, Hpasawng (Kayah State); Pekon (southern Shan State); Hlaingbwe, Kyainseikgyi and Thandaunggyi (Kayin State); and Thanbyuzayat (Mon State). Though not required, Pact welcomes proposed activities in areas where cooperation with other ACE activities and partners can be mutually beneficial and that support efforts to reach marginalized and underserved communities.
Intended Target Audience
Activities should have the intended impact of increasing the participation, inclusion, and leadership of key vulnerable groups in southeastern Myanmar. Key groups for this RFA include:
- Women
- Youth
- Persons with disabilities
- Religious minorities
- Ethnic minorities
- Other vulnerable or traditionally marginalized groups based on race, identity, sexual orientation, or other factors
Eligibility Criteria
- This competition is open to any non-profit non-governmental organization that is not established in the United States, with preference for local Myanmar-based and border-based organizations. To be minimally eligible for funding, applicants must provide full, accurate, and complete information and comply with the following conditions.
- Organizations must:
- Be able to complete implementation within the stated maximum 18-month timeframe or sooner.
- Have previous experience of at least two years working on social inclusion and governance
- Have current geographic coverage where program activities will take place or prior experience in southeastern Myanmar with the ability to quickly start up implementation
- Currently operating or can demonstrate ability to operate in southeastern Myanmar with previous experience of working on proposed technical areas
- Currently or potentially engaging with key populations.
For more information, visit https://www.pactworld.org/blog/ace-request-applications-strengthening-inclusive-governance-southeastern-myanmar