Call for Partnership Concept Papers for Religious & Ethnic Freedom and Inclusion in the Middle East & North Africa

Deadline: 10-Aug-20

USAID/Bureau for the Middle East is seeking applications that respond to the President’s Executive Order on Advancing Religious Freedom.

The United States Office of the Vice President (OVP) is deeply engaged in programming that supports religious and ethnic minorities. Globally, these minorities are experiencing persecution, displacement, and atrocities such as genocide and ethnic cleansing. U.S. foreign policy recognizes that pluralistic and inclusive societies that are characterized by multi-ethnic and multi-religious groups where human rights are respected are critical to a peaceful world.

The intent of this solicitation is to support grassroots local initiatives that will have sustainable and long-term impact. USAID invites those with creative solutions and partnership ideas to apply. In order to best leverage local knowledge, develop local capacity and ensure local ownership and sustainability, applicants will be required to demonstrate their role as a local partner or how they will engage with local partner organizations, including working with them as sub-partners.

Objectives

Broadly, interventions should work towards achieving the following objectives:

• Addressing government constraints on religious and/or ethnic minorities
• Addressing social constraints on religious and/or ethnic minorities
• Addressing economic constraints on religious and/or ethnic minorities;
• Addressing education and health constraints on religious and/or ethnic minorities;
• Preserving/Rehabilitating cultural heritage sites of religious and/or ethnic minorities

Funding Information

Funding for individual program applications estimated in the range of $200,000.00-$800,000.00.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, all Implementing Partners must be legally registered entities under applicable laws and eligible under relevant laws to receive funding from a foreign source.
• Individuals, unregistered, or informal organizations are not eligible to be Implementing Partners.
• This Addendum will consider concept papers from organization who meet the following criteria:
  • New and underutilized organizations that are local entities in a host country.
  • Direct awards to new and underutilized organizations that are Locally Established Partners in the host country.
  • Sub-awards to new or underutilized partners via prime awardees that are serving in a limited mentorship role:
    • Local Entity Sub-Awardees That Moves to a Direct Award.
    • Direct awards to partners to leverage private/non-U.S. Government funding.
    • The Global NPI: CPRP APS provides details on what organizations are eligible to apply for awards under the Addendum.