CLEAR Project to Counter Corruption in Montenegro

Deadline: 28-May-24

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to counter corruption in Montenegro.

For the United States Government, fighting corruption is a global imperative. Corruption hollows out the law enforcement institutions charged with ensuring public safety. Corruption renders courts unable to deliver impartial justice and undercuts the security of corrections facilities and the community at large. In so doing, corruption undermines the fundamental promise of democracy and profoundly weakens the very basis of democratic society—the rule of law. Corruption at its worst can even pose a threat to international stability. Criminals and other bad actors often use corruption as a tool for weakening public administration, paving the way for human rights violations, money laundering, transnational organized crime, and in some cases terrorism. Countries plagued with endemic corruption can become breeding grounds and safe havens for criminals and terrorist groups that may threaten global security.

Goal

Reduce Montenegro’s national level corruption problems highlighted by the European Commission in the 2023 Report.

Vision

Through this call for applications and support to non-profit civil society organizations, Embassy Podgorica envisions Montenegrin civil society increase engagement with the public and government to combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law for:
- C: corruption-free, and
- L: law-abiding public officials;
- E: engaged citizens;
- A: accountable, and
- R: resilient institutions

Objectives

Reduce public corruption by high-level public officials.
Increased citizen awareness of public corruption.
Decreased societal tolerance for public corruption.
Strengthen control mechanisms against corruption in public institutions.

Funding Information

Total available funding: $500,000
Project Implementation Period: 12 to 18 months
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000
Number of awards anticipated: 2-4 awards (dependent on amounts)

Participants and Audiences

Project beneficiaries could be the Montenegrin public, the Agency for Preventing Corruption, and/or public sector institutions, including the prosecution and judiciary, depending on the anti-corruption mechanism applicants aim to investigate.
The applicants should plan participatory, inclusive, and intersectoral approaches in their activities. For project proposals which include advocacy and policy-related activities, applicants should consider forming a wide anti-corruption coalition.
For project proposals and activities tackling issue of corruption in public services delivery, applicants should consider including vulnerable and/or underrepresented groups.
Applicants should also identify specific location/s in which the project will be implemented. INL Montenegro will only consider proposals for activities that take place in Montenegro.

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Montenegrin not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks, civil society/non-governmental organizations, professional associations, and other organizations that have a proven track record of trustworthiness. Applicants must also meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply to this NOFO:
  - Applicants must have demonstrated experience implementing similar projects, preferably in the target country or region. INL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering similar programs and/or federal grant awards.
  - Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, partnerships with stakeholders in order to successfully carry out the proposed program.
  - Incomplete application packages will not be considered for funding.
- American and third-country organizations and individuals are not eligible for grants under this program.
- Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.
- In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier – UEI, as well as a valid registration on.

Cost Sharing or Matching
- Cost share is the portion of project costs not borne by the U.S. government. Cost share is recommended but NOT REQUIRED for this project. Applicants must be able to ensure cost share is accounted for/tracked through accounting systems and/or supporting documentation (such as Personnel Activity Records, proof of voluntary hours, proof of any purchases for materials being included as cost share, etc.)
Other Eligibility Requirements
- In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (also known as UEI), as well as a valid. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov.
- Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal, however one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).
- To be eligible to receive a federal assistance award, organizations must have a commitment to non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. INL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. INL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.
- Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any sub-awards issued under this grant award.