Deadline: 5-Jul-23
The United States Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) announces a Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support sustainable communities and migration management approaches in Panama and Costa Rica that promote inclusive and equitable policies and practices in coordination with Department of State and WHA.
WHA has $4,740,000 in FY 2022 ESF for a 48-month project to help support communities hosting large numbers of migrants and marginalized and vulnerable populations such as women, Indigenous, and Afro-descendants through a whole of community approach that will provide technical expertise training to small business development centers and support sustainable tourism development in communities and associated industries.
These small business and industries include but are not limited to agriculture, textile, transportation, restaurants, and hotels. The sustainable community approach will include technical expertise training on small business and economic development, and will engage local government officials, civil society, and small business development centers. The anticipated start date for this activity is September 2023.
Project Goal: Strengthen sustainable communities in Panama and Costa Rica, to include rural areas where possible, through small business support and sustainable tourism development, providing economic and employment opportunities for migrants and marginalized and vulnerable populations, thus helping to mitigate the effect of migrant influxes on local communities.
Objectives & Activities
- As applicable, proposals should specify the expected results from projects benefitting from these funds, such as the number of participants trained;
- improvement in local government migration policy; and other improvements in basic government services that impact migrants. All proposals should state clear objectives and show plans to measure project performance and contributions to meeting those objectives.
- Proposals should include specific objectives and indicators that allow the organization to measure and demonstrate progress. As applicable, proposals should specify the expected results from projects benefitting from these funds,
- such as the number of participants trained; improvement in local government migration policy; and other improvements in basic government services that impact migrants. All proposals should state clear objectives and show plans to measure project performance and contributions to meeting those objectives.
- Project objectives should include but are not limited to the following objectives:
- For objective 2, 3, and 5 the applicant needs to develop contingency and risk management planning in case challenges arise in developing project activities that support the SBDC model training curriculum in Panama and Costa Rica, or if
- AMPYME or INA flag issues that the applicant needs to address. This contingency planning entails showing how the applicant could revise the training curriculum to focus on small business development and to strengthen sustainable communities and focus less on providing training based on the U.S. SBDC model. This contingency planning is to address risk management. No funding can be provided for contingency planning.
- Objective 1 – Sustainable Communities to Integrate Migrants
- Objective 2 – SBDC Network Expansion
- Objective 3 – Improved Institutional Capacity
- Objective 4 – Equal Access & Training Opportunities
- Objective 5 – Entrepreneurial Development in Communities
- Objective 6 – Workforce Training & Support
- Objective 7 – Tourism Sector Development.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,740,000
- Award Ceiling: $4,740,000
- Award Floor: $4,740,000
- Project Duration: 48 Months
- Est. Project Start Date: September 2023
- Est. Project End Date: September 2027
Country Eligibility: Costa Rica and Panama.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Department of State will issue an award to the Applicant whose application represents the best value to the U.S. Government based on technical merit, efficient use of U.S. Government funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. The Department of State reserves the right to make an award based on the initial application received with or without discussion or negotiations.
- Preference will be given to organizations with experience working with SBDCs and small businesses in Latin America and have capacity and experience to develop project activities that enable small business training. Experience developing a training curriculum and providing training to entrepreneurs and small businesses while enabling regional, social, and economic integration is desired. Former work with a sub award organizations is preferred, along with a knowledge of how to support sustainable tourism and complimentary industries of textiles, agriculture, restaurants, and tourism service sectors and transportation. An understanding of local economic and migration issues facing Panama and Costa Rica, or the ability to sub award to an organization that has this experience is desired.
- Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non‐ discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.
- 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.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.