NOFO: Expanding Alternatives to Incarceration in Tunisia

Deadline: 23-Jan-23

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 reduce prison overcrowding and recidivism in Tunisia by expanding the use and implementation of alternatives to incarceration (ATI), in particular, probation and parole.

Project Vision: To decrease prison overcrowding and rates of recidivism in Tunisia and expand the use of alternatives to incarceration (ATI), including probation and parole.

Objectives

The MOJ expands access to alternatives to incarceration in target governorates.
The MOJ utilizes standardized policies and operating procedures that guide the use of alternatives to incarceration in Tunisia.
More eligible cases in target governorates are resolved via alternatives to incarceration.
Tunisians’ receptivity to the use of alternatives to incarceration, particularly probation and parole, increases in target governorates.

Funding Information

Length of performance period: 18 to 24 months
Anticipated program start date: February 2023
Number of awards anticipated: 1 awards (dependent on amounts)
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $1.5 Million U.S. Dollars to a maximum of $2.5 Million U.S. Dollars
Total available funding: $2.5 Million U.S. Dollars

Project Activities and Deliverables

The project will be broken into multiple stages.
In the first stage, establishment of Probation Offices in each of the seven Tribunals within the Governates, based on the Sousse office, and will budget for one full-time project manager and assistant to be in the main office, along with one assistant in the Probation Office.
These staff will establish baseline data, identify partners in public and private institutions, and establish a steering committee on Alternatives to Incarceration, all leading to a signed MOU with the seven governorates implementation partners.
The second and final stage will build on the work done in the first to begin implementing changes in policies and practices.
Through the discussion with the steering groups, the implementer will identify needs and begin to develop working procedures for judges in the imposition of alternatives to incarceration.
The implementer will begin educating key stakeholders on alternatives to incarceration through trainings and workshops, study visits, small grants, and media campaigns.

Participants and Audiences

The target recipients of this project will include the MOJ (including the CGPR), any other relevant ministries, ONAT, Tunisian universities, ISM, the national institute for lawyers (ISPA), members of civil society (such as NGOs and women’s associations), and public and private institutions.
The selected applicant will work in close coordination with INL and the MOJ International Cooperation Office throughout the duration of the project.
The final beneficiaries of the project will be adults and juveniles in pre-trial detention and those convicted of minor offenses.
The selected applicant should coordinate closely with MOJ on all activities, especially media events and communication with judges and probation office staff.

Priority Region/Countries: Tunisia

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code;
- U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code;
- Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- Foreign-based educational institutions
Applicants must also meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply to this NOFO:
- Applicants must demonstrate business registration in Tunisia
- Applicants must prove existing relationship with the Tunisian Ministry of Justice