Deadline: 11-May-23
The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen democratic governance through civil society engagement.
The RCS is organized into five pillars. Due to congressional global earmarks for democracy and governance programming, projects must contribute to one or more of the Strategic Objectives under Pillar II of the RCS, Combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law:
- Strengthen democratic institutions to improve governance and rule of law. The United States will work with countries to promote reform agendas across all branches of government, so government better serves all citizens. This will include a focus on adequately resourcing judicial and oversight institutions, ensuring their independence, and promoting reform of personnel selection and retention processes.
- Prioritize an anticorruption agenda. The United States will work regionally, bilaterally, and, if necessary, unilaterally to root out corruption and enhance transparency across the region.
- Improve administration of public resources. The United States will work with governments to establish proper budgeting, management, and use of public resources at the local and national levels to enhance service delivery for all citizens, including in underserved areas and vulnerable populations.
Pillars
- Proposals could contribute to one or more of the Strategic Objectives under Pillars III and IV:
- Pillar III
- Enhance Respect for Human Rights: Governments prevent, reduce, and mitigate risk factors and reduce human rights violations. Civil society organizations and a robust free press hold government actor accountable. At-risk populations have national and international recourse, including U.S. government support and advocacy.
- Pillar IV
- Build Safe Communities through Violence Prevention and Intervention: Governments make legal and policy reforms in violence prevention, support rehabilitation and reinsertion into society of former gang members and individuals previously incarcerated and provide protection to at-risk youth and victims of violence, and other marginalized populations, including prevention of human trafficking.
- Pillar III
Project Goals
- Projects solicited under this NOFO will:
- Support the Government of Belize to create a competent civil service that provides nonpartisan continuity and efficient service delivery.
- Support Belizean civil society demand for government accountability without compromising human rights. Host nation-governments will uphold values and practices of liberal democracy; citizens hold their governments accountable for these actions.
Objectives
- Applicants should address one or more of the following project objectives:
- Strengthen civil society organizations and support collaboration to improve government transparency by developing policies or procedures that reduce corruption and impunity and increase citizen participation in anti-corruption efforts. Proposals should encourage citizens and civil servants to participate in anti-corruption advocacy initiatives, support corruptionexposing investiociety working in collaboration with the government to improve accountability and delivery of services at all levels. Proposals should focus on activities by civil society organizations leveraging government, private, and civil society resources and networks to collectively improve, expand, or supplement government service delivery particularly to vulnerable and/or marginalized populations, particularly outside of the Belize City district. Examples of potential activities include, but are not limited to, digitizing government services or procurement processes to improve efficiency, delivery, and transparency; developing mobile hubs to extend services in remote areas; and improving digital literacy or capacity building for government institutions.
- Support and enhance mechanisms among key stakeholders to leverage services to curb human trafficking and gender-based violence. Proposals may involve supporting early detection and institutional support systems for victims and survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, strengthening polices and protocols, and ensuring adequate and efficient delivery of justice and access to government services. Examples of potential activities include, but are not limited to, strengthening formal procedures for traumainformed victim identification in vulnerable populations, improving mechanisms for data gathering, increasing access to legal aid and sustainable support for survivors, engaging men and boys in programs as partners and champions of gender equity, and reinforcing youthfocused programs to improve violence prevention or increase access to mental health services for youth.
- Proposals should be orientated towards civil society organizations working in collaboration with government entities to improve delivery of basic government services at the local, municipal and/or central level particularly to vulnerable and/or marginalized communities.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $250,000
- Award Floor: $150,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Entities: Applicants that are eligible to apply are U.S. and overseas-based NGOs, nonprofit educational institutions, and PIOs that can respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period. Belizean NGOs are strongly encouraged to apply.
- To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have 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.
- U.S. Embassy Belmopan encourages applications from Belizean organizations and institutions, as well as potential new partners.
- In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.