Deadline: 31-Jul-23
The Bureau of African Affairs (AF) of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announces the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Security Sector Consortium.
The proposals should identify needs and opportunities to build the capacity of civil society organizations engaged in the security sector to produce mutually beneficial outcomes for security providers and citizens.
Program Goals and Objectives
- The overall goals and objectives of this program are
- to build the capacity of civil society engaged in the security sector, and
- to produce mutually beneficial outcomes for security providers and the citizens they serve. This project is intended to span four regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (West, Central, East, and South) and should specifically include the following countries: Kenya and South Africa.
- The project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase aims to produce a high-quality survey to identify the needs and wants of civil society organizations across the sub-continent. This extensive survey will be used to help inform future U.S. government programming to support and strengthen civil society across SubSaharan Africa.
- The implementing organization, in collaboration with the USG, will be responsible for creating methods to sustain the program after the original grant is complete.
- Following the successful conduct of the survey, the program will shift toward network building to expand the reach of civil society organizations and create and sustain these networks long after the program is over.
- To support the goals and objectives outlined, the following activities are required:
- Activity 1: Conduct an overarching survey of civil society perceptions around security sector performance, professionalism, and accountability, as well as perceptions of USG engagement in security sectors.
- Activity 2: Coordinate a series of sub-regional meetings to discuss the results of the survey, share best practices, and develop strategies for improving security sector performance and accountability with both civilian and military leaders and sustaining networks and connections across the continent.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,250,000
- Award Ceiling: $3,250,000
- Award Floor: $3,250,000
- Project Duration: 18 months with the possibility of an extension, pending available funds and successful performance.
Expected Results
- Based on the goals and objectives of the program, expected results include, but are not limited to:
- Strengthened understanding and knowledge of current civil-society organizational networks contributing to security sector reform;
- Improved security sector performance and accountability with civilian and military leaders;
- Bolstered cross-continent networks of civil society groups and organizations that can thrive beyond initial USG investment.
Eligibility Criteria
- In the submission of their proposal, applicants should:
- Demonstrate past performance, experience, and expertise in security sector capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the political landscapes, sensitivities, history, and culture of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Emphasize the development of an institutional framework, training, and sustainability model that encourages transparency and collaboration.
- Identify ways to engage with the array of civil society actors, international nongovernmental organizations, public international organizations, and other key stakeholders.
- Demonstrate how the applicant would support sustainability initiatives under the program after the first 18 months of the program.
- If the Department of State issues an award, it will be to the application that 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. Therefore, applications should contain the Applicants’ best terms from both cost and technical standpoints. Applicants should also demonstrate in-depth understanding of a wide range of governance structures.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.