Deadline: 15 July 2019
The mission of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) is to anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflicts that undermine U.S. interests or national security. CSO accomplishes this with sophisticated analysis and data visualization, strategic and operational planning capability, civilian operational surge capability, targeted programming, and diplomatic efforts to identify, understand, and address critical conflicts.
CSO has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for Part 1 (focus groups and survey) and Part 2 (programs), both addressing veterans’ reintegration in Ukraine. This funding opportunity aims to support activities that improve economic opportunities and mental health services for veterans from the conflict in eastern Ukraine and mitigate recruitment by destabilizing criminal or socio-political organizations.
Project Goal
The goal of the program is to create capable and responsive veteran support structures in Ukraine that can increase veteran resilience in targeted areas where the risk of destabilizing criminal or socio-political organizations is high. To achieve this goal, the program seeks to increase the understanding of veteran needs, increase the capabilities of Ukraine and non-government veteran support systems, build capacity in psychosocial and mental health services, and expand veteran employment opportunities.
Project Objectives & Activities
This NOFO includes multiple unique objectives and activities. As such, multiple awards may be issued to multiple organizations to address one or more program objectives. Applicants may apply only to Part 1 (focus groups and survey), or Part 2 (one or more program objectives), or any combination of the above. Applicants should submit only one application; though note that there are separate scoring criteria for Parts 1 and 2. Applicants must clearly state in their proposal recognition of CSO award termination policy (see page 11, Federal Award Information).
- Part 1: Mission Refinement
- Objective 1: To improve overall program impact, assess veterans’ needs, available resources, vulnerabilities to destabilizing criminal or socio-political organizations, and their communities’ capability to provide services using focus groups and a nationwide survey with an oversample of veterans.
- Activities under Objective 1 could include, but are not limited to:
- Perform focus groups and provide a written report of key findings after completion. Female veterans should be included.
- Conduct a nationwide face-to-face survey with an oversample of veterans.
- The information collected and analyzed under this objective will inform veteran reintegration initiatives outlined in the following objectives to maximize program impact. These initiatives will aim to meet veteran’s social, psychological, and economic needs, and mitigate recruitment by destabilizing criminal or socio-political organizations.
- CSO anticipates these activities to require approximately 30 days. CSO intends for the vast majority of activity to take place in Part 2. Applicants may provide a full justification should they believe activities will require additional time.
- Part 2: Program Intervention
- Objective 2a: Build institutional capacity of Ukraine’s Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs (MoVA) and veteran services system and increase the connectivity to non-governmental partners.
- Activities under Objective 2a could include, but are not limited to:
- Develop MoVA e-veterans’ registry.
- Coordinate a service delivery system to administer veterans’ benefits and services.
- Build the capacity of MoVA to address the needs of veterans, and increase their access to veteran registration, benefits, and rehabilitation services.
- Help establish relationships for information sharing between MoVA and non-governmental partners.
- Develop an online portal to connect local service providers, identify gaps, and share successes.
- Assist in streamlining definitions and processes across various veterans’ services organizations.
- Provide guidance and technical assistance to develop standard operating procedures.
- Objective 2b: Increase capacity of mental health services and expand veterans’ access to Ukraine’s psychosocial and mental health services, with a focus on the most at-risk veteran populations.
- Activities under Objective 2bcould include, but are not limited to:
- Establish a baseline of existing psychosocial and mental health services available to veterans through consultations and surveys.
- Increase outreach to at-risk veteran populations, such as female veterans and those residing in rural communities to understand the unique reintegration challenges they face.
- Offer a comprehensive approach to psychosocial support services by providing accessible counseling services in rural regions, destigmatizing mental health care and support systems, increasing peer support programs, and offering evidence-based health care provider training, etc.
- Develop an outreach campaign to raise awareness of services and reduce stigma of counseling.
- Objective 2c: Expand veteran employment and vocational training opportunities, with a focus on the most vulnerable veteran populations.
- Activities under Objective 2ccould include, but are not limited to:
- Conduct business management, trade/vocational, and entrepreneurship trainings. Ensure female veterans’ access to such trainings by identifying childcare support where possible.
- Train MoVA or other partners to offer employment counseling and develop vocational training programs.
- Identify businesses/companies that are willing to hire veterans, and help create streamlined hiring processes.
- Facilitate public-private partnerships and advise MoVA to cultivate employment-counseling resources for the veteran community.
- Develop an outreach campaign to advertise services and opportunities.
Funding Information
CSO expects to award one or multiple grants or cooperative agreements based on this NOFO and in an amount not to exceed the total ceiling amount of $5,000,000. The period of performance will be between24 to 36 months, with the first few months dedicated to completing Objective 1, and an anticipated start date of September1, 2019.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicant must have acute awareness of conflict-related sensitivities in Ukraine, through prior work in Ukraine or through thematic expertise. Applicants are encouraged to partner with relevant organizations with the ability to execute such programming throughout Ukraine.
How to Apply
Complete proposal packages must be submitted via given website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=316216
