U.S. Embassy Nouakchott – PGO Annual Program Statement

Deadline: 3 September 2019

The U.S. Embassy in Mauritania has announced that it is accepting proposals – pending funding availability – through its Program and Grants Office (PGO).

Program Description

• Special Self Help:
  • The purpose of the small grants program is to award a limited number of grants to civil society organizations, nonprofit-organizations, local associations, youth groups, cooperatives, and non-governmental organizations to empower vulnerable communities in order to improve socioeconomic conditions.
  • Projects proposed should not exceed $12,000 (about 432000 MRU).
• Julia Taft:
  • This fund is intended primarily to support projects that assist refugees or refugee returnees. Projects could range from income generating activities to capacity building programs. The fund seeks to meet gaps in ongoing refugee programs that can be filled locally through projects of up to $25,000.
  • Proposed projects should not exceed $25,000 (about 900,000 MRU).
• The SSH and JTF support proposals related to the following activities:
  • Income generation: for example, gardening, community-based meat provision, cooperative chicken farming, and sewing services.
  • Water and sanitation: for example, construction of community wells, dams, or other water systems
  • Health or education materials: for example, purchase of tables, desks, small equipment, supplies, books and bookshelves for a library.
  • Equipment for a small business: for example, a weaving or sewing machine, a machine to grind millet, husk rice, or tools to support a trade
  • Miscellaneous equipment: for example, an oven or refrigerator for a school or a clinic.
• Economic Support Fund (ESF) – Africa Regional Democracy Fund
  • Programming supported with ARDF resources must address one, or in some cases a combination, of the following Program Elements, adapted from the Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure and Definitions (SPSD) or “the Foreign Assistance Framework”:
    • 2.1 Legislative Authority – Function and Processes:
      • Definition: Improve the way the legislature and legislative processes and procedures work to uphold democratic practices. Focus on the quality and effectiveness of legislation, including the constitution, codes, laws, and regulations applying to various development sectors. Increase the legislature’s capacity to be responsive to the people it serves, enhance public participation, engage in policy-making, hold itself and the executive accountable, and oversee the implementation of government programs, budgets, and laws.
    • 3.2 Elections and Political Processes:
      • Definition: Provide assistance that enables citizens to select and replace their leaders through periodic, inclusive, accountable, and free and fair elections. This includes support for legal and regulatory frameworks, open and effective election administration, broad public participation and civic awareness, societal oversight of electoral processes, and accountable procedures for election-related grievances and appeals.
    • 4.3 Civic Education, Citizen Participation, and Public Accountability:
      • Definition: Support activities that advance citizen engagement to hold governments accountable and to participate in economic, political, governing, and other critical process aimed at creating more peaceful, democratic, and pluralistic societies. Promote citizen engagement in local decision-making processes, such as through participatory budgeting processes and public-private dialog for economic development priorities. Examples of other activities include, supporting CSO and citizen advocacy efforts; backing citizen monitoring and oversight initiatives; and strengthening citizen engagement in service delivery. Activities in this element relate to the role of civil society in holding public institutions accountable (watchdog role).
    • 6.1 Human Rights Systems, Policies, and Protection:
      • Definition: Support systems to prevent and address human rights violations through early warning, monitoring, investigating, and reporting. Promote respect for human rights and support human rights defenders through utilization of national, regional, and international legal systems for human rights protection and enforcement. Harmonize domestic laws and policies with international human rights standards; promote the adoption and implementation of human rights and labor standards; and sponsor legal aid and other assistance for victims of human rights violations. Support the work of National Human Rights Commission[s]. Integrate human rights into training for security sector actors, teachers, civil society leaders, journalists, religious leaders, and government officials.
  • Projects proposed should be in the range of $100,000- $450, 000 (3,600,000- 16,200,000 MRU).
• ESF TSCTP/CVE:
  • Programs will focus on vulnerable or marginalized groups that are particularly susceptible to recruitment, especially youth, and will build their sense of civic engagement and social responsibility through promotion of peaceful cultural and social traditions, engagement with public authorities, and development of networks that foster collaboration and resilience against violent extremism. Programs will support governments to be responsive to local needs, which can be a driver of violent extremism if local issues are not addressed. Programs will also focus on increasing livelihood development in areas where high unemployment is a driver of violent extremism.
  • Projects proposed should be in the range of $100,000- $450, 000 (3,600,000- 16,200,000 MRU).

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 1 to 12 months
• Anticipated program start date: October 2019
• Program Performance Period: October 2019 – September 2020.

Eligible Applicants

• The Program and Grants Office (PGO) encourages applications from International Organizations, UN Institutions, and locally registered civil society entities such as, national non-governmental organizations, associations, cooperatives, or groups with refugee or returnee programming experience.
• Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

How to Apply

Applicants can submit their proposal via electronic email at the address given on the website, with subject line “PGO SSH” for Small Grants; “PGO JTF” for Julia Taft Fund Grants, “PGO ESF Regional Democracy” for the Economic Support Fund-Africa Regional Democracy and “PGO ESF TSCTP/CVE for The Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program.

For more information, please visit https://mr.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-nouakchott-program-grants-office-annual-program-statement-fy2019/