Deadline: 07-Sep-20
U.S. Embassy Antananarivo of the U.S. Department of State has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to strengthen the capacity of Comorian civil society groups to work together with the government, including local elected officials such as mayors, to improve accountability and transparency, increase citizen engagement with local elected leaders, strengthen human rights frameworks, and address areas of mutual concern.
Activities will include support for civil society groups and local government on Ngazidja, Nzwani, and Mwali.
Program Objectives
U.S. Embassy Antananarivo seeks projects that include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Create opportunities for dialogue between civil society and citizen groups, as well as between those civil society groups and government representatives, for example through establishment of town hall structures;
- Support for civil society organizations that includes organizational development, management, and other forms of capacity building, in addition to technical program support;
- Identify societal and legal issues of mutual concern between community and government representatives, including local government;
- Increase capacity of civil society groups to more effectively advocate to support the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups;
- Provide opportunities for partnerships and linkages between local civil society organizations and relevant regional/international networks to exchange best practices and strategies for working on human rights issues.
- Support public awareness and broader community engagement of advocacy efforts and results of civic-government engagement.
Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:
- Economic Support Fund-Overseas Contingency Operations (ESF-OCO) funds may not be used for any military or paramilitary purposes. In addition, ESF-OCO funds generally may not be used to support police, prisons, or other law enforcement forces or foreign intelligence services.
Funding Information
- Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $70,000 to a maximum of $100,000
- Total available funding: $100,000
- Length of performance period: 12 months
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
- Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
- Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
- Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
- Monitoring and Evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
- Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S. and foreign not-for-profit organizations, including civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public International Organizations
- U.S. and foreign public and private educational institutions
- Applicants are encouraged to provide cost sharing from additional sources in support of proposed projects, but it is not required; applications should explain clearly other likely sources of funding or in-kind participation.
For more information, visit https://mg.usembassy.gov/funding-opportunity/