U.S. Mission to Pakistan: Open Competition for Women as Peace Architects

Deadline: 30-Mar-21

The Community Engagement Office of the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad (hereinafter known as “CEO”) is pleased to announce an open competition for Women as Peace Architects.

CEO is seeking proposals for innovative ways to change social discourse and reduce acceptance of extremist narratives and ideology. The selected proposal will aim at mobilizing and expanding the engagement of influential women from multiple sectors to promote social cohesion and build resilience against extremist ideologies and behaviors.

The Project Goal is to engage influential women from multiple sectors to serve as peacebuilders, promote social cohesion, and contribute actively to reduce extremist elements within communities while increasing the acceptance of women in this role.

Objectives

Objective 1: Increased women’s participation in formal and informal processes of peacebuilding and conflict resolution by 40%.
Objective 2: Increased coordination and collaboration among men and women in a variety of contexts in responding to violent extremism and conflict.
Project proposals may include the following (and/or propose other) strategies to realize their project objectives:
- Acknowledging and promoting women’s right to participate in the advancement of peace and conflict prevention/resolution initiatives.
- Recognizing women as influential decision-makers at home and at work, who can take the lead to promote peace and tolerance in their communities.
- Harnessing the media’s power to challenge gender stereotypes while generating support for women as peace catalysts using positive role models.
- Engaging adult women from all economic, political, and social sectors to address core causes of conflict and intolerance within communities and identify key roles women can and do play in the peace process.
- Recognizing the role men can play in creating opportunities for women and promoting the acceptance of women in roles that further peace narratives.

Funding Information

The award ceiling is $350,000;
Estimated Total Program Funding: $350,000;
Proposals may be submitted for a project duration of up to two (2) years.

Eligible Applicants

Eligibility is open to international non-profit and for-profit organizations. Organizations may sub-award or subcontract with other entities, but only one organization can be the prime recipient of the award. Pakistan government entities are not eligible to apply. When sub awarding or sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. The applicants must submit proof of their non-profit status or proof of for-profit registration/business license with their proposal submission (e.g. proof of 501(c) (3) status, Pakistan NGO license, business registration license).
U.S.-based or registered organizations should provide proof of registration to operate in Pakistan or have a documented agreement with a partner organization registered to operate in Pakistan.
This award does not allow:
- Projects relating to partisan political activity;
- Charitable or development activities;
- Construction projects;
- Projects that support specific religious activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
- Scientific research or surveys;
- Commercial projects;
- Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Projects that duplicate existing projects; or
- Illegal activities.

Selection Process

Acknowledgment of receipt. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal.
Review. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. A technical review panel will review the proposal.
Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 90 days after the NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

Evaluation Criteria

Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project and to determine the likelihood of its success.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. ·
Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:
- The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project.
- The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.
- The organization demonstrates the capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
- Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations.
- Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate
Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.
- A media or amplification plan (if appropriate) that shows how the organization will use social or traditional media or otherwise increase the number of people who gain exposure to the issue and knowledge of the activities beyond the core participants.
Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.
Monitoring and Evaluation – 15 points: Points for M&E will be awarded by considering three subset criteria within the narrative: (1) Technical M&E; (2) Program Design; and (3) Learning. Specifically, scoring will be based on the following:
- Technical M&E: A submission will be considered technically sound if there is a complete and thorough draft submission of an M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). This will include a list of proposed project activities, corresponding milestone, output, and outcome indicators, a description of data collection methods, and a timeline for collecting such information. Use of the suggested template will satisfy these requirements. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.
- Program Design: A submission will be considered well designed if the proposal addresses a significant problem, identifies an appropriate target audience, and presents a clear theory of change on how the program will address that problem. Whether through a logical framework, the theory of change diagram, or a set of if-then statements, the proposal should state in some form “If these activities are completed, then these outcomes will result”. Further, if the project requires selecting participants or beneficiaries, the proposal should articulate how the selection will be done in an equitable way.
- Learning: A submission will satisfy the learning component by demonstrating an ability to adjust project activities based on new information. Does the design incorporate community or participant feedback to allow for adjustments? If the proposal is from a prior grantee, does the proposal discuss how the grantee has adapted, improved or otherwise modified their approach based on learning from previous experience/past performance? If this is a new grantee or new project, has the proposal demonstrated that the applicant used desk research, prior experience, or other evidence to directly inform program design? Expenses directly associated with monitoring and evaluation are considered allowable. The suggested template includes a space to list the portion of the total budget amount directly associated with monitoring and evaluation activities.
Sustainability – 10 points: The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.