USAID announces Call for Short-Term Anti-Corruption Initiatives

Deadline: 17-Jul-2020

The USAID and UK aid Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) project have announced a call for Rapid Response Fund (RRF) initiatives that have a clear anti-corruption impact.

TAPAS promotes eGovernance reforms across three components: ensuring large-scale use of eProcurement; supporting effective open data programs across Ukraine; and creating efficient eServices to fight corruption.

The TAPAS Activity is implemented by Eurasia Foundation (EF), a US-based international development organization promoting good governance and civil society development. EF implements the TAPAS Activity together with a consortium of highly knowledgeable Ukrainian and British organizations that includes the Data Journalism Agency (TEXTY), East Europe Foundation, Kyiv School of Economics, The Open Data Institute, SocialBoost, and Transparency International — Ukraine.

The TAPAS Rapid Response Fund (RRF) is designed to provide resources for short-term initiatives that have a clear anti-corruption impact. It is the responsibility of eligible government institutions to identify funding needs to address corruption in the public sector while EF is responsible to organize TAPAS RRF tenders and supervise its implementation. USAID will give final approval of applications to be funded by the TAPAS RRF.

RRF proposals must have a clear anti-corruption impact, align with one of the three TAPAS components and contribute to the relevant component’s expected result(s). TAPAS expected results (ER) include:

ER 1: Laws, policies and practices allow for effective and scaled implementation of electronic procurement in Ukraine.
ER 2: National and local level government entities realize savings to public budgets through effective planning and management of public procurement.
ER 3: National and local level governments publish data on a regular basis under an open data program.
ER 4: Selected key public services are largely free of corruption through transparency, process improvement, and automation (eServices).

All initiatives funded through the TAPAS RRF must contribute directly to one or more of the expected results listed above. In addition, EF encourages applicants to incorporate gender considerations and inclusive development approaches into the design of their RRF proposals.

Eligibility Criteria

All Ukrainian government institutions (executive, legislative and judiciary) at the national and sub-national, local levels are eligible to apply. Government institutions involved with law enforcement and/or national security work are not eligible.

Criteria

The following criteria will be used in assessing TAPAS RRF concept notes:

Clarity of project design, with a justification of its feasibility.
Degree to which the project contributes to TAPAS’ expected results.
Degree to which the project will materially reduce the risk of corruption and increase transparency and/or accountability.
Likelihood of achieving concrete and measurable results within the project timeline
Likelihood that project outcomes will be sustained after RIG support comes to an end.
Degree to which the project benefits persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and sexual minorities, and has an equitable impact on women and men.

For more information, visit http://tapas.org.ua/en/all/news/call-for-short-term-anti-corruption-initiatives/