06.14.24 ARDF NOFO FY24_FINAL.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

EMBASSY KIGALI

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title: Supporting Public Interest Investigative Journalism in Rwanda’s Digital Space.

Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-RWANDA-PE-2024-02 Assistance Listing Number: 19.225 Deadline for Applications: August 30, 2024 Total Amount Available: Up to $300,000

A. Program Description:

U.S. Embassy Kigali and the U.S. Department of State announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to promote financially sustainable investigative journalism in Rwanda. It will promote government accountability, responsible journalism, and greater freedom of expression in Rwanda. Please follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

Embassy Kigali’s 2021 African Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF) project "Investigative Journalism Promoting Responsive and Accountable Government” was successful in producing high quality, genuinely independent journalism that resulted in meaningful government accountability. It demonstrated that with some training and – perhaps more importantly – financial support due to small-scale grants overseen by our implementing partner, Rwandan journalists seized the opportunity to do quality and impactful journalism in the public interest. It is extremely difficult for journalists to find a consistent and financially remunerative outlet for truly independent reporting.

This proposal aims to build on the successful aspects of the 2021 project while leveraging a growing exception to this difficult financial dynamic: YouTube and related digital spaces. Learning from the 2021 project, monetization of content via YouTube is a path to sustainability. Increasingly, journalists and content creators are producing genuinely independent reporting on issues of public interest via YouTube that both finds an audience and generates sufficient income to be sustainable. However, many print and traditional journalists lack the production skills, back-office production support, and marketing abilities needed to do compelling YouTube reporting that can reach a broad audience. Moreover, independent YouTube journalists lack the institutional, ethical, and legal guidance that come with being part of a formal news organization. This can lead to a lack of professionalism or errors in reporting that put them in legal jeopardy and undermine the credibility of this nascent but vital forum for civil discourse.

The overall objective of this project is to catalyze more quality, responsible, and ethical public interest journalism that is financially sustainable. It will promote an environment where journalists freely express themselves on YouTube and related digital spaces, and engage in responsible content creation.

The program must operate in no less than five and no more than 10 of Rwanda’s 30 districts. Applicants should indicate which districts they would select and why.

The program will have the following objectives:

Objective 1 – Strengthen the capacity of journalists to produce compelling, responsible, public interest journalism in non-traditional and financially sustainable formats such as YouTube and other digital platforms.

Objective 2 – Provide sustained content production and marketing/business development support.

Objective 3 – Increase the volume of quality investigative reporting in the public interest by providing small grants to support investigative journalism on YouTube or other financially sustainable formats.

Objective 4 – Build a community of practice of quality digital journalists with similar training and backgrounds that could be the basis for follow on “branding” and online network development.

Participants and Audiences:

This grant opportunity is open to non-governmental organizations. Participants and audiences will include the public, civil society organizations, and political candidates.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply:

Nongovernmental organizations that are registered with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is not required and will not be evaluated during the merit review.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see below for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;

• For-profit organizations or companies;

• Individuals;

• Charitable or development activities;

• Commercial or trade activities;

• Construction programs;

• Programs that support specific religious activities;

• Fund-raising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

• Scientific research;

• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

• Professional development for individuals; or

• Programs that duplicate existing programs.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at:

· Grants.gov

· U.S. Embassy Kigali website at https://rw.usembassy.gov/embassy/kigali/grants/

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement may be found ineligible.

Content of Application Please ensure:

-The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity -All documents are in English -All budgets are in U.S. dollars -All pages are numbered -All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and -All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms:

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at Grants.gov

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) Grants.gov

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov (note: the SF-424B is only required for organizations not registered in www.SAM.gov

2. Proposal (four pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

• Proposal Summary: A short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.

• Introduction to the NGO Applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.

• Problem Statement: A clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.

• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

• Program Activities: A description of the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program, as well as the proportion of their time that will be devoted to supporting this program.

• Program Partners: The names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: An explanation of how the activities will be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner and how the program will be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant.

• Future Funding or Sustainability: The applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

3. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H.

Other Information: See guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

4. Attachments:

· Proof of registration with the Rwanda Cooperative Agency or Rwanda Governance Board.

· 1-page CV or resume for each key staff member who will oversee implementation of the proposed program.

· Letters of support from program partners (if applicable) describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner.

· Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

· Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

· Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

· Please note that as of November 2022 and February 2022 respectively, organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code or CAGE code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove a CAGE or NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain a CAGE or NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/Codification/CageTool/home

Exemptions An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

· An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.

· For an applicant, if the Federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a Federal award. In these instances, Federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the Federal award date.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later August 30, 2024 at 12:00 PM Kigali time. Applications must be submitted by email to KigaliASGP@state.gov with ‘ARDF Proposal’ written in the subject line.

5. Funding Restrictions Award funds cannot be used for any of the following purposes:

• To pay Rwandan taxes

• To construct a building

• For religious organizations to conduct religious activities

• For military activities

• For activities relating to police, prisons, or other law enforcement

• For toxic or otherwise unsafe products such as pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or hazardous chemicals

• For revolving loans

• For seed money for new enterprises

• For alcohol

6. Application Review Information

a. Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points:

The program idea is well developed, with details about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 20 points:

Goals and objectives are clearly stated, and the program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.

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 the goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.

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.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 15 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.

Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

b. Other Information Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program and list the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs that are directly associated with the program but do not fit in the other categories. For example, list shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.

c. Review and Selection Process A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications against the criteria listed above.

d. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly, FAPIIS)

i. The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

ii. An applicant, at its option, may review and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. Currently, federal agencies create integrity records in the integrity module of the Contractor Performance Assessment and Reporting System (CPARS) and these records are visible as responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov;

iii. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

7. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices The grant award will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method:

Request for payment will be submitted through a SF-270. Payments shall be disbursed via electronic fund transfer (EFT) upon receipt of a signed SF-270 form and required reporting.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award to ensure that they will be able to comply.

These include:

• 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT ( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-2)

• 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-170)

• 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-175)

• 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-182)

• 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-183)

• 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS ( https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-VI)

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS ( https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/)

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following:

• Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, : https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 particularly on:

- Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),

- Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216),

- Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),

- Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and

- Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340).

Reporting Reporting Requirements:

Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. These will be due quarterly. The financial reports will use form SF-425, which is available on grants.gov, and the programmatic reports will provide a brief narrative on the project’s successes, challenges, and next steps and will specify the number of beneficiaries. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

8. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: KigaliASGP@state.gov.