WPS RSOI - Questions with Answers.pdf

Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) Request for Statements of Interest:

Global Support for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Implementation by Women-led Civil Society

Applicant Questions and Responses

Q1: As the project has to be implemented in at least 3 regions with at least 5 organizations, is it possible if [applicant] proposes to implement the project in at least 3 regions through [applicant] branches, and during the project implementation period makes equitable partnerships (through grant announcements/fair competitions) with local organizations?

A1: Yes, this is possible. As noted on page 9 of the RSOI, “SOIs should propose an inclusive process for mapping and co-creating equitable local partnerships in their selected three countries (Objective 1).

Applicants may propose support to civil society groups over an extended period of time to foster capacity building and sustainability, and/or propose support to address specific shorter-term needs. In all cases, designs must reflect concrete plans for local ownership with an eye towards beneficiary organizations’ leadership, growth, and sustainability. Activities within a country should generally include a mix of sub-national and national activities, as well as activities to connect the two.” Please note the reference in this paragraph to “three countries” should instead read, “selected countries,” as the RSOI stipulates on Page 1 that applicants, “…manage a program that will (1) partner equitably with a range of local, women’s civil society organizations in no fewer than five countries in three regions.” The RSOI has been amended to correct the typo (on page 9 under “SOI Requirements”) and the amended version is reposted together with this Q&A accordingly.

Q2: Kindly note the apply button on Grant.gov doesn’t work.

A2: As noted on page 14 of the RSOI, “All application submissions must be made electronically via SAMS Domestic.” The application page in SAMS Domestic can be accessed at the following link which is also posted on the grants.gov listing:

https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/grants?id=grants_funding_opportunity&table=u_domestic_fu nding_opportunity&sys_id=eb5ebf5e1b0d20100f7aeb5ce54bcb3b&view=Default

Please follow the instructions in RSOI Section IV. Submission Instructions and Technical Eligibility in order to apply via SAMS Domestic.

Q3: In order to apply, this proposal is for a women organization only?

A3: No, it is not a requirement that the prime applicant be a women-led organization. However, the prime applicant’s proposed work must be for the purpose of supporting equitable partnerships with women’s civil society organizations as outlined in the RSOI.

As noted on page 3 of the RSOI, “S/GWI maintains an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. S/GWI welcomes SOI submissions irrespective of race, ethnicity, heritage, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.” (Please see specific requirements on page 3 of the RSOI under “Eligible Applicants.”)

Q4: Do we have to be in more than one region and country according to those that have already in the terms of reference?

https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/grants?id=grants_funding_opportunity&table=u_domestic_funding_opportunity&sys_id=eb5ebf5e1b0d20100f7aeb5ce54bcb3b&view=Default https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/grants?id=grants_funding_opportunity&table=u_domestic_funding_opportunity&sys_id=eb5ebf5e1b0d20100f7aeb5ce54bcb3b&view=Default

A4: As noted on page 2 of the RSOI, “Applicants must propose work equal to the planned funding amount ($5,200,000) in no fewer than five countries in at least three of the following regions: Africa (AF);

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP); Europe (EUR); the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); the Western Hemisphere (WH) and South and Central Asia (SCA). 1

AF: Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Mali; Somalia;

South Sudan

EAP: Burma; Papua New Guinea; Vietnam

EUR: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Georgia; Kosovo; Moldova; Turkey; Ukraine

MENA: Iraq; Syria; Yemen

SCA: Afghanistan; India; Pakistan; Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan

WH: Colombia; El Salvador; Guatemala; Haiti; Honduras

Due to existing S/GWI WPS programming, the following countries are not currently priorities for sustained engagements but may be priorities for rapid-response needs: Kenya, Nigeria, and Sudan.

Other countries not currently listed as priorities may also be considered for rapid response support during implementation.

Applicants to this RSOI should be aware of, complement, build on, and not overlap with existing in-country programming.”

Q5: Do you have to take into account all the indicators or some of them?

A5: Monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans are not required as part of this SOI. All organizations that are invited to submit a full proposal will be required to choose some, but not all, monitoring and evaluation indicators listed on pages 8 and 9 of the RSOI. At that time, applicants may also draft additional indicators that are suitable for the project.

The RSOI has been amended to reflect these changes (pages 8 and 9 under “Indicators”) and the amended version is reposted together with this Q&A accordingly.

Q6: Should we apply to this call in association with a women's organization?

A6: No; the prime applicant is not required to partner with a woman’s organization at the time of application in order to submit a Statement of Interest. However, as noted on page 9 of the RSOI, applicants should propose a plan for equitable partnership with women’s organizations that will be entered into either pre- or post-award.

Q7: Is it a requirement to apply with a partner?

A7: No; the prime applicant is not required to submit a proposal with a partner organization.

1 Due to the determination made for FY 2020 under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), certain assistance may be subject to a restriction under the TVPA. Because the TVPA restriction applies only to assistance to governments, activities proposed for those countries should not include government beneficiaries.

Q8: As concerns the WPS RSOI, requirements include the following: “Applicants should propose sufficient yet lean and scalable staffing structures that provide adequate oversight and central management, but maximize appropriate and local expertise and leadership (rather than defaulting to in-house experts). S/GWI welcomes creative partnership structures, such as rosters of smaller NGOs or technical experts that can serve as short-term consultants to complement existing local leadership and expertise. As a general guideline however, at least 50 percent of funding under the award (across Objectives 1 and 2 in total) should go to local organizations and their activities—this may include Contractual and Other Direct Costs in support of local organizations, for example, but generally should not include prime grantee staffing, travel, overhead etc. …” Does this mean that no Prime grantee costs can be included in the 50% minimum dedicated to local organizations and their activities? Or does it mean that no such Prime grantee costs will be covered by the total project budget? Thanks for clarifying how and to what extent prime grantee costs can be covered by the project.

A8: As a general guideline, at least fifty percent of the total funding of the award must benefit the staffing and activities of local organizations; as such, no prime grantee costs can be included in the 50% minimum. Prime grantee costs, however, can be covered elsewhere in the total project budget.

Q9: The formal title of the program under the RSOI is: “Global Support for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Implementation by Women-led Civil Society.” (emphasis added). We note on p. 1 the intended local program partners are “women’s civil society organizations” that are further defined in footnote as both “women-led or women-serving” organizations. We would like clarification whether applicants for this program are required to be women-led civil society organizations and if so how that is defined.

A9: No, it is not a requirement that the prime applicant be a women’s civil society organization. Please also see A3, above.

Q10: How does the State Department define a “rapid response fund” in this context? Are there any additional general or specific parameters (timelines, grant levels, etc.) for the envisaged rapid-response fund that you could share? Are there any US regulations which govern the selection of beneficiaries, approval and disbursement of rapid response funds of which an applicant should be aware?

A10: As noted on pages 8 and 9 of the RSOI, “the prime grantee would manage a rapid response fund (of no more than $1 million) to support the capacity of women’s organizations to respond to unanticipated, high-impact opportunities and challenges to advance WPS-related priorities. This must include (but is not limited to) reserve capacity to deploy expert technical assistance for the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of high-impact National Action Plans (NAP) on WPS or similar instruments, if requested.” (Please see footnote 11 on page 7 for more information and examples.)

Other than the parameters already mentioned in the RSOI, S/GWI welcomes and encourages creativity in the creation of the rapid response fund and asks that applicants propose parameters for successful implementation.

Beyond the regulations outlined in the RSOI and new regulations, which may take effect from time to time, guidelines for approving rapid response activities should be proposed by the applicant and will be finalized in consultation with S/GWI if the application is successful.

Q11: How will S/GWI assess the inclusion of non-priority countries in SOIs? Are non-priority countries solely eligible for rapid response funding?

A11: Non-priority countries are only eligible for rapid response funding at this time. During the life of the award, new priorities may arise in consultation with S/GWI. At this time, however, applications for non-priority countries should be limited to rapid response programming only.

In the Global Capacity Statement, an applicant may describe Women, Peace, and Security opportunities it sees in one or more non-priority countries within the total 2-page limit for this document as outlined on page 13 of the RSOI.

Q12: Will S/GWI consider new partnerships and innovative approaches to WPS, or is S/GWI interested in more traditional WPS programming?

A12: Provided the proposal addresses the SOI requirements, including but limited to both program objectives, S/GWI welcomes innovation in applicants’ approaches to advancing Women, Peace, and Security, including creative partnership projects, and/or the use of smaller NGOs or technical experts as short-term consultants. Please note each applicant is allowed to submit up to two statements of interest as stated on page 2 of the RSOI, which provides the flexibility for applicants to propose more than one idea or type of idea if they so choose.

Q13: Will S/GWI consider projects less than five years in length?

Q13: Yes, S/GWI will consider projects fewer than five years in length. Five years is the maximum length that S/GWI will consider.