SGWI 2020 GBV NOFO _ Final.pdf

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 1

2/13/2020

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues

Title: Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response

CFDA Number: 19.801

Funding Opportunity Title: Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response

Announcement Type: New; Open Competition; Cooperative Agreement

Number of Awards: One or Multiple, depending on funds

Funding: ESF $2,000,000 (not to exceed)

Deadline for proposal submission: 11:59 PM, May 4, 2020

Deadline for question submission: 11:59 PM, March 24, 2020

Deadline to submit non-binding notice of intent to apply: 11:59 PM March 24, 2020

Federal Agency Contact: S/GWI Programs Division

SGWIProjectProposals@state.gov

Executive Summary

The Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) announces this Notice of

Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a new agreement to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy priorities by supporting women and girls who are at risk from gender-based violence (GBV), violent extremism, and conflict. Under this NOFO, S/GWI seeks proposals that will address the needs of women and girls adversely impacted by GBV, particularly female genital mutilation / cutting (FGM/C) and/or early forced marriage

(EFM)1, through the support of survivor-centered2 and/or informed activities in communities, countries, and regions impacted by conflict and violent extremism. This

NOFO aims to support activities in continental Africa (including Sub-Saharan and

Northern Africa). Proposals may work in one or more countries in the target region.

S/GWI seeks to ensure women and girls are included in the formulation and conduct of

U.S. foreign policy by promoting gender equality and advancing the status of women and girls. In doing so, S/GWI follows the National Security Strategy (NSS) mandate to champion the American value of empowering women and youth. Partners selected under this NOFO will be critical to S/GWI’s implementation of the Women, Peace, and

1 While S/GWI has identified that FGM and EFM are particularly under-addressed issues in VE and/or conflict settings, S/GWI wants to support survivor-centered and community led responses to GBV. So, while S/GWI encourages applicants to address FGM and EFM, this opportunity is open to however an applicant, as led by community and participatory processes, can support local leadership in the implementation of these funds to address one form or many forms of GBV 2 S/GWI supports and respects survivor leadership and choice in how best to respond to all forms of GBV, but does not want to force survivors to identify or speak publically for an applicant to qualify for this opportunity.

mailto:SGWIProjectProposals@state.gov

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 2

Security Act of 20173 (WPS Act), the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security4, Executive Order 136235 - Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and

Girls Globally, the Strategy to Support Women and Girls at Risk from Violent Extremism and Conflict6 (SWGRVEC) and the Global Fragility Act of 20197

S/GWI Goal

To enhance survivor-centered8 and informed efforts to prevent and respond to GBV, particularly FGM/C and/or EFM, in communities, countries, and regions affected by conflict and violent extremism.

S/GWI Objectives

Guiding Principle: Advocacy and/or social change is a cross-cutting objective that should be central to the proposed project, increasing survivors’ meaningful participation in national, regional, and/or global changes in laws, policies, or social, cultural, or religious norms to end GBV in areas impacted by violent extremism or conflict.

1) Empower Individuals: Support women and girl survivors of GBV informing and/or leading efforts to prevent or respond to GBV, particularly FGM/C and/or

EFM in areas affected by violent extremism or conflict.

2) Strengthen Communities: Strengthen community prevention of and response to

GBV through the work of survivor-centered or survivor-informed9 civil-society organizations (CSOs), particularly FGM/C and/or EFM, in areas impacted by violent extremism and conflict.

3) Build Network(s): Strengthen existing and/or establish national and/or regional networks between CSOs, community groups, service providers and others advocating for GBV survivors and/or GBV prevention or response.

Focus

3 WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY ACT OF 2017, Public Law 115-68, 115th Congress, 2017, which requires an interagency strategy that will be a part of S/GWI implementation.

4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/WPS_Strategy_10_October2019.pdf 5Executive Order 13623, Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and Girls Globally, as applies the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally.

6 Mandated by section 7059(e)(2) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Appropriations Act, 2017 (Division J, P.L. 115-17) (Fiscal Year [FY] 2017 SFOAA).

7 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/727 8 A survivor centered-approach is one in which the survivor’s dignity, experience, and needs are placed at the center of the process -- from the initial program design to responding to incidents. The survivor should be informed, participate in the decision-making process, and provide consent on the possible use and disclosure of their information.

9 S/GWI is asking for program design and implementation that follows the design and goals of survivors, but does not want survivors to be pushed to take management roles for an organization or coalition to apply.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/WPS_Strategy_10_October2019.pdf https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/727

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 3

Applicants will need to present:

1) A survivor-centered or survivor-informed approach10 that supports survivors’ meaningful participation in efforts to prevent or respond to GBV,

2) An evidence-based intervention that applies gender analysis to understand the specific ways in which GBV intersects with conflict and violent extremism in the chosen location(s),

3) A model that provides potentially scalable best practices for effective solutions,

4) A design that incorporates an initial contextual analysis of the drivers of GBV in the chosen location(s), demonstrating in-depth understanding of cultural norms and practices that perpetuate forms of GBV,

5) A proposal that prioritizes collaboration or network-building between local

CSOs, community groups, religious leaders, government entities, service providers, and advocates,

6) An inclusive and localized approach that incorporates families, men and boys, and partners as accountable to women and girls in communities impacted by violent extremism or conflict.

Eligibility for this NOFO is limited to educational and research institutions and U.S. not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the

U.S. tax code, and foreign not-for-profits/NGOs/social enterprises.

One or more grants may be issued as a cooperative agreement under this NOFO. The

Recipient will work closely with S/GWI to design and implement targeted sub-grants to third-party organizations charged with programming along the agreed-upon interventions.

Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Applicants must be familiar with 2 CFR Part 200.

Please read the entire NOFO package before submitting an application, and follow the steps to submit before the deadline. Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria and do not contain all of the required information will not be considered for review.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the

Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. The Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. It also reserves the right to fund more than one proposal.

S/GWI also reserves the right to share applications with other USG offices who may have funding available.

10 Reference this detailed description of trauma-informed approach developed by the Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. While the description focuses on trafficking survivors, the trauma-informed approach may apply to survivors of any form of GBV.

https://www.state.gov/implementing-a-trauma-informed-approach/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://www.state.gov/implementing-a-trauma-informed-approach/

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 4

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1 A. Funding Opportunity Description 6

i. Background 6

i. Strategic Policy Framework 7

iv. Conceptual Program Context: 10

v. S/GWI Proposal Principles 11

vi. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning 14

vii. Demonstrating Organization Capacity 15

B. Federal Award Information 15

i. Available Funding and Legislative Authority 15

ii. Summary of Award Information 16

iii. Deadline 16

iv. Substantial Involvement 16

C. Eligibility Information 17

Eligible Applicant 17

vi. Cost Sharing or Matching 17

vii. Other 18

viii. Organization criteria 18

D. Application and Submission Information 19

i. Address to Request Application Package 19

ii. Key Registrations 19

iii. Content and Form of Application Submission 20

iv. Additional Information Requested 21

v. Submission Dates and Times 22

E. Funding Restrictions 23 F. Application Review Information 24

i. Proposal Evaluation Process 24

ii. Evaluation Criteria 25

G. Federal Award Administration Information 27

i. Award Notices: 27

ii. Compliance with Applicable Federal Funding Regulations and DOS Terms and

Conditions: 28

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 5

iii. Reporting Requirements: 28

a. Financial Reports: 28

b. Progress Reporting: 28

c. Final Report: 29

iv. Agency Contact 29

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 6

A. Funding Opportunity Description

i. Background

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical to building resilient, democratic societies; supporting open and accountable governance; ending extreme poverty;

furthering international peace and security; growing vibrant market economies; and addressing pressing health and education challenges.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment cannot be achieved without ending gender-based violence (GBV) and addressing its root causes. GBV undermines the human rights of women and girls and can be a barrier to their full participation in the community, the economy, civil society, peacebuilding, and governance. It significantly hinders the ability of all individuals, not just women and girls, to contribute to their families and communities, and prevents societies from thriving economically, politically, and socially.

GBV prevention and response is therefore a cornerstone of the U.S. Government’s approach to advancing human rights, gender equality, and engaging with all members of societies around the world through partnering with women and girls.

Although GBV occurs all over the world, women and girls in areas at risk of or impacted by conflict and violent extremism are at heightened risk. According to the United Nations

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “conflicts and situations of instability exacerbate pre-existing patterns of discrimination against women and girls, exposing them to heightened risks of violations of their human rights.”11 Violent extremist organizations, such as ISIS and Boko Haram, have also been shown to use

GBV including FGM/C and EFM12 as a strategic tactic to recruit followers and further their influence.

Addressing these cycles of violence requires a comprehensive approach that engages women, girls, men, boys, families, communities, and political and religious leaders on systemic and cultural drivers. The U.S. Strategy to Support Women and Girls at Risk from Violent Extremism and Conflict, under Objective 2, recognizes women’s leadership in ending GBV and other forms of violence to achieve lasting peace and security.

S/GWI will analyze this program to inform other USG partnerships and strengthen the integration of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across

Department policy and programs, thereby enhancing their effectiveness and maximizing returns on taxpayer investments. S/GWI seeks applicants whose work prioritizes survivor-centered or informed advocacy, outreach, evidence building, capacity building, network building / support, or some combination of multiple activities. These activities

11 United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WRGS/Pages/PeaceAndSecurity.aspx 12 https://en.unesco.org/news/i-was-abducted-boko-haram https://www.voanews.com/world-news/middle-east-dont-use/violent-extremist-groups-take-special-aim-women-un-official-says https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WRGS/Pages/PeaceAndSecurity.aspx https://en.unesco.org/news/i-was-abducted-boko-haram https://www.voanews.com/world-news/middle-east-dont-use/violent-extremist-groups-take-special-aim-women-un-official-says https://www.voanews.com/world-news/middle-east-dont-use/violent-extremist-groups-take-special-aim-women-un-official-says

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 7 will advance changes to laws, policies, or social, cultural, or religious norms to prevent or respond to GBV in settings affected by conflict or violent extremism.

i. Strategic Policy Framework

The U.S. National Security Strategy states: “Societies that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful. We will support efforts to advance women’s equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs.” Under the WPS Act of 2017, the U.S.

government demonstrated its commitment to “promoting the physical safety, economic security, and dignity of women and girls.” Aligned with the WPS Act of 2017, the Global

Fragility Act of 2019 directs the U.S. government to address the long-term underlying causes of fragility and violence through participatory, locally-led programs. Exclusion and inequality, including gender inequality, are known drivers of conflict. Moreover, gender-based violence is often an indicator of a society’s vulnerability to violent extremism and conflict, and may be manipulated to inspire or exacerbate tensions and recruit fighters.

S/GWI, implements the U.S. National Security Strategy and the Department of State and

USAID Joint Strategic Plan by promoting 1) Security, and 2) Prosperity, while advancing aid effectiveness and supporting American Influence. One of S/GWI’s strategic goals is therefore to support women’s participation and leadership in promoting peace, responding to conflict, and building a more secure future.

Work under this NOFO will align with the WPS Act of 2017 and Global Fragility Act of

2019, with a framework that supports survivor-centered or informed efforts to prevent and respond to GBV, particularly FGM/C and EFM, in communities, countries, and regions impacted by conflict and violent extremism.

ii. Policy Statement:

The United States, as a champion of human rights, seeks to prevent and respond to GBV globally. GBV is a barrier to women and girls fully participating in building peace and security and engaging in the economy. Often, in recovering from violent extremism, terrorism, and conflict, efforts to prevent and respond to GBV, or provide access to justice for survivors of VE or conflict –related GBV, can fall through the cracks. Though this funding opportunity is broader than countering violent extremism, it also aligns with the strategic objective of the U.S. Strategy to Support Women and Girls at Risk from

Violent Extremism and Conflict by supporting women’s and girls’ “resilience, safety, and protection, while engaging them as positive actors.” Similarly, it responds to the corresponding appropriations language13 to “address the needs of women and girls

13 Gender-Based Violence appropriations language, “Department of State and United States Agency for

International Development gender programs shall incorporate coordinated efforts to combat a variety of

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 8 adversely impacted by extremism and conflict,” including by “increasing their participation and influence.”

Applicants should demonstrate how proposed interventions would support or complement U.S. government strategies and programs, those of the proposed host country or countries, and ongoing women’s empowerment efforts in the proposed country or countries and communities of implementation.

iii. NOFO Activity Framework

Theory of Change:

If survivor-centered or informed organizations working on GBV, particularly FGM/C and

EFM, in conflict-affected contexts receive support to strengthen their capacities and networks, they will be better able to prevent and respond to GBV.

Objectives and Sample Supporting Activities

S/GWI recognizes that change happens at different levels and through a combination of activities. It also recognizes that there are existing survivor-centered or informed organizations working across continental Africa to prevent and respond to GBV, especially FGM/C and/or EFM. Strong proposals will engage these organizations and use tested, scalable activities that adhere to the following principle and objectives. The activities included with each objective below are intended only as examples; S/GWI does not expect proposals to include all sample activities and welcomes others. Proposals should adhere to the guiding principle and address each of the three objectives.

Guiding Principle: Advocacy and/or social change is a cross-cutting objective that should be central to the proposed project, increasing survivors’ meaningful participation in national, regional, and/or global changes in laws, policies, or cultural norms to end

GBV.

1) Objective 1: Empower Individuals. Support women and girl survivors of GBV informing and/or leading efforts to prevent or respond to GBV, particularly

FGM/C and/or EFM in areas affected by violent extremism or conflict. Sample activities include:

forms of gender-based violence, including child marriage, rape, female genital cutting and mutilation, and domestic violence, among other forms of gender-based violence in conflict and non-conflict settings.”

Women and Girls at Risk From Extremism appropriations language, funds “…shall be made available to support women and girls who are at risk from extremism and conflict, and for activities to: (A) empower women and girls to counter extremism; (B) address the needs of women and girls adversely impacted by extremism and conflict; (C) document crimes committed by extremists against women and girls, and support investigations and prosecutions of such crimes, as appropriate; (D) increase the participation and influence of women in formal and informal political processes and institutions at the local level and within traditional governing structures; (E) support reconciliation programs between impacted minority, religious, and ethnic groups and the broader community; (F) develop and implement legal reforms and protections for women and girls at the national and local government levels; and (G) create and sustain networks for women and girls to collectively safeguard their rights on a regional basis

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a. Strengthening survivor-centered or informed advocacy efforts that amplify the voices of survivors in local, regional, national or international forums.

b. Training programs for women and girls to support their agency, leadership, and advocacy skills.

c. Increasing survivors’ awareness of, and linkages to, GBV response services.

d. Building upon current survivor-centered initiatives to train religious or community leaders, educators, law enforcement, health care providers or legislative/government actors to prevent and respond to GBV.

e. Engaging men and boys as partners and champions to tackle harmful cultural norms that perpetuate GBV.

2) Objective 2: Strengthen Communities. Strengthen community prevention of and response to GBV through the work of survivor-centered or survivor-informed civil-society organizations (CSOs), particularly FGM/C and/or EFM, in areas impacted by violent extremism and conflict. Sample activities include:

a. Supporting survivors’ leadership in community organizations, local governance, and cultural activities.

b. Educating community members on the inherent value of women and girls.

c. Raising awareness of legal protections for women’s rights.

d. Promoting enforcement of legal protections for women’s rights.

e. Analyzing the drivers of GBV through survivor-centered data collection.

f. Spreading community activism and/or education on GBV.

g. Launching anti-GBV media campaigns.

3) Objective 3: Build Networks. Strengthen existing and/or establish national and/or regional networks between CSOs, community groups, service providers and others advocating for GBV survivors and/or GBV prevention or response.

Sample activities include:

a. Supporting survivor-centered advocacy, education, or outreach.

b. Building the capacity of GBV-focused CSO/NGO networks to conduct advocacy, organize campaigns, and engage the media.

c. Cultivating partnerships between survivor-centered or informed organizations and governments, CSOs, and/or the private sector.

d. Establishing partnerships between survivor-centered or informed organizations and print, radio, television outlets, and social media platforms.

e. Mobilizing CSO / NGO networks to draft or reform laws, policies, and regulations that prohibit or penalize GBV.

f. Convening stakeholders to develop action plans for GBV prevention and response.

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iv. Conceptual Program Context:

Women and girls in societies affected by insecurity, conflict, or violent extremism face heightened risks of GBV, though the drivers differ across local, regional, and national contexts. At least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone FGM/C in 30 countries14. More than 700 million women alive today were married as children15.

Harmful practices like FGM/C and EFM are prevalent across continental Africa, especially in communities impacted by insecurity, conflict or violent extremism.

Social and cultural norms often silence survivors of GBV. Survivors face stigmatization, backlash, and discrimination from family and community members, impeding recovery access to justice and services, and full participation in community life. CSOs and NGOs working to prevent and respond to GBV must meaningfully engage survivors to ensure they are addressing their needs. Network and coalition-building amongst survivor-centered or informed organizations can help amplify the diverse voices of survivors, including in national and international forums. They can also help strengthen linkages between service providers and advocates.

S/GWI seeks proposals that support survivor-centered or informed organizations to prevent and/or respond to GBV in communities, countries, and regions impacted by insecurity, conflict and violent extremism, including through activities such as advocacy, awareness raising, organizational support, and network-building. Proposals must take into consideration current research and lessons learned from the global community of practice. Because women and girls do not exist in isolation from their families and communities, proposals must address how they will safely and sustainably mobilize community and familial support for survivors of GBV, including by engaging men and boys as equal partners. They must also address how activities will incorporate safeguards to protect the rights and safety of survivors and participants.

Applicants will need to present:

1) A survivor-centered or informed approach that supports survivors’ meaningful participation in efforts to prevent or respond to GBV,

2) An evidence-based intervention that applies a gender analysis to understand the various ways in which GBV intersects with conflict and violent extremism in the chosen location(s),

3) A model that provides potentially scalable best practices for effective solutions,

4) A design that incorporates an initial contextual analysis of the drivers of GBV in the chosen location(s), demonstrating in-depth understanding of cultural norms and practices that perpetuate forms of GBV, 14 https://www.unfpa.org/female-genital-mutilation 15 https://www.unicef.org/media/files/Child_Marriage_Report_7_17_LR..pdf https://www.unfpa.org/female-genital-mutilation https://www.unicef.org/media/files/Child_Marriage_Report_7_17_LR..pdf

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5) A proposal that prioritizes collaboration or network-building between local

CSOs, community groups, religious leaders, government entities, service providers, and advocates,

6) An inclusive and localized approach that incorporates families, men and boys, and engages with communities impacted by violent extremism or conflict.

v. S/GWI Proposal Principles

S/GWI seeks proposals from qualified organizations with demonstrated in-country experience in developing partnerships with relevant stakeholders including the public and/or private sector as well as grassroots organizations. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to design, implement, monitor, evaluate, adapt, and learn in programming that coordinates with existing efforts by the U.S. government, other donors, the host country, and local actors.

S/GWI leverages evidence-based analysis and learning from its programs to catalyze shifts in the Department’s integration of gender equality across its policies and programs.

As such, proposed programming locations should:

1) Be in continental Africa,

2) Be able to incubate solutions that can be shared and/or replicated elsewhere, if successful,

3) Demonstrate momentum towards adoption of new laws or implementation of existing laws that protect the rights of women and girls, and

4) Involve strong local participation in, and ownership over, a program’s activities

(this can be demonstrated with previous experience, letters of intent/support, or other evidence of local participation and leadership).

All proposals must include a description of:

1) The problem the applicant seeks to address,

2) Implementation context, including any relevant details on the socio-political environment and the target beneficiaries of the project,

3) How the proposal relates to GBV and WGARE appropriation language,

4) How the proposal relates to the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to

Gender-Based Violence Globally, and Strategy to Support Women and Girls at Risk from Violent Extremism and Conflict16

5) How the proposal relates to the U.S. Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security

6) An evidence-based model to address the problem,

7) The priority areas, countries, or geographic areas in continental Africa for the program, not including refugee or IDP camps,17 with a focus on locations with momentum towards legal and/or social reforms addressing GBV, 16 Mandated by section 7059(e)(2) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Appropriations Act, 2017 (Division J, P.L. 115-17) (Fiscal Year [FY] 2017 SFOAA).

17 S/GWI funds are different from, but intended to complement USG humanitarian funds that protect or assist displaced populations.

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8) A localized approach, demonstrably driven by the needs and perspectives of local partners and the communities they serve (please see the Inclusion section for additional details),

9) Implementation plan, including assumptions, key steps, and timeline, and a results framework/logic model (please see the MEL section for additional details).

Please note: Each of these descriptions must be demonstrably informed by a contextually-specific gender analysis (please see the included Gender Analysis

Questions in Appendix IX for additional details).

Inclusion

In identifying specific beneficiary populations, proposals must demonstrate a commitment towards, and plan for, the support and inclusion of marginalized communities. Many women and girls are particularly vulnerable due to the intersection of gender with other social characteristics including disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, geography, indigenous status, etc. The applicant’s gender analysis should examine challenges and opportunities presented by these intersecting aspects of identity and how they will be addressed to realize meaningful inclusion.

S/GWI welcomes submissions irrespective of the applicants race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

Gender Analysis

Proposals must include a gender analysis for each of the countries or geographic areas where they propose to program; demonstrate how all activities account for the different ways in which they might impact, and be impacted by men, women, boys, and girls; and demonstrate challenges and opportunities for narrowing existing gender inequalities.

Proposals must also include a plan for: (1) regular updating of the gender analysis(es) with local partners, and (2) making any necessary adjustments to the program design during the regular updates of and assessment of progress against the gender analysis(es).

Risk Assessment, Do No Harm, Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

(PSEA)

Proposals must include a risk assessment and a plan for monitoring and mitigating the risks identified.

Risks to project implementation may include a variety of political, environmental, and other factors. A few examples include outbreak of violent conflict, elections that change government partners, cybersecurity / hacking, misuse of personally identifiable information (PII), and diversion of financial or non-financial support to prohibited parties

(terrorist financing).

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The assessment should also identify risks to staff, implementers, participants, beneficiaries, or their communities, in alignment with Do No Harm principles. Besides political and environmental factors, risks may include online or in-person GBV, sexual exploitation and abuse, and other forms of potential physical, social, psychological, economic, and/or reputational backlash to beneficiaries as a result of their participation.

They may also include unintended consequences of power shifts among individuals or communities, local competition and/or divisions over program funds and opportunities, and unintended crowding out of local civil society actors and/or “brain drain” of their or other organizations’ staff or members. Consider how resources or skills provided might be leveraged for abusive purposes, create grievances among non-recipients, or cause key actors to react in harmful ways.

The Applicant must submit copies of any organization-wide policies and procedures on

Do No Harm and PSEA18, or explain whether the Applicant organization has plans to develop such policies. If not already explained in submitted policies and procedures, the

Application should outline how the Applicant will work with any sub-grantees who do not yet have Do No Harm and PSEA policies and procedures to develop and/or apply them over the course of the program.

Proposals must include a plan for regular review and updates of risk assessment(s).

Local Engagement and Sustainability

Priority will be given to proposals that maximize the portion of funding, activities, and in-kind support dedicated to in-country women’s networks and their activities.

Proposals should describe any plans to build the organizational and technical capacities of local partners. Applicants may submit signed Letters of Intent from organizations that will participate in the program. If submitted, these should address the willingness of partner organizations to participate in the program and their understanding of each party’s unique role and responsibilities. In cases where an applicant (i.e., non-local) is not able to partner with a local network, organization, or institution, does not consider it feasible to do so, or does not consider it in the program’s best interest, the applicant must clearly explain the rationale.

Beyond local partners, proposals must demonstrate a clear understanding of the role that local networks, organizations, and institutions are playing and can play in achieving the award’s objectives. The proposal should include a participatory needs assessment, and explain how its implementers will engage with local actors throughout its lifecycle.

Strong proposals will also describe strategies to sustain the activities beyond S/GWI funding, or alternatively, how applicants will co-design a responsible exit strategy with local partners and in consultation with beneficiaries.

18 https://www.usaid.gov/PreventingSexualMisconduct/fact-sheets/usaid-policy-against-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse https://www.cdacollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Do-No-Harm-A-Brief-Introduction-from-CDA.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/PreventingSexualMisconduct/fact-sheets/usaid-policy-against-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse https://www.usaid.gov/PreventingSexualMisconduct/fact-sheets/usaid-policy-against-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 14

Psychosocial Assistance

A section in the proposal, budget, and budget narrative should contain information on appropriate resources and support for the psychosocial health of staff (i.e., activities can range from access to educational materials and training opportunities to counseling services to other contextually-relevant support).

o References: For reference to international guidance, please see the following: Core Humanitarian Standard Commitment 8.9

(https://corehumanitarianstandard.org/files/files/CHS-Guidance-Notes-and-Indicators.pdf); and IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and

Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings Action Sheet 4.4

(http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_health_ psychosocial_june_2007.pdf).

vi. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

All proposals must include a rigorous plan for monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

● A portion of the program should include compiling, analyzing, and disseminating program results and lessons learned.

● Applicants should outline a learning plan that demonstrates how the program will be monitored and how monitoring will be analyzed to adapt implementation to support effectiveness and avoid unintended consequences.

● Some form of independent evaluation must be included in proposals responding to this NOFO. Please elaborate on the type (quasi-experimental, developmental, outcome harvesting, process tracing, etc.). While the type of evaluation is flexible within Department of State guidance, it must be independent.

Logic/Results Framework

For the purposes of the application, please submit a notional logic model/results framework and performance monitoring plan (PMP). This must include a succinct

Theory of Change and indicators at each of the following levels: objective, intermediate outcome, and output. In addition, use this section to describe why the applicant’s approach to monitoring, evaluation, and learning and why this approach to MEL is appropriate for this program. This may include the type of data you may collect

(qualitative and/or quantitative). It must also include how data collection and analysis will inform midstream program management.

In Appendix VII to the NOFO is a chart of U.S. Foreign Assistance (FA) indicators that

S/GWI most commonly uses to tell the story of the programs it funds. In addition to designing their own indicators, applicants should select the most relevant indicators from this chart to integrate into their MEL plan, as appropriate.

Resources

Please describe the resources needed to implement your MEL plan and address these in your budget. If you wish to include additional, non-required MEL activities in the program budget, please specify what these are.

http://redirect.state.sbu/?url=http://www.corehumanitarianstandard.org/files/files/CHS-Guidance-Notes-and-Indicators.pdf http://redirect.state.sbu/?url=http://www.corehumanitarianstandard.org/files/files/CHS-Guidance-Notes-and-Indicators.pdf http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_health_psychosocial_june_2007.pdf http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_health_psychosocial_june_2007.pdf

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 15

MEL Inclusivity

S/GWI strongly encourages applicants to consider whether their MEL utilizes human rights-based approaches, applies a gender equality lens, and includes the participation of sub-grantees and project participants. Within the MEL narrative, applicants should demonstrate their commitment to inclusive approaches and consider whether evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting and learning are conducted in an ethical, participatory, and responsible way.19 S/GWI understands that implementation of this work must be accountable to the communities it is meant to partner with and serve, and expects MEL plans to address how that is a part of MEL design. Applicants must make adequate provisions to protect the privacy of human subjects when collecting data from individuals. For instance, when collecting data from program participants, consider whether your organization will have the necessary informed consent forms, confidentiality agreements, and data security protocols.

vii. Demonstrating Organization Capacity

Applications will be evaluated on their ability to present a compelling proposal that demonstrates:

● Organizational capacity to manage the proposed budget amount, including any history that demonstrates their ability to be a strong financial steward of U.S.

government resources. First time USG grantees may need additional verification of their organizational capacity.

● Experience coordinating and collaborating with local partners and stakeholders in the countries or geographic areas of implementation.

● If sub-grants are proposed, demonstrated experience sub-granting to implementers, including strong established relationships with partners in the targeted countries of various sizes, and experience building others’ organizational capacity.

● Successful implementation of activities that have achieved goals relevant to this

NOFO, including but not limited to empowering women and girls, advancing women and girls’ leadership in building peace and security, supporting women and girls affected by violent extremism and conflict, conflict prevention and transformation, and working towards gender equality.

B. Federal Award Information

i. Available Funding and Legislative Authority

The source of this funding is Economic Support Funds. Please see Section E: “Funding

Restrictions.” below for more info.

19 For best practices, see the WHO Ethical and safety recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring sexual violence in emergencies.

https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/violence/9789241595681/en/ https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/violence/9789241595681/en/

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ii. Summary of Award Information

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

Appropriated Fiscal Year of Funds: FY2019

Approximate Total Funding Available: Approximately $2,000,000

Approximate Number of Awards: 1 or 2

Location of Project Activities Continental Africa (North and Sub-Saharan Africa)

Approximate Project Duration: Up to five years

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Not required

Anticipated Award Date: On or before September 30, 2020

Contingent on the availability of funds, approximately $2,000,000 in Economic Support

Funds for approximately one or two awards will be award through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant will be awarded funds for up to five years, depending on the activities proposed. The estimated start date for this program is

October 1, 2020. S/GWI reserves the right to award more or less than the estimated program funding, and reserves the right to award funding under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date. S/GWI also reserves the right to share applications with other USG offices who may have funding available.

This request for full applications does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the U.S. government to make any awards, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

Incremental Funding and Non-Competing Continuation

Continuations beyond the initial budget period or funding amount, will be contingent upon the availability of funds; grantee’s progress in meeting grant requirements, including timely submission of required reports and compliance with all terms and conditions of the award; timely submission of a request for additional funding; and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Department of

State.

Pending successful implementation of this program and pending the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, S/GWI may add incremental funding and/or extend this grant for additional time, not to exceed a five (5) year total program period.

iii. Deadline

Deadline for Applications: May 4, 2020

iv. Substantial Involvement

S/GWI anticipates awarding one or more cooperative agreement(s) based on the needs and risk factors of the program. The Grants Officer will make the final determination on mechanism. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, S/GWI expects to be substantially involved during its implementation. Examples of substantial involvement can include:

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 17

i. Approval of the Recipient’s annual work plans, including: planned activities for the following year and changes to any activity to be carried out under the agreement;

ii. Approval of sub-award recipients, concurrence on the substantive provisions of the sub-awards, and coordination with other cooperating agencies;

iii. Review of any notice of funding opportunities and selection of recipients;

iv. Approval of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning plan for the Recipient and sub-award recipients; and

v. Other approvals that will be included in the award agreement.

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicant

S/GWI welcomes applications from educational and research institutions; U.S. not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S.

tax code, and foreign not-for-profits/NGOs/social enterprises. If applicants determine that a consortium of expert organizations should implement the work, they must submit a list of their proposed partners, each of whom must also meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility by the time of an application deadline will not be reviewed. Applicants may submit only one proposal in response to this NOFO. If multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared ineligible and receive no further consideration in the review process.

The Department of State is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities and welcomes proposals irrespective of applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Project activities must take place outside the United States.

vi. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost-sharing or matching is NOT an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.

When cost sharing is offered, all cost share or matching must be included in detail in the line item budget and noted in the budget narrative. It is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing that it elects to stipulate in its proposal and that is later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, recipients must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as their contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with 2

CFR 200.306 – Cost Sharing and Matching https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/2/200.306 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/2/200.306

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 18

vii. Other S/GWI is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects and activities.

S/GWI welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

S/GWI encourages applications that include work with the most at risk and vulnerable communities, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic or religious minority groups, and LGBTI persons.

Only organizations with an active DUNS number, CAGE/NCAGE code, SAM.gov individual user account, and grants.gov account will be able to submit proposals for this competition, unless a waiver has been provided. For specific instructions, please see

Section D, Part ii “Key Registrations.”

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award

Management (SAM)(www.sam.gov) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders

12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally no entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in

SAM can participate in any activities under an award. All organizations are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

viii. Organization criteria

● Organizations should have existing, or demonstrate the capacity to develop, active partnerships with in-country entities and relevant stakeholders including the public sector, private sector, and civil society, as relevant to the proposed program objectives.

● Applications must include strong partnerships with, and in some cases between, women’s civil society networks. However, one organization must be designated as the lead applicant and prime grantee for the proposed cooperative agreement

● S/GWI reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.

● The Department of State generally prohibits profit under its assistance awards to for-profit or commercial organizations. No funds will be paid as profit to any recipient. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The permissibility of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR Part 30, Cost Accounting Standards, and Part 31

Contract Cost Principles and Procedures. Program income earned by the recipient must be deducted from the total project or program allowable cost in determining the net allowable costs on which the federal share of costs is based.

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 19

D. Application and Submission Information

i. Address to Request Application Package

Please contact the S/GWI point of contact listed in section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons. Please note:

reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

The applicant can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on

SAMS Domestic under the Funding Opportunity entitled “GBV Prevention and

Response.”

ii. Key Registrations

The U.S. Department of State requires that all applicants complete the following registrations:

● Register for a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

● Obtain necessary codes: for non-U.S. organizations, an NCAGE code at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx; if based in the

U.S or pay employees within the U.S., an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a Commercial and Government

Entity (CAGE) code.

● Register for an individual account for your organization with the System for

Award Management (SAM.gov): https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/

● Register for an individual account for your organization on SAMS Domestic:

https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants. Please be advised that applicants will need to validate their email address once a request for an account has been submitted to SAMS Domestic. Additionally, applicants will be required to log into SAMS Domestic using multi-factor authentication.

Once the above steps are complete, you will be able to submit your application per the instructions in this proposal request and systems websites.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in SAMS

Domestic. Applicants are required to document that the application has been received in its entirety by SAMS Domestic. S/GWI bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for system errors in

SAMS Domestic, or other errors in the application process.

Organizations must continue to maintain active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency. SAM requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM and to http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 20 maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time S/GWI is ready to make an award, the applicant may be deemed…