Amendment No. 02 - Addendum 2 - GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador.pdf

Amendment No. 2 to the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador - Addendum 2 under

El Salvador Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Annual Program Statement (APS) No.: 72051921APS00001

The purpose of this amendment is to: A) provide notification that the subject Addendum is hereby amended. Changes in the Addendum are highlighted in yellow, B) provide answers to the questions submitted by interested parties in regards to the GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador - Addendum 2 to El Salvador CDCS APS No.:

72051921APS00001 and C) provide notification of extension of Concept Paper Submission Date to August 24, 2021, 17:00 pm local El Salvador time.

Except as expressly herein amended, the GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador - Addendum 2 terms and conditions remain the same.

Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of Concept Papers. Concept Papers are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Thank you for your interest in USAID/El Salvador programs.

El Salvador Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Annual Program Statement (APS) No.: 72051921APS00001- Addendum 2

Issuance Date: June 4, 2021 Deadline for Questions: June 21, 2021 17:00 local El Salvador time Closing Date: April 19, 2022 Concept Paper Submission Closing Dates:

First Round: August 24, 2021 17:00 local El Salvador time Second Round: To be determined

Subject: El Salvador Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Annual Program Statement (APS) No.: 72051921APS00001

Program Title: Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador - Addendum 2

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 98.001, Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas

Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the United States Government, as represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), USAID/El Salvador, is announcing the GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum to the USAID/El Salvador Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Annual Program Statement (APS), hereafter known as the CDCS APS.

Through this GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum, USAID/El Salvador aims to expand and amplify the Agency’s work in DO.1 Security Increased for Likely Migrants.

This Addendum disseminates information to prospective Applicants so they may develop and submit Concept Papers in response and ultimately to be considered for USAID/El Salvador funding. This Addendum describes and provides:

● The type of activities for which Concept Papers will be considered;

● Available funding, process and requirements for submitting Concept Papers and Full

Applications;

● The Criteria for evaluating Concept Papers; and

● Refers prospective Applicants to relevant documentation and resources.

Issuance of this Addendum does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the U.S.

Government to make an award, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a Concept Paper or Application(s). The actual number of assistance awards, if any, is subject to the availability of funds, as well as the viability of eventual full Applications received.

Based on the submitted Concept Paper(s), USAID/El Salvador will determine whether to request a Full Application from an eligible organization. To be competitive under this Addendum to the CDCS APS, Concept Papers and Full Applications must be fully responsive to all directions under the CDCS APS except when specifically noted otherwise in this Addendum.

A. Revised GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador - Addendum 2 https://www.usaid.gov/

It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the entire CDCS APS and Addendum opportunity has been downloaded from www.grants.gov and USAID/El Salvador bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process. If you have difficulty accessing the CDCS APS, please contact the grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

Thank you for your interest in USAID/El Salvador programs.

Sincerely, Craig D. Riegler Agreement Officer Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance USAID/El Salvador mailto:support@grants.gov

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

CALL FOR CONCEPT PAPERS

Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum

UNDER EXISTING

USAID/El Salvador Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Annual Program Statement (APS)

No.: 72051921APS00001

PLEASE NOTE: This is an Addendum to an existing announcement. All interested organizations should carefully review both this GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum AND the full announcement, which can be found here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332969. Important information contained in the full worldwide announcement is not repeated in the GBV

Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum.

This activity is authorized in accordance with Part 1 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Through the GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum to the USAID/El Salvador CDCS APS No.72051921APS00001, USAID/El Salvador seeks to promote systemic improvements in prevention of GBV, victims’ assistance, and judicial accountability for perpetrators.

Subject to the availability of funds, USAID/El Salvador anticipates investing approximately $35,000,000 in this area and supporting one or multiple awards. USAID/El Salvador reserves the right to award more or fewer awards than this estimate and is not obligated to make any awards.

Unless otherwise stated herein, all terms and conditions of the CDCS APS apply (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332969).

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332969 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332969

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ACRONYMS 6

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 6

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 13

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 15

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 17

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 18

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 20

SECTION G: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) 21

SECTION H: OTHER INFORMATION 21

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j2sbgUKqTIm1xTLIWsXHV564Cew-TphG9CojoDqZKGc/edit#heading=h.6d5fcp8dqdqk

LIST OF ACRONYMS

ADS: Automated Directives Systems AO: Agreement Officer AOR: Agreement Officer Representative APS: Annual Program Statement CDCS: Country Development Cooperation Strategy CLA: Collaborating, learning and adapting COR: Contracting Officer Representative DO: Development Objective DOC: Development Outreach and Communications GBV: Gender-Based Violence GOES: Government of El Salvador NPI: New Partnerships Initiative PNC: National Civil Police RFA: Request for Application USG: United States Government IR: Intermediary Result

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

USAID/El Salvador is issuing this Addendum pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended. Any potential resulting award(s) will be subject to 2 CFR 700 and 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and USAID’s Standard Provisions for U.S and Non-U.S Based organizations per ADS 303.

1. Background

El Salvador’s insecurity affects nearly all elements of the economy and society, prompting widespread internal displacement, and driving thousands to attempt irregular migration annually.

Among El Salvador’s most persistent and widespread security challenges is gender based violence (GBV). As defined by USAID, GBV is “violence that is directed at an individual based on his or her biological sex, gender identity, or perceived adherence to socially defined norms of masculinity and femininity. It includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse; threats; coercion; arbitrary deprivation of liberty; and economic deprivation, whether occurring in public or private life. Gender-based violence can include female infanticide; child sexual abuse; sex trafficking and forced labor; sexual coercion and abuse; neglect; domestic violence; elder abuse; and harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriage, “honor” killings, and female genital mutilation/cutting.”

GBV in El Salvador comes in many forms depending on its target, for example:

● Violence against girls, young women and adult women: Begins at puberty and continues through old age;

● Violence against boys, young men, and adult men: Government measures to repress gangs has caused the displacement of male youth in general and sometimes female youth. Security forces view youth in gang-controlled areas with suspicion. This results in young men becoming victims of arbitrary State violence inflicted by some security forces;

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2155/GBV_Factsheet.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I1D4vt61szPHuHrDDkzNAvZROZ3VOC6g/view

● Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) persons: Threats and recruitment, instrumentalization, and sexual violence are some of the forms that this population group experiences both from gangs and from State security forces; and

● Violence against persons with disabilities: Hearing and intellectually disabled males are more vulnerable to harassment from security forces who assume they are gang members during routine checks. Impairment affects the speed and quality of their responses causing them to be beaten and/or arrested and/or murdered by security agents.

Within these categories, women and girls in El Salvador face some of the most acute and pressing GBV threats. Acccording to the UN, El Salvador has one of the highest femicide rates in the world and a culture of gender discrimination that perpetuates patterns of violence against women. A recent National Survey on Violence against Women showed that 67 percent of women in El Salvador have suffered violence in their lifetime and 34 percent reported having experienced GBV in the past year.1 Of these, 60 percent are between the ages of 12 and 17. In gang dominated communities, women are frequently the victims of sexual violence and control. Male attitudes toward women and girls frequently exact emotional and psychological stress, limiting opportunities and economic and social potential.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, and likely as a result of confinement measures, findings from the USAID-supported INFOSEGURA activity indicate a dramatic increase in domestic conflicts. Recent data from the National Civil Police (known by its acronym in Spanish, PNC) show an increase in notifications to their emergency hotline and an increase in arrests related to family problems and domestic violence, injuries, and threats, among others, during the first semester of 2020 compared to 20192. Despite the widespread nature of the problem, only seven percent of women seek help, citing a lack of faith in institutions, the justice processes, and the rule of law among the main reasons for not reaching out3.

El Salvador’s high rates of GBV have a definite link to irregular migration. According to the PNC, ‘more women migrate irregularly than men to avoid the levels of violence in the community or inflicted by their couples.’ Members of the LGBTI+ population meanwhile, attempt to irregularly migrate due to violence and harassment, as trans women are frequently the target of gangs or even state agents.

The U.S. government, through USAID, is committed to working with the host-government, civil society and other actors to address these security challenges. To date, a number of important advances have been achieved. Among them, USAID has worked to implement place-based-strategies that focus resources and assistance intensely in select locations. This yielded impressive results. Using this strategy, El Salvador saw a 39 percent drop in homicides, a 22 percent drop in extortions, and a 37 percent drop in GBV in targeted high-crime municipalities in which USAID worked. In addition, rates of impunity4 for GBV dropped by 65 percent for cases processed through USAID-supported GBV centers. USAID assistance also streamlines processes and communications between justice actors (police, prosecution, judiciary, and forensic medicine), dramatically improving response times and reducing impunity. USAID has also worked successfully at the national level to help build political consensus and donor collaboration in order to marshall resources for collective and comprehensive security approaches.

1National Survey of Violence against Women, Dirección General de Estadística y Censos, 2017.

2 INFOSEGURA (2020), El Salvador Analysis of the State of Violence and Citizen Security in 2020, Factsheet prepared by the UNDP by way of InfoSegura based on CID-Gallup Poll and PNC data.

3 Data available from Dirección General de Estadística y Censos- DIGESTYC (2017), “Encuesta Nacional de Violencia contra la Mujer 2017”.

4Impunity rates here are understood in their strictest form: the percentage of cases that came forward(denuncias) but did not reach a final resolution phase or sentencing phase in court, that were not prosecuted or were discontinued throughout the formal justice process within a year. It does not encompass user satisfaction or other non-traditional forms of justice, and could not follow through cases for more than a year.

http://aplicaciones.digestyc.gob.sv/observatorio.genero/docs/ENVCM%2017.pdf

2. Objectives/Purpose/Development Results

This activity will focus on three programmatic areas: preventing GBV, protecting victims and survivors, and increasing accountability for perpetrators of GBV. The anticipated results will contribute to the CDCS’s DO 1, “Security Increased for Likely Migrants,” specifically to IR 1.3 “Impunity reduced through improved justice sector capacity.” Anticipated results from this activity will contribute to IR 1.3 because, in addition to prevention, the activity will focus on improving access to and delivery of justice services, including provision of enhanced victim’s assistance services.

Through this activity, USAID will support activities that, in conjunction with the GOES, civil society organizations, other donors, and other implementing partners, will contribute towards achieving the following high-level results:

1. Reduce femicide rate per 100,000 people

2. Improve perceptions of citizen security, particularly women’s perceptions of citizen security

3. Reduce GBV victimization rates

4. Increase the percentage of vulnerable people5 and victims that receive quality protection services

5. Reduce GBV impunity rates

The high-level results have been identified by USAID for this activity and will inform the overall direction of programmatic goals, and under each of the Programmatic Areas (refer to Section D below, “Programmatic and Geographic Focus”), proposed activities will establish their own performance indicators. The following are illustrative performance indicators at the activity level grouped under each Programmatic area, and with their respective high-level results:

High-Level Results Illustrative Performance Indicators at the Activity Level Programmatic Area 1: Prevention of GBV

1. Reduce femicide rate per 100,000 people in USG-targeted areas

2. Improve perceptions of citizen security (particularly women’s perceptions) in targeted areas

3. Reduce GBV victimization rates in targeted areas

● Number of people participating in sensitization and awareness campaigns on GBV (to promote values of tolerance, diversity, and equality; to learn about and break stigma around gender identity, new masculinities, and empowerment; to understand GBV, early identification of GBV, rights, and services available, etc).

● Number of local GBV prevention plans developed and implemented at the community level

● Number of GBV prevention plans developed and implemented at the institutional/working level

● Number of GBV prevention plans developed and implemented in public institutions that provide basic services to citizens

Programmatic Area 2: Protection for Victims and Survivors

4. Increase the percentage of vulnerable people and victims that receive quality protection services

● Number of service providers/first responders adequately trained to serve GBV victims

● Number of organizations and/or service delivery systems that serve GBV victims strengthened

● Number of locations providing victims assistance services established with USG assistance

5 Persons facing increased vulnerabilities and likelihood of being affected by violence, especially GBV -because of existing unequal power relations, pervasive attitudes of intolerance and existing barriers of access to rights and services lead to their exclusion, marginalization and lack of participation. Women and girls, LGBTI persons and people with disabilities would be considered vulnerable groups particularly affected by GBV that need specialized services.

● Number of GBV victims that receive quality psychosocial services from trained service providers

● Number of GBV victims receiving services from USG-supported shelters

● Number of GBV victims that receive quality legal assistance services from trained service providers

● Percentage of people who know about governmental and non-governmental resources available to GBV victims

Programmatic Area 3: Accountability for Perpetrators

5. Reduce GBV impunity rates

● Number of justice sector personnel trained on survivor-centered approach

● Number of protocols created and applied to reduce backlog and streamline services

● Percentage of GBV survivors who are satisfied with the outcome of their case, or satisfied that they received justice.

● Number of social media campaigns demanding increased accountability for emblematic cases

3. Coordination and Complementarity GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Concept Papers are encouraged to plan for collaboration with other USAID/El Salvador activities, including but not limited to:

● Current awards managed by USAID/El Salvador;

● Future awards managed by USAID/El Salvador

Also actively and effectively coordinating with any USG activities as appropriate, especially any place-based justice and violence prevention interventions that may work with the same GOES partners, to avoid duplications or inefficiencies and seek complementary actions that maximize resources. As well, strategically align all programming to the core drivers of irregular migration, including security, prosperity, and combating impunity and corruption.

4. Programmatic and Geographic Focus

USAID/El Salvador anticipates that ultimately the GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador activity will contribute to USAID’s Mission and objectives and directly support programming under DO1 ‘Security Increased for Likely Migrants’ of the CDCS. In turn, it will also directly contribute to achieve the intended results for this DO as described in Section A.1 of the CDCS APS (Please refer to Section A.1 of the CDCS APS specifically to the table entitled “Key Intended Results per Development Objective”).

As per El Salvador's new CDCS, this activity will focus geographically in three main urban hubs: San Salvador, San Miguel and Santa Ana, which account for the majority of illegal migration and insecurity in the country, including the highest level of femicides.

Activity interventions will focus in three programmatic areas:

Programmatic Area 1: Prevention of gender-based violence towards vulnerable populations such as women and girls, LGBTI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, as well as boys, among others, from occurring in the first place, by working with local organizations, civil society, and key stakeholders, including men and boys. These activities will seek to prevent GBV in various locations and times, including in the home, at school and work, in public places, and on public transport, as well as online.

Included in prevention are behavior change communication tools that, if well utilized, can support efforts to challenge attitudes towards gender-based violence and model equality and inclusive behaviors.

Examples include advocacy strategies and social behavior change campaigns that engage men and boys as advocates and ambassadors for modeling “new masculinity” based around principles of respect and equality for women, girls and LGBTI+ persons, and challenging detrimental forms of patriarchy, exclusion and GBV. Perpetrators of violence can also be presented with options for programs (including court-mandated programs developed by a third party) that deconstruct and question detrimental beliefs and behaviors around GBV and engage community and peers for accountability and behavioral change.

Programmatic Area 2: Protection from GBV by identifying and providing evidence-based services to survivors, preventing the recurrence of violence and supporting livelihoods for victims to live free from violence and their perpetrators.

Included in protection are activities that offer services to meet urgent needs of victims of GBV, such as rapid and high-quality support for victims in the immediate aftermath of victimization. This can entail immediate accompaniment to the police or emergency services, supporting victims as they solicit a restraining order or any emergency legal need and offering safe alternative accommodation such as shelters. Other examples include working with first responders to reduce re-victimization, providing psychosocial support for victims of GBV using trauma-informed approaches and evidence-based methodologies and supporting livelihoods that can support victims in preventing the recurrence of violence and living life free from violent perpetrators. Additional efforts might include promoting targeted livelihood opportunities for the most vulnerable populations, including members of the LGBTI+ community, and persons with disabilities.

Programmatic Area 3: Accountability to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and to reduce impunity by strengthening legal and judicial systems.

Included in accountability are activities that support government judicial institutions with mandates in prosecuting GBV perpetrators, so they may be held accountable. This includes providing support, training, improved protocols and case management improvement for law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and other judicial entities with responsibility for prosecuting GBV crimes and protecting victims. Other assistance can entail supporting victims in gaining access to justice, such as through legal aid clinics, that offer attorney representation, and support victims’ rights and legal recourse.

This area should also consider supporting other non-judicial forms that call for accountability such as supporting organisations or social movements demanding public accountability for perpetrators of GBV for emblematic cases via social media campaigns for example.

5. Adaptive and Flexible Approach in a likely evolving Country Context

Applicant’s proposed technical approach should be flexible to provide support for unanticipated needs and initiate support in new contexts or with new local partners as needs arise. Applicants should consider structured ‘Pause and Reflect’ discussions with USAID to revisit assumptions, review progress, and make course corrections, if necessary, to strengthen programmatic response and promote sustainability. This includes engaging periodic check-ins, between relevant stakeholders including USAID, prior to submitting implementation plans to discuss progress as well as changes in context that may impact implementation. Therefore, implementation plans under the resulting award(s) will be viewed as living documents that will be revised as necessary in consultation with USAID.

USAID recognizes the importance of thinking critically and when required, shifting strategic decisions to respond to emerging development challenges. Applicants are expected to incorporate and maintain flexibility and adaptability in their proposed activities to ensure responsiveness to evolving local and contextual dynamics, including responding to a change in interactions with Government contacts, to take advantage of opportunities and to mitigate challenges for successful activity implementation.

Interventions may require an adaptive technical approach that regularly reassesses and re-evaluates the operating environment where the activity works and adjusts program planning, and implementation as necessary.

Applicants are expected to provide ideas for program modifier categories as deemed appropriate for their proposed activity. It entails the ability to adapt the technical approach to better achieve the results of the activity. Applicants should employ a management approach that is proactive in identifying and taking advantage of programmatic opportunities. This requires a high degree of flexibility and willingness to adjust the activity’s technical approach to incorporate new, innovative interventions. Unforeseen opportunities or exigencies may entail implementing interventions in other programmatic spheres under the broad mantle of GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability programming. Program modifiers will be reviewed and approved by USAID as part of implementation plan discussions.

6. Cross Cutting Principles

Coordination and CLA

Applicants should integrate cross-cutting CDCS objectives and priorities in the following areas:

● Private Sector Engagement,

● Partnering with and building the capacity of local partners,

● Partner coordination and collaboration in the three urban hubs, and

● Government collaboration, leadership and improving public perceptions of government.

As coordination and collaboration around these efforts is incumbent for all actors, the Mission expects that all applicants discuss the integration of coordination and collaboration as part of the award. In particular, applicants must detail how they will seek potential activity synergies, align results, prepare reporting, and minimize confusion with AORs/CORs, implementing partners and beneficiaries.

Applicants are expected to anticipate inter-activity management challenges and opportunities and advise AORs and CORs and the Mission’s Regional Office of Assistance and Acquisition on leveraging potential synergies, taking advantage of opportunities, and resolving challenges.

Applicants are expected to contribute to USAID/El Salvador’s commitment to a multifaceted CLA approach to development. The CLA approach is based on the understanding that development efforts yield more effective results if they are coordinated and collaborative; if they allow testing what seem like promising new approaches that seek to generate improvements and efficiencies; and build on what works and eliminate what doesn‘t. USAID also anticipates that a strong focus on adaptive management techniques as expressed through staffing skills, structure and culture, business processes, and stakeholder engagement will be particularly important in the implementation of the proposed activity, in order to track and adjust to the opportunities to operationally integrate with other activities working in related efforts.

Thus, USAID anticipates a CLA approach that tailors CLA to the needs and opportunities of the proposed activity(ies), while leaving open options for future evolution in its interpretation and application.

Please refer to Section A of the CDCS APS for further information on Shared Responsibility and CLA that applies to this Addendum.

Communication Strategy Communications and public perception are critical to the achievement of USAID El Salvador’s development objectives to improve security, increase prosperity and strengthen democratic governance.

Together with our partners, GOES and the communities in which we work, USAID promotes an increased level of hope for Salvadorans living a good life at home, measured by improvements in educational and economic opportunities, security and government. Each activity will contribute to this shared objective. Each activity will provide a communications strategy demonstrating how the partner and activity will utilize communications to achieve results and how the activity contributes to higher level objectives of increased hope and improved public perceptions. USAID El Salvador/DOC will coordinate with communications leads of all partners regularly to align efforts, refine local hub messaging and national campaigns, and encourage partners’ continued understanding and development of communications products that prioritize CDCS communication goals.

New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) USAID/El Salvador highly supports NPI and welcomes partners that would comply with this Initiative under this Addendum.

USAID/El Salvador strongly encourages local and locally established organizations to submit concept papers. We will favorably evaluate qualified applicants that form alliances with qualified local partners to the greatest extent possible, including management plans that identify a local partner responsible for an objective(s) of the activity. Capacity assessments and the strengthening of local organizations should be a component when necessary. The efforts under this activity aim to build and strengthen the capacity of local organizations to provide responsive and quality services for victims, to address the long-term sustainability of programming.

The goal of the NPI is to increase USAID’s development impact by elevating local leadership, fostering creativity and innovation, and mobilizing resources across the Agency’s programs.

The NPI initiative will advance this goal by diversifying its partner base and changing how the Agency partners, based on three key principles:

1. Elevating Local Leadership. The Agency will:

o Work through local actors and systems;

o Engage traditional partners in strengthening local capacity; and o Identify partnerships with new and underutilized locally-established partners (LEP) with deep roots in-country.

2. Fostering Creativity and Innovation. The Agency will partner with new, underutilized, and non-traditional non-profit and private sector organizations to take advantage of the full marketplace of ideas for strengthening sustainable development.

3. Mobilizing Resources. The Agency will work with organizations that are able to leverage their own private and other non-USG funding to achieve and scale development outcomes.

Please refer to Section A.4 and Section C.2 of the CDCS APS and Section C of this Addendum for further information on NPI.

Promoting Long Term Sustainable Development:

USAID/El Salvador seeks to work with local civil society institutions, including engaging private sector actors, to support locally-sustained quality services for survivors of GBV.

In addition, through improved advocacy for survivors of GBV, and through raising awareness in the Salvadoran population of GBV and its impact, Salvadorans can demand more responsive services from justice institutions to support victims and to reduce impunity. Also, by working with a diverse range of local civil society partners (non-profits, business and private sector partners) USAID will help El Salvador mobilize public and private revenues, strengthen local capacities, and accelerate justice improvements and victim assistance in a way that is sustainable. Worldwide, this approach fosters stable, resilient, and prosperous countries that are more sustainably developed, and prioritizes enduring partnerships.

Private Sector Engagement Growing evidence reveals that women’s low participation in the formal labor markets of developing countries impedes economic growth and poverty reduction. The USG recognizes that violence against women imposes significant costs on businesses and the economy (including the opportunity costs of absences and medical costs related to treatment of abuse).6 Because gender-based violence discourages effective economic engagement and participation by women, businesses have a direct incentive to see it addressed. Hence, there is potential for USAID activities in this area to engage the private sector to advance the objectives of this activity. In embracing enterprise-driven development, USAID recognizes the value of engaging the private sector in development to help shape solutions that achieve sustained impact and can carry forward long after USAID’s support has ended.

Environmental Considerations The selected Recipients must comply with all required laws and regulations pertaining to labor and environment in El Salvador or the countries where the activity will be implemented.

Please refer to Section A.4 and A.5 of the CDCS APS for further information on cross-cutting policies and Agency Initiatives.

END OF SECTION A

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Issuance of this GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor do those commit the U.S.

Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of questions, comments, suggestions, Concept Papers, and/or Full Application. Applicants submit Concept Papers/Applications at their own risk, and all preparation and submission costs are at their expense.

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

USAID/El Salvador anticipates awarding one or multiple award(s) under this GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum to the CDCS APS. The actual number of assistance awards, if any, under this Addendum is subject to the availability of funds and the interests and requirements of USAID/El Salvador, as well as, the viability of eventual Applications received. Subject to funding availability, USAID/El Salvador intends to provide approximately $35 million in total USAID funding to support activities focused on GBV Prevention, Protection and Accountability. Actual funding amounts and length of awards are subject to availability of funds, award type, and activity proposed (including the extent to which the proposed activity responds to the Programmatic Focus identified in Section A).

Awards pursuant to this addendum may result in a variety of assistance instruments outlined in ADS

303.3.24 and ADS 303.3.25 such as:

a) Grants and Cooperative Agreements, including renewal awards which allow to adapt within the five year maximum period of performance to changing contexts, lessons learned during implementation and allowing scalability of pilot activities;

b) Simplified grants for small awards on a cost reimbursement basis may be appropriate for new local organizations that propose innovative solutions;

c) Fixed Amount Awards which allows payments upon the successful completion of milestones and may represent a less administrative burden to new partners.

6 https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment

2. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Successful Recipient

The principal purpose of the relationship with the Recipient is to transfer funds to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation of the activity which is authorized by Federal statute. The successful Recipient will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the program objectives and the efficient and effective administration of the award through the application of sound management practices. The Recipient will assume responsibility for administering Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

3. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Award

The period of performance of individual awards may vary. The performance period may be between one year up to five years.

RENEWALS: Awards made under this addendum may be eligible for annual renewals providing a possibility of a subsequent award to receive additional support for the project for succeeding periods, activities, or milestones if so determined by USAID. The overall period of the cooperative agreement, including all renewals, will not exceed the five (5) year period of performance of the award under this addendum. USAID will inform the awardee no later than 4 months before the end of the period of performance of the initial award if the said awardee is eligible to apply for a renewal award. The recipient will submit a renewal request no less than 3 months prior to the end date.

Funding of any renewal period or expansion of activities is contingent on the following:

• Availability of funds;

• Satisfactory progress towards meeting the award objectives;

• Submittal of required reports; and

• Compliance with the terms and conditions of the award, including the conditions for renewal.

If informed by USAID, an Awardee will submit a detailed annual work plan for the renewal period along with a detailed budget to be considered for the renewal opportunity.

Any renewals are at the sole discretion of USAID.

4. Type of Instrument

USAID has a number of assistance award types to choose when providing funds to successful Applicants.

The type of award and terms and conditions included therein is based upon recipient organization type, programmatic factors, and other due-diligence matters (including responsibility determinations). The types of awards are defined in Section F of the CDCS APS.

USAID reserves the right to make or not to make awards through this Addendum. The actual number of assistance awards, if any, under this CDCS APS Addendum is subject to the availability of funds, the interests and requirements of USAID, and the viability of applications received. There is no predefined minimum or maximum number of partners or partnerships USAID will support through this Addendum.

However, USAID will not provide funds under this Addendum for products and services that it would otherwise purchase through a contract. If USAID identifies opportunities to strengthen or fund a Concept Paper or application by connecting it with other USAID mechanisms, other potential funders, and/or external partners, USAID may make that Concept Paper or application available internally or externally for appropriate consideration.

5. Applicable Facts & Rationale for Instrument Selection

In El Salvador, gender-based violence (GBV) comes in many forms and is compounded by an absence of prevention measures, limited support for victims and survivors, and persistent impunity for perpetrators. This creates a general sense of insecurity, and often triggers a desire to migrate among the population.

Understanding this pressing need for addressing GBV as a driver of illegal migration and in line with USAID's Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS 2020-2025) designed to reduce the drivers of illegal migration by fostering a more self-reliant El Salvador that is secure, prosperous and well-governed, USAID/El Salvador is looking to expand its prevention, protection and accountability mechanisms in targeted locations and in partnership with government, private sector, and civil society organizations, to reduce occurrences of GBV, to protect victims and hold perpetrators into account.

Current market research, and the strategic thinking that led to El Salvador's CDCS, have revealed that justice institutions and local actors in El Salvador have made significant steps to develop legislative frameworks for preventing and addressing GBV, but still require substantive support from specialized organizations to assist them to adopt best practices in implementing frameworks and operationalizing these laws into reality.

To achieve this, USAID is seeking to use a cooperative agreement to transfer financial and/or in-kind assistance to eligible recipient organizations to support on-going efforts to protect victims of GBV through expanded services and improved justice delivery, and enable recipient organizations to provide substantive experience in preventing and addressing GBV to provide services to vulnerable populations that are highly at risk of GBV or existing victims and survivors seeking justice.

END OF SECTION B

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility is unrestricted. This Addendum is open to all entities that meet the eligibility criteria set forth in Section C of the CDCS APS.

USAID/El Salvador highly supports NPI and welcomes partners that would comply with this Initiative.

NPI defines “Implementing Partners” as U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental organizations that can design and implement assistance activities outside the United States. New Partnerships Initiative Key Definitions | U.S. Agency for International Development (usaid.gov).

USAID/El Salvador strongly encourages a partnership approach that leverages the required technical expertise of a variety of diverse partners needed to achieve the activity objectives. If any qualified organization is unable to technically respond to the entire activity, then we encourage these organizations to submit a concept paper to achieve an objective of the activity or pursue an alliance with another organization.

What is a “New” Partnership?

A “new” or “underutilized” partner is an organization that has received less than $25 million cumulatively in direct or indirect awards from USAID over the past five (5) years.

https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions

What are the basic requirements of an NPI partnership?

In addition to aligning with the specific development objectives and requirements in this Addendum, NPI partnership proposals must reflect one (1) of the following four (4) forms:

a. Direct awards to new and underutilized organizations that are local entities in El Salvador or countries for which the Applicant is applying (if and when regional activities are solicited);

b. Direct awards to new and underutilized organizations that are LEPs in El Salvador or countries (if regional activities are authorized) for which the Applicant is applying;

c. Sub-awards to new or underutilized partners via prime awardees that serve in a limited mentorship role;

OR

d. Direct awards to partners underutilized with respect to opportunities to leverage private/ non-U.S.

Government funding.

Please refer to Section C.2 of the CDCS APS for further information on NPI’s forms of engagement and Transition Awards.

All Implementing Partners must be legally registered entities under applicable law and eligible under the relevant laws to receive funding from a foreign source. Individuals, unregistered, or informal organizations are not eligible to be Implementing Partners.

All eligible interested organizations are restricted to submitting only one Concept Paper as the Prime Applicant. If more than one Concept Paper is received with the same Prime Applicant, USAID will seek written clarification from the relevant entity regarding which Concept Paper should be considered for review. If clarification is not resolved within five (5) business days, all Concept Papers submitted by the Applicant will be deemed ineligible.

Note: Please note that Applicants can serve as sub-awardees or supporting partners on multiple Concept Papers.

Prime Applicants must not require exclusivity agreements with proposed alliance members, sub-partners, or key individuals.

USAID may not make an award to an Applicant until the Applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM registrations as detailed in Section H of the CDCS APS and, if an Applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time USAID is ready to make an award, USAID may determine that the Applicant is not qualified to receive an award and may use that determination as a basis for making an award to another Applicant. USAID reserves the right to make no award under this Addendum at any stage of the process. The registration process may take many weeks to complete.

Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process.

Applicants must comply with applicable local laws, including on taxation. USAID advises prospective Applicants to consult local counsel on these issues in the Concept Paper phase.

Responsibility Determination:

The successful applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment and potentially a Pre-award Survey. The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Depending on the result of the risk assessment, the AO will decide to execute the award, not execute the award, or award with “specific conditions” (2 CFR 200.208).

Please refer to Section C of the CDCS APS for additional information on eligibility requirements that apply to this Addendum, which includes guidance on Concept Notes/Applications with Proprietary Data.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

USAID/El Salvador has established a suggested recipient cost share from three percent (3%) to ten percent (10%) of projected award amount for each award. Such funds may be provided directly by the recipient; other multilateral, bilateral, and foundation donors; host governments; and local organizations, communities and private businesses that contribute financially and in-kind to the implementation of activities at the country level. This may include contribution of staff level of effort, office space or other facilities or equipment which may be used for the program, provided by the recipient. For guidance on cost sharing in grants and cooperative agreements see 2 CFR 200.306.

Proposed cost share, if provided, will be reviewed for compliance with the standards set forth in 2 CFR 200.306, 2 CFR 700.10, and the Standard Provision "Cost Sharing (Matching)" for U.S. entities, or the Standard Provision "Cost Share" for non-U.S. entities.

3. How to Work with USAID More information on how to work with USAID may be found at https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/get-grant-or-contract/trainings-how-work-usaid. Information is also available in Spanish.

END OF SECTION C

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

Any questions regarding this GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum must be submitted to Ms. Alejandra Quiñonez, at aquinonez@usaid.gov, no later than the closing date for questions specified in the cover page of this Addendum.

If an award is made, the AO will appoint an AOR at that time to provide technical and administrative oversight of the specific award during implementation.

2. Concept Paper Instructions

Applicants are required to follow the Application and Submission Information instructions set forth in Section D.3 of this Addendum and submit Concept Papers using the Concept Paper Template in Attachment 1 of this Addendum. The Eligibility Certification Form in Attachment 2 must also be completed and submitted if applicable.

3. Content and Format of Concept Paper Submission

Applicants should submit only the information and materials requested, and in the format specified in Attachment 1 of this Addendum. Concept Papers MUST be written in the English language and submitted electronically via e-mail in a Microsoft Word document (*.docx) and in PDF format (to include any required signatures).

● Concept Papers shall not exceed six (6) pages, using 1” page margins with 12-point font.

https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/get-grant-or-contract/trainings-how-work-usaid https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/get-grant-or-contract/trainings-how-work-usaid

● Clarity and specificity are important, as is ensuring that the narrative in the Concept Paper addresses the points outlined in this Addendum used to review the Concept Paper. During the merit-review process, USAID may reject funding for those Concept Papers that are vague or merely restate language found in this Addendum.

USAID will not accept Concept Papers that are more than six (6) pages in length.

The Concept Paper (including any Supporting Information) must be submitted to: aquinonez@usaid.gov.

Concept Papers must be submitted by the deadline in order to be considered. Please indicate in the e-mail subject line “Concept Paper Submission/GBV Prevention, Protection, and Accountability in El Salvador Addendum” when submitting the Concept Paper.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any concept papers that do not follow the instructions may be disqualified and not be reviewed.

4. Application Process

Section D.2 of the CDCS APS outlines two examples of the phased-processes that may be considered to review concept papers received under this Addendum. USAID/El Salvador will determine the review process to follow depending on the activity proposed and the needs of the Mission.

USAID/El Salvador will notify potential Applicants of changes to the requirements or in the review-process timeline, etc. through a written amendment to this Addendum via grants.gov.

Please refer to Section D of the CDCS APS for further instructions on Critical Requirements Prior to Award, Funding Restrictions and Conflict of Interest that apply to this Addendum.

END OF SECTION D

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Evaluation of Concept Papers

Once a Concept Paper has been submitted in response to this Addendum, USAID/El Salvador will conduct a review of the Concept Paper as stated in Section E of the CDCS APS and as follows:

A. Mandatory Compliance with the three critical requirements specified in…