Attachment J.12 - Illustrative Case Study_ Patriam.pdf

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ATTACHMENT J.12 – Illustrative Case Study: Patriam

Once heralded as a bright spot of democratic transformation, the country of Patriam has, in recent years, been upended by simultaneous crises stemming from internal conflict, democratic backsliding, and the COVID-19 pandemic. A multi-year military operation succeeded in wresting control of large parts of the country’s southern province, Regio, from the violent extremist organization (VEO) Saevus-Turba. The government’s recent claims of victory, however, have come at a steep price. Closed off to the media, the international community has nevertheless raised concerns about independent reports of high civilian casualties and significant destruction to local infrastructure.

Amidst this conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting impacts to the economy, in particular the tourism sector, have laid bare the chasm between the country’s economic winners and losers. In the streets of Patriam, few have come to exemplify these grievances as pointedly as

SWIFT 6 - Attachment J.12 2 the family of current President Tyrannus, whose fortunes in the past five years have soared. As public demonstrations grow in size and tenor, President Tyrannus has presided over a creeping crackdown on independent media and the judiciary, manipulating some organs of the government to target his political rivals. With 2024 presidential and legislative elections on the horizon, Patriam’s future is beset by uncertainty.

Political Context

Such was not always the case. After almost half a century under an authoritarian military regime, which followed over a century of colonial rule, Patriam enjoyed a 15-year period under which it consolidated its transition to democracy, undergoing regular elections and transfers of power and establishing democratic institutions and political processes. During this period, Patriam’s political transition was relatively peaceful and its economy blossomed to include a thriving tourism industry. In 2013, the country elected its first female president, President Ancora.

Ancora belongs to the country’s main political party, Plerus, which has held the presidency since the country’s peaceful transition and has been largely credited with its economic modernization.

Along with its chief political opponent, the Factio Party, Plerus’s historical roots lie in the Patriam National Liberation Front (PNLF), the progenitor of the peaceful revolution that ended military rule. Both parties are the result of a schism within the PNLF over the territorial integrity of the country, with Plerus largely drawing its support from the Fidem, the country’s majority religious group, and arguing for continued unification while Factio came to embody calls for greater political decentralization, particularly amongst the Credo, a minority religious group whose adherents represent approximately 30 percent of the population and predominantly hail from the historically restive southern region of Regio. Leading a parliamentary coalition of loosely bound opposition parties, Factio has been unable to compel the government to address long-standing geographic, religious, and ethnic inequities–particularly those amongst the Fidem and Credo.

In the early days of her presidency, Ancora was generally viewed as being more reform-minded and her rhetoric reflected a desire to overcome some of these historical inequities. Three years into her administration, however, the security threat posed by Saevus-Turba became impossible to ignore. Although the leadership was predominantly from neighboring countries, the organization rapidly expanded its footprint among predominantly young Credo men and women in Regio. Driving these recruitment efforts was a legacy of marginalization by the central government, made more pointed by its failure to adequately address the effects of climate change in the province. Historically agriculture was the country’s backbone, but concerning levels of drought in the last 10 years have upended the local economy in Regio and driven young, rural men and women to Vella (Regio’s most populous city) in search for work. This has been a significant contribution to a perception that, amongst the country’s economic modernization, Regio has been left behind.

Saevus-Turba’s ability to exploit local resentment to the central government was aided by the government’s heavy-handed response to Saevus-Turba’s incursions, which seemed to only auger more terrorist attacks in areas of the country outside of Regio. Within a year, the fighting that President Ancora had explained away as a “police action” in Regio province looked poised to metastasize, with a spike in terrorist attacks against checkpoints along Regio’s borders.

Saevus-Turba’s tactics included bombings, kidnappings, and violent attacks on civilian, government, and military targets throughout the province, resulting in thousands of injuries and deaths and substantial damage to infrastructure and property. In turn, the government’s initial failure to effectively respond to attacks by Saevus-Turba further undermined its credibility with

SWIFT 6 - Attachment J.12 3 most residents of Regio. This violence led to a dramatic increase of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the province, as well as a large influx of refugees from the neighboring country of Vicinus, which was also impacted by Saevus-Turba.

In addition, Regio province witnessed an uptick in inter-communal violence between the Fidem (the majority religion in Patriam, but minority in Regio) and Credo religious communities.

Longstanding tensions and animosities, which historically had been controlled by the oppressive measures of the former military regime, began to gradually come to the surface with the advent of democracy and occasionally flared into violent skirmishes between Fidem and Credo communities in various parts of the province. Both communities made ample use of social media networks, in particular Facebook, to sew disinformation and discord. This resonated in particular among young men, who frequently commented upon and shared the posts with friends and family. While disavowing the violence of Saevus-Turba, the Factio party increasingly sought to frame the VEO’s popularity as a broader indictment of the country’s economic transformation over the past 15 years.

As 2018 presidential and legislative elections loomed, President Ancora’s viability was undermined by increasingly bellicose accusations – led by her primary political rival from within her own Plerus party, Senator (and former army Colonel) Tyrannus – that she was unable, or unwilling, to deal with the VEO threat. Ancora’s efforts to balance security and her reform agenda proved untenable following a large-scale terrorist attack by Saevus-Turba in the country’s capital, Magna. The complex attack, which targeted both political and tourist sites, led to a dramatic shift in the citizenry’s confidence in Ancora’s leadership. Riding on a wave of nationalist fervor and pledges of “justice” – and deploying rhetoric that was increasingly hostile to the country’s southern, Credo populations – Senator Tyrannus ousted Ancora as the Plerus party candidate and swept to victory, claiming the presidency and, for the first time in several years, an outright majority in parliament.

In the wake of his election, President Tyrannus turned to his military connections for solutions.

Over the next three years, the country’s military leaders, newly empowered after years in the shadows following the dissolution of the military regime, launched a scorched-earth offensive in Regio. The president, turning inward, increasingly framed expressions of concern by the international community as foreign meddling, and acquiesced to demands by the military to close access to the south to journalists and non-governmental organization (NGO) workers.

With parliament’s assent, Tyurannus declared a state of emergency and suspended elections originally scheduled for early 2023.

By 2021, the military offensive had largely succeeded in quelling the threat by the VEO and pushing the remnants of Saevus-Turba outwards to neighboring country Vicinus – but at great cost to the region. An additional one million Patriam citizens were displaced or fled to neighboring countries – bringing the total number of IDPs and refugees to five million, or nearly half the Regio province’s population – and few visible signs of infrastructure remained standing.

Lifting the state of emergency and declaring the battle won, Tyrannus has recently executed an about face. With postponed elections on the horizon for early 2024, he has publicly welcomed international assistance in “improving the lives of citizens and bringing lasting stability to Regio.”

While initially buoyed by support for the battle against Saevus-Turba, Tyrannus’ popularity has been increasingly tarnished in recent times by an economic crisis stemming from the conflict, the pandemic, and soaring inflation. Public frustrations over widespread perceptions of corruption amongst his family and party elite have galvanized weekly demonstrations, which are predominantly youth angered by the lack of jobs and opportunities which they blame on

SWIFT 6 - Attachment J.12 4 corruption and the government’s mismanagement of the economy. Though it is an open question whether the opposition will be able to trump his military credentials, Tyrannus’ efforts to undermine the independence of the judiciary and treat parliament as little more than an institution bearing a rubber stamp also points to a troubled future.

Tyrannus’ primary electoral opponent is Regio Governor Posco, a former activist and political prisoner during the military regime. As the de facto head of the Factio political party, he has struck a delicate balance between advocating for government assistance for his province while seeking to catalyze public anger towards the administration. Despite mixed feelings towards the party, Posco retains widespread support in his home province Regio, especially amongst Credos. His campaign rhetoric has been colored by many of the same slogans adopted by the largely amorphous network of protestors who comprise the demonstrations, but they have yet to publicly endorse him. Critics argue that he is as guilty of nepotism as President Tyrannus but, to date, he continues to be seen as the most viable alternative to Tyrannus.

Country Profile

Patriam is a country of 33 million people, with 22 million people residing in the industrialized north, including the capital, Magna, and 11 million people residing in the primarily rural southern Regio province. Forty-two (42) percent of the population is under 25 years of age. While Patriam’s constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, women continue to face discrimination and barriers in access to the formal economy and political institutions. Women hold 15% of the seats in Parliament and 20% of seats in local governments, but few positions of power. Recent gains in education and healthcare for women during former President Ancora’s administration appear to be disappearing as the country’s economic and political situation deteriorates and gender inequality grows. Though gender-based violence (GBV) rates have declined in recent years, women continue to face challenges accessing the formal justice system. Growing corruption and increased harassment by the police in vulnerable communities risks reversing recent gains in combating violence. GBV and gender inequality is particularly high among the Credo, with Credo women suffering higher rates of illiteracy, domestic violence, and poverty than their Fidem counterparts. While consensual same-sex relations were decriminalized in 2014, homophobic attitudes run deep in Patriam society.

In the last 20 years, there has been a proliferation of civil society organizations (CSOs), but most remain weakly organized, a hangover from decades of strict control by the former military regime, in addition to competition for limited donor resources resulting in in-fighting among the CSO community, limiting its capacity to develop and grow. CSO partners are also primarily accustomed to more traditional donor assistance in the areas of health and education. Women-led organizations exist, but have largely been stymied from working on issues outside of education, health, and women’s economic empowerment. Activists and CSOs who have historically worked in communities in Regio are somewhat suspicious of international donors (including the United States), seeing them as representatives of foreign governments that have tacitly supported the previous military regime’s and current government’s marginalization of the Credos.

Patriam has access to the sea on its northern border. Magna is located on this coast and has a port that has been a priority of the government to ensure uninterrupted shipment of the country’s oil to foreign markets. Regio is in the agrarian south, separated from the more industrialized and oil-producing north by the Collis, a central mountain range running east to west across the country, and Regio’s main city of Vella is at least a day’s drive from Magna. There is a local airport in Vella. Patriam is bordered by three other countries to the east, west, and south, with

SWIFT 6 - Attachment J.12 5 the country of Vicinus sharing part of the porous southern border of Regio. Vicinus’ population is majority Credo, and Vicinus and Patriam communities located along the common border share ethnic and familial ties.

Patriam’s relative stability over a 15-year period enabled the development of transportation and communications infrastructure and the growth of an agricultural- and petroleum-based industry (albeit fraught with corruption and economic mismanagement under the current government).

Patriam’s favorable agricultural conditions and above average oil resources set the country up as potentially one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in the region, but the centralized economic policies have concentrated wealth in Magna and surrounding industrialized areas, to the detriment of populations in rural, agrarian areas, including Regio, which has exacerbated tensions between the Fidems and Credos. In addition, in recent years, increasing droughts due to climate change have disproportionately impacted agrarian communities in the south, including Regio province.

Though the economy has experienced fairly steady growth in the past, this growth has stagnated as a result of the pandemic and conflict in Regio. Many point to these twin crises as revealing, rather than exacerbating, public perceptions of corruption. Indeed, an exposé of the connection between President Tyrannus’ family and recently privatized agricultural and petroleum extraction companies is credited as serving as the accelerant for public protests that have dominated the country’s attention for the past six months. For many, the visible wealth associated with Tyrannus’ family members typify the country’s problems and, though the administration is accused of using bureaucratic hurdles to silence several of the news outlets responsible for these investigations, it has done little to quell public contempt. Nevertheless, the opposition faces an uphill, but not impossible, climb to unseat either President Tyrannus or the Plerus political party.

International Response

The response from international donors to the conflict in Regio has primarily focused on humanitarian assistance. Interventions by the United Nations (UN) World Food Program and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Regio focused on immediate relief efforts for the IDPs and refugees (primarily women and children) fleeing Saevus-Turba violence.

Europe has traditionally taken a lead donor role in Patriam, and the UN and European Union (EU) have been present since the final years of the military government, funding health and education programming. Following the democratic transition, they have also focused on longer-term governance and institutional capacity-building programs. Initial interest in countering violent extremism (CVE) programming by the UN was largely rendered moot by the military offensive, its concomitant restrictions to freedom of movement, and opposition by Ancora’s government. Public perceptions of these donors have been clouded, however, by the security assistance/training to the Patriam government they have provided, including to some units accused of human rights abuses. Updates coming out of recent donor coordination meetings have also confirmed that an international election observation mission is expected, in addition to other elections programming.

USG Policy

U.S. relations with Patriam have historically been limited, with bilateral engagement only emerging as a priority since 2017. Former President Ancora was viewed as a positive partner and the United States was receptive to early requests for security support and training, but relations have been strained as Patriam experiences democratic backsliding since President

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Tyrannus’ election in 2018. As a result, security assistance has been placed on hold.

Nevertheless, mitigating the threat from Saevus-Turba remains a key priority for the United States, as does ensuring that core grievances that contributed to the appeal of the group are addressed.

The United States continues to engage with Patriam officials to entrench democratic norms and economic growth as pillars of a larger regional stability. Current U.S. policy seeks to facilitate improved economic stability, security, health, and wellbeing of the citizens of Patriam by strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance, improving transparency and accountability, promoting diversity and inclusion (including gender equity and LGBTQ+ rights), supporting independent media, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Patriam’s oil resources continue to make it a potentially important trade partner, particularly with the recent announcement of a bidding process for natural gas rights.

As elections approach, the United States is committed to a fair and transparent process. U.S.

representatives have publicly met with both Governor Posco and, more controversially, with some figures associated with the demonstrations, for whom the United States has expressed cautious support. In a recent visit to an IDP center in Regio, senior U.S. officials publicly committed to helping residents recover from the conflict and return to their homes. The United States has quietly grumbled about perceptions that media outlets associated with the Plerus party have been responsible for online disinformation about the U.S. role in Patriam, but it maintains a strained working relationship with President Tyrannus and has been receptive to his requests for international assistance.

USG and USAID response

The U.S. Government has an embassy in Patriam and a USAID Mission as of 2018. In previous years, USAID ran a limited number of programs in Patriam out of a regional mission, primarily in support of the health and agriculture sectors. The establishment of a formal mission was, in part, a recognition of the positive momentum in democratic consolidation. In late 2019, USAID/OTI exercised a six-month limited engagement under its SWIFT 5 IDIQ and initiated pilot activities intended to better understand how to counter the threat that violent extremism posed to Patriam’s nascent democracy and its destabilizing effects on the wider region. With the onset of military operations and significant access restrictions in Regio, however, USAID/OTI determined that the context had changed to such an extent that a follow-on program no longer met OTI’s engagement criteria. As a result, USAID/OTI did not move forward with a full program.

While the USAID Mission struggled to deploy staff during the pandemic, democratic backsliding, the pandemic, and the conflict in Regio have all upended initial plans for USAID assistance.

USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance and Bureau for Resilience and Food Security and the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration have been providing critical assistance to respond to the needs of vulnerable populations affected by food insecurity and the conflict’s ripple effects. Following the decision to not expand the USAID/OTI pilot program, the USAID Mission issued a grant to the U.S. Institute of Peace, which has played a convening role in regional CVE programming. In 2020, the Mission awarded a large cooperative agreement through the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) mechanism to provide governance and political party assistance. As elections approach, a U.S.

organization is providing some electoral assistance. The Mission has expressed interest in procuring an award to support independent media and promote human rights, but has not taken any further steps.

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OTI’s Engagement Criteria

Patriam is strategically important to the stability and security of the region, and Patriam’s government could serve as a strategic partner to the U.S. in ensuring the durable defeat of Saevus-Turba, including in countering the continued threat it poses to neighboring countries.

Depending on the outcome of elections, Patriam has a real opportunity to reverse democratic backsliding. Regardless, the province of Regio will need substantial assistance to help residents recover and address systemic grievances. The Secretary of State has pledged U.S. support and expressed the U.S. Government’s desire for continued partnership with the Patriam people.

In this early period leading up to 2024 elections, there is an opportunity to work with key government and civil society partners to ensure all citizens’ voices are heard, address center-periphery and inter-communal grievances, and promote a renewed commitment to democratic norms. As current international donor support is focusing on humanitarian assistance, security sector reform, and longer-term democratic governance programming, OTI’s comparative advantage lies in its adaptive and catalytic transition programming to support the recovery of Regio, both through civil society partners and credible local government partners, while helping to cement democratic gains and build on planned electoral assistance.

The operating environment across the country is relatively stable, except for parts of Regio where Saevus-Turba continues to pose some threat. Regio’s main city, Vella, should be considered for a field office. An implementing partner should have the capacity for remote management in other geographic areas in the province, depending on the security situation and permissions from the government. An OTI program, especially one with access to communities and networks in Regio, would be very strategic in providing information and analysis that could inform U.S. policy and programming on critical issues and actors in the region.

Other Considerations to Implementation

Banking. The system is functioning, although few banks have branches outside of the capital.

Mobile banking has become more prevalent over the past 10 years with most citizens relying on cell phones for their banking needs. The process of establishing a bank account is time-consuming (usually two to three months). A cash economy functions using the local currency.

Roads, air travel. There are currently two (2) international carriers that fly into Magna, each with one (1) flight in and out every day. There are two (2) national carriers that each have two (2) flights a day in and out of Vella from Magna. The country’s roads are in decent shape, with the exception of Regio, which sustained major damage during the conflict. A heavily policed road leading from Magna to Vella is functional but, due to the geographic distance, it is at least a day’s drive between the two cities.

Goods and Services. Commodity procurement has been impacted by inflation and the shocks to the economy. The country’s key port, however, is a key asset.

Hotels and Office Space. Both are limited. The UN, EU, and other donors and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have picked over most of the good sites. Finding space and housing accommodations is further complicated by the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Office, which continues to warn of the potential for attacks by Saevus-Turba, though an attack has not occurred since 2019.

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Education and Language. Patriam has a relatively educated and literate citizenry, though this is less the case in the more underdeveloped areas of Regio. Women lag behind men in literacy by 15%, though some gains have been made in recent years among the school-aged population.

In addition, due to a traditionally rigid education system focused on rote learning, schools have not prioritized problem-solving and critical thinking skills. The majority of the citizenry speak Lingua, the national language of Patriam officially taught and used in schools; however, many citizens are also fluent in one of various indigenous local languages. English is also taught as a mandatory subject in all secondary schools.

Workforce. Fidems are highly represented in the white collar workforce. Credos are represented in the blue collar workforce and agricultural industry, but are underrepresented elsewhere.

There are sensitivities on this issue. Women lag behind men in access to the formal workforce and are more dependent on the informal economy and agriculture.

Telecommunications. All telecommunications are state controlled, which contributed to the popularity of social media where activists felt they could best spread their message. Saevus- Turba is also prolific on social media. Internet infrastructure is fairly strong in the two main cities, with private companies poised to invest in rural areas. Radio and TV stations are functioning, but equipment and staffing are outdated.

Health. Health systems are poor but not significantly worse than other countries in the region.

Mismanagement and corruption within the Ministry of Health (MoH) has resulted in a degraded rural health infrastructure. Medical services are significantly better in Magna and notably worse in Regio, where facilities are in disrepair and equipment and supplies are not always available.

Due to frustrations with corruption within the MoH, dedicated nurses and doctors employed by the government have left positions in government-run health clinics to work for the UN or NGOs.

Skillful NGOs. International NGOs are engaged. There are some long-standing civil society organizations, but most of these are only familiar with the more traditional development programming in health and education.

Security. Generally stable in the two main cities, but security in the rural areas of Regio outside of Vella can be unpredictable, depending on the lingering presence of Saevus-Turba (rumors of sleeper cells abound), including in communities the OTI program wants to reach. The U.S.

Embassy Regional Security Office has permitted travel to Vella but requests prior approval of any trips to other areas of Regio.

Assessment Team Recommendations The purpose of the USAID/OTI “Patriam Transitus Program” (or “PTP”) is to establish and manage a 5-year flexible, quick-response mechanism to support activities that will strengthen democracy and national stability in Patriam. The initial country objectives for the USAID/OTI “Patriam Transitus Program” (awarded under the SWIFT-Programs component of SWIFT 6) are:

1. To accelerate recovery in conflict-affected areas.

2. To empower civil society actors through increased positive engagement.

3. To catalyze opportunities to support actors committed to democratic norms, accountability, and transparency.

The OTI Assessment Team also determined the need for a SWIFT-Support Task Order for Patriam, to field two (2) Long-Term Technical Assistance (LTTA) senior-level Transition Advisors (STA) to support the OTI Country Representative (CR), and a Cooperating Country National (CCN) Administrative Assistant as support to the STAs.

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Ensuring that citizens recover from the conflict in Regio is critical to ensuring the stability of both Patriam and its regional neighbors and offers an opportunity to address long standing grievances. The historic marginalization of and long-held feelings of exclusion among the Credos under the former military regime, especially those residing in Regio, leaves these communities vulnerable to recruitment by Saevus-Turba. The failure to assist these communities in their recovery undermines nascent civic engagement and trust in local government actors, many of whom the OTI Assessment Team deemed credible. Though Patriam has made gains in recent years in addressing gender inequality and expanding opportunities for women, these gains have mostly been felt outside of Regio, furthering the divide.

The outcome of the election will dictate many of the contours of nationwide programming.

Ensuring successful elections is a key U.S. priority. Recent trends toward democratic backsliding have not closed all opportunities for engagement with some government agencies that have proven resistant to executive influence by President Tyrannus, and clear opportunities exist to help promote the resilience and capacity of these government entities. Furthermore, the U.S. Government’s cautious approach to the protest movement, an entity that remains amorphous and whose intentions are unclear, provides significant latitude for potential engagement by an OTI program.

The interim Acting OTI CR, who was a part of the OTI Assessment Team, is waiting for the arrival of the SWIFT-Programs Contractor to begin implementation. The SWIFT-Programs Contractor is expected to deploy within days after the award of the contract and Start-up Conference in Washington, DC, with the authority and resources in hand to sign grants, procure goods and services, and begin operations.

The SWIFT-Programs Contractor understands that it will need to establish two (2) offices, one

(1) in Magna and one (1) in Vella. Because of space limitations, the U.S. Embassy has informed OTI that there is space for only one U.S. Personal Services Contractor staff in the Embassy, and the U.S. Embassy’s motorpool services will be limited for OTI. Therefore OTI can only deploy a CR and not a Deputy Country Representative (DCR). Additionally, after discussions with the Regional Security Officer (RSO), OTI has received approval to work, when necessary, out of the PTP (SWIFT-Programs Contractor) offices, subject to RSO security inspection. The SWIFT-Programs Contractor shall provide space for one (1) OTI staff (the Country Representative) in the Magna Office as well as three (3) staff hired by the SWIFT-Support Contractor through a separate Task Order: two (2) Senior Transition Advisors, one in the Magna office and another in the Vella Office, and one (1) CCN Administrative Assistant in the Magna Office to support the STAs. The need for two STAs is unique and deemed imperative to address two distinct needs: additional support for the CR in Magna (who does not have a DCR to assist them), and in-person, consistent engagement with the SWIFT-Programs office in Vella and the programming specialized to that area. The SWIFT-Programs Contractor should also anticipate occasional OTI temporary duty (TDY) staff that will require minimal space to connect to the internet. The CR will also need to utilize the SWIFT-Programs Contractor’s vehicles for local transportation.

OTI explains that it envisions developing approximately 75 activities per year over a five (5) year base period. These activity assumptions do not include the activation of the Task Order’s one

(1) Ramp-Up Option. OTI and Contractor operations, management, and administration will require additional resources.

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Some initial categories of activities that OTI anticipates working on include:

● Supporting efforts to ensure a fair, transparent election and promote accurate information surrounding it.

● Augmenting efforts by the international community to rehabilitate critical infrastructure and restore essential services in a manner that empowers local communities.

● Ensuring civic actors have the platforms and opportunities to engage citizens and government, including independent media.

● Partnering with government agencies, such as the Anti-Corruption Committee and

Human Rights Ombudsman, that are committed to democratic norms, accountability, and transparency.

OTI Patriam Transitus Program Illustrative Activity (Activity Number PAT020)

Awardee: National TV

Activity Title: Conducting Local Political Debates by National TV

Activity Objectives: 1) To support National TV with renting and procuring stage equipment and decorations, as well as hall rental for upcoming local pre-electoral political debates; 2) To enable National TV to effectively prepare for and conduct the upcoming local pre-electoral political debates according to international standards; 3) To strengthen media organizations that contribute to more transparent governance.

Background: Local political debates, a key avenue to allow citizens to hear from candidates, have been mandated by law since 2020 but have not been fully implemented, in part due to the conflict. For the first time in the country’s history, local political debates will be held in every province, including in Regio. Through the CEPPS mechanism, a USAID-supported grantee has been providing capacity building training to both the Patriam Electoral Commission and National TV, the latter of which is a government-subsidized media outlet responsible for hosting the debates. Parliament has not allocated sufficient funding, however, to enable National TV to host debates outside of the capital; other donors do not have the flexibility or capacity to fill this gap on short notice. In tandem with this activity, PAT021 will provide a separate grant under contract to the Truth Forum, a local NGO, to host a show after each debate, discussing themes with local residents and debunking any misleading or false information.

Activity Summary: This activity will include in-kind procurement of equipment and supplies to enable National TV to host nationwide debates, including in Regio. The goal of the activity will be to enable National TV to effectively prepare and conduct the upcoming local pre-electoral political debates according to international standards.

Case Study Implementation Planning Exercise (SWIFT-Programs)

Offerors should use the information, plug figures, and assumptions below in developing the Program and Operations line items and units for the Implementation Planning Exercise Table (Attachment J.14).

A. General Illustrative Task Order Information:

1. This is for a Cost Plus Fixed Fee Task Order for the “OTI Patriam Transitus

Program” under the SWIFT 6 IDIQ contract (SWIFT-Programs component).

2. The procurement code for goods and services for the Task Order awarded is

935.

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3. While the Case Study describes a five (5)-year program, the Implementation Planning Exercise utilizes a twenty (20) month base program only. The base period of performance is from on/about January 1, 2024 through on/about August 31, 2025.

4. The Task Order contains four (4) phases, but the Implementation Planning Exercise will only be concerned with the Base Program (Phases 1, 2 and 4)

a. Phase 1 (Months 0-4) Start-Up

b. Phase 2 (Months 5-16) Full Implementation

c. Phase 3 Ramp-Up Option (not included in Implementation Planning

Exercise Table)

d. Phase 4 (last 4 months of Task Order) Close-Out

B. The Implementation Planning Exercise shall demonstrate an operational platform that will support the following components of the Transition Activities Pool (TAP):

Base Program (Phases 1, 2, and 4)

a. $8,000,000 million in total Grants Under Contract (GUC). The Offeror should assume that 75% of these grants will be in the form of in-kind support.

b. $1,000,000 in Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA).

c. $1,000,000 in Direct Distribution of Goods and Services (DDGS).

C. The Implementation Planning Exercise shall use the following assumptions for the

Base Program (Phases 1, 2, and 4):

1. One head office in Magna for representation, management, oversight, and programming.

2. One field office in Vella, which will implement approximately 70% of the Task

Order programming.

3. Assume that the head office in Magna and the field office in Vella will need to be established simultaneously. Both offices should be fully functional by week nine

(9) to begin implementing TAP activities. Offerors should propose a staffing structure appropriate for programming the TAP figures provided above for Vella and Magna.

4. Close-out will be for the last four (4) months of the program.

5. Offerors should plan adequate domestic travel (including per diem days) to allow staff to travel in-country to meet with grantees, design, monitor, implement , and evaluate grants, and to attend regular Rolling Assessments. In the accompanying narrative, Offerors should explain their assumptions regarding the number/frequency of trips, and the number and distribution of per diem days for local, regional and international travel.

6. Assume that all staff participate in an annual three (3)-day Strategy Review Session in Magna.

7. Assume one (1) consultation trip per year for the Chief of Party (COP) to USAID/OTI Washington (one (1) week each).

8. Assume a six-day workweek for the first ten (10) weeks of Phase 1.

9. Assume a six-day workweek, for ten (10) weeks of Phase 4 Close-out for key close-out roles.

10. Assume a five (5)-day start-up conference in Washington, DC, and additional orientation and training for Contractor personnel for three (3) days.

Case Study Implementation Planning Exercise (SWIFT-Support)

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Offerors should use the information, plug figures and assumptions below in developing the Program and Operations line items and units for the Implementation Planning Exercise Table (Attachment J.19).

A. General Illustrative Task Order Information:

1. This is for a Cost Plus Fixed Fee Task Order under the SWIFT 6 IDIQ small business set-aside contract (SWIFT-Support component).

2. The procurement code for goods and services for the Task Order awarded is

935.

3. The base period of performance is sixteen (16) months, from on/about January 1, 2024 through on/about August 31, 2025.

4. The Task Order contains three (3) phases:

e. Phase 1 (Months 0-2) Start-Up

f. Phase 2 (Months 3-14) Full Implementation

g. Phase 3 (last 2 months of Task Order) Close-Out

B. The Implementation Planning Exercise shall use the following assumptions:

1. Two (2) Transition Advisors, senior-level (STAs). One to be based in the SWIFT- Programs Contractor’s Magna Office and one in the Vella Office. Offerors may propose staffing these two positions with either non-CCNs or CCNs, in line with, and justified by, Offerors’ proposed technical and management approach. In addition, plan for one (1) CCN Administrative Assistant (AA) based in the SWIFT- Programs Contractor’s Magna Office.

2. Offerors should plan adequate domestic travel (including per diem days) to allow the STAs to travel regularly in-country to meet with grantees, design, monitor, and evaluate grants, and other program events; and to travel between Magna and Vella. The Magna-based AA will also frequently travel to Vella to assist the STA based there. In the accompanying narrative, Offerors should explain their assumptions regarding the number/frequency of trips, and the number and distribution of per diem days for local, regional and international travel.

3. Offerors should assume that they are required to provide car and driver services for in-country travel for the STAs and AA.

4. Offerors should plan for any anticipated CCN administrative STTA (e.g. periodic translation services, etc.).

5. Assume that all staff participate in an annual three (3)-day Strategy Review Session in Magna.

6. Assume one (1) consultation trip for the STAs per year to OTI/Washington for ten

(10) days.

7. Assume a one (1)-day start-up conference in Washington, DC, including additional orientation and training for the STAs for seven (7) days.

8. Assume a six-day work week for up to the first eight (8) weeks of the operational start-up phase.

9. Assume a six-day workweek, for four (4) weeks of Phase 3 Close-out for key close-out roles.