DFOP0017890 GHSD Advancing Global Health APS Child Protection Addendum.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

Annual Program Statement Addendum

Child Development, Care, and Protection

U.S Department of State Bureau of Global Health and Security and Diplomacy (GHSD)

A. Basic Information

1. Overview

The Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) of the U.S. Department of State invites organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a project (or projects) to measurably improve the safety, development and well-being of children in highly vulnerable situations, particularly those who are living without adequate family care.

The purpose of this addendum is to indicate specific areas where the Department of State would like to receive statements of interest. Submission instructions are included in the “Advancing

Global Health” Annual Program Statement (APS). The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise SOI clearly communicating project ideas and objectives. Importantly, this is not a full proposal and will not result in a federal assistance award at this step.

The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit project ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application.

Funding Opportunity Title Advancing Global Health

Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0017890

Addendum Title Child Development, Care and Protection

Deadline for Questions 11:59 pm EST March 27

SOI Due Date 11:59 pm EST May 31

Number of awards anticipated Up to 5

Total available funding Up to $52,650,000 pending funding availability

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in five years or less.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

As noted in the “Advancing Global Health” APS, the Department of State may opt to utilize a consultative program design process for certain Addenda. SOIs submitted under this Addendum may be recommended for continued review through consultative program design prior to recommendation for funding and submission of phase 2. Additional details about the consultative program design process can be found in the main APS document within Section F:

“Application Review Information.”

2. Executive Summary

The Department of State invites interested organizations to submit SOIs to address the needs of children vulnerable to violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect, and to promote safe, nurturing family environments for children worldwide. This programming aims to align with global best practices, prioritizing a child-centered approach that strengthens families and child protection systems, while expanding the availability and quality of family-based care options where necessary. The anticipated projects under this Addendum will support government partners and local organizations develop the social service workforce to provide essential services to children and families. Successful SOIs will demonstrate a clear understanding of systemic vulnerabilities and propose evidence-based interventions to improve child well-being outcomes. In doing so, this Addendum ensures U.S. foreign assistance delivers measurable results that protect vulnerable children, strengthen families, and promote stability in partner countries – contributing to safer, more self-reliant societies that align with U.S. interests and values.

B. Program Description

The prevalence of child abuse, exploitation, and neglect poses a significant global threat to child safety and development. Many countries lack the comprehensive national and local systems required to adequately protect children and respond effectively to their needs. In addition, early childhood is a critical stage of human development, with 90% of brain development occurring by age 5. Promoting developmental stimulation in conjunction with nutrition and health services is cost-effective and results in better outcomes for children than either alone. This Addendum is designed to support family strengthening and approaches to promote children’s development, care and protection, focusing on both prevention and response. It also seeks to move away from outdated models of residential care by investing in family-based alternatives where required, such as foster care and kinship care. The Department of State, through the Bureau of Global

Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), is committed to partnering with organizations that can drive sustainable, long-term systemic change that ensures every child can grow up in a safe, nurturing, and protective family. Such efforts are aligned with the America First foreign policy vision for foreign assistance, outlined in the Department’s Agency Strategic Plan (FY26-30), and advance this Administration’s commitment to protecting children at all stages of life and promoting family values.

1. Goals and Objectives

The topline goal of this Addendum is to significantly improve the safety and well-being of vulnerable children and their families globally by strengthening national child protection systems and approaches that promote children’s development, care, and protection, focusing on both prevention and response.

Objective 1: Strengthen Child Protection Systems: Develop and implement effective laws and policies to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect, including online risks, trafficking, child marriage, and child labor. Support the frontline workforce serving extremely vulnerable children and families. This involves building the capacity of the social service workforce to identify vulnerable children experiencing harm or separation and provide emergency and supportive response services, including case management, temporary care (foster or kinship), family reunification, medical care, and assistance with basic and life-saving needs.

Objective 2: Implement comprehensive programs to prevent malnutrition and poor development during the critical 1,000 days (conception to age two), including interventions fostering secure, stimulating parent-child relationships. Provide intensive services for the most vulnerable parents and children via referral mechanisms and home-visiting programs offering integrated support: health, nutrition, nurturing care, family/economic strengthening, and psychosocial support.

Objective 3: Prevent child-family separation and reduce reliance on residential care:

Implement evidence-based family strengthening programs focusing on economic empowerment, parental skill-building, and connecting vulnerable families to social services to keep children safely with their families. Where needed, expand and improve family-based care by increasing the availability and quality of safe and monitored family-based options, such as foster and kinship care and other care reform measures.

2. Guiding Principles This Addendum is guided by principles ensuring all programming is ethical, sustainable, and child-centered:

• Child-Centered, Trauma-Informed, and 'Do No Harm': All interventions must prioritize the best interest of the child and safeguard children from potential harm.

• Capacity Building and Sustainability: Programming must focus on strengthening the capacity of local and national partners, including national governments where appropriate and feasible, ensuring that systems and services remain effective long after the project period ends.

• Evidence-Based and Adaptable: Proposed activities must be informed by the best available evidence and adapted to the specific cultural and policy context of the host country.

• Coordination and Collaboration: Activities should be coordinated with other international and national actors, including relevant UN agencies and local organizations, to avoid duplication and maximize collective impact on child development, care and protection