NOFO STEM_Climate_For Posting 3.25.2022.pdf

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 1

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI)

Women Overcoming the World’s Climate Crisis with STEM (WOW CCs)

CFDA Number: 19.801 Funding Opportunity Title: Women Overcoming the World’s Climate Crisis with STEM (WOW CCs) Announcement Type: Cooperative Agreement Anticipated Number of Awards: One (1) Funding: equal to $1,481,250 ESF Period of Performance: no more than 36 months / 3 years Deadline for proposal submission: 11:59 PM EST May 24, 2022

Deadline for question submission: 11:59 PM EST April 15, 2022 Federal Agency Contact: SGWIProjectProposals@state.gov

I. Project Description

The U.S. Department of State, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that build networks and/or civil society coalitions to strengthen women’s leadership in climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience efforts focusing on the use of STEM-based solutions and opportunities in the green and blue economies. The project will support the goals of the U.S Interim National Security Strategic Guidance1, National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality2, Executive Order 140203, and the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad4.

Project activities should strengthen women’s economic security by supporting and building women-led or gender-responsive networks between civil society organizations working to adapt to or mitigate climate change with individuals or organizations working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), utilizing participatory approaches that prioritize local solutions and inclusion of historically marginalized or underrepresented groups.

S/GWI seeks proposals from qualified organizations with demonstrated in-country experience in developing partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including grassroots organizations and the public and/or private sector. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to design, implement, monitor, evaluate, adapt, and learn in programming that

1 www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSC-1v2.pdf 2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-

Equality.pdf 3 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/08/executive-order-on-establishment-of-the-white-house-gender-policy-council/ 4 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 2 coordinates with existing efforts by U.S. government, other donors, the host country, and local actors.

All projects should lead to new and strengthened networks or coalitions to implement community-led solutions, including STEM-based solutions, that mitigate or adapt to the negative effects of climate change. Successful projects will be informed by an iterative, participatory gender and inclusion analysis; demonstrate, through practice and budget allocation, a commitment to meaningfully partnering and supporting local organizations, including those led by or serving women and marginalized groups; integrate practices to ensure the sustainability of efforts after funding ends; incorporate a Do No Harm approach, including through Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) provisions; safely and respectfully engage with all members of a community, including men and boys, gender-diverse persons, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and members of historically marginalized groups.

S/GWI leverages evidence-based analysis and learning from its programming to realize the Department’s integration of gender equality across its policies and programs. As such, proposals should incubate successful and rigorously monitored and evaluated solutions that can be shared and/or replicated elsewhere and prioritize strong local participation and ownership.

S/GWI works to ensure the integration of gender equality and the advancement of women and girls in U.S. foreign policy. S/GWI projects are designed to support and foster locally informed and implemented civil society-based solutions, inspiring and providing best practices to the Department to advance women’s equality and empowerment as a keystone of U.S. foreign policy. Learning will inform other U.S. policy, programs, and partnerships. S/GWI is dedicated to promoting human rights, fundamental freedoms, and equality for all and seeks partners that will strive to inclusively implement these democratic values.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Priority Region and Countries: Applicants must propose work equal to the planned funding amount in no fewer than two countries in the East Asia Pacific region5. Final country selection will be confirmed in consultation between the successful applicant and S/GWI. Additional countries - including from other regions –may be selected during project implementation pending availability of additional funding. Country selections may be subject to additional approvals and/or vetting.

The following countries are current priorities for this NOFO. Final country approval is subject to approval and funding restrictions:

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

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 3

Fiji Marshall Islands Papua New Guinea Timor-Leste

Indonesia Micronesia Philippines Tonga

Kiribati Mongolia Samoa Tuvalu

Laos Nauru Solomon Islands Vanuatu

Malaysia Palau Thailand Vietnam

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II. Funding Opportunity Description

Background Information:

The effects of the climate crisis are not gender neutral. Gender inequality exacerbates the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls and is a barrier to achieving the world’s climate goals, including the need to build the resilience and adaptive capacity of communities globally. These disproportionate effects result from a myriad of discriminatory practices, ranging from laws and regulations to harmful gender norms. Women and girls, particularly those who experience additional forms of marginalization, are significantly more likely to be endangered or die as a result of climate-related disasters.

Women are more likely to experience loss of educational opportunities and livelihoods due to the effects of climate change. Women and girls’ traditional roles and responsibilities related to food, water, and other natural resources will take longer to accomplish and introduce new risks of experiencing gender-based violence as natural resources become scarcer. These realities take women and girls away from school or jobs, restricting already limited opportunities to earn income. Additionally, women make up large portions of the labor force in many sectors that will be impacted by or have an impact on the climate crisis, such as agriculture, fishing, textiles, and tourism. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought, sudden inundation, health and environmentally damaging chemicals and farming practices, and changes in crop disease resulting from climate change all hinder women and girls' ability to farm, whether for subsistence or livelihood. Limitations on women’s land rights and tenure make them more susceptible to adverse possession of land or land seizures and prevents them from securing loans needed to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices or purchase climate-resistant seeds.

This project will be initiated in the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific region suffers regularly from natural disasters, including typhoons, hurricanes, and floods, the impacts and severity of which are exacerbated by climate change. The region is impacted by additional consequences of climate change, including shortages in food production, increases in public health crises, and internal displacement or migration to neighboring countries. These impacts further exacerbate existing gender inequality, including social and political marginalization, poor health outcomes (e.g., through malnutrition), and risks of gender-based violence.

Concurrently, across the Indo-Pacific, support to women or women-led organizations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields remains a need and is a priority for U.S. diplomatic, policy, and programmatic engagement, especially as STEM fields promise innovative solutions to climate challenges. As is evident in the APEC Women in STEM Principles and Actions, developed with U.S. input, “...women are underrepresented in STEM and their participation is vital to fully reach scientific, economic, and social potential.” Full participation of women in STEM fields is key to economic growth and gender diversity in STEM. Increased participation of women in

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STEM fields, especially in the development of STEM-based climate interventions, will result in more effective climate solutions for all of society.

Solutions to complex climate change problems faced by communities in the Indo-Pacific region require collective action from across multiple sectors, including climate-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) and STEM organizations and individuals.

Technological solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including climate-positive agricultural practices, renewable energy technologies, and protecting or regenerating local water cycles, among others, have leveraged the innovation, skills, and data of STEM. Solutions must be sustainably and inclusively designed, holistic, data-driven, and community-led.

Strategic Policy Framework:

The project resulting from this NOFO will support S/GWI’s implementation of the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. It will also further the priorities of the Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund, which was announced at the Generation Equality Forum.6 The GEEA Fund aims to advance women’s economic security and to employ a holistic approach to advancing gender-equitable and secure access to economic resources, services, and decision-making opportunities.

This project will specifically support the GEEA Fund priority to secure women’s economic security through building resilience to climate change, including through opportunities in the green and blue economies. This area of work would focus efforts to empower women and girls as change agents for future prosperity and economic growth through their role as leaders in climate adaptation, mitigation, and advocacy. It recognizes that successful and meaningful economic empowerment is contingent on a climate that sustains critical natural resources upon which women and girls around the world rely.

In support of this priority, the project may also address systemic gender barriers that prevent women’s full participation in the economy, including disproportionate unpaid care burdens and other barriers experienced by women in light of the COVID-19 context.

Human rights abuses and discriminatory gender and social norms – including gender-based violence, employer policies and practices, customary systems, and laws and regulations – limit the ability of women to be equal and catalytic economic actors.

Barriers can compound, necessitating an intersectional approach to ensure that women in marginalized populations are afforded equal access and opportunities. Furthermore, economic security can only be achieved if women’s safety and well-being are ensured, including through protection from gender-based violence as a precondition to women’s economic security.

The activities engaging and supporting religious, ethnic, or racial minorities, individuals with disabilities, or other historically marginalized and underrepresented/underserved

6 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/30/fact-sheet-united-states-to-announce-commitments-to-the-generation-equality-forum/

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 6 groups will support implementation of the State-USAID Joint Strategic Plan (publication forthcoming) Goal 3 Objective 2 on Equity and Inclusion, including as it relates to supporting the goals of: the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq), E.O. 14020 Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council, E.O.

13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, P.M. #NSM-4 Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons around the World, and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to promoting a world in which all individuals are treated fairly and equitably, adopting an intersectional approach that considers the barriers and challenges faced by those who experience intersecting and compounding forms of discrimination and bias related to gender, race, and other factors, including sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, ethnicity, religion, ability, age, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of identity that impact a person’s relative power, access, and ability to meaningfully participate in society. Intersectionality does not consider one characteristic to be a person’s primary source of marginalization but seeks to understand how multiple characteristics can compound and shape marginalization. Multiple marginalized communities are also affected by the broader existence of privilege and oppression in society. The design and implementation of this opportunity must reflect that commitment to equity and equality for all.

Applications must support the policy guidance described above, while complementing existing local and national initiatives.

Results Framework:

Theory of Change:

If local STEM and climate-focused civil society organizations build or strengthen women-led networks or coalitions to address the effects of climate change and have access to relevant capacity building and innovation funding, then they will be able to implement women-led, STEM-based climate solutions.

Goal:

Women-led or gender-responsive networks and coalitions are supported to implement community-led, STEM-informed solutions that mitigate or promote adaptation to the negative effects of climate change.

Objectives:

Applicants should propose objectives that:

1. Build and strengthen cross-sectoral networks. Strengthen existing, or facilitate new, collaborative networks or coalitions between CSOs, individual entrepreneurs, private sector businesses, and other community groups working to adapt to or mitigate the effects of climate change, with emphasis on women- or girl-led organizations, and those working to advance women in STEM within their countries and across their region.

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2. Support innovative climate change adaptation or mitigation solutions.

Provide support to the development and implementation of innovative, gender-responsive, and locally designed climate change adaptation or mitigation solutions, including through network action planning, led by local women in

STEM.

3. Support women climate innovators. Provide capacity building, innovation investments, and advocacy support for women innovators in the blue and green economies.

Illustrative activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Women-led network or coalition building through a collective needs assessment with facilitation by and leadership of local organizations focused on climate solutions and STEM;

• Gender-lens and inclusive organizational capacity building, including action planning, advocacy, and technical skill building;

• Community-based, gender-responsive climate adaptation or mitigation planning among network and coalition members;

• Small grant funding to network and coalition members proposing women-led adaptation or mitigation efforts utilizing technological or STEM-informed solutions within the blue or green economies;

• Pitch competition for women-led, STEM-based solutions within the blue or green economies;

• Support to women-led networks or coalitions participating in regional activities related to STEM and/or climate change (e.g. Climate Smart and Disaster Resilient ASEAN (CSDRA) or APEC Climate Symposium); and/or

• Amplify the accomplishments of network/coalition members during implementation, including through S/GWI’s Innovation Station women innovators network, thereby exposing project beneficiaries to innovators in other regions.

Intended Results:

Possible intended results may include, but are not limited to:

• Women-led civil society organizations focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation and women in STEM have established networks or coalitions for coordination, information sharing, and activity implementation across both sectors of work.

• Civil society organizations focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation and STEM have increased capacity in gender mainstreaming, advocacy, action planning, and technical skills.

• Women-led networks or coalitions of civil society organizations focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation and STEM implement innovative, women-led, STEM-based climate change mitigation or adaptation activities.

• Networks or coalitions of civil society organizations focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation and STEM actively participate in women-led or gender-responsive advocacy efforts in national, regional, and/or global fora.

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• Civil society organizations focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation and STEM adopt gender-responsive plans and policies to support members, including women and members of historically marginalized groups, in addressing climate change impacts.

• Male leaders and/or stakeholders in STEM and climate solutions understand and support the essential contribution of women in STEM and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Indicators:

See Annex C for a list of possible indicators to include.

III. Proposal Requirements

Please read the entire NOFO and utilize the provided checklist in order ensure a complete proposal. In addition to referencing Annexes A (Relevant Statutory Language), B (Bureau-Specific Award Provisions) and C (Indicators), applicants must include the following for this proposal submission:

1. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A and SF424B and SF-LLL forms.

Applicants under consideration for an award that may engage in lobbying activities will be required to submit a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-

LLL) form. The SF-424 documents collect basic information on the applicant, the proposed project, the funding amount requested, and information about the announcement to which it is applying;

2. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed 15 pages, single-spaced, 12-point Times New

Roman font in Microsoft Word, at least one-inch margins). Use of the S/GWI proposal narrative format is recommended, but not required. Proposal narrative must include:

• the problem the applicant seeks to address;

• the planned countries for the project;

• the implementation context, including any relevant details on the socio-political environment and target beneficiaries, not including refugee or IDP camp settings7;

• how the proposal meets required U.S. Congressional directives, strategies, and policy goals described herein;

• how the proposal design plans for local engagement and sustainability;

and,

• the applicant’s organizational and team capabilities, experience, capacity, and geographic reach.

3. Summary and Detailed Budget in USD, in Excel, using the format shown in the included budget template. Please note support for the establishment of new in-

7 S/GWI funds are different from, but are intended to complement, other USG funds that working specifically with refugee camp populations.

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 9 country offices is not envisioned under this project. Budget must maximize the portion of funding, activities, and in-kind support dedicated to in-country women’s organizations and their activities (no less than 25%).

4. Detailed Budget Narrative (not to exceed 6 pages, single-spaced, 12-point

Times New Roman font in Microsoft Word, at least one-inch margins) that includes an explanation for each line item in the spreadsheet, as well as the source and description of any cost share offered. Directions on completing a budget narrative are included. Use of the S/GWI budget narrative template is recommended but not required;

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan detailing project’s short-term and long-term goal(s), objective(s), activities, outputs, intended results, and notional targets; provide corresponding indicators and explain how impact and effectiveness will be monitored, evaluated, and used for learning and adaptation throughout the program. Directions on completing a MEL plan are included. Use of the S/GWI MEL plan template is recommended but not required.

The MEL plan must include:

• A notional logic model/results framework8 and performance monitoring plan (PMP), including a succinct Theory of Change and a streamlined set of indicators at each of the following levels: objective, intermediate outcome, and output. Please find in Annex C to the NOFO a chart of standard U.S. Foreign Assistance (FA) indicators that S/GWI commonly uses for programming. In addition to designing their own indicators, applicants should integrate the most relevant indicators from this list into their MEL plan, as appropriate;

• A description of how the project will be monitored and analyzed for impact, effectiveness, learning, adaptation and to avoid unintended consequences;

• A timeline for data collection, analysis, and how this will inform midstream program management;

• A rigorous plan for compiling, documenting, and disseminating program results and lessons learned;

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• An independent evaluation, elaborating on the type (quasi-experimental, developmental, outcome harvesting, process tracing, etc.) While the type of evaluation is flexible, State Department guidance requires it to be independent9;

• The resources, including budget, needed to implement the MEL plan;

• A demonstrated commitment to inclusive and equitable MEL, including whether evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting and learning are conducted in an ethical, participatory, and responsible way10; and

• Adequate provisions for data security to protect the privacy of human subjects when collecting data from individuals.

6. Implementation Timeline (not to exceed one [1] page), indicating which month(s) activities are to be implemented. The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and project closeout. Use of the S/GWI timeline template is recommended but not required;

7. Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan detailing adequate risk analysis and remediation for all of its operations. Risk assessment and mitigation planning should occur throughout the life of a project, resulting in revisions to risk analysis documents and processes as necessary but at lease annually. Applicants should include all assumptions and external factors in the risk analysis, including and especially safety and security of staff, participants and beneficiaries, as well as, technology. Applicants should rate the likelihood of a risk and potential impact of the risk as “High,” “Medium,” or “Low.”

Risks are unavoidable – all projects inherently contain both internal and external risks. However, with proper identification and management, risks can be prepared for, minimized, or mitigated. The purpose of a risk analysis is to identify the internal and external risks associated with the proposed project in the application, rate the likelihood of the risks, rate the potential impact of the risks on the project, and identify actions that could help mitigate the risks. S/GWI’s SAMPLE Risk Assessment template is provided, but S/GWI also welcomes more detailed models;

8. Gender and Inclusion Analysis (not to exceed 3 pages per benefitting country, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font in Microsoft Word, at least one-inch margins), identifying relevant gender gaps and opportunities and ways the work will address those gaps and opportunities. The analysis should also demonstrate sound approaches to inclusion, including but not limited to ethnic and religious minorities, women with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps enhance the

9 An independent evaluation must be (1) conducted by a third-party external evaluator or conducted by the recipient if those responsible for the evaluation do not report to any program staff or managers, and (2) budgeted and scoped to provide insight and analysis of the work.

10 For best practices, see the WHO ethical and safety recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring sexual violence in emergencies

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 11 project’s goals and objectives and how the gender and inclusion analysis will be revisited, updated, and adapted throughout implementation. In addition to being weaved into the proposal narrative, this should also be a standalone document and attached to the application. The S/GWI SAMPLE Gender Analysis Questions are provided in Appendix 9 of this NOFO package, but S/GWI also welcomes more detailed models;

9. Additional attachments may be included, (letters of commitment from the applicant institution and sub-award partners, CVs of key personnel, program experience, etc.) but should not be unreasonably lengthy; and will not count against page limitations;

10. If your organization has a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file;

11. A PDF file copy of your organization’s most recent financial audit; and

12. Number all pages, including budget and addenda.

Additional Information Requested:

If successful, the applicant must submit after notification of intent to make a federal award, but prior to issuance of a federal award:

● Completion of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving S/GWI funding for the first time;

● Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if receiving S/GWI funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided);

and

● Other requested information or documents included in the notification of intent to make a federal award or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a federal award.

Substantial Involvement:

Applicants should be aware that if their application results in an award, S/GWI will be involved in the program and management performance of the grant in the form of a cooperative agreement, which allows S/GWI consultation and technical collaboration rights on specified project activities. Examples of substantial involvement can include:

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

b. Coordination with U.S. government stakeholders and partners on programming and efforts around women’s economic participation;

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

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d. Approval of communication and branding strategies to inform public-facing materials, social media, and publications;

e. Approval of Terms of Reference (TOR) or scope for program evaluations;

f. Approval of hiring/opportunity announcements and selection/assignment of technical experts, including but not limited to key personnel;

g. Approval of the MEL plan(s) for the Recipient and sub-award recipients;

h. Collaboration in assessing progress and identifying issues that might affect the success of the program; and

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

Incremental Funding and Non-Competing Continuation:

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

and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Department of State.

Pending successful implementation of this project and pending the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, S/GWI may add incremental funding and/or extend the award for additional time, not to exceed a five (5) year total period. In future, S/GWI may seek expansion of this project to include additional regions.

IV. Funding Restrictions

This cooperative agreement will be funded from money appropriated under the “Economic Support Fund” (ESF) heading in the Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, 2021 (Div. K, P.L. 116-260) (SFOAA). ESF is available for foreign assistance programs supporting economic or political stability, among other things. No assistance may be used to benefit foreign military or paramilitary groups.

Given restrictions under section 660 of the FAA, assistance may be provided to law enforcement forces only under certain circumstances. Activities that involve assistance to law enforcement will be subject to vetting to ensure compliance with section 620M of the FAA (“Leahy Vetting“).

The recipient is reminded that funds provided under this agreement must be used in a manner fully consistent with U.S. law, including all applicable restrictions on the use of foreign assistance. The recipient agrees that none of the funds provided by this award shall be used to lobby for or against abortion. The recipient agrees that none of the funds provided by this award shall be used to pay for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions.

The following activities and costs will not be allowable:

• Construction

• Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns.

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• Engagement with religious leaders and communities is encouraged; however, direct support or the appearance of direct support for any religious organization for the sole purposes of promoting religious beliefs cannot be included for funding.

• Military assistance of any kind, including weapons buy back or rewards programs.

• Purchase of firearms, ammunition, or removal of unexploded ordnance.

• Payments for any partner government, military, or civilian government employee salary or pension.

• Duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

• Funds for market research, advertising (unless public service related to grant) or other promotional expenses.

• U.S.-based activities, study tours, scholarships, or exchange projects.

• Initiatives directed towards a permanent diaspora community as ultimate beneficiaries.

• Projects that have a predominant academic or basic research focus.

• Social welfare projects that purely provide service-delivery or humanitarian assistance.

• Costs incurred to complete activities begun with other funds.

• Medical and psychological research or clinical studies using human subjects.

• Projects exclusively of a commercial or profit-making nature.

• Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, or festivals, etc. unless they have a specific programmatic purpose.

• Entertainment costs (e.g., receptions, social activities, ceremonies, guided tours) unless they have a specific programmatic purpose.

V. Technical Eligibility and Submission Instructions

Eligible Applicants:

Organizations submitting applications must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S.- or foreign-based non-profit/non-governmental organization (NGO); or

• Be a private, public, or state institution of higher education; and

• Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active and equitable partnerships with in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including NGOs and private sector actors; and

• Have demonstrable experience administering successful and preferably similar programs in size, scope, and focus. S/GWI reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.

Ineligible Beneficiaries:

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Given restrictions on funding, no assistance under this NOFO will be provided for military or paramilitary forces. Likewise, no assistance under this NOFO will be provided for law enforcement. Assistance for law enforcement may only be provided in certain limited circumstances. Civil society should generally be the primary beneficiaries of the program. Additional restrictions may apply to certain countries or activities. As noted above, country selections may be subject to additional approvals. Any assistance under this NOFO must comply with all applicable legal restrictions.

Public International Organizations (PIOs) are not eligible to apply as prime applicants under this NOFO, though they may partner on a proposal as a sub-awardee.

S/GWI maintains an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.

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

Project activities must take place outside the United States.

No entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award

Management (SAM) is eligible for assistance or can participate in any activities under an award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

All prime applicant organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number – formerly referred to as a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number – and an active SAM.gov registration before submitting an application. S/GWI may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and

SAM.gov requirements. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. The 2 CFR 200 requires that subgrantees obtain a UEI number. Please note that the UEI for subgrantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before the award is processed and/or directed to a subgrantee.

All prime organizations must also continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency. Please note that a “pending renewal” registration status will not be considered “active.” SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, S/GWI may determine that the applicant is technically ineligible to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Note: The process for obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration has changed.

S/GWI encourages all organizations to begin the process of registering or renewing

S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 15 with SAM.gov as early as possible. The registration process may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks on average.

• If you are based in the United States or pay employees within the United States, prior to registering in SAM.gov you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, and a UEI number from Dun and Bradstreet.

• If you are based outside of the United States and do not pay employees within the United States, you do not need an EIN from the IRS. Prior to registering in SAM.gov you will need a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code and UEI number from Dun and Bradstreet.

Legal Business Name and Banking Physical Address (entities must ensure that the physical address used is the same physical address used when establishing the primary banking account and that both addresses match) must be precise and match exactly when entering it into the IRS, D&B DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov websites. Legal Business Name and Banking Physical Address given must be exactly the same—this includes spaces, parentheses, capitalization, small letters, punctuation, letters with accents, etc.;

other features not commonly used in U.S. English should be avoided. A mismatch of information will cause validation to fail.

Note: SAM.gov is not the same as SAMS Domestic. It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different.

In October 2017, new information was added to the SAM.gov website to help international registrations, including “Quick Start Guide for International Registrations” and “Helpful Hints.” Navigate to SAM.gov, click Help in the top navigation bar, then click International Registrants in the left navigation panel. Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change. Applicants should review the website for the most up-to-date guidance.

An exemption from these requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grant Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

Note: Foreign organizations will be required to register with the NATO Support

Agency (NSPA) to receive a NCAGE code in order to register in SAM.gov. NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable National Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NATO or Tier 2 Sponsored Non-NATO Nation. As of October 2019, NATO nations included Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, S/GWI Notice of Funding Opportunity 16

Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. As of October 2019, Tier 2 nations included Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, Singapore, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine.

NSPA and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code information to all Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of October 2019 also included Afghanistan, Belarus, Bosnia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Egypt, Georgia, Japan, Jordan, North Macedonia, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Thailand.

All organizations are strongly advised to take this into consideration when assessing whether registration may result in possible endangerment.

Cost Sharing or Matching:

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

When cost sharing is offered, all cost share or matching must be included in detail in the line item budget and noted in the budget narrative. It is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing that it elects to stipulate in its proposal and that is later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, recipients must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as their contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with 2 CFR 200.306 – Cost Sharing and Matching.

Other:

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM)(www.sam.gov) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally no entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM can participate in any activities under an award. All organizations are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

Organization Criteria:

● Applicants should have existing, or demonstrate the capacity to develop, active partnerships with in-country entities and relevant stakeholders including women’s civil society networks, other civil society actors, the public sector, and the private sector, as relevant to the proposed project objectives. However, one organization must be designated as the lead applicant and prime grantee for the proposed cooperative agreement.

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● Applicants must demonstrate an ability to provide appropriate resources and support for the psychosocial health of staff (i.e. access to educational materials, training opportunities, counseling services, or other contextually-relevant support)

▪ References: For reference to international guidance, please see the following:

Core Humanitarian Standard Commitment 8.9 (https://corehumanitarianstandard.org/files/files/CHS-Guidance-Notesand- Indicators.pdf); and IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and

▪ Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings Action Sheet 4.4 (http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_healt h_psychosocial_june_2007.pdf).

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

● The Department of State generally prohibits profit under its assistance awards to for-profit or commercial organizations. No funds will be paid as profit to any recipient. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The permissibility of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR Part 30, Cost Accounting Standards, and Part 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures. Project income earned by the recipient must be deducted from the total project allowable cost in determining the net allowable costs on which the federal share of costs is based.

Application and Submission Information

Address to Request Application Package:

Please contact the S/GWI Programs Team at SGWIProjectProposals@state.gov if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons. Please note: reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

The applicant can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on SAMS Domestic under the Funding Opportunity entitled “Women Overcoming the

World’s Climate Crisis with STEM (WOW CCs),” solicitation number SFOP0008781.

Key Registrations:

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

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

● Obtain necessary codes: for non-U.S. organizations, an NCAGE code at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx; if based in the U.S or pay employees within the U.S., an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

● Register for an individual account for your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov): https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/

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

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

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure an active registration in SAMS Domestic. Applicants are required to document that the application has been received in its entirety by SAMS Domestic. S/GWI bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for system errors in SAMS Domestic, or other errors in the application process.

Organizations must maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or application under consideration by a federal award agency. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time S/GWI is ready to make an award, the applicant may be deemed unqualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the proposal has been submitted in its entirety to SAMS Domestic and sent via email. S/GWI bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Should any safety or security concerns arise regarding registration within any of the above required systems, please contact the S/GWI Programs team (SGWIProposals@state.gov) for assistance.

Designated Performance and Integrity System (currently FAPIIS)

The Department of State, prior to making a federal award with a total amount of federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).

The applicant has the option to review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.

The Department of State will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by the applicant as described in §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

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Submission Dates and Times:

The application is due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), on May 24, 2022 on SAMS Domestic under the Funding Opportunity “Women Overcoming the World’s

Climate Crisis with STEM (WOW CCs),” solicitation number SFOP0008781.

S/GWI will not accept applications submitted via grants.gov, email, fax, the postal system, delivery companies, or couriers.

Applicants will receive a validation email from SAMS Domestic upon successful submission of an application. Additionally, applicants must save a screenshot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered unless S/GWI is contacted prior to the deadline and is provided with evidence of system errors caused by SAMS Domestic that is outside of the applicants’ control and is the sole reason for late submission.

Applicants should not expect a notification upon S/GWI receiving their application.

Application Review Information:

Proposal submissions in response to this announcement should include information addressing each of the evaluation criteria below. Each proposal will be evaluated and rated based on the criteria (see below), which are designed to assess the organizational capacity of the applicant and the merits of the proposed project. The criteria are closely related, and evaluators will consider the criteria as a whole in judging the application.

Panelists review each application individually against the evaluation criteria, not against competing proposals.

In most cases, the Department of State Review Panel includes inter-agency representatives from S/GWI, the appropriate Department regional bureau, relevant functional bureaus, and USAID Washington. S/GWI requests feedback on applications from the appropriate U.S. embassies and USAID missions for the panelists’ consideration. In some cases, additional panelists may participate, including from other Department bureaus or offices, U.S.