Supporting Syrian Independent Media NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

Office of Assistance Coordination Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.601

Supporting Syrian Independent Media Opportunity Number: SFOP0009333

Key Information:

Announcement Type: New Date Opened: January 12, 2023 Deadline for Questions: January 26, 2023 Application Deadline: February 16, 2023 Expected Date of Notification: March 31, 2023 Federal Agency Contact: NEA-Grants@state.gov

Funding Opportunity Synopsis The Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) aims to support programming to improve access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate, and locally relevant information as a means to empower citizens, promote accountability, and counter violent extremist narratives.

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to advance the following U.S.

Government policy priorities in Syria:

Ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and al-Qaeda to counter violent extremism;

Support ceasefire agreements to reduce violence;

Expand humanitarian access and the delivery of humanitarian aid across Syria;

Promote long-term, locally led, and internationally supported approaches to transitional justice, accountability, and reconciliation; and, Advance a political solution to the Syrian conflict under the auspices of United Nations

Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254.

NEA/AC aims to advance these policy objectives by supporting the following assistance objectives:

Improve access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate, and locally relevant information, including through expansion of digital media delivery, to empower citizens, promote accountability, and counter violent extremist narratives;

Counter disinformation perpetuated by designated terrorist organizations and other malign actors through support for professional Syrian media outlets;

Improve Syrian media outlets’ capabilities to counter regime-affiliated disinformation efforts in Syria, and enhance the ability of Syrians to recognize disinformation;

Advance human rights and empower marginalized populations, including underserved or minority populations, returnees, and displaced persons, with a particular focus on women and youth, by expanding access to unbiased, professional reporting;

Address gender, and gender inclusion, as a cross-cutting strategic priority within the media landscape, and the intersectionality of gender as vital and necessary to achieving sustained economic growth and security;

Support coverage of the Syrian political process to facilitate transparency and enhance public understanding and citizens’ engagement;

Build journalistic production and management capacity, improve media ethics and standards, promote partner sustainability models and trainings, and expand the broadcast and online reach of independent media stations in Syria;

Increase the ability of independent journalists to operate safely and effectively in conflict and high-risk areas; and

Promote stability and counter disinformation within internally displaced person (IDP) camps, by providing access to independent media inside the camp as well as programming geared toward helping returnees integrate into their local communities.

Assistance to local media platforms and practitioners who support professional, independent, and ethical journalistic practices continues to be an essential component of the U.S. strategy in Syria.

Since 2011, numerous local media stations and hundreds of media platforms proliferated in territory outside regime-controlled areas and abroad. Professional media organizations continue to grow organically, but support from international donors remains essential to sustain wide-ranging and impactful programming. Development of an independent media environment that encourages and supports ethical, professional journalistic practices will lead to a better informed, empowered citizenry more open to a healthy exchange of ideas and less susceptible to malign influence through the propagation of disinformation. By furthering these outcomes, the project aims to counter violent extremist narratives and enhance security and stability in Syria, with an emphasis on areas formerly controlled by ISIS. By its very nature, media production is inherently adaptable, and transmission of information and reporting can reach deep into restricted spaces. As communities liberated from ISIS control attempt to rebuild and overcome years of ISIS rule, Syrian media stations are expanding their reach to fill the information void and support moderate, pluralistic, and accurate discourse.

All applications must be submitted in English. Complete information on how applicants can submit proposals for this opportunity can be found in Section VI below.

Applicants should read this NOFO in its entirety before writing their proposal, and should refer to the full Evaluation Criteria provided in Section VII while drafting all materials.

Eligible Countries and Territories In this announcement, we seek to support activities focused on Syria. The project should be implemented from a third country, with a strong justification for why that country was chosen.

NEA/AC requires that applicants be in sound legal standing with appropriate government authorities in the country where the project will be managed at the time of award of this funding opportunity. Key overseas personnel must be co-located, while consideration should be taken for minimizing the need for expatriate and/or Third-Country National staff and operational costs.

Award recipients will be required to maintain legal standing throughout the life of the award, including for any sub-grant made under its auspices. Please note: Applications that focus on activities for countries and territories other than those listed will NOT be considered.

Background Information about NEA/AC The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Federal assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. The Assistance Coordination Office works in 20 countries and territories, partnering with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists and private sector groups to advance their efforts. Competitively selected projects aim to foster participatory governance, economic reform, and educational advancement in response to local interest and needs.

Table of Contents

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

C. PROJECT DESIGN

D. GENDER INTEGRATION

E. DEFINITIONS

II. MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

III. AWARD INFORMATION

IV. SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

V. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

VI. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

VII. FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

A. AWARDS TO COMMERCIAL FIRMS OR FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

B. AUDIT REQUIREMENTS

C. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL FUNDING REGULATIONS AND DOS TERMS AND CONDITIONS ... 22

VIII. APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

IX. ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

C. TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

D. APPLICANT VETTING AS A CONDITION OF AWARD

E. SPECIAL PROVISION FOR PERFORMANCE IN A DESIGNATED COMBAT AREA (SPOT) REQUIREMENTS

F. BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

G. UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

X. AGENCY CONTACTS

XI. DISCLAIMER

APPENDICES (Posted with NOFO)

APPENDIX 1— Budget Sample Template and Budget Narrative Guidance APPENDIX 2— Logic Model Template APPENDIX 3— Results Monitoring Plan APPENDIX 4— Application Guidance

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Since 2012, the Department of State has assisted in the development of independent Syrian-led media by providing equipment, capacity-building, and financial and technical support to independent radio and TV broadcasters and online outlets. Media partners have the capacity to reach the vast majority of Syria’s pre-war population, and a 2022 media consumption survey showed that NEA/AC-supported outlets were consistently ranked as among the most trusted and frequented news sources in their local areas. Support to independent media continues to enable real-time access to hyper-local news and credible information, particularly during emergency or conflict situations, and as malign groups and the Assad regime continue to utilize disinformation platforms to exploit regional and ethnic tensions, recruit terrorists and other violent extremists, and strengthen networks of support for malign actors. Independent media continues to be a source of alternative accounts of news and events and enables channels for discourse among Syrian political opposition and the Syrian diaspora to reach local audiences directly. The value of the independent media landscape is a direct result of the U.S. strategy to protect outlets’ editorial independence and freedom, with content not focused or co-opted by groups with malign agendas.

Through this award, it is expected that the recipient will establish a sub-grant mechanism to allow Syrian media outlets and content producers to submit proposals and compete for funding in support of programming and special initiatives. Calls for proposals will be developed to support the production of news and current affairs output, and around certain topics and themes, such as, but not limited to: countering disinformation, multimedia content, investigative reports or programs that support gender equity; youth empowerment and climate change; reintegration of returnees and displaced citizens; accountability or civic priorities; public service announcements;

and, short documentaries. NEA/AC anticipates sub-grants will support social media, audio, and visual content. This proposal solicitation process will support creativity, cost savings, and healthy competition. Calls for proposals can also be used to encourage collaboration, program-sharing, and wider distribution, as well as a transition towards digital and online content production. Additionally, the proposal to NEA/AC can seek to support original journalism and sales of content to regional media outlets and will seek to encourage stations to diversify their funding sources as a way of safeguarding their independence and enhancing sustainability.

This project will continually assess the capabilities and needs of each selected beneficiary outlet within the Syrian media market. Successful applicants of this NOFO will demonstrate how their organizational strengths will contribute to ongoing capacity-building and content production trainings for beneficiary media partners. Building journalists’ skills and training to improve editorial processes and standards will be an important feature of the capacity-building component. Capacity-building will include outlet-specific trainings for cross-cutting issues like editorial standards and basic journalistic practices, and mixed-group trainings for a wide range of specialized technical fields, such as digital security management for information technology (IT) directors, writing, and picture or video editing for videographers. This approach will also include financial, human resources, and editorial management, as well as digital and physical safety, and will provide assistance to partner outlets on developing safe standard operating procedures (SOPs), contingency plans, and psychosocial self-care support. Capacity- building will include approaches to provide training remotely for journalists working inside Syria.

Applicants should submit proposals for the media project as a whole, encompassing all of the assistance objectives above. NEA/AC seeks proposals to carry out targeted assistance programming in partnership with local media entities to: strengthen the organizational capacity of the independent media sector; provide access to accurate and reliable information; counter violent extremist narratives and disinformation; address the needs of women and youth; support the political transition process; amplify moderate voices; and, promote human rights, justice, accountability, and social cohesion. Proposals shall also present options for promoting professional independent media in Syria.

Applicants must take into consideration that award activities will be coordinated through the Syria Regional Platform (SRP) in Turkey and NEA/AC in Washington, D.C. Each applicant must present a plan on how it will be flexible and responsive to time-sensitive requirements as well as monitor and evaluate activities inside Syria. Applicants should consider the context of Syria’s dynamic and challenging operating environment in their proposals, especially in terms of project implementation and monitoring. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct baseline and needs assessments of potential Syrian beneficiaries. The award mechanism will be a cooperative agreement, with substantial involvement from NEA/AC and SRP in the recipient’s implementation of this project. As such, NEA/AC and SRP staff will work closely with the recipient and provide direction regarding planned beneficiaries of assistance, including but not limited to the selection of beneficiary organizations and scope of programming.

Applicants must have experience implementing programs in conflict and/or restrictive media environments, ideally including experience working on or in Syria. Applicants must detail their ability to: deliver cash into Syria; provide technical assistance training and delivery or procurement of broadcast equipment inside of Syria; manage stabilization projects in complex environments; produce analytical research on conflict dynamics; and, conduct continuous monitoring and evaluation.

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Decades of authoritarian rule and restrictions on political and social life outside of state-sanctioned activity severely hindered the growth and development of an independent Syrian media environment. In 2011, civil demonstrations protesting the Syrian regime catalyzed the growth of independent media outlets and broadcasters, many of whom operate in Syrian territory outside the regime’s control and among expatriate Syrian communities in neighboring countries.

Concurrently, the Syrian regime, Russia, and Iran launched a concerted and coordinated disinformation campaign intended to distort understanding of the conflict, undercut stabilization efforts, and impede progress toward a political resolution to the conflict under UNSCR 2254.

Over a decade of brutal conflict in Syria has brought enormous suffering and challenges to Syrian civilians including: mass displacement due to violence by the regime and other armed actors; gross human rights violations and politically motivated detentions and killings; the emergence of violent extremist groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates; fragmented opposition governance and military structures; acute shortages of basic needs such as food and shelter; and a collapse of essential service infrastructure and economic opportunities, among others. Facing and overcoming these challenges requires an informed and aware citizenry able to detect and reject misinformation campaigns and malign groups’ recruitment efforts to participate in violent extremist activities.

The current media environment in Syria is deeply polarized and fragmented between pro-regime and opposition outlets, as well as Kurdish and Arabic-language outlets, posing challenges for independent media that seeks to provide balanced coverage and build trust across divergent constituencies. Propaganda efforts by violent extremist groups and systematic disinformation operations by the Syrian regime, Russia, and Iran distort understanding of the conflict, undercut stabilization efforts, and impede progress toward achieving a peaceful political transition under UNSCR 2254. Stability and a sustainable resolution to the conflict require Syrians of all backgrounds to have access to moderate, balanced, non-sectarian sources of news and information in order to contribute effectively to a political resolution in the best interests of the Syrian people.

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

A successful proposal will demonstrate how to best support the independent media landscape in addressing the challenges and needs enumerated above. Proposed project activities should achieve the following objectives:

Improve independent media platforms’ capacity, journalistic production and management to ensure access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate, and locally relevant information, to empower citizens, promote accountability, and counter violent extremist narratives; and

Counter disinformation perpetuated by designated by the Assad regime, terrorist organizations and other malign actors through support for professional Syrian media outlets

C. PROJECT DESIGN

This solicitation invites proposals from applicants with experience implementing media programming in restrictive and/or conflict environments, ideally in Syria. Successful proposals shall describe a clear theory of change integrating all project objectives into a coherent and convincing project that advances U.S. Syria objectives. Applicants should also articulate approaches to identifying any appropriate partners and relevant activities to advance project objectives. Additionally, proposals should explain a logical approach to delivering training and organizational capacity-building support to Syrian media entities based in Syria, Turkey, or elsewhere, and describe how the impact of these efforts will be assessed. Proposals should demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the particular challenges and opportunities to build capacity and sustainability, as well as enhance the market position of media entities.

Furthermore, proposals should elaborate on strategies to improve the media program offerings of Syrian partners, enhance the resonance and appeal of content, and increase audience share.

Applicants should also describe mechanisms for monitoring and providing feedback on station performance and content, both to ensure professional standards and to guide capacity building and development. Additionally, applicants should outline how the reach and market share of Syrian partners will be assessed. NEA/AC welcomes evidence-based approaches to achieving project objectives.

Applicants should consider how to foster productive relationships between media outlets, as well as between media outlets and local governance entities and civil society organizations in Syria.

Additionally, NEA/AC requires that all activities fully address gender considerations, ensuring that both men and women benefit from support and that gender awareness is built into all project activities. This should be documented by a gender analysis that identifies relevant gender gaps and ways the activity will address those gaps. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps will enhance the project’s goals and objectives.

Support Media Subaward Activities Assistance may include, but is not limited to, subgrants to established and emerging Syrian media outlets in order to:

Enhance the reach and appeal of sources of accurate, trusted, and locally relevant news and information for Syrian citizens;

Support moderate voices and counter the violent extremist ideology and influence of ISIS, the Assad regime, and other malign actors;

Expose and counter state-backed disinformation operations that distort understanding of the Syrian conflict;

Support programming to enhance social cohesion and community reconciliation in non-regime controlled areas, with a special emphasis on women and youth;

Support programming to raise awareness, enhance understanding and support opportunities for civil engagement in the political transition process under UNSCR 2254;

Promote accountability and bolster the transparency of local governance entities, especially to provide an alternative to violent extremist groups;

Improve the organizational capacity, structure, production and editorial processes and standards of Syrian independent media outlets; and

Provide equipment and technical assistance to enhance the capacity of Syrian media organizations to reach target audiences.

Project Priorities NEA/AC seeks applications that address the unique conditions found in the following priority areas:

Syria-Wide: State-backed propaganda and disinformation operations, led by the Syrian regime, Russia, Iran, and other malign actors are a pervasive feature of the information landscape in Syria. These purveyors of disinformation create false narratives by distorting the reality of events on the ground, fabricating stories and misrepresenting events, locations, and timelines, often through use of out of context images and videos.

Efforts seek to sow confusion, undermine stabilization efforts in northeast Syria, erode international support for the Syrian opposition, and weaken measures to isolate and hold the Syrian regime accountable for its crimes. The scale and predominance of these disinformation operations, and the distorted and partisan coverage from Syrian state-owned and affiliated broadcasters, threaten to drown out accurate and credible sources of information, and call for a systemic, rigorous response.

To address this concern, NEA/AC has previously supported a core group of independent Syrian media outlets to provide accurate, reliable, and locally relevant news and information. While this support has enabled extensive media outlets to reach across opposition-controlled areas, challenges remain to: strengthen audience reach in all geographic regions, including regime-controlled areas; deepen connections with audiences and users; and, build trust across political faultlines. Applicants should propose innovative solutions for delivering training, capacity building, technical assistance, and operational and programmatic support to Syrian independent media to extend reach and build audience share in both opposition and regime-controlled areas.

Furthermore, proposals should address measures to amplify moderate voices, counter violent extremist discourse, illuminate the activities that malign actors seek to obscure, and highlight strategies to educate audiences to recognize disinformation.

Northeast Syria: Syrian civilians in areas liberated from ISIS in Aleppo, Hassakeh, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzour governorates have struggled to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. The dearth of essential services and employment opportunities, as well as a polarized information space, impedes IDP returns and creates a power vacuum for ISIS and other violent extremist groups to rebuild networks and propaganda platforms. ISIS sleeper cells and sympathizers continue to plague the region, including in IDP camps such as Al Hol, actively seeking to exploit the grievances and needs of the population as well as fuel tensions with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to undercut stabilization efforts and build support for ISIS resurgence. While the repressive reigns of the Syrian regime and ISIS have given way to a more favorable environment for media in some parts of northeast Syria, independent journalism is still taking root and media restrictions remain.

To address these challenges, NEA/AC has worked since 2016 to help establish and maintain a small number of local independent media outlets to provide accurate and trusted information, amplify moderate voices, promote human rights, counter violent extremist narratives, and enhance understanding and dialogue between different groups.

NEA/AC seeks applications that build on and advance ongoing USG work with local independent media organizations in areas liberated from ISIS to: develop capacity;

expand audience reach; produce locally-relevant content, especially for Syrian IDPs reintegrating into home or host communities; and, deepen audience/user engagement.

This should include training, technical and capacity building support, and support to independent media outlets to cover production and operational costs. Applicants should propose innovative solutions for delivering training, capacity building, and technical assistance in a restrictive environment. Furthermore, applicants should address measures to amplify moderate, non-sectarian discourse, provide voice to women and youth, and counter violent extremist propaganda and the narratives supporting radicalization.

Proposals should also highlight opportunities for media to enhance community cohesion, civic participation, and dialogue between citizens and local authorities, and promote effective reintegration.

Political Process Support: A Syrian-led political process facilitated by the United

Nations in Geneva, as called for by UNSCR 2254, remains the sole pathway towards resolving the Syrian conflict. NEA/AC seeks applications supporting the engagement of Syrians, civil society, independent actors, and local and national opposition bodies in all aspects of the political process under UNSCR 2254 through independent media coverage.

NEA/AC encourages applicants to propose measures to facilitate transparency, improve awareness, and promote discussion among Syrian constituents – both inside Syria and in the diaspora community – about the political process. Additionally, applicants should propose media-related efforts to facilitate dialogue and constructive engagement between the Syrian political opposition, civilian opposition actors, and Syrian citizens.

Gender Equity and Inclusion: Initial analysis of the recent media consumption survey conducted by the project demonstrates that women in Syria are enthusiastic consumers of media across all mediums. Women in the survey expressed strong preferences for targeted content on education and literacy, women’s safety in the home and community, women’s rights, and economic resilience. NEA/AC requires that all activities fully address gender considerations, ensuring that both men and women benefit from support, where applicable, and that gender awareness is a built-in component of project activities such as, but not limited to, content production and the intersection of gender and key priority policies in Syria such as climate change. This should be documented through gender analysis in the project narrative that identifies any relevant gender gaps and ways the proposed activities will address those gaps. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps will enhance the project’s goals and objectives.

Additionally, applicants should propose efforts to ensure women are trained, mentored, and promoted across all levels of staffing and leadership within the media outlets and platforms, or opportunities for support or expansion of a women-centered media platform.

Monitoring & Evaluation; Lessons Learned; Research

Successful applicants will work with NEA/AC to build flexible and effective methods for monitoring and evaluating ongoing and completed project activities to ensure programmatic interventions achieve targeted outputs and outcomes. Applicants should address how the proposed project will incorporate best practices for lessons learned to enhance overall effectiveness of programmatic activities.

Rapidly changing conditions in Syria present ongoing challenges to programs and partners, requiring vigilant observations and monitoring of local conditions, conflict dynamics, security, and access. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate they areable to continually assess the suitability of potential local partners during the life of the project based on capacity and compatibility with project goals. Applicants should present scalable options for conducting research to enhance, complement, and monitor programmatic activities.

Applicants should demonstrate understanding of methodologies used to evaluate broadcast market share and the appeal and impact of the program content of Syrian partners, as well as digital analytics to assess online reach and engagement.

NEA/AC might implement this project in collaboration with other U.S. entities and international donor governments supporting independent media in Syria.

NEA/AC will require weekly reporting on project activities and standard quarterly reporting (at a minimum) in addition to ad hoc reporting requests.

The following activities and costs are NOT ALLOWED under this announcement:

Exchange activities with other countries or territories;

Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns;

Academic or analytical research (if not necessary as part of a larger project);

Medical and psychological research and clinical studies;

Projects of a commercial or profit-making nature; and Entertainment costs (e.g., receptions, social activities, ceremonies, alcoholic beverages, guided tours); these are different than costs for cultural activities integral to programming

NOTE: Applications that include any of these activities or costs above may be eliminated at the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will not advance to the Merit Review Panel.

D. GENDER INTEGRATION

NEA/AC requires that all activities fully address gender considerations, ensuring that both men and women benefit from support where applicable, and that gender awareness is a built-in component of project activities. Proposals should also identify how activities will encourage more substantive representation of women and members of religious / ethnic minority groups in local governance. This should be documented through gender analysis in the project narrative that identifies any relevant gender gaps and ways the proposed activities will address those gaps.

Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps will enhance the project’s goals and objectives. Applicants who are unfamiliar with integrating gender in foreign assistance programing should view the training video located here:

https://encompassworld.com/elearningfiles/DOS/DOS_Gender_Integration_E- Course/story_html5.html

E. DEFINITIONS

The following are definitions of activities and terms detailed in this announcement:

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs):

For the purposes of this NOFO, CSOs include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations, human rights organizations, non-governmental service providers, women’s groups, labor unions, business and professional associations, youth movements, think tanks, and organizations representing vulnerable populations.

Capacity Building:

For the purposes of this NOFO, this means strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively undertake advocacy, coalition-building, internal governance, membership representation and services; and to engage in other activities aimed at fostering more peaceful and democratic societies. Areas of capacity-building may include, but are not limited to, technical expertise (e.g. human rights, community reintegration); CSO self-regulation (e.g. establishing NGO Codes of Conduct); organizational capacity (e.g. strategic planning, financial management and accountability, human resources, media and public outreach, sustainability and fundraising, cybersecurity); and targeted advocacy training and technical assistance.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA):

For the purposes of this NOFO:

Diversity means the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of a community, including underserved communities;

Equity means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment;

Inclusion means the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of persons of all backgrounds; and Accessibility means the design, construction, development, and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them.

Underserved communities refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of equity.

II. MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

Applicants shall provide a logic model with a theory of change to demonstrate how the proposed project (including activities, the project design, and the surrounding context) will achieve the stated objectives. The logic model and theory of change statements can be generated using the template in Appendix 2. Applicants shall also provide a Results Monitoring Plan (RMP) to describe how the proposed project will capture and measure data that demonstrates progress toward achieving the specific objectives of the proposed project. The RMP may also include project-specific sub-objectives (i.e. project outcomes). Please see Appendix 3 for the RMP template. Please see Section VI below for more information.

Successful applicants will work with the NEA/AC program and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) teams to finalize a RMP based on the proposed logic model to measure qualitative and quantitative indicators as part of the award negotiations process. The successful applicant will be responsible for collecting data against these indicators – which will be monitored throughout the period of performance of the award to gauge necessary modifications to the project’s design – and assess the results of the project’s success in meeting expected outcomes.

All projects funded as a result of this NOFO will be required to complete a final evaluation of the project at the end of the period of performance with support from the NEA/AC MEL team.

Successful applicants will dedicate between 3% and 5% of their total budget to monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Selected applicants are required to have project information available for up to three years after the project closeout for the NEA/AC and SRP team to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Below is a list of U.S. Department of State standard development indicators for foreign assistance that are commonly used for measuring and reporting project results. Not all indicators below will be applicable to the proposed project, though the applicant is encouraged to use them where relevant in developing the logic model and associated RMP. NEA/AC’s MEL team will work with the successful applicant on finalizing indicators as part of a RMP that will be utilized for the negotiated award.

DR 5.2-2 Number of journalists trained and supported DR 5.3-1 Number of non-state news outlets assisted by USG DR 5.3-2 Number of USG-assisted media-sector civil society organizations (CSO) and/or institutions that serve to strengthen the independent media or journalists

III. AWARD INFORMATION

Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: One (1)

Estimated Total Program Funding: $15,000,000

Estimated Base Year Award Ceiling: $5,000,000

Estimated Base Year Award Floor: $3,000,000

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Encouraged; NOT Required

Estimated Length of Project Period: One to Three (1-3) Years

Contingent on the availability of funds, approximately $15,000,000 in Economic Support Funds for one (1) award will be awarded through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant will be awarded funds for one base year with the potential to be awarded an additional two option years, depending on the activities proposed. The estimated start date for this project is April 1, 2023.

NEA/AC reserves the right to award more or less than the estimated program funding, and reserves the right to award funding under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date.

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

Non-Competing Continuation Continuation grants funded under these awards, beyond the initial budget period, 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 for the initial estimated length of time as indicated above, and pending the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, NEA/AC may extend this grant for additional time, not to exceed a three (3) year total project period. Please note that this NOFO requires that applicants submit additional budget materials to plan for potential out-years of non-competing continuations. See Section VI Application and Submission Information for more details.

IV. SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

NEA/AC and SRP will be involved in the project and management performance of this cooperative agreement through consultation and technical collaboration on project activities. It is expected that the recipient will remain adaptable to the requests of both NEA/AC and SRP team members.

NEA/AC and SRP Responsibilities Examples of NEA/AC and SRP responsibilities for a cooperative agreement may include:

Collaboration in establishing annual project objectives and approval of an annual work plan;

Collaboration in identifying and developing opportunities to expand programming;

Collaboration in identifying and designing on-the-ground activities;

Collaboration in the creation and development of training and other materials provided to beneficiaries;

Collaboration with the Department of State in areas which the Department of State’s technical knowledge would benefit the Recipient’s successful accomplishment of stated project objectives;

Selection of local partners to implement activities and project participants; and Facilitating coordination with other donors and related projects (including projects funded by NEA/AC and other U.S. entities).

V. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

All applicants will be screened by NEA/AC to determine whether they meet all of the eligibility requirements detailed below.

NOTE: Applications that do not demonstrate that they meet all of the eligibility requirements in Section A and Section B will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review stage and may be deemed ineligible for funding under this announcement. Nothing can be added to an application once the competition deadline has passed.

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include:

U.S. or foreign o Non-profit organizations;

o For-profit organizations;

o Private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and o Public international organizations

NEA/AC is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.

NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. We encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

NEA/AC strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa region. International non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.

A.1. Prime Applicant To be considered for funding under this opportunity, applicants SHALL:

Have demonstrable previous experience working in closed or conflict environments, preferably in Syria. This should be addressed within the project narrative section of the application.

Have experience in conducting risk assessments and monitoring and evaluating projects and sub-recipients in order to document and assess the short- and long-term outcomes of proposed projects.

Demonstrate the ability to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) through a project team inclusive of Syrian nationals with previous experience managing stabilization programming in the region reflected at all levels of project management.

Meet ALL of the registration requirements listed below.

Meet any requirements listed as MANDATORY in Additional Eligibility Considerations, below.

Additionally, applicants should:

Demonstrate experience managing and monitoring a significant number of sub-recipients and/or direct assistance projects. Applications should clearly outline this experience, including total volume (total dollar amount, number of partners, and number of projects), scope and length of sub-awards managed, and geographic and thematic focus. If the applicant has provided capacity-building support to sub-recipients, please indicate the type of support.

Demonstrate in the project and budget narratives how the assistance mechanism will be managed, monitored, and evaluated to ensure compliance with the project objectives and Federal regulations. The successful applicant will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of all sub-recipients, and/or other direct assistance to ensure completion of activities, programmatic efficacy, institutional strengthening, and financial propriety.

Demonstrate the ability to accomplish the required activities with efficient staffing and without establishing a dedicated local office in Syria.

Demonstrate the ability to recruit/hire technical consultants with subject matter expertise relevant to organizational capacity strengthening interventions.

Demonstrate a successful track record of building a cohesive and effective team consisting of diverse and geographically dispersed members and clear plan for continuing success under this funding opportunity.

A.2. Local Partners Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal that include partnerships with local organizations that would work together on specific programmatic objectives or priorities and that utilize local expertise. In particular, NEA/AC strongly encourages applicants not based in the MENA region to partner with local organizations working in or on Syria.

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply for NEA/AC (Federal) funding, organizations, whether based in or outside the U.S., must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and an active account with the System for Award Management (SAM). Applicants who do not meet all registration requirements are NOT eligible for funding under the opportunity.

UEI Number All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number.

On and after April 4, 2022, entities can register in SAM.gov and will be assigned their Unique Entity ID (SAM) within SAM.gov. Entities will no longer obtain or use a UEI (DUNS) for entity registration or reporting.

System for Award Management (SAM) SAM is a U.S. government wide registry of vendors doing business with the Federal government and requires annual renewal. The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients, and provides a central location for grant applicants/recipients to change organizational information.

Further, each applicant must maintain an active account, with current information, while its application is under consideration for funding. To keep an active SAM.gov account, an applicant must renew it at least once each year. If an organization’s account expires, the organization cannot submit a grant application until it is renewed.

To create a new SAM account, go to https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

U.S.-based organizations must have a UEI number and a CAGE number. The CAGE code will be issued by SAM.gov. Please note that as of December 2022, organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov to seek guidance on how to do so. Organizations based outside of the U.S. are still required to have a UEI and SAM.gov registration.

For help with SAM.gov, please visit their support page at https://www.fsd.gov or contact them at: 866-606-8220 (U.S.) or +1-334-206-7828 (international).

Note: Obtaining an active SAM.gov registration may take 12-15 business days to complete the process of creating an account in the system.

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

C.1 Cost-Sharing or Matching There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, NEA/AC encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its projects.

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

C.2 Host Country Legal Compliance NEA/AC requires that applicants be in sound legal standing with appropriate host government authorities at the time of application to this funding opportunity. If the applicant is not currently based in Berlin, Germany and intends to operate from that location, they should demonstrate the ability to establish a base there in a timely manner following notification of the award. Award recipients will be required to maintain legal standing throughout the life of the award, including for any sub-grant made under its auspices.

VI. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

All applications must include the application components detailed below. All application documents must be submitted in English. Applicants may submit only one (1) application.

Please refer to Section B below for additional submissions guidance and requirements.

NOTE: Applications that do not include all the required documentation described in Section 1 below will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review stage. Further, applications that exceed the allowable page limits will not be reviewed by the review panel.

Applicants may not add any materials to an application once it has been submitted and the competition deadline has passed.

A.1. Required Documents

Federal Assistance Application Forms (SF-424 and SF424a) Applicants must complete each of these forms online to be considered for funding. Guidance on how to complete the SF-424 and SF424a is provided in Appendix 4.

NOTE: In addition to following all guidance outlined below regarding application materials, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Application Evaluation Criteria section of this NOFO closely as they prepare their proposal. The Evaluation Criteria section is the rubric by which each application will be scored.

Project Narrative The Project Narrative describes the efforts the applicant will undertake to address the priorities and goals of this announcement. This section of the application may be no longer than 12 pages. More details on preparing the Project Narrative are provided in Appendix 4. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Appendix 4 before preparing their Narrative.

Budget & Budget Narrative Submission Applicants must provide the following three elements as part of their budget submission:

Summary Budget Detailed Line Item Budget Budget Narrative

A detailed budget for 12 months is required as well as a notional budget for two additional out (option) years, with each option period being one year. The option periods should be their own detailed tabs (one year per tab) within the budget.

There is no page limit for this section of an application. A sample fillable template can be found in Appendix 1. This template includes three tabs: The first tab includes written guidance on preparing the Budget Narrative. Applicants are strongly encouraged to create their Budget Narrative in Word and submit as either a Word Doc or PDF file. Please note that the Budget Narrative should include designations of who is considered Key Personnel for this project. As defined in the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions (for assistance awards, Key Personnel means, “…key professional and supervisory personnel; i.e., the members of the professional staff in a program supervisory position engaged for or assigned to duties under the award.” The second tab has the template for the Summary Budget. This tab will auto-fill as you complete the Detailed Line Item Budget, which can be found on the third tab.

The third tab is where you can fill in the template for the Detailed Line Item Budget as stated above. NOTE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as provided in the template, and to submit summary and detailed line item budgets in Excel form, and the Budget Narrative as either a PDF or Word file. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure that their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. The template, which includes more detailed instructions, can be found in Appendix 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Appendix 1 before preparing their Budget and Budget Narrative.

Logic Model and Theory of Change Applicants shall provide a logic model and theory of change statement to demonstrate how the proposed project (including activities, the project design, and the surrounding context) will achieve the stated objectives. A theory of change statement describes how and why a program is expected to achieve its stated outcomes using if-then language. The logic model and theory of change statements can be generated using the template in Appendix 2.