Early Warning and Response in Nigeria

The Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is soliciting a cooperative agreement to fund an early warning and response program in Nigeria with a single award of $1,973,359 and an application deadline of August 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST (extended 48 hours from the originally posted August 25 deadline).

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, individuals, and public international organizations. All organizations must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and register in SAM.gov; individuals are excepted from this requirement.

The program targets Nigeria's Middle Belt and runs for 18 to 24 months, with an anticipated project start date of September 30, 2026. The initiative pairs civil society-led early warning networks with strengthened government rapid response capacity through two coordinated objectives: civil society operationalizes early warning and response networks by deploying community monitors, establishing secure communications between at-risk communities and security forces, and developing threat assessment protocols; and the Nigerian government responds to early warning indicators through established joint coordination centers, trained emergency response teams, and mobile response units designed to detect threats before attacks occur, accelerate security force deployment, and reduce casualty and attack severity.

Applications must include SF-424 series federal forms, a proposal narrative not exceeding 15 pages, detailed line-item budget with summary budget, budget narrative, monitoring and evaluation plan with tracker, key personnel descriptions (maximum two pages), and timeline (one page). All documents must be in English, formatted to 8.5 x 11-inch paper, single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins, and submitted electronically via MYGRANTS or Grants.gov.

Indirect costs may be claimed at the applicant's current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or at 15 percent of Modified Total Direct Costs, calculated to include personnel, fringe, travel, supplies, services, and up to the first $50,000 of each subaward. Equipment over $10,000, participant support, and subaward amounts exceeding $50,000 are excluded from the MTDC base.

The assistance listing is 19.345, International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. The Department of State will substantially involve itself in programmatic planning, workshop development, and technical assistance. Awards are subject to federal compliance requirements including trafficking in persons certifications and prohibitions on unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities.