U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration 2021 Julia Taft Fund for Refugees The U.S. Embassy Gaborone, under the auspices of the Office of the Regional Refugee Coordinator, is pleased to announce the availability of a funding opportunity through the 2021 Julia Taft Fund for Refugees. What is the Julia Taft Fund for Refugees? The Julia Taft Fund for Refugees is an initiative by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) to respond to critical unmet needs of refugees. Created in 2000, the Julia Taft Fund for Refugees supports projects that fill gaps in refugee services not already being addressed by other organizations and that can be filled locally. Successful projects are those that are not being addressed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other international organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), that are already receiving U.S. government funding. NOTE: This notice is subject to availability of funding. What types of projects in Botswana have been funded through the Julia Taft Fund for Refugees in the past? Past grant recipients have implemented projects focused on establishing job training/vocational training, establishing youth councils, human rights education, and HIV/AIDS education and advocacy. Who is eligible to apply? The Julia Taft Fund for Refugees is limited to registered NGOs with at least one-two years of experience working in Botswana. Local NGOs and international NGOs not receiving broader refugee program funding from the United States government are eligible to apply. Note that the Julia Taft Fund for Refugees is meant to cover a one-time need and will not support multi-year projects, though funds may be utilized to lay the groundwork for such projects or programs. The 12-month project performance period will begin in/around July 2021. How can an organization apply for funding? NGOs are invited to submit a brief description of their proposed projects by close of business (5:00 p.m. GMT +2) February 15, 2021, via email. Please send completed applications to:
[email protected] and
[email protected]. Please note the following guidelines when preparing proposals: Project budgets cannot exceed $25,000 USD. Note that all proposals are required to have at least 50% of the beneficiaries be refugees. Proposals are due by Monday, February 15, 2021, should be no longer than three pages in length, and should include the following: Name of organization along with current funding support. Point of contact information. Project title. Project location (including a map showing how to get to the project from a major road). The refugee population to be served. Number of direct project beneficiaries. Statement of need (max. 200 words). Project description (how the project will be carried out - max. 300 words). Project goals and objectives (measurable). Project budget (major expenditures with budget breakdown) including the amount that your organization will be contributing toward the project. Supporting documents as a separate attachment: A detailed history of your organization and project, stating when it started, what has been accomplished, what you have done for the community, and how the community supports your work; Reliable contact information, with at least one cell phone number; Copy of organization/project bank account details; Code of Conduct as a separate attachment.* *All proposal submissions must include a copy of the NGO’s code of conduct, which must be consistent with the UN’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) recommendations on the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation. Any proposal without a code of conduct will be ineligible for funding. Organizations must be registered in SAM.gov and registered and able to provide a DUNS number. It is advisable for organizations to register and obtain their DUNS number early.* *Please see the below link for helpful guides. https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samInternationalUserGuide.jsf The following is not eligible for funding: Projects relating to partisan political activity. While this funding is intended to support women interested in politics, it is not intended to promote the political agenda of any party; Purchase and set up of surveillance equipment; Duplication of other U.S. Government programs; Projects that would benefit, either personally or politically, to any employee (e.g. direct hire, contractor, part-time) of the U.S. Government, or the spouse or family member of a U.S. Government employee; Production of agricultural commodities for export that can be expected to have a significant impact on competing U.S. exports; Contributing to the violation of internationally recognized rights of workers; Charitable or donation related activities; Projects that support specific religious or military activities, as well as those relating to police, prisons, or other law enforcement; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or projects; Scientific research; Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; Projects that duplicate existing efforts; Staff salaries or stipends; Purchase of alcohol, medicine, school uniforms, school fees, bursaries, or personal expenses; Support for educational or other facilities used to a significant degree by U.S. employees or their dependents; Support for abortion-related facilities and services; Purchase of used equipment – to avoid recurring maintenance and support costs. There is a general policy for financing only new equipment unless it is simple in design and spare parts are available locally, thus providing operational and maintenance advantages in less developed countries; Creating, continuing, or supplement technical assistance programs; Support for private businesses, private crèches, or public/government schools unless through involvement of a Parent-Teacher Association; Purchase of luxury goods and gambling equipment; Purchase or production of toxic or otherwise unsafe products such as pesticides or hazardous chemicals; Assisting any individual or entity involved in illegal drug trafficking as noted in Section 487 of the Foreign Assistance Act; Support, benefit, or other services associated with those persons or entities listed under Executive Order 13224, or determined to be subject to this order or other subsequent laws or orders, who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism; Support for any activity barred under the Foreign Assistance Act and legislation appropriating funds for foreign assistance. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT Non-Federal entities are prohibited from obligating or expending grant funds for covered telecommunications equipment or services to: (1) procure or obtain, extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; (2) enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure; or (3) obtain the equipment, services, or systems. Covered telecommunications equipment and services mean any of the following: (i) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities). (ii) For the purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities). (iii) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment. (iv) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country. Other Eligibility Requirements: See full NOFO FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact the Political Section at:
[email protected] and
[email protected] Note: We do not provide any pre-consultation for application related questions that are addressed in the NOFO. Once an application has been submitted, State Department officials will not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process is completed.