Mitigating Violent Extremism in Masaka Region

BACKGROUND The U.S. Embassy, Kampala, Public Affairs Section is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations interested in implementing a preventing violent extremism (PVE) project designed to strengthen societal resilience against violent extremism in the key urban centers and the connected areas in the greater Masaka region (to include strategic areas within Masaka District and connecting Kalungu and Mpigi Districts). The project will aim to build collaboration and trust between societal leaders, communities, citizens most vulnerable to violent extremism recruitment, and civilian government officials—including law enforcement. PROGRAM GOALS The goal of this project is to increase the collaboration of key societal and government counterparts to reduce extremist recruitment and radicalization in priority focus areas. PROJECT’S DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES Applications funded under this announcement should address the following objectives: · Objective 1: Expand the research and knowledge of the violent extremism dynamics and hyper local recruitment and radicalization processes in the targeted geographic area; · Objective 2: Build capacity of key societal and government key influencers to promote peaceful coexistence and mitigate violent extremism in the targeted geographic area; and · Objective 3: Enhance civilian government trust and collaboration to mitigate violent extremism in the targeted geographic area. TARGETED PARTICIPANTS The project will support communities as well as societal and government leaders who directly influence and/or directly interact with vulnerable populations actively being targeted by violent extremist activities. Potential societal and government leaders include: district and sub-district officials in the targeted geographic area (including but not limited to law enforcement officials); district-level religious leadership; cultural leaders; and civil society/youth leaders. As part of the project’s Phase 1 (Research), research will seek to understand the role of men, women, boys, and girls in violent extremist dynamics and societal resiliencies in the targeted geographic area—to include a cross-section of relevant students, traders/market sellers, mothers/fathers, community leaders, government officers, and religious/cultural leaders/followers. This research should not focus on public perceptions or the region’s “vulnerable population” writ large. Research tools appropriate to facilitate this learning are encouraged. This newly acquired understanding will be integrated into the project’s strategy. PRIORITY REGION The key urban centers and the connected areas in the greater Masaka region, to include strategic areas within Masaka District and as needed, the connecting Kalungu and Mpigi Districts.