Summary U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo announces an open call for concept papers from non-governmental organizations for innovative projects to reduce gender based violence (GBV) in the Dominican Republic in the range of 25,000 USD to 1,000,000 USD. Background Information: The U.S. Government seeks to support the Dominican government and civil society groups efforts to reduce GBV and assist victims as it is both a violation of human rights and a serious public health issue. The number of Femicides has risen in 2014 while the overall murder rate has declined. According to the 2013 Demographic Health Survey (DHS), 17 percent of women between ages 15-49 experienced physical violence in the last twelve months and 26 percent experienced violence in their lives. In addition, 34 percent of women ages 15 - 49 reported at some point in their lives being victims of domestic abuse. Currently, there is no national level electronic database for tracking and monitoring cases or identifying repeat offenders of GBV. USAIDs policy goals are to work with judicial entities to improve processing and prosecution of GBV cases, improve case coordination in the criminal justice, and work with the health system to refer patients to the criminal justice system who may be victims of GBV. USAID/Dominican Republic will also work at the community level to increase the prosecution GBV and domestic violence offenses. Scope of the papers: We will consider proposals in the areas of: Assistance and/or service delivery to victims of gender based violence Programs or services to assist in the rehabilitation of perpetrators of gender based violence Data collection projects on gender based violence Community based outreach projects related to reducing gender based violence Programs to raise public awareness about gender based violence Sensitivity training for public officials (judges, police) on gender based violence Guidelines: Concept paper should be no longer than five pages plus attachments. Please see instructions (http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=270330). The program should run for no longer than one calendar year, with one option year. The applicant must demonstrate the commitment and ability to fund the program after grant support concludes. Selection criteria: Selection criteria include: innovation and effectiveness of strategy to reduce gender violence (50%), demonstrated management capacity and key personal (20%), sustainability of program (20%) and linkage to U.S. government policy gender based violence prevention goals (10%).Organizations whose concept papers are selected will be invited to submit proposals. Please send your concept papers to
[email protected] no later than January 20, 2015. Issuance of this call for concept papers does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of concept papers. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all concept papers received.