Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program – Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF)

Description

The U.S. Embassy Harare of the U.S. Department of State announces a limited competition for the African Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF). The Bureau of African Affairs, via ARDF for 2021 is intended to strengthen democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and good governance.ARDF provides limited foreign assistance resources to support programming that strengthens democratic institutions, promotes human rights and fundamental freedoms, and promotes accountable, transparent, and responsive governance in sub-Saharan Africa. Please follow all instructions below.Priority Region: ZimbabweProgram Objectives:Programming supported with ARDF resources should address one or more of the following program objectives:1. Promote Accountable Transparent, and Responsive Governance• Support local civil society entities, including think tanks, academic research, watchdog groups, media associations, journalists, and other civil society actors to advocate for legislative transparency, accountability, and oversight at all levels of government.• Provide specialized, technical support to support democratic governance, with a particular focus on legislative functions.2. Promote Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms• Support the protection, mitigation of, and responses to human rights violations and abuses, in particular human rights violations affecting the most vulnerable, by strengthening human rights frameworks, institutions, and oversight.• Support to local, and key international, human rights organizations and institutions to promote human rights systems, policies, and protection, with particular focus on women and youth.• Strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations; and resident, vendor, or other associations through civic education and citizen participation to advocate for human rights and democratic norms that advance public involvement in civic life.3. Support Democratic Processes and Promotion of Strong Democratic Norms• Support local civil society to hold government accountable for free, fair, and credible electoral and political processes.• Support throughout the electoral cycle, not only the voting process, at the national, regional, or local level. Support could include providing assistance to help increase the percentage of women holding elected and appointed national, regional, and local offices; support for legislation that ensures fair processes; independent journalism on electoral issues; and issue-based political party development with civil society input.• Support to political processes, such as peace processes and negotiations, which seek long-term democratization and respect for human rights and accountability, with a particular focus on empowering women, youth, and marginalized and vulnerable populations.B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 18 months Number of awards anticipated: 1 award Award amounts: awards may range up to a maximum of $400,000 Total available funding: $400,000 Type of Funding: FY2020 Economic Support Funds (ESF) Anticipated program start date: September 2021 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 18 months or less.C. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS a. Eligible Applicants• Preference is given to local NGOs to encourage capacity building for smaller, local partners.• The applicant must be a Zimbabwe registered non-governmental, non-profit, or community-based organization.o Registered trusts, associations, schools, churches, etc. meet this eligibility requirement.o Individuals, businesses, and government entities do NOT qualify.• All applications must include and identify a significant community contribution (cash, labor, and/or materials).• Applicants must display sound management in the form of financial and administrative procedures that protect against fraud, waste, and abuse.• 2020-funded organization or projects for continued funding are not eligible. The fund is not intended for recurring programs.b. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov . Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations.D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION1. Address to Request Application PackageApplication forms required below are available at the U.S. Embassy Harare website: https://zw.usembassy.gov/education-culture/ambassadors-special-self-help-program/OR grants.gov2. Content and Form of Application SubmissionPlease follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.Content of ApplicationPlease ensure:• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity• All documents are in English• All budgets are in U.S. dollars• All pages are numbered• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.The following documents are required:1. Mandatory application forms• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at the U.S. Embassy Harare website• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at the U.S. Embassy Harare website• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at the U.S. Embassy Harare website (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov)2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.3. Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies/other donor organizations.• Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?• Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.5. Attachments:• 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program• Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.• Official permission letters or MOUs with District Administrators, community leaders, local development committee, tribal authority, and/or local town or district council the grantee will be working with on program activities, and proof of land ownership if there will be any use of land.• Budget template provided (Annex B)• Copy of the organization’s registration certificate• Completed proposal narrative (Annex A)• Attach original pro-forma invoices/quotations for budgeted items. Three quotes for each item are required.

Eligibility

Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category code 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.

Agency Contact

Key Dates