Category: APO-OPA

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Malaria is a major global public health problem affecting over 109 countries globally and ranked as the fifth cause of deaths among communicable diseases worldwide. Because of increasing internal and cross-border movements of people, Southern Africa is one of the world’s high-risk malaria zones.

IOM will now back a cross border and regional campaign to reduce and eliminate malaria transmission in targeted border districts within the southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

The campaign, Racing against Malaria (RAM 2), seeks to raise the profile of malaria at community level, increase public awareness of the disease and its burden on the population, and mobilize resources for strengthening malaria control.

The 17-day campaign, covering 15 SADC countries, will be launched by Malawi President Joyce Banda in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Monday 14 April.

It will promote cross-border collaboration, active screening and early parasite detection, notification and rapid response, as well as care-based surveillance, especially in border areas.

Mobile populations, migrant workers and their families, particularly undocumented migrants, are often considered as “hidden or hard to reach” and face complex obstacles in accessing essential health care, including malaria prevention, screening and treatment, as they move between endemic or non-endemic areas.

“Malaria knows no borders and all efforts to control this fatal disease should take into account mobility, migration flows, and the vulnerability aspects of the entire migration process, as well as access to malaria prevention and treatment for migrants, mobile and cross-border populations,” says IOM South Africa Chief of Mission a.i. and regional migration health coordinator Dr. Erick Ventura.

According to the Regional Coordinator of the SADC Roll Back Malaria initiative, Dr. Kaka Mudambo, malaria prevalence in the region is still very high. In some Southern African countries there are between 200 and 300 cases per 1,000 people.

“While some countries and districts had managed to eliminate malaria, including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and some districts in Zimbabwe, more still face daunting challenges. These countries require capacity strengthening and financial support, as well as guidance to reduce the local transmission of malaria to zero,” he says.

The campaign participants will include individuals, community members, national and international institutions who share the vision for a malaria-free Africa and seek to achieve malaria-free communities. These will include national programmes; laboratory scientists, technologists, and technicians; health workers, military health services, NGOs, IOs and the private sector.

RAM 2 will start with a campaign rally in Lilongwe, Malawi on 14 April 2014. Closing ceremonies are planned for 25 April 2014 in the Trans-Kunene area on the Namibia-Angola border.

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has received 4,000 plastic sheet tarpaulins from the USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) for internally displaced people (IDPs) in South Sudan as the first h…

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Since late December 2013 IOM has registered and tracked over 95,000 often destitute Chadian returnees, Central African nationals and other Third Country Nationals (TCNs) arriving in Chad from the Central African Republic (CAR).

At least 10,000 Chadians and other TCNs, including Malians and Sudanese, have fled to Cameroon. IOM organized road convoys from the CAR-Cameroon border to Moundou in Chad on 30th March and April 2nd. These convoys facilitated the return home of 1,219 stranded migrants.

IOM has now helped some 4,900 stranded migrants to leave Cameroon by road and by air and is continuing to monitor developments on the Cameroon-CAR border, as well as the Chad-CAR border, to help stranded migrants.

Mohamed was among the Chadians who returned to Chad with an IOM road convoy from Kentzou on the Cameroon-CAR border.

He fled his home in the mixed quarter of Miskine in the CAR capital Bangui after his brother and nephew were brutally murdered by anti-balaka militia.

Initially he found sanctuary in Bangui’s Central Mosque and eventually managed to reach Cameroon, where he was stranded at the border for over a month, without shelter and with little food or water.

With IOM’s help, Mohamed reached Chad’s Moundou transit site and continued to Sarh, where he was reunited with family members sheltering at the Doyaba transit site.

But the family was separated during the journey, and Mohamed believes that his wife and two children, who left Kentzou after him, are still stranded at the border. He is now receiving medication for traumatic stress caused by his experiences.

As people continue to flee CAR, the limited resources of neighbouring countries are being placed under massive strain. The withdrawal of the Chadian troops from CAR could also result in new waves of arrivals in both Chad and Cameroon, according to IOM Chad Chief of Mission Dr. Qasim Sufi.

With approximately 96.5 per cent of migrants, refugees and other TCNs fleeing the CAR arriving in Chad and Cameroon, the CAR crisis has become a Chadian and Cameroonian challenge from a humanitarian, security and financial perspective, he notes.

“We expect people to keep coming in the coming weeks and months, unless the level of violence in CAR decreases. This means that we will need to continue to provide transport and other assistance to these people, most of whom are destitute, vulnerable and traumatized,” he adds.

IOM is appealing for USD 28 million for Chad, USD 30 million for CAR and USD 7 million for Cameroon.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 427th meeting held on 9 April 2014, recalled the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security at its 426th meeting held on 7 April 2014. Council also took note of the Information Note of the Chairperson of the Commission on the incidents in Bangui on 29 March 2014 and the decision of the Republic of Chad to withdraw its contingent from the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA).

Council reiterated the AU’s continued commitment to spare no effort to help stabilize the situation in the CAR. In this regard, Council welcomed the remarkable work of MISCA and the significant progress made in the implementation of the Mission’s mandate. Council paid tribute to the leadership of the Mission, including the Special Representative, the Force Commander and the Head of the police component, as well as the troop and police contributing countries, for their continued commitment to peace, security and stability in the CAR. Council also paid tribute to the uniformed personnel who died in the line of duty, and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

Council took note of the decision announced by the Government of Chad, on 3 April 2014, to withdraw its contingent from MISCA. Council welcomed the press statement issued, on 4 April 2014, by the Chairperson of the Commission, and strongly condemned the malicious and unfounded allegations against Chad, especially after the incident of 29 March 2014, at PK12, and in the course of which armed elements ambushed elements of the Chadian contingent, who were compelled to react in self-defence. Council deplored the haste with which false and misleading information on this incident was disseminated by some international media houses, thus contributing to the worsening of the climate of hostility created by spoilers in the CAR against the Muslim community, in general, and Chadian nationals, in particular.

Council reiterated its deep appreciation for the crucial role of Chad in the efforts to resolve the crisis facing the CAR. In this context, Council paid tribute to President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, current Chair of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), for his personal involvement and the immense sacrifices made by his country towards peace in the CAR. Council welcomed the commitment of the Chadian Government to continue to work towards the resolution of the crisis in the CAR. Council also paid tribute to President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, ECCAS Mediator, and the other leaders of the region, as well as to the ECCAS General Secretariat, for their tireless efforts and commitment. Council reiterated its conviction that a lasting solution to the crisis in the CAR requires concerted efforts of the region and continued international support for the transition and the political process. Council reiterated its call on the UN Security Council and other members of the international community to continue to lend their full support to the region.

Council noted with satisfaction the measures taken by the Commission to mobilize new troops to replace the Chadian contingent and welcomed the offers made by some Member States to contribute troops to MISCA. Council stressed the importance of close coordination with the Chadian authorities to ensure the orderly withdrawal of their troops and other uniformed personnel and avoid any vacuum which may jeopardize the gains made on the ground, in particular the security of the civilian populations. Council also noted with satisfaction the steps taken by the Commission to strengthen MISCA, as part of the follow-up to its communiqué of 7 March 2014. In this context, Council welcomed with appreciation the planned deployment of two Formed Police Units (FPUs) from Burundi, with airlift support from Algeria, as well as the offer by Djibouti to provide one FPU.

Council reiterated its support to MISCA, and encouraged the Mission to pursue and intensify its efforts aimed at stabilising the situation in the CAR.

Council urged the transitional authorities of the CAR, political leaders and other relevant stakeholders, to fully play the role expected of them in facilitating the smooth completion of the transition process and restoration of constitutional order in their country. In this regard, Council called upon the international community to continue to support their efforts.

Council reiterated its warning to all spoilers in the CAR, particularly the anti-Balaka elements, that they will be held accountable for their actions.

Council agreed to remain seized of the situation in the CAR.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 426th meeting held on 7 April 2014, was briefed by the Commissioner for Political Affairs of the AU on the human rights situation in Mali, during the period of the occupation of the three northern regions of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal of the country by armed separatists in January 2012.

Council welcomed with appreciation the Report of the African Union Commission on the human rights situation in Mali elaborated on the basis of information gathered by the AU Human Rights Observers deployed in Mali, in implementation of the Communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM/2.(CCCLIII) of the Peace and Security Council adopted at its 353rd meeting held on 28 January 2013.

Council noted with deep concern the cases of human rights violations and abuses in Mali during the period of the occupation, which were characterized by acts of murder, amputations, violence against women and children, rape, floggings and damage of private and public properties, as well as the destruction of cultural heritage sites.

Council commended the Malian authorities for their commitment to fight against impunity and for the consolidation of peace and national reconciliation. Council urged the Malian authorities and other relevant stakeholders to take necessary steps to implement the recommendations contained in the Report.

Council requested the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as other relevant AU Organs to engage with the Department of Political Affairs of the AU Commission in support of the implementation of recommendations contained in the Report.

Council further requested the Commission to regularly update the Council on the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report.

Council agreed to remain seized of the matter.

BISSAU, Guinea Bissau, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has deployed an African Union Election Observation Mission (AU EOM) to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to observe the Presidential and Legislative Elections scheduled for Sunday, 13 April 2014.

The AU EOM has the mandate to observe the 13 April 2014 elections in line with the relevant provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which is intended to enhance electoral processes in Africa, strengthen electoral institutions and the conduct of fair, free, and transparent elections; the AU/OAU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union in July 2002; the African Union Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions; the AU Long Term Observation Framework and other relevant international instruments governing election observation; and the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

The Mission is led by H.E Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique, who arrived in Bissau today, 10 April 2014, and comprises 56 observers from the Pan-African Parliament, African Ambassadors to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Election Management Bodies and Civil Society Organisations from various African countries. The Mission has deployed 19 teams of observers in all nine regions of Guinea-Bissau. The Mission is assisted by a group of experts from the African Union Commission, Pan-African Parliament and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA).

On 9 February 2014, the AU deployed a team of nine Long-Term Observers (LTO), as part of its AU EOM to the 13 April elections. Since its deployment, the LTO Team has met with interlocutors at national, regional and sector levels, including senior government officials, the Election Management Bodies, the Supreme Court, senior officers of the Armed Forces and the Police, representatives of political parties, representatives from civil society organisations, and the media. The LTO Team also observed the exhibition and correction of the provisional voter register, the electoral campaign, special voting and other components of the electoral process. In total, the LTO Team has observed these processes in 39 sectors, in all 8 regions and the autonomous sector of Bissau, for the past nine weeks.

As a result of its observation of the pre-election period, the LTO Team produced the following findings on the Guinea-Bissau electoral process so far:

1. The revision of the Law on Voter Registration to introduce an enhanced manual voter registration system, in order to establish a new voter register and to permit agents of political parties and coalitions to verify the process was a positive step toward making the electoral process more credible.

2. The registration of 775,508 voters, which corresponds to more than 95% of the established target, represents a remarkable achievement. However, the AU EOM is concerned with some shortcomings of the voter registration process, namely the case of voters who continue to wait for their voter’s cards in many regions of the country. The continued distribution of the voter cards in these last days of the electoral process is welcomed, and it is the opinion of the Mission that distribution should continue at polling stations on Election Day.

3. The AU EOM is also concerned with the discrepancy between the voter’s cards numbers of many voters and the number of the polling stations where they have been allocated to vote.

4. Notwithstanding these challenges experienced by election management bodies, electoral stakeholders have maintained confidence in them.

5. Political actors have respected the commitments undertaken by signing the Code of Conduct and Ethics in Elections on 20 March 2014 thus far. Political campaigns have been carried out in a peaceful environment, with reconciliatory messages from all political actors, with only isolated reports of minor campaign violence incidents.

6. The establishment by both national and international actors of a Joint Command with the mandate to secure election materials, election personnel and candidates before, during and after the elections till the swearing–in of a newly elected president is a very positive measure to ensure overall security of the electoral process.

7. Women in Guinea-Bissau represent 52 % of the registered electorate and have been very active as voter sensitization agents and present in the campaign rallies. However, only one of the 4 members of the CNE Secretariat is female and all 9 heads of the regional electoral commissions are male. None of the 13 presidential candidates is female and less that 30% of candidates for the legislative elections are women.

8. Electoral legislation continues not to provide for the observation of elections by citizen groups against the principles of citizen participation in all aspects of political life in their countries, as well as best practices in the African continent.

The AU EOM underlines that its assessment this far is based on part of the process only. As part of its mandate, the AU EOM will continue to engage relevant electoral stakeholders to closely follow the process, and provide advice when and if needed, until the electoral results are announced. Within 48 hours of the closing of the polls, the AU EOM will release its Preliminary Statement with its provisional assessment of the process and initial recommendations. The overall evaluation of the elections will be done after the Mission’s observation of the whole process through a comprehensive report.

The AU EOM calls on the National Elections Commission, Political Parties, Candidates, Transition Authorities, the Military and Security Personnel, the Civil Society, the Media and every Bissau Guinean to maintain the current temperate socio-political climate in the country. The Mission expresses its wishes for successful elections and encourages all citizens of Guinea-Bissau to continue in a peaceful electoral atmosphere as they have done so far.

The Secretariat of the Mission is based at the Azalai Hotel. For further information, please contact the Mission Coordinator: Ms. Karine Kakasi Siaba, +245 674 1373, Kakasik@african-union.org.

Bissau, 10 April 2014

NEW YORK, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption today of Security Council Resolution 2149, establishing the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central Afric…

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 10, 2014

Secretary of State John Kerry met today with the South Sudanese Minister in the Office of the President Honorable Awan…

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 10, 2014

The United States commends the United Nations Security Council for its leadership in adopting a forward l…

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FY 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO Programs Benefiting Refugees in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania

Funding Opportunity Announcement

Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

April 10, 2014

________________________________________

Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-PRMOAPAF-14-010

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.517 – Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa

Announcement issuance date: Thursday, April 10, 2014

Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. noon EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

**ADVISORY: All applicants must submit proposals through the website Grants.gov. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address any difficulties that may arise.**

We urge you to refer to PRM’s General NGO Guidelines “New to PRM Funding” section for information and resources to help ensure that the application process runs smoothly. PRM also strongly encourages organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a refresher.

Proposed program start dates: July 1, 2014-September 30, 2014

Eligible Applicants: (1) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; (2) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; (3) International Organizations.

International multilateral organizations, such as United Nations agencies, should not submit proposals through Grants.gov in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Multilateral organizations that are seeking funding for programs relevant to this announcement should contact the PRM Program Officer (as listed below) on or before the closing date of the funding announcement.

Duration of Activity: Proposals that cover activities over 12 to 24 months will be considered—and multi-year proposals are encouraged—for activities addressing needs in refugee settlements in Uganda and refugee camps in Tanzania (but not for activities in the DRC). Applicants are encouraged to submit multi-year proposals with activities and budgets that do not exceed 24 months from the proposed start date. Actual awards will not exceed 12 months in duration and activities and budgets submitted in year one can be revised/updated each successive year. Continued funding after the initial 12-month award requires the submission of a noncompeting continuation application and will be contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need. In funding a project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the project in successive years and encourages applicants to seek a wide array of donors to ensure long-term funding possibilities. Please see Multi-Year Funding section below for additional information.

Current Funding Priorities: PRM will prioritize available funding for Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Equateur Province), and Tanzania as identified below. All proposals should target beneficiaries as identified in collaboration with UNHCR and local authorities.

(a) Because of PRM’s mandate to provide protection, assistance, and sustainable solutions for refugees and victims of conflict, PRM will consider funding only those projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50% refugees or recent refugee returnees (unless otherwise noted). Activities should be implemented in close collaboration with UNHCR and local authorities.

(1) Uganda

Proposals may choose to focus on assistance to either the refugee settlements OR to urban refugee communities. While PRM does not discourage activities that also include the local host population along with refugees where appropriate—especially to mitigate conflict between the populations—proposals should concentrate primarily on activities for refugees. For proposed activities in Uganda’s settlements, at least 80% of beneficiaries must be refugees with the remainder, if any, being vulnerable individuals in host communities. For proposed activities in urban settings, PRM will consider funding only those projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50% refugees. However, PRM-funded programs in urban areas should pursue a community-based approach that also benefits host communities, wherever possible. Proposals may focus on the following areas of intervention:

• Life-saving basic preventative and curative healthcare assistance, including prevention of and response to gender-based violence, in Uganda’s refugee settlements.

• Improved protection and Gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response targeting vulnerable groups, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, in urban refugee communities OR in the refugee settlements in Uganda.

• Improved water and sanitation in Uganda’s refugee settlements.

• Peacebuilding and conflict resolution in Uganda’s refugee settlements.

• Improved shelter for vulnerable individuals in Uganda’s refugee settlements.

(2) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC—Equateur Province only)

Proposals should focus on Equateur Province, specifically on areas of: (a) high refugee return where new refugee returnees (those who have returned in 2011-2014) make up at least 50% of targeted beneficiaries and (b) areas receiving new refugees from Central African Republic (CAR).

• In areas of refugee return, proposals should focus on water and sanitation, GBV prevention and response, sustainable livelihood promotion, or peace-building that will lead to successful and durable reintegration.

• In areas of new refugee arrivals, proposals should focus on GBV prevention and response or improved water and sanitation.

(3) Tanzania

• Proposals should focus on life-saving basic preventative and curative healthcare assistance, including reproductive health, and prevention of and response to GBV, in Nyarugusu refugee camp in western Tanzania.

(b) Health Sector Standardized Indicators: Proposals focusing on health in camp-based settings should include a minimum of one of the four following indicators, and include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

• Number of consultations/clinician/day – Target: Fewer than 50 patients per clinician per day

• Measles vaccination rate for children under five – Target: 95% coverage

• Percentage of deliveries attended by a skilled birth attendant in a health care facility – Target: 100%

• Percentage of reporting rape survivors given post-exposure prophylaxis (PE) with 72 hours – Target: 100%

NGO proposals that seek to fund service provision may include the following indicators if appropriate:

• Primary Care: # and % of beneficiary patients, by sex and age, receiving primary health care assistance.

• Emergency Care: # and % of beneficiary patients, by sex and age, receiving care for trauma or sudden illness.

Proposals focusing on health in urban settings must include a minimum of one of the six following indicators and should try to include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

• Capacity-building: # of health care professionals/administrators trained on providing health services to refugee populations.

• Referrals: # of refugees referred to appropriate services, and % of those referred who were able to get needed services.

• Community Outreach: # of refugees who received targeted messages on their rights and health-related services available to them.

• Health Staffing: # of total consultations per health care provider, disaggregated by refugee/national, sex, and age.

• Patient Satisfaction: % of refugee patients receiving primary and emergency care who express satisfaction with services received.

Livelihoods: Proposals focusing on livelihoods in camp based/returnee settings must include a minimum of one of the three following indicators and should try to include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

Camp-Based/Returnee Settings:

• Number of project beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) receiving training on appropriate skills as determined by market and livelihood assessments. This may include language and skills training, entrepreneurship building, financial literacy, business support services, job placement and apprenticeship schemes, and/or legal aid.

• Number and percentage of program participants, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) reporting higher household income level by end of project period as compared to the pre-project baseline assessment.

• (Temporary Employment) Number of beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) participating in cash or food for work programs.

Key Resources – Livelihoods

• USAID/OFDA Guidelines for Proposals, October 2012 (pgs. 82-96)

• Minimum Economic Recovery Standards, 2nd ed. Washington, DC, USA: The SEEP Network, 2010. http://communities.seepnetwork.org/econrecovery

• Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis Toolkit. (EMMA) Practical Action Publishing. 2010. www.emmatoolkit.info (In French as of 2011.)

• Local Economic Recovery in Post-Conflict: Guidelines. Geneva: ILO, 2010.

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_emp/documents/instructionalmaterial/wcms_141270.pdf

Proposals should also include their own custom indicators in addition to the standard indicator(s).

(c) Proposals must have a concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound and trackable (SMART), have established baselines, and include at least one outcome or impact indicator per objective; objectives should be clearly linked to the sectors.

(d) Proposals must adhere to relevant international standards for humanitarian assistance. See PRM’s General NGO Guidelines for a complete list of sector-specific standards including new guidance on proposals for projects in urban areas.

(e) PRM strongly encourages programs that target the needs of potentially vulnerable and underserved groups among the beneficiary population (women; children; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) individuals; older persons; the sick; persons with disabilities; and other minorities) and can demonstrate what steps have been taken to meet the specific and unique protection and assistance needs of these vulnerable groups effectively. NOTE: PRM partners must now complete a gender analysis (see PRM proposal template, section 3a) that briefly analyzes (1) gender dynamics within the target population (i.e., roles, power dynamics, and different needs of men and women, girls and boys); (2) associated risks and implementation challenges for the project posed by those dynamics; and (3) how program activities will mitigate these protection risks and be made accessible to vulnerable groups (particularly women and girls). A gender analysis is a requirement prior to PRM making a final funding award.

(f) PRM will accept proposals from any eligible organization proposing interventions in the above mentioned countries/sectors although, given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:

• a working relationship with UNHCR, current UNHCR funding, and/or a letter of support from UNHCR for the proposed activities and/or overall country program (this letter should highlight the gap in services the proposed program is designed to address);

• a proven track record in providing proposed assistance both in the sector and the country;

• evidence of coordination with international organizations (IOs) and other NGOs working in the same area or sector as well as – where possible – local authorities;

• a strong transition plan, where feasible, involving local capacity-building;

• A budget that demonstrates co-funding by non-US government sources.

Funding Limits: Project proposals must not be more than $1,000,000 or they will be disqualified. As stated in PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting organization.

Proposal Submission Requirements: Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov. If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration process can be complicated. We urge you to refer to PRM’s General NGO Guidelines “New to PRM Funding” section for information and resources to help ensure that the application process runs smoothly. PRM also strongly encourages organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a refresher. Applicants may also refer to the “Applicant Resources” page on Grants.gov for complete details on requirements (http://test.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-resources.html).

Please note the following highlights:

• Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application on Grants.gov. Organizations not registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the deadline as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration (sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required registration numbers). To register with Grants.gov, organizations must first receive a DUNS number and register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov which can take weeks and sometimes months. We recommend that organizations, particularly first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov no later than one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties that could result in an application not being considered. PRM partners must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or an application under consideration by PRM or any federal agency.

• Applications must be submitted under the authority of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) at the applicant organization. Having proposals submitted by agency headquarters helps to avoid possible technical problems.

• If you encounter technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at support@grants.gov or by calling 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are unable to submit applications via Grants.gov due to Grants.gov technical difficulties and who have reported the problem to the Grants.gov help desk, received a case number, and had a service request opened to research the problem, should contact the relevant PRM Program Officer to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.

• Pursuant to U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001, stated on OMB Standard Form 424 (SF-424), the Department of State is authorized to consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law or regulations for its federal assistance programs. The list of certifications and assurances can be found at: http://fa.statebuy.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=161&menu_id=68 )

Proposal Content, Formatting and Template: This announcement is designed to accompany PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, which contain additional administrative information on proposal content and formatting, and explain in detail PRM’s NGO funding strategy and priorities. Please use both the General NGO Guidelines and this announcement to ensure that your proposal submission is in full compliance with PRM requirements and that the proposed activities are in line with PRM’s priorities. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in these guidelines will not be considered.

PRM strongly recommends using the proposal and budget templates that are available upon email request from PRM’s NGO Coordinator. Please send an email, with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line, to PRM’s NGO Coordinator. Single-year proposals using PRM’s templates must be no more than 20 pages in length (Times New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides). If the applicant does not use PRM’s recommended templates, proposals must not exceed 15 pages in length. Organizations may choose to attach work plans, activity calendars, and/or logical frameworks as addendums/appendices to the proposal. These attachments do not count toward the page limit total however annexes cannot be relied upon as a key source of program information. The proposal narrative must be able to stand on its own in the application process.

To be considered for PRM funding, organizations must submit a complete application package including:

• Proposal reflecting objectives and indicators for each year of the program period.

• Budget and budget narrative for each year of the program period.

• Signed completed SF-424.

In addition, proposal submissions to PRM should include the following information:

• Focus on outcome or impact indicators as much as possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one outcome or impact indicator. Wherever possible, baselines should be established before the start of the project.

• To increase PRM’s ability to track the impact of PRM funding, include specific information on locations of projects and beneficiaries (GPS coordinates if possible).

• Proposals should outline how the NGO will acknowledge PRM funding. If an organization believes that publicly acknowledging the receipt of USG funding for a particular PRM-funded project could potentially endanger the lives of the beneficiaries and/or the organization staff, invite suspicion about the organization’s motives, or alienate the organization from the population it is trying to help, it must provide a brief explanation in its proposal as to why it should be exempted from this requirement.

• The budget should include a specific breakdown of funds being provided by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own organization. PRM strongly encourages multilateral support for humanitarian programs.

• In FY 2014, PRM is asking applicants whose proposals address gender-based violence (GBV) through their projects to estimate the total cost of these activities as a separate line item in their proposed budgets. PRM’s budget template document has been updated to reflect this new requirement.

• Gender analysis (See above. Required before an award can be made).

• Copy of the organization’s Code of Conduct (required before an award can be made).

• Copy of the organization’s Security Plan (required before an award can be made).

• Proposals and budgets should include details of any sub-agreements associated with the program.

• Most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable.

• NGOs that have not received PRM funding since the U.S. government fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 must be prepared to demonstrate that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. government by submitting copies of 1) the most recent external financial audit, 2) proof of non-profit tax status including under IRS 501 (c)(3), as applicable, 3) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, and 4) an Employer ID (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification number.

• Organizations that received PRM funding in FY 2013 for activities that are being proposed for funding under this announcement must include the most recent quarterly progress report against indicators outlined in the cooperative agreement. If an organization’s last quarterly report was submitted more than six weeks prior to the submission of a proposal in response to this funding announcement, the organization must include, with its most recent quarterly report, updates that show any significant progress made on objectives since the last report.

Reports and Reporting Requirements:

Program reporting: PRM requires quarterly and final program reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the validity period of the agreement. It is highly suggested that NGOs receiving PRM funding use the PRM recommended program report template. To request this template, send an email with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line to PRM’s NGO Coordinator.

Financial Reports: Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement; a final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement.

For more details regarding reporting requirements please see PRM’s General NGO Guidelines.

Proposal Review Process: PRM will conduct a formal competitive review of all proposals submitted in response to this funding announcement. A review panel will evaluate submissions based on the above-referenced proposal evaluation criteria and PRM priorities in the context of available funding.

PRM may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will provide formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.

Branding and Marking Strategy: Unless exceptions have been approved by the designated bureau Authorizing Official as described in the proposal templates that are available upon email request from PRM’s NGO Coordinator, at a minimum, the following provision will be included whenever assistance is awarded:

• As a condition of receipt of this assistance award, all materials produced pursuant to the award, including training materials, materials for recipients or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event, project, or some other activity under this agreement, including but not limited to invitations to events, press materials, event backdrops, podium signs, etc. must be marked appropriately with the standard U.S. flag in a size and prominence equal to (or greater than) any other logo or identity. Sub-recipients and subsequent tier sub-award agreements are subject to the marking requirements and the recipient shall include a provision in the sub-recipient agreement indicating that the standard, rectangular U.S. flag is a requirement. In the event the recipient does not comply with the marking requirements as established in the approved assistance agreement, the Grants Officer Representative and the Grants Officer must initiate corrective action.

PRM Points of Contact: Should NGOs have technical questions related to this announcement, they should contact the PRM staff listed below prior to proposal submission. Please note that responses to technical questions from PRM do not indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.

PRM Program Officer for the Great Lakes: Bryan Lupton (LuptonBC@state.gov); 202-453-9307, Washington, D.C.

PRM Program Assistant: Lin’An Bartlett (BartlettL@state.gov); 202-453-9379, Washington, D.C.

Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Great Lakes: Greg Shaw (ShawGJ@state.gov), U.S. Embassy Kampala, Uganda