Strengthening Civil Society and Governance in South Asia Fund
ID: 353977Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

Bureau of Counterterrorism (DOS-SCT)

Award Range

$3M - $3M

Eligible Applicants

Nonprofits Without 501(c)(3) Status

Funding Category

Other

Funding Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes
Timeline
    Description

    The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism is inviting applications for the "Strengthening Civil Society and Governance in South Asia Fund," aimed at enhancing governance transparency and accountability in South Asia. This opportunity seeks to appoint a Fund Manager to oversee the distribution of $2,595,000 in funding over a two-year period, focusing on supporting civil society organizations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The initiative is critical for fostering public sector accountability, strengthening democratic institutions, and promoting civic participation in governance efforts. Interested applicants, which must be nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, should submit their proposals electronically via MYGRANTS Grants.gov by July 19, 2024, with questions due by July 8, 2024. For further inquiries, contact Anisha Choubey at choubeya@state.gov.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs is inviting applications for a funding opportunity aimed at strengthening civil society and governance in South Asia. The initiative, with a funding amount of $2,595,000, seeks to appoint a Fund Manager to oversee the Strengthening Civil Society and Governance in South Asia Fund over a two-year period. Applicants eligible for funding include U.S.-based and foreign non-profit organizations. The Fund focuses on enhancing governance transparency and accountability in five countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Key objectives include improving civil society organizations' engagement with governments to promote accountability, fostering regional collaboration among CSOs, and supporting innovative governance initiatives. The anticipated outcome is heightened civil society coordination in advocating for transparency. The application deadline is July 19, 2024, with a question submission deadline by July 8, 2024. Interested organizations must ensure they are registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and comply with U.S. government guidelines. The review process will evaluate applicants' project ideas, organizational capacity, financial management, and sustainability plans.
    The Budget Narrative Template outlines the requirements for justifying budget line-items in applications for federal grants and RFPs. It emphasizes that the narrative should complement and provide detailed explanations for the proposed budget costs, including personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual obligations, construction, and other direct costs. The template specifies that applicants must clarify roles and responsibilities for personnel, detail travel costs, specify equipment purchases, and provide subawards information, each aligned with project objectives. Cost-share contributions need identification and justification. The document encourages organizing the narrative in alignment with the detailed budget for ease of review. Specific sections require detailed financial breakdowns, explaining the derivation of costs and their reasonability, while adhering to applicable funding opportunity guidance and criteria. Overall, the narrative serves as an essential support structure to reflect financial integrity and transparency in project proposals.
    The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Administration has updated the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for applicants seeking federal grants. The submission process mandates that applications be electronically filed via MYGRANTS Grants.gov by the specified deadline, containing all required documents as outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Key components include applying through MyGrants or Grants.gov, completing essential forms like the SF-424 series, and providing thorough proposal documentation. Successful proposals necessitate a cover page, executive summary, narrative addressing project goals and methodologies, a detailed budget breakdown, and a monitoring and evaluation plan. The document emphasizes the importance of adherence to formatting and content requirements, including clarity and documentation of costs. Additionally, entities classified as Foreign Public Entities or Public International Organizations have special provisions regarding form completion. This guidance aims to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of applications, ensuring that submissions align with the Department of State's objectives for grant funding and project implementation. It underscores the necessity of early registration and technical support, urging applicants to plan ahead to accommodate potential technical issues.
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