GRANT PROGRAMS
U.S. Embassy Seeks Proposals for "Women's Issues Fund"
The U.S. Embassy is now accepting proposals from local Cambodian NGOS for funding under the 2007-2008 Department of State's "Women’s Issues Fund." Proposals must address economic empowerment, foster political participation, and/or contribute to women's/girls' freedom from violence.
There are two separate competitions: 1) a "Small Grants" program targeting local, country-specific NGOs and institutions with a per-proposal minimum of $10,000 USD and a maximum of no more than $25,000 USD, and 2) a "Standard Grants" competition with a per-proposal maximum grant of $200,000. By State Department rules, this latter competition will be open to all appropriate applicants through announcement on grants.gov as well as to those recruited by the Embassy. A realistic target date for grant commencement would be late spring or early summer 2008. The deadline for Cambodian NGOs to submit proposals to the Embassy for the small grants program is November 1, 2007. For large program submissions, please submit your proposals directly to the Department of State through grants.gov by December 18, 2007.
Types of Projects to be Funded
Women's Issues Funds (WIF) will be used to support projects that enhance political participation and/or foster economic independence, particularly in countries and sub-regions where poverty and lack of political voice leave women most vulnerable to significant exploitation, including those that are key points of origin for trafficked women. All proposals should incorporate proven country- and culture-specific empowerment training techniques. The State Department particularly encourages proposals that incorporate local capacity building. Because funding for WIF is not anticipated in Fiscal Years 2008 or 2009, project proposals should be designed to achieve concrete, realistic goals by the end of the funding period or demonstrate a high likelihood of committed support from other sources if part of a longer-term, ongoing effort.
Proposals should address obstacles to women's social, political, and economic development. The U.S. government seeks to support the building of stable societies by enabling women to become full participants in those societies. Past Women's Issues Fund programs have included assistance in financing healthcare and educational services in Burma, raising civic education/gender awareness in the Philippines, strengthening the implementation of Mongolia's domestic violence law, supporting female participation in village political life in Laos, and educating rural Thai women on labor law rights to mitigate trafficking dangers during labor migrations.
The most recent Women's Issues Fund projects in Cambodia is the Women's Empowerment Program implemented by PACT. The Women’s Empowerment Program (WORTH) teaches women basic management, finance, and accounting skills. After learning these skills, women participate in collective community loan/banking operations that allow them to make business investments. In a short time, the women are not only able to pay back their loans but operate a successful, sustainable business.
The Small Grants Program for Locally-based Organizations
The Embassy is seeking realistic proposals in amounts between USD $10,000 and the maximum $25,000. A local branch of an international organization or NGO is not eligible to apply for the Small Grants program. Such organizations may, however, compete in the Standard Grants competition (see below).
Application Format
Proposals must be submitted using the following format, including budget and resumes.
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Identifying Information: The application should contain the following:
a) name of project;
b) total budget requested;
c) duration of project;
d) legal name of the organization;
e) name, date, and place of birth of the organization director;
f) name, date, and place of birth of the organization contact for the application;
g) mailing address;
h) phone number;
i) email address;
j) brief 1-2 paragraph description of the organization's history and achievements;
k) any previous US government funding to the organization.Please submit a brief summary, not to exceed one page, describing the need for the project in the light of existing conditions and challenges for women in-country; the project's target group(s); and how the project will impact or improve the particular situation addressed. - Project Overview and Justification:
- Project Goals/Objectives/Implementation Plan: The applicant should note the overall goals of the project and describe the specific objectives and how they will be implemented (activities). This section should also describe how the implementation of the project's objectives will be measured for effectiveness.
- Project Detailed Budget: Please provide a detailed budget to include (where relevant): activity costs; personnel costs; equipment costs; fringe benefits; office costs (communication, rent and related, supplies); travel; and other direct costs.
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Resumes of Key Project Personnel: Please include name, date, and place of birth for each.
The Standard Grants Competition for NGOs and International Organizations
This is a competition across the region for several one-time larger grants to local NGOs/NPOs, US-based NGOs/NPOs and/or international organizations. The maximum single grant award under the Standard Grant program is $200,000. This "open source" opportunity and application instructions will be posted on grants.gov. Local Cambodian NGOs, however, are asked to submit proposals for this competition through the U.S. Embassy by the November 1, 2007 deadline.
Basic Criteria for Applicants
Applicant organizations must have demonstrated in-country experience, expertise in the project area, and be capable of providing country-and culture-specific empowerment training. Applicants must be NGOs, international organizations, or other not-for-profit institutions. For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Applicants must have or obtain a DUNS number no later than at the time of a possible award. As noted earlier, because no WIF program funding is anticipated in subsequent fiscal years, projects must be narrowly focused to achieve concrete objectives by the end of the funding period; or demonstrate that other, non-WIF funds are available to sustain the project after the WIF grant concludes. The competition review committee encourages cost-shares where possible.
Application Format
Proposals for the Standard Grants competition should be submitted using the following format. (Please note that the application form for the Standard Grants competition is different than that for the Small Grants program.) The proposal narrative (Sections 1 through 5) should be no more than 5 pages.
- Identifying Information:
a) name of project;
b) total budget requested;
c) duration of project;
d) legal name of the organization;
e) name, date of birth and place of birth of the organization director;
f) name of organization contact for the application;
g) mailing address;
h) phone number;
i) email address. - Abstract: A brief summary, not more than one page, describing the need for the project, proposed activities, and expected results.
- Problem Statement: The statement should describe the need for the project to support women's development or freedom from violence in the target area and discuss existing resources available to address the problem.
- Project Goals/Objectives/Implementation Plan: The applicant should specify the goals and objectives designed to address the problem and the activities that support implementation of the objectives. This section must also include a description of performance indicators that will be used to measure effectiveness of the implementing activities and their relation to the program objectives.
- Organizational Capacity: Applications must include a description of the applicant's previous experience in working on women's development and/or in anti-trafficking/freedom from violence sectors, and experience and background in the country as these relate to the proposed activities. This section should also identify the project management and staffing plan. If the applicant intends to use subcontractors or partner organizations, those organizations must be identified, along with their roles and responsibilities. Applicants must note whether they have received USG awards in the past (detail not required).
- Budget: The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested from the State Department, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following categories: a) personnel; b) fringe benefits; c) travel; d) equipment; e) supplies; f) consultants/contracts; g) other direct costs such as conference costs, publishing costs, etc; h) indirect costs - articulated.
- Resumes: The applicant should submit one-page resumes for the project's key staff, including key staff of any partner organizations or subcontractors. Please include name, date of birth, and place of birth for key staff listed.
