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FY 2000 Guidelines
for NGOs: Proposals for The New Independent States (NIS) Fact Sheet released by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Department of State, June 22, 2000 |
The Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) values its cooperation with non-governmental organization (NGO) partners worldwide. PRM recognizes that clear communication enhances cooperation and that NGOs can plan more easily when they understand donors' objectives. With these factors in mind, PRM has developed the following description of the activities it intends to fund in the countries of the former Soviet Union in Fiscal Year 2000. PRM relies on UN agencies and international organizations (IOs) to provide the basic framework of assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and conflict victims throughout the region. The Bureau funds NGOs indirectly through contributions to IOs, which use NGOs as implementing partners. It has funded NGOs directly in the region for activities that are particularly high priority for the U.S. Government. This approach reflects both PRM's policy objectives and its budget reality, as most PRM money is designated for assistance to IOs and a lesser amount is available for NGO projects. In the past, USAID's Bureau for Europe and the New Independent States (AID/ENI) has provided the bulk of the funding for NGOs in the New Independent States (NIS). PRM will work closely with AID/ENI to ensure that there is no overlap in the types of NGO projects that receive funding. PRM has set out, inter alia, the following policy objectives for FY 2000 in the NIS:
PRM will consider proposals from NGOs that have a clear track record and established programs in the country in which they intend to work. PRM will take into consideration each NGO's experience working in the particular location(s) where it proposes to implement activities and in working with PRM or other U.S. Government agencies. Each NGO should submit only one proposal per country -- i.e., an NGO that operates in Georgia and Azerbaijan can submit one proposal for Georgia and one for Azerbaijan, but not two proposals for one country. These guidelines are for new projects. Requests for follow-on projects to recently or nearly completed PRM-funded programs are not part of this proposal process and should be submitted independently. PRM welcomes 2-year proposals with program description and budgets broken down by each year. However, we will only fund 2-year at a time and consider second-year funding subject to availability of funds, and based on successful program performance and continued need for the program. While PRM cannot provide grants directly to local NGOs, PRM encourages international NGOs to partner with local NGOs providing onward funding and oversight on projects of common interest. PRM will not consider proposals for programs in the northern Caucasus given the current security and logistical constraints in the region. PRM encourages NGOs to work with international organizations as implementing partners under this setting. Sectors PRM will consider projects that meet the following objectives and ask for no less than $50,000 and no more than $400,000 from PRM. Projects should target a minimum of 50% refugees, IDPs and/or deported persons. PRM encourages NGOs to look at community needs and promote acceptance of these populations by the communities in which they live. In Georgia, PRM seeks to fund projects that offer new approaches for integrating IDPs into local communities yet still target a minimum of 50% IDP beneficiaries. Community Development/Participation Over the past several years, assistance needs for refugees and IDPs, especially in the Caucasus, have significantly changed. While there remain certain vulnerable groups that continue to need humanitarian assistance, PRM believes that international assistance efforts should focus on community development and participation in order to promote self-reliance for refugees and IDPs within local communities. This does not imply that IDPs and refugees will not return home but it recognizes that for the moment, it is important to encourage self-reliance and dignity among these populations. It also recognizes the need to provide assistance to communities and to encourage better relations among locals, refugees, and IDPs. PRM expects that such projects take the necessary time to develop trust with the communities and get the support of local authorities. Projects should be led by the communities: locals, refugees, and IDPs; i.e. the community may decide that education or water are priorities. Therefore, it may not be possible to define at the time the proposal is submitted whether program funding will be used for water, education, or a community business. The proposal should define the communities with which the NGO intends to work, the maximum funding to be used within each community, a range of activities the NGO anticipates to be included, and the mechanism by which communities will make decisions. Once the NGO and the community define the priority, PRM/Washington should be requested to approve the use of funds for specific projects (for the Caucasus, the NGO should request approval from PRM refugee coordinator in Tbilisi, Georgia as well as PRM/Washington). PRM recognizes that these types of programs are longer-term. While our authorities do not allow us to promise funding for more than 1 year, based on available funding for FY 2000, we will consider subsequent grants for those programs that have demonstrated progress as agreed upon in the proposal's objectives and indicators. However, PRM would like to make it clear that PRM support of community development programs will not exceed 2 years and that NGOs should plan for alternative funding thereafter. PRM will show greater consideration for NGOs that work to develop a local partner. NGOs willing to develop a local partner to take over their work in the future can include funding for the partnership. For example, if it is believed necessary to have additional expatriate staff to provide mentoring, or additional funds for training, these should be included. PRM feels strongly that NGOs should share resources where possible and encourages NGOs interested in community development to determine if there are personnel or other resources that could be shared and provide a useful input to further community development/participation in the country. If this is feasible, participating NGOs should decide which NGO will house the resource and have that NGO submit a proposal noting that the resources will be shared. Particularly Vulnerable Women There is anecdotal evidence that some refugee and IDP women in the Caucasus have been forced to turn to prostitution to meet the basic needs of their families. The significant out-migration of men -- local, refugee, and IDP-- from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to find work in Russia and elsewhere places an additional strain on women and their families. PRM is particularly concerned by the vulnerability of such refugee and IDP women and encourages projects that target them. Projects should focus on encouraging economic self-reliance, providing training, reproductive health, and the development of women's groups or associations so that women can play an active role in promoting their own rights. Where feasible, PRM encourages NGOs to work with already established local women's groups. PRM would appreciate attention being given to areas such as south Ossetia and Tajikistan where refugees and IDPs continue to return and little work focused on women has been done. Legal Assistance and Tolerance Over the past year, greater efforts have been made by the international community to find a durable solution for the Meskhetian Turks. As a condition for becoming a member of the Council of Europe, the Georgian Government must come up with a solution to allow back the Meskhetians who originated in Georgia. The current situation continues to be difficult both for the dozens who have returned and many of those living mainly in the Stavropol region of the Russian Federation. PRM's goal is to sensitize both the Georgian and Russian populations to the situation of the Meskhetians and create tolerance towards them and the need, especially in Russia, to provide adequate legal counseling and support to Meskhetians who continue to be harassed by Russian authorities and local people. Projects to sensitize the local population could include public relations programs on TV, radio, in schools, and in communities where they are currently living or are likely to return. Proposal Submission Process PRM and AID/ENI are coordinating closely on proposals for the Caucasus. All proposals, regardless of country, should be provided to PRM Washington. Additionally, NGOs should submit proposals for the South Caucasus to Maria Germano, PRM's refugee coordinator who is resident in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Refugee Coordinator will share the proposals with USAID offices in the field. Proposals for other countries such as Russia, Ukrain, and Tajikistan can be submitted directly to PRM Washington. The submission to PRM/Washington should include a signed and dated cover letter on official letterhead and the three required certifications (attached). Signatures on each document must be original. Photocopies and faxes are not acceptable for official purposes. Do not send these certifications to the Refugee Coordinator in Tbilis, Georgia. NGO headquarters should also submit any subsequent requests for amendments to PRM-funded agreements directly to PRM Washington.
Proposals may be sent to:
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Copies and/or drafts of proposals for the southern Caucasus should be sent to:
American Embassy Tbilisi Proposal Format Proposals should be no more than 7-10 pages, including attachments and budget. Descriptions of background information should be succinct. They should not include a general description of the conflicts in the region. Proposals should only provide information on the NGO's activities in past years or other locations if it is relevant to the current request. PRM supports all UNHCR guidelines, including those on the protection of refugee women and children. NGOs should design activities that adhere to these guidelines. Specifically, proposals should describe the measures that will ensure that women will have access to the program and that the needs of vulnerable groups -- elderly, widows, single-headed households, handicapped -- will be addressed. PRM will consider how NGO proposals fit into the U.S. Government's overall assistance strategy in these countries and UNHCR's framework for assistance in the region. Proposals should report the views of UNHCR on the proposed activity. In addition, they should clearly identify related activities performed by UNHCR and other agencies in the same geographic area. As applicable, the proposal should address the sustainability of the project. The budget for the program should show not only the PRM-funded portions, but also those funded by UNHCR, USAID, or other donors, if applicable. It should follow the sample format attached. Timing NGOs should submit proposals on or before July 31, 2000. PRM will make funding recommendations to PRM's Assistant Secretary by September 1, 2000. Proposals should have starting dates no earlier than November , 2000.
Bureau of Populations, Refugees, and Migration Each proposal should:
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