FY2009 PRM Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO Programs in Shimelba Camp, Ethiopia Benefiting Refugees,

Beginning April 1, 2009 - May 1, 2009

(Issued January 5, 2009)

Deadline: Wednesday February 12, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. (EST).

Key Points

• Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov. Organizations not registered with Grants.gov should sign up well in advance of the February 12, 2009 deadline as it can take up to two weeks for a registration to be finalized (and sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required registration numbers).
  
• PRM’s CFDA number for Refugee Assistance Programs for African refugees is 19.517.
  
• We encourage organizations to submit applications prior to the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties that could result in the proposal not being considered.
  
• Please contact the grants.gov help desk if you encounter technical difficulties with grants.gov (support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726). Applicants who are unable to submit via Grants.gov due to technical difficulties should contact Program Officer Matthew Austin (austinmc@state.gov or call 202-663-1031) immediately to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.
  
• 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.

• NOTE: Please e-mail Program Officer Matthew Austin (austinmc@state.gov) to confirm that the proposal submission was received by PRM.

Proposed Start Dates: April 1, 2009 – May 1, 2009

Duration of Activity: No more than 12 months
Applicants with multi-year programs must continue to re-compete for PRM funding each year. In funding a project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the project in successive years. PRM encourages applicants to seek a wide array of donors to ensure long-term funding possibilities if pursuing a multi-year strategy.

PRM FY 2009 Funding Priorities for Ethiopia

1. Programs will benefit refugees in Shimelba Camp, Ethiopia. While PRM encourages activities that include the local host population, NGOs should concentrate on care/maintenance activities for refugees in a camp environment. At least 50% of beneficiaries must be refugees. Proposals may focus on protection, health, water, sanitation, shelter, education, community services, psychosocial support, gender based violence, and livelihoods development and training.

2. PRM will give priority to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:

• a working relationship with UNHCR in country and UNHCR funding and/or support for the proposed activities ;
  
• a proven track record in providing proposed refugee assistance in Ethiopia and in the sector(s);

• evidence of coordination with the host government and other international and non-governmental organizations working in the area of activity. [Note: PRM will share budget and project activity information with appropriate ministries, local officials, and other USG entities];
  
• 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 at least one impact indicator per objective;
  
• A budget that is appropriate for meeting the objectives and demonstrates co-funding by non-US Government sources.

Proposal Submission Requirements

1. Proposal formatting and content: Please refer to the FY08 General PRM NGO guidelines available at http://www.state.gov/j/prm/fund/announcements/91668.htm. These general PRM NGO guidelines are also available on Grants.gov in the “How to Apply” section. Applicants are encouraged to use the NGO templates provided.

Please take special note of the following requirements as outlined in the general PRM NGO guidelines:

• Budgets must include a specific breakdown of funds being provided (where applicable) by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own organization. PRM places great value on multi-lateral support for humanitarian programs.
  
• Budgets must be broken down by objective.
  
• Organizations that received PRM funding in FY08 for proposed activities in Ethiopia must include the most recent quarterly progress report against indicators outlined in the cooperative agreement.
  
• Focus on impact indicators as much as possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one impact indicator.
  
• PRM will not fund projects that require a period of time at the beginning of the project for assessments or establishment of baselines. These activities must already have occurred and be incorporated into proposed indicators, and baselines should be provided to the greatest extent possible.
  
• NGOs that have never received U.S. Government funding must be prepared to demonstrate that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government by providing copies of the following:

1. the most recent external financial audit;

2. proof of non-profit tax status including under IRS 501 (c)(3), as applicable;

3. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number; and

4. Employer ID number (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification Number.
(Note: It may take some time to acquire these documents if an organization doesn’t already have them.)

2. Pre-submission technical consultation: Please read guidance in this announcement and the FY08 General PRM NGO Guidelines carefully to ensure that the proposed activities are in line with PRM’s priorities and that your proposal submission is in full compliance with PRM requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in these guidelines will not be considered.

NGOs may contact the PRM staff listed below with technical questions related to this announcement:

• PRM Program Officer Matt Austin (austinmc@state.gov or 202-663-1031) in Washington, DC; or
  
• Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Horn of Africa, Inga Heemink, (heeminki@state.gov) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Proposal Review Process

PRM’s Office of Assistance for Africa conducts formal competitive reviews of all proposal submissions by convening proposal review teams to evaluate proposals based on specific evaluation criteria and PRM’s priorities in the context of available funding.

In order to provide NGOs with timely feedback, PRM will inform applicants of a panel’s decision to recommend or not recommend funding proposed activities, and may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will follow up with formal notifications via letter to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.

PRM funding opportunities for proposed activities in Central Africa/Great Lakes are also currently posted on Grants.gov.