Strengthening Government Through Civil Society Engagement

to reduce corruption and impunity and/or improve, expand or complement local, municipal, or central government service delivery to communities at risk, that are difficult to access, or have limited resources. Contingent upon the availability of funds and quality of proposals, U.S. Embassy Belmopan intends to issue three to five awards in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 in total funding. Each award will be for an amount between $200,000 and $400,000. Project periods should not exceed two years, and the anticipated start date for successful proposals is September 29, 2017. U.S. Embassy Belmopan is under no obligation to fund any of the proposals submitted under this funding opportunity. The overall goal of this NOFO is to support democracy and governance efforts in Belize. Applicants should address at least one or can combine both of the following project objectives:1) Civil society provides support to improve basic local, municipal, or central government services. Proposals should be oriented towards activities by civil society organizations working to capitalize on government, private, and civil society resources and networks to collectively work together to improve, expand, or complement government service delivery particularly to vulnerable, remote, and/or marginalized populations, particularly outside of Belize City district. Examples of potential activities include, but are not limited to, providing assistance for victims of gender based violence (GBV) or Trafficking in Persons (TIP). OR 2) Civil society works with government to institute reforms to reduce corruption and impunity. Proposals should be oriented towards activities working to effect legislative, legal and judicial reforms to reduce impunity, and/or improve government transparency. Examples of potential activities include, but are not limited to, projects intended to decrease corruption (including assistance towards implementing aspects of the UN Convention Against Corruption), or remove barriers to prosecutions in areas such as gender based violence, TIP or sexual harassment or cases affecting youth, vulnerable, or marginalized populations.