2023 Julia Taft Refugee Fund

 

Program Objectives:

This initiative began in 2000, under the leadership of former Assistant Secretary Julia V. Taft (named for her posthumously), with the intent of providing Ambassadors with the means to respond to critical gaps that local agencies could address, and which larger multilateral humanitarian programs have not addressed.

 

The program is intended to meet gaps in assistance through quick impact projects to meet critical needs not addressed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), or other international organizations (IOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

 

The Taft Fund is intended for projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50 percent refugees or returned refugees. Please note that this program can not cover activities aimed at internally displaced or stateless persons in Nigeria. Additionally, the program may fund projects that support equal access to protection, assistance, and other solutions for LGBTQI+ refugees and stateless persons. 

 

The proposed projects should be one-time interventions, not sustained programs. 

 

Examples of past projects include improved access to education, development of livelihoods, basic business training, health awareness programs, early childhood development activities, mental health establishment of agricultural cooperatives, mental health services, protection from gender-based violence, legal assistance, community building activities, sports programs for refugee youth, security upgrades to camps and WASH programs.

 

 

Participants and Audiences:

Communities of at least 50 percent refugees or returned refugees. Please note that this program can not cover activities aimed at internally displaced or stateless persons in Nigeria.

 

 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: 2 awards

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $25,000

Total available funding: $25,000

Type of Funding: FY23 Julia Taft Refugee Fund under the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962

Anticipated program start date: July 1, 2023

 

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

 

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

 

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

 

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

 

1.    Eligible Applicants

 

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

 

·      Not-for-profit organizations (NPOs,) including civil society/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered on the federal or state level in Nigeria.

 

 

2.    Cost Sharing or Matching

 

·      No cost sharing is required.

 

3.    Other Eligibility Requirements

 

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov.

 

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

 

1.    Content and Form of Application

 

The following documents are required:

 

a. Mandatory application forms

 

Available through this link:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

 

These forms are ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE. If you are requested to pay, you may be

targeted by a scam.

 

Do not save these forms as they are encrypted, and you will lose the information you

entered. Fill the forms out, print immediately, sign, scan all three together into one .pdf

format document and include in your application package.

 

·      SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations)

·      SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

·      SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs)

 

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

 

b. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

 

c. Proposal (5 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. 

·      Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Short narrative that outlines the proposed program with a description of population benefited by the project, benefits provided by the project and a justification, including program objectives and anticipated impact, i.e. benefits to the beneficiaries. Clearly describe the nationality of the refugees that will benefit from the program. Please note that this program can not cover activities aimed at internally displaced or stateless persons in Nigeria.

• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? 
• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
• Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

 

d. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. Use budget categories as described in section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

 

e. Attachments:

·      Copy of organization’s certificate of incorporation or non-profit organization registration

·      1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

·      If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.

·      Official permission letters, if required for program activities

·      Copy of organization’s Code of Conduct signed by the staff and consistent with the updated IASC’s six core principles  and recommendations on the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation (PSEA).  

 

 

f. Required Registrations:

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

 

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge.

2.    Submission Dates and Times

 

Applications are due no later than February 3, 2023.

 

3.    Funding Restrictions

 

Any costs incurred in preparation of your proposal or in advance of an award will not be

reimbursed.

 

4.    Other Submission Requirements

 

All application materials must be submitted by email to AbujaPOLECONgrants@state.gov

 

 FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) CAN BE FOUND AT THE U.S. MISSION NIGERIA WEBSITE LISTED BELOW.