The PRM Department is Offering Grants to Support NGO Programs for Returning Refugees in Afghanistan

PRM will consider proposals from NGOs with proven track records in implementing refugee and returnee assistance programs. Higher consideration will be given to organizations that have well-established operations in Afghanistan.

PRM generally supports activities in the areas of: sustainable livelihoods (programs that can match returnees with job opportunities or improve household income will be given higher consideration than those which focus solely on vocational training); basic and maternal/child healthcare, combined with capacity building or sustainability measures such as health care worker training and provision of supplies and equipment; primary school construction or rehabilitation, combined with capacity building or sustainability measures such as teacher training and provision of materials and equipment; shelter construction for returnees to their places of origin or at Land Allocation Scheme (LAS) sites; prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV); water and sanitation systems creation, rehabilitation, and repair, especially if in conjunction with previously mentioned livelihoods, education, and/or shelter programs.

The following activities are priority areas for PRM in FY09: a. Create sustainable livelihoods opportunities; b. Provide or improve access to basic and maternal/child healthcare; c. Provide access to primary education for boys and girls. Educational programs may include teacher training and rehabilitation of existing school facilities; and d. Create, repair, or rehabilitate water and sanitation systems.

NGOs are encouraged to propose programs that include a mix of elements. PRM will consider a broad range of activities, but priority will be given to programs that include one or more of the elements from the above categories. It is important to have an effective and practicable exit/transition strategy as it is unlikely that follow-on funding will be available.

Although PRM will consider all submissions, preference will be given to proposals that focus on the following geographic locations and/or Land Allocation Scheme sites that have been ratified by the Oversight Committee:
Provinces of anticipated high return 2009-2010
Farah
Herat
Kabul
Kandahar
Kunar
Kunduz
Nangarhar
Paktia
Parwan
Takhar

Land Allocation Scheme (LAS) sites ratified by Oversight Committee
Barik Ab (Kabul Province)
Beni Warsak (Parwan Province)
Taqi Naqi (Herat Province)
Sheikh Misri (Nangarhar Province)
Gorjee (Farah Province)
Robat (Paktia Province)

PRM will accept proposals from any NGO working within the above mentioned sectors and geographic locations, although, given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:
• a working relationship with UNHCR and 2008/2009 UNHCR funding and/or support for the proposed activities and/or overall country program;
• a proven track record in providing proposed assistance both in the sector and specified location;
• evidence of coordination with international organizations (IOs) and other NGOs working in the same area or sector as well as – if applicable – local authorities;
• 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;
• appropriate targeting of beneficiaries in coordination with UNHCR and other relevant organizations. Because of PRM’s mandate to provide protection, assistance, and sustainable solutions for refugees and victims of conflict, PRM only considers funding projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50% refugees.

Transition Strategy/Coordination preferences:
Programs must include a description of how program activities will fit into a phased transition strategy to locally available services or to self-reliance strategies. Programs should also include clear and effective plans for moving from relief to early recovery under local or national structures. PRM will give particular consideration to NGOs that may be able to present projects that either coordinate with or fit into the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), particularly the Refugees, Returnees, and IDPs (RRI) Sector Strategy, and/or National Solidarity Program (NSP). All projects should seek to address the particular needs of women and children and indicators should disaggregated by gender and age group when possible. Although PRM anticipates the majority of awards will be provided for Afghan returnee support, submissions may include activities which cover Pakistani refugee needs.

For more details on this specific opportunity, please click on the “Full Announcement” Grants.gov link above. For PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, please click the Grants.gov “How to Apply” link above. If after reviewing both documents you have further technical questions, please contact Program Analyst Amy Wendt at 202-663-3622 (WendtAR@state.gov) or Program Officer Norman Hastings at 202-663-3683 (HastingsNS@state.gov). Funding opportunity announcements and PRM’s general NGO guidelines are also on PRM’s website.