PRM is offering a grant for NGO programs benefiting refugees in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

ADVISORY: PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address difficulties that may arise due to system delays.

Proposed Program Start Dates: June 1 – September 15, 2011

Duration of Activity: Program plans from 12 to 36 months will be considered. Applicants may submit multi-year proposals with activities and budgets that do not exceed 36 months from the proposed start date. Actual awards will not exceed 12 months in duration. See guidance below.

Multi-year proposals selected for funding by PRM will be funded in 12-month increments and must include results-based indictors within the first 12 months. Agreements may be renewable for up to two additional 12-month periods contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need. Continued funding after the initial 12-month award requires the submission of a noncompeting continuation application as detailed in the “Noncompeting Application Requirements” section and will be contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need. Please see the “Proposal Content, Formatting, and Templates” section for additional guidance.

The following are examples that are appropriate and encouraged for the second and third 12-month program cycles:
• Plans to conduct a process evaluation to determine whether program design during the initial 12 months was effective;
• Activities that build on foundations developed during the initial 12-month phase (e.g. job placement activities in year two to build on vocational skills programs conducted in year one)

Furthermore, in funding a project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the project in successive years and encourages applicants to seek a wide array of donors to ensure long-term and diverse funding sources.

Current Funding Priorities for refugees in Ethiopia and Kenya:
While PRM encourages activities that include the local host population, because of PRM’s mandate to provide protection, assistance, and sustainable solutions for refugees and victims of conflict, PRM considers funding only those projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50% refugees.

(a) For Kenya, only proposals for assistance to camp-based refugees or urban refugees living in Nairobi will be considered. For Ethiopia, only proposals for assistance to refugees living in camps near Dolo Ado (Bokolmayo and/or Melkadida), Jijiga (Kebrebeyah, Aw Barre, and/or Sheder), or Shire (Shimelba, My’Ayni, and/or Adi Harush) will be considered.

(b) Proposals must focus on the following sectors: Health (including environmental health, reproductive health, psychosocial support, and assistance for disabled persons) and Nutrition, Protection (including prevention of and response to gender-based violence and assistance to unaccompanied minors), Shelter and Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, and/or Livelihoods (including primary education and vocational training).

(c) PRM will accept proposals from any NGO working in the above mentioned sectors although, given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:

• A working relationship with UNHCR, current UNHCR funding, and/or a letter of support from UNHCR for the proposed activities and/or overall country program (this letter should highlight the gap in services the proposed program is designed to address);

• 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 – where possible – 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 include at least one outcome or 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; and

• Adherence to relevant international standards for humanitarian assistance. See PRM’s General NGO Guidelines for a complete list of sector-specific standards.

International Organizations (IOs) that are engaged in programs relevant to the assistance addressed by this PRM funding announcement should ensure that these programs are made known to PRM on or before the closing date of this funding announcement so that PRM can evaluate all IO and NGO programs for funding consideration.

Funding Limits: PRM will consider proposals submitted with budgets in the range of $175,000 to $1,600,000. Any submissions over this amount will automatically be disqualified.

As stated in the General NGO Guidelines, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting organization.

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For more details on this specific opportunity, please click the “Full Announcement” Grants.gov link. For PRM’s general NGO guidelines, please go to the Funding Opportunities page of PRM’s website: http://www.state.gov/g/prm/c39538.htm. After you’ve read both documents, please contact Catherine Baroang at 202-453-9381 (baroangca@state.gov) or Margo Huennekens at 202-453-9383 (huennekensmm@state.gov) with any questions. Funding opportunity announcements and PRM’s general NGO guidelines are also on PRM’s website.