U.S. Embassy Riga of the U.S. Department of State Offers Complementary Response Small Grants to Support Ukrainian Refugees in Latvia

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Riga of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. Please follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

In light of the unprecedented refugee influx due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Embassy of the United States in Riga, Latvia announces an open competition for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society and private organizations assisting Ukrainian refugees in Latvia to submit applications to the Complementary Response Small Grants Program (CRSGP). We seek proposals from any organization or individual that meets the program eligibility requirements below. Proposals from municipal governments may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants may submit a proposal focused on one or a few of the themes below. CRSGP funding proposals should NOT seek to address all of these issues in one application. This notice is subject to availability of funds.

Potential projects supporting Ukrainian refugee communities can focus on: 

• Assistance to local communities or Latvian NGOs to address housing shortages for refugees from Ukraine; 
• Providing social services, including healthcare, legal counseling, psychological support, and education; 
• Training, including language training, for refugees in support of their employment and integration in Latvian society; 
• Promotion of equal access to protection, assistance, and other solutions for refugees with disabilities, socially vulnerable refugees, LGBTQI+ refugees, and other vulnerable refugee populations;  
• Promotion of civil society and association building among refugees;   
• Facilitating free flow of information (including support for independent media) to refugee populations and/or countering disinformation;  
• Public education and advocacy (including civic education) related to national refugee policies and plans, refugee rights, services and integration;  
• Conflict resolution or protection of human rights and promotion of tolerance; 
• Anti-trafficking and anti-corruption. 

Grants may be used to promote non-discrimination and tolerance for disadvantaged minorities but should not be used to promote the particular agenda of a specific group, practice, or lifestyle over any other. Grants cannot support any goals of religious nature. Grants are not intended to pay salaries outside of the scope of the project. Grants may not be used for partisan political activity. 

Proposed projects should complement existing refugee and humanitarian assistance provided through state or local governments, state agencies, 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). 

Participants and Audiences:

Projects should be designed to benefit the Ukrainian refugee community. Projects can serve Ukrainians directly in Latvia or indirectly through training or other programs for persons that provide services that impact the well-being of Ukrainian refugees in the country. Projects that include host-country participants that encourage integration of Ukrainian refugees into the local community will be considered, but projects must ensure that at least 50 percent of participants are Ukrainian refugees.

        B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months

Number of awards anticipated: Number of award(s) will depend on the cost(s) of proposed project(s).

Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $250,000.

Total available funding: Funds are available for the Baltic region and will be reviewed by a regional committee. Total funds granted in Latvia will depend on the number and amount of grants selected across the region.

Type of Funding: 2022 Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) – Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act (USAA) funds 

This notice is subject to availability of funding. U.S. Embassy Riga does not guarantee availability of funding by receiving applications under this announcement. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award, or cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation. 

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should ideally take place in two years or less, but consideration will also be given to projects with longer periods of performance as determined by the needs of Ukrainian refugees. The Department of State will entertain applications for extensions of grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1.     Eligible Applicants:

The following organizations that operate in-country are eligible to apply: 

·        Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Civil society organizations (CSOs) supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Nonprofit organizations supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Think tanks or academic institutions; 

·        Private organizations supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Public and private educational institutions

·        Municipal or local governments and their affiliated institutions.* 

Note: American and third-country organizations and individuals are not eligible for grants under this program; however, refugee-organized CSOs are eligible. Under exceptional circumstances, organizations based in European and Eurasian countries other than Latvia may receive consideration.  

*State institutions are not eligible to receive funding.  Proposals from municipal or local government bodies should clearly state why the entity is uniquely positioned to execute the project or how the entity will partner with non-governmental institutions to execute the project. Grants to local or municipal government bodies will be assessed on case-by-case basis.

2.     Other Eligibility Requirements

Cost sharing is not a requirement for eligibility. In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1.     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.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
•  All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required and should be sent by email to rigapolgrants@state.gov:

1. Mandatory application forms

·        SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals) at U.S. Embassy Riga’s website here under “Notice of Funding Opportunity Proposal Application Template.”

·        SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at U.S. Embassy Riga’s website here under “Notice of Funding Opportunity Proposal Application Template.”

·        SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) at U.S. Embassy Riga’s website here under “Notice of Funding Opportunity Proposal Application Template.”

2. 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.

3. Proposal (12 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. We recommend using the provided Application Template on U.S. Embassy Riga’s website, and it must include all the items listed here. Please double check the full nofo text on U.S. Embassy Riga’s website for all required documents.

4. 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. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments

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

·        Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

·        If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (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

·        Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) unless the application is for an individual.

Applications are due no later than March 6, 2023.

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

Please see U.S. Embassy Riga’s website for the complete NOFO or contact rigapolgrants@state.gov for the full text, proposal review criteria, and other important federal assistance information.

*Note: American and third-country organizations and individuals are not eligible for grants under this program; however, refugee-organized CSOs are eligible. Under exceptional circumstances, organizations based in European and Eurasian countries other than Latvia/Lithuania/Estonia may receive consideration.

*State institutions are not eligible to receive funding. Proposals from municipal or local government bodies should clearly state why the entity is uniquely positioned to execute the project or how the entity will partner with non-governmental institutions to execute the project. Grants to local or municipal government bodies will be assessed on case-by-case basis.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Riga of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. Please follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

In light of the unprecedented refugee influx due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Embassy of the United States in Riga, Latvia announces an open competition for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society and private organizations assisting Ukrainian refugees in Latvia to submit applications to the Complementary Response Small Grants Program (CRSGP). We seek proposals from any organization or individual that meets the program eligibility requirements below. Proposals from municipal governments may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants may submit a proposal focused on one or a few of the themes below. CRSGP funding proposals should NOT seek to address all of these issues in one application. This notice is subject to availability of funds.

Potential projects supporting Ukrainian refugee communities can focus on: 

• Assistance to local communities or Latvian NGOs to address housing shortages for refugees from Ukraine; 
• Providing social services, including healthcare, legal counseling, psychological support, and education; 
• Training, including language training, for refugees in support of their employment and integration in Latvian society; 
• Promotion of equal access to protection, assistance, and other solutions for refugees with disabilities, socially vulnerable refugees, LGBTQI+ refugees, and other vulnerable refugee populations;  
• Promotion of civil society and association building among refugees;   
• Facilitating free flow of information (including support for independent media) to refugee populations and/or countering disinformation;  
• Public education and advocacy (including civic education) related to national refugee policies and plans, refugee rights, services and integration;  
• Conflict resolution or protection of human rights and promotion of tolerance; 
• Anti-trafficking and anti-corruption. 

Grants may be used to promote non-discrimination and tolerance for disadvantaged minorities but should not be used to promote the particular agenda of a specific group, practice, or lifestyle over any other. Grants cannot support any goals of religious nature. Grants are not intended to pay salaries outside of the scope of the project. Grants may not be used for partisan political activity. 

Proposed projects should complement existing refugee and humanitarian assistance provided through state or local governments, state agencies, 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). 

Participants and Audiences:

Projects should be designed to benefit the Ukrainian refugee community. Projects can serve Ukrainians directly in Latvia or indirectly through training or other programs for persons that provide services that impact the well-being of Ukrainian refugees in the country. Projects that include host-country participants that encourage integration of Ukrainian refugees into the local community will be considered, but projects must ensure that at least 50 percent of participants are Ukrainian refugees.

        B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months

Number of awards anticipated: Number of award(s) will depend on the cost(s) of proposed project(s).

Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $250,000.

Total available funding: Funds are available for the Baltic region and will be reviewed by a regional committee. Total funds granted in Latvia will depend on the number and amount of grants selected across the region.

Type of Funding: 2022 Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) – Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act (USAA) funds 

This notice is subject to availability of funding. U.S. Embassy Riga does not guarantee availability of funding by receiving applications under this announcement. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award, or cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation. 

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should ideally take place in two years or less, but consideration will also be given to projects with longer periods of performance as determined by the needs of Ukrainian refugees. The Department of State will entertain applications for extensions of grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1.     Eligible Applicants:

The following organizations that operate in-country are eligible to apply: 

·        Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Civil society organizations (CSOs) supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Nonprofit organizations supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Think tanks or academic institutions; 

·        Private organizations supporting Ukrainian refugee communities; 

·        Public and private educational institutions

·        Municipal or local governments and their affiliated institutions.* 

Note: American and third-country organizations and individuals are not eligible for grants under this program; however, refugee-organized CSOs are eligible. Under exceptional circumstances, organizations based in European and Eurasian countries other than Latvia may receive consideration.  

*State institutions are not eligible to receive funding.  Proposals from municipal or local government bodies should clearly state why the entity is uniquely positioned to execute the project or how the entity will partner with non-governmental institutions to execute the project. Grants to local or municipal government bodies will be assessed on case-by-case basis.

2.     Other Eligibility Requirements

Cost sharing is not a requirement for eligibility. In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1.     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.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
•  All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required and should be sent by email to rigapolgrants@state.gov:

1. Mandatory application forms

·        SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s website here under “Applications and Forms.”

·        SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s website here under “Applications and Forms.”

·        SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s website here under “Applications and Forms.”

2. 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.

3. Proposal (12 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. We recommend using the provided Application Template on U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s website, and it must include all the items below. (Note: You can change “Estonia” to “Latvia” at the top of the form or leave this blank.)

4. 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. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments

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

·        Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

·        If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (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

·        Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) unless the application is for an individual.

Applications are due no later than March 6, 2023.

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

Please see U.S. Embassy in Tallinn website for the complete NOFO or contact ashleyas@state.gov or antuzanek@state.gov for the full text, proposal review criteria, and other important federal assistance information.