U.S. Embassy Tallinn Offers Complementary Response Small Grants to Support Ukrainian Refugees in Estonia

Notice of Funding Opportunity 

Funding Opportunity Title: Complementary Response Small Grants Program (CRSGP) to Support Ukrainian Refugees 

Funding Opportunity Number: POLECON-TALLINN-FY23-CRSGP-01 

Deadline for Applications: March 4, 2023 

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

Assistance Listing Number: 19.878 EUR-Other  

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

The U.S. Embassy Tallinn 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 Estonia. 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 Tallinn, Estonia announces an open competition for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society and private organizations assisting Ukrainian refugees in Estonia 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 Estonian 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 Estonian 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 Estonia 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 $100,000 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 Estonia 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 Tallinn 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. 

The following documents are required and should be sent by email to talpolec@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 website 
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn website 
• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn website(note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) 

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.   

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. 
• 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. 

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. 

Required Registrations: 

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain following registration, which is free of charge.: 

• www.SAM.gov registration which will generate a UEI 

Per Office of The Procurement Executive, as of January 2023, a CAGE/NCAGE number is no longer needed to register in SAM.gov, unless organizations plan to do business with the Department of Defense (DOD).

Please see U.S. Embassy in Estonia website for the complete NOFO.

Notice of Funding Opportunity 

Funding Opportunity Title: Complementary Response Small Grants Program (CRSGP) to Support Ukrainian Refugees 

Funding Opportunity Number: POLECON-TALLINN-FY23-CRSGP-01 

Deadline for Applications: March 4, 2023 

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

Assistance Listing Number: 19.878 EUR-Other  

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

The U.S. Embassy Tallinn 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 Estonia. 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 Tallinn, Estonia announces an open competition for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society and private organizations assisting Ukrainian refugees in Estonia 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 Estonian 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 Estonian 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 Estonia 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 $100,000 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 Estonia 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 Tallinn 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. 

The following documents are required and should be sent by email to talpolec@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 website 
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn website 
• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at U.S. Embassy Tallinn website(note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) 

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.   

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. 
• 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. 

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. 

Required Registrations: 

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

• www.SAM.gov registration which will generate a UEI 
• NCAGE/CAGE code  

Please see U.S. Embassy in Estonia website for the complete NOFO.