About

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s West Africa Regional Peace and Governance Office (RPGO) seeks to award funding to prevent, mitigate, and/or respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and/or trafficking in persons (TIP) in West Africa and Cameroon under an Annual Program Statement (APS).

USAID intends to have one (1) selection round over the course of one (1) year, but may choose to have a second round if necessary. The APS is intended to help USAID partner with African organizations with experience working in West Africa on these topics.

This APS intends to address two specific human rights challenges in West Africa: SGBV and TIP. Addressing the scourges of SGBV and TIP is a USG priority. The United States believes that preventing and responding to SGBV around the world is a matter of human rights, justice, equity, and equality, and is central to achieving the Agency’s mission to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing security and prosperity in developing countries. The United States believes that TIP is a massive humanitarian and development challenge which affects millions of people of all ages worldwide. The United States Government. is legally mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) to impose significant consequences on countries whose governments are not making significant efforts to meet the TVPA’s minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. For this reason, the USG is committed to supporting their partners efforts to combat trafficking-in-persons.

Development Problem

• SGBV and TIP are core human rights concerns and massive humanitarian and development challenges which affect millions of people. Further, both SGBV and TIP interact with regional trends in ways that present serious threats to development and stability within West Africa and Cameroon, and among Coastal West African (CWA) countries specifically.

• Coastal West Africa:

  • SGBV

    • As a human rights concern alone, SGBV is a significant issue among CWA countries. Depending on the country, community, and type of SGBV, between 12% to over 90% of women and girls in CWA countries have experienced SGBV and the rates for men and boys, while less clear, are likely similarly devastating.

    • Critically, SGBV has also been proven to have significant negative impacts on countries’ economic prosperity and overall stability. Economically, higher rates of violence against women and girls are associated with lower economic development and reduced economic activity. Among CWA countries characterized by weaker economies, comparatively high rates of incidence of SGBV have debilitating economic and developmental effects. Societally and politically, SGBV’s negative impact on cohesion and resilience could prove to be critical in a region that is already increasingly fragile in the face of democratic declines and climate change. While there have been some positive initiatives by both governmental and non-governmental institutions to deal with this challenge, significant gaps remain - that is where this APS aims to engage.

    • Some common forms of SGBV present in West Africa include the following (this list is not exhaustive): 

      • Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) 

      • Forced, Early, and Child Marriage (FECM) 

      • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) 

      • Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV) 

      • Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) 

      • School-related Gender-based Violence (SRGBV) 

      • Targeting of Persons with Disabilities 

      • Targeting of LGBTQI Individuals

    • Individuals of all gender identities experience SGBV, though women, girls, and gender non conforming individuals face a disproportionate risk of SGBV across every context due to their unequal status in society. Among those targeted by SGBV, people in the LGBTQI community are at particular risk and continue to face violence or the threat of violence in many ways across the region. 

  • TIP

    • TIP also presents a serious threat to development and stability in West African countries. It is first and foremost a gross violation of human rights. Women and girls, as well as men and boys, are exploited across the region through forced labor, sex trafficking, and hereditary slavery, depriving significant proportions of the population of basic human freedom and autonomy. The problem of trafficking-in-persons is amplified by the challenges facing the region, including conflict and climate change, which increase the number of people susceptible to exploitation. The skyrocketing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Burkina Faso over the past few years alone has created needs for TIP prevention and response in surrounding countries, separate from the previously existing risks presented by migration and poverty.

    • As with SGBV, TIP can also fuel instability. Armed groups target vulnerable people, including IDPs, women, and children, into combatant and non-combatant roles; the existence and prevalence of TIP undermines trust in governmental authorities and security throughout communities; and, as one of the most lucrative criminal markets globally, the resources gained from TIP itself sustains armed groups and their activities. They particularly encourage TIP proposals for Benin.

    • Some common forms of trafficking in persons include the following (this list is not exhaustive): 

      • Forced Child Begging 

      • Other forms of Forced Child Labor 

      • Domestic Servitude 

      • Sex Trafficking 

      • Forced and Child Marriage

• Cameroon

  • Both TIP and SGBV are also significant issues within Cameroon and have harmfully impacted its development and stability. Over 5span% of women have experienced SGBV throughout Cameroon, and the crises in the North, Northwest, and Southwest regions have led to dramatic increases in sexual violence and assault, which in turn further fuels the crises themselves. Cameroon is also both a source and destination for international and domestic sexual and labor trafficking of both adults and children. In addition to traditionally vulnerable marginalized populations and hereditary slavery in northern chiefdoms, the crises and worsening economic situation have led to a flood of over one million migrants and IDPs vulnerable to traffickers. The Government of Cameroon is working to address both TIP and SGBV, but while it has made some notable progress major gaps remain and efforts may not be enough to meet the increasing magnitude of the issues.

Funding Information

• USAID/West Africa intends to award a maximum of $9.989 million under this Annual Program Statement (APS). The APS will have one (1) selection round over the course of one (1) year. The APS intends to award up to five (5) awards in either Cooperative Agreement or Grants (including but not limited to Fixed Amount Awards [FAA]). The maximum award amount is not expected to exceed $4,000,000 and to last no longer than 3span months.

Outcomes 

• Program outcomes and guidance governing this program are specified below.

• The goal of this APS is to better equip local organizations to work together to prevent, mitigate, and/or respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and/or trafficking in persons (TIP) in West Africa at the local, national, cross border, and/or regional level. However, this APS is not meant to be prescriptive. Rather, Applicants are encouraged to propose their own solutions - they want you to tell them what works best. Some illustrative outcomes of activities under this APS are listed below, though the list is not definitive:

  • Reduced levels of SGBV and/or TIP.

  • Increased capacity of civil society to address SGBV and/or TIP.

  • Strengthened SGBV and/or TIP international/regional networks (victims networks or otherwise).

  • Stakeholders mobilized to affect policy and societal-level change around SGBV and/or TIP.

  • Effected norm and societal change around SGBV and/or TIP.

  • Strengthened TIP and/or SGBV legal frameworks and their implementation within and among West African Countries or Cameroon.

Geographic Code 

• The geographic code for this program is 937 (the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source).

Geographic Areas 

• Concept papers are geographically limited for implementation in the following countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Niger, and Cameroon. Concept papers may be focused on the community, national, or regional levels. Strong regional approaches that include additional countries will be considered. USAID reserves the right to broaden the scope of coverage to include other West African countries through an amendment to this APS.

Eligibility

• General:

  • Eligibility for this NOFO is restricted to local organizations in Africa. This APS is issued worldwide as a public notice to ensure that all interested and qualified organizations have a fair opportunity to submit applications for funding. Eligible organizations include:

    • Registered African private non-governmental organizations with experience in West Africa or Cameroon,

    • Registered African non-profit organizations with experience in West Africa or Cameroon, and

    • For-profit African organizations with experience in West Africa or Cameroon willing to forego profit.

  • Types of local organizations that are welcome to apply could include foundations, faith-based organizations (FBOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CSO), colleges and universities, private organizations, international non-governmental organizations, professional associations, networks, and other international organizations.

  • All Applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law and must have experience in West Africa or Cameroon.

  • Other U.S. Government departments and agencies may not apply for USAID funding under this APS.

• African Non-Profit Organizations:

  • Qualified African not-for-profit NGOs with experience in West Africa or Cameroon may apply for funding under this APS. Foreign government-owned parastatal organizations from countries that are ineligible for assistance under the FAA or related appropriations acts are ineligible.

• African For-Profit Organizations: 

  • Qualified African private for-profit organizations with experience in West Africa or Cameroon may apply for funding under this APS. Foreign government owned parastatal organizations from countries that are ineligible for assistance under the FAA or related appropriations acts are ineligible. Potential for-profit Applicants should note that, pursuant to 22 CFR 22span.81, the payment of fee/profit to the prime recipient under grants and cooperative agreements is prohibited. However, if a prime recipient has a subcontract with a for-profit organization for the acquisition of goods or services (i.e., if a buyer-seller relationship is created), fee/profit for the subcontractor is authorized.  

• African Colleges and Universities: 

  • Qualified African colleges and universities with experience in West Africa or Cameroon may apply for funding under this APS. U.S. Government and USAID regulations generally treat colleges and universities as NGOs, rather than governmental organizations; hence, both public and private colleges and universities are eligible. Non-U.S. colleges and universities in countries that are ineligible for assistance under the FAA or related appropriations acts are ineligible.

• African Private Voluntary Organizations: 

  • A local or indigenous private voluntary organization (PVO), which by definition is a non-U.S. PVO operating in the same foreign country in which it is organized, with experience in West Africa or Cameroon may apply for funding under this APS. Local PVOs are not required to register with USAID. In accordance with 2 CFR 203, a U.S. PVO and an “International PVO,” which by definition is a non-U.S. PVO that performs development work in one or more countries other than the country in which it is domiciled, must be registered with USAID to be eligible to receive funding.

• Local Entities: 

  • Only local organizations as defined below are eligible for award. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:

    • Is legally organized under the laws of; and

    • Has as its principal place of business or operations in; and

    • Is

      • majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and

      • managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.

    • For purposes of this definition, ‘majority owned’ and ‘managed by’ include, without limitation, beneficiary interests and the power, either directly or indirectly, whether exercised or exercisable, to control the election, appointment, or tenure of the organization's managers or a majority of the organization's governing body by any means.

  • Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law. 

• New and Underutilized Partners: 

  • USAID encourages applications from and partnerships with new and underutilized partners with experience in West Africa or Cameroon. However, resultant awards to these organizations may be delayed if USAID must undertake necessary pre award reviews of these organizations to determine a risk assessment for the organization. These organizations should take this into account and plan their implementation dates and activities accordingly.

• Pre-Award Risk Assessment: 

  • In order for an award to be made under this APS, the USAID Agreement Officer will make a positive risk assessment determination, as discussed in ADS 303.3.9. This means that the applicant:

    • Possesses or has the ability to obtain the necessary management competence to plan and carry out the assistance program to be funded;

    • Will practice mutually agreed upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided by USAID;

    • Has a satisfactory record of performance;

    • Has a satisfactory record of business integrity; and

    • Is otherwise qualified to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations.

• Failure to meet these thresholds will lead to removal from consideration of an award.

• Recipients are not required to register with USAID until the full application stage or have previous experience with USAID. When considering making an award to an organization with limited or no previous USAID experience, USAID might determine to conduct a Pre-award Survey which is a risk assessment to determine the organization’s capabilities to complete the proposed activities.

• Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).

• The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.

Posted Date: Aug 09, 2024