Its part of international intel but funded by grant.
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=AF-GAB-PE-ARDF-...To launch a new public access hub for political party and election information in Botswana thus making more transparent the workings of parliament by listing voting records of each Member of Parliament. This project will assist in developing a website that can also be launched on both iOS and Android app stores so Batswana can download the apps on their phones and have instant access to election information from the start of the campaign season through election day.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. Embassy Gaborone
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Title: Promoting Accountable, Transparent, and Democratic Governance in Botswana
Funding Opportunity Number: AF-GAB-PE-ARDF-FY23
Deadline for Applications: September 9, 2023
Assistance Listing Number: 19.225
Total Amount Available: $350,000
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Embassy Gaborone of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to build an independent online resource for Batswana citizens, the press, and independent observers in the leadup to elections in Botswana in 2024. The envisioned project will support transparent access to information about political parties and leaders as well as election-related reporting.
Please follow all instructions below.
Priority Region: Botswana
Program Objectives:
This project will enhance accountability in the areas of elected official representation and transparent governance and improve everyday access to information on issues of interest to Botswana’s citizens. This project will fund an independent resource in Botswana to facilitate access to information about political parties, leaders, and current events – bringing up-to-date information on Botswana’s political parties and leaders to the citizens by creating an extensive database of updated political information. This includes issues of national importance and the political parties’ platforms / official positions on those issues (i.e. health, economic development, education, unemployment, conservation, etc.). Moreover, this project will hold political parties and independent candidates more accountable for their campaign promises by tracking campaign platforms, promises, and deliverables.
The proposed project includes the following activities:
• Design and launch a comprehensive website with information from all political parties and all registered candidates, which links to Botswana’s parliament, tracks votes and legislation, and creates voting records associated with Botswana’s political leaders.
o Similar to election resource sites in the United States and other countries, this would be a first for Botswana. This independent resource will enable the public to access information on political parties and candidate positions on key issues, building public exposure and awareness.
• Maintain the website and affiliated app(s) and create a long-term strategy of self-sustainability beyond the funding of the grant.
o A successful grantee will be able to maintain and prolong the long-term sustainability of this project through effective management, post-grant partnerships, and identifying a set of potential investment partners moving forward.
The role of the grantee will be the following:
• Organize logistics, present information, and host a series of events or educational/cultural sessions, each focused on at least one of the priority areas listed above.
• The award amount is inclusive of venue, travel, speaker, media, refreshment, or any other fees associated with hiring staff and supporting office operations. No funding above the $350,000 award ceiling will be considered.
• Applicants should consider that some of this work may occur outside of Botswana’s capital and major population centers, which will require budgeting for travel to rural areas outside of public transportation networks. Successful applicants will also detail a strategy for gaining access to political parties, government leaders, political candidates, academics, think-tank representatives, traditional leaders, local communities, and government officials, including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Parliament.
• Grantees should be prepared to explain how their proposals could be conducted virtually as a contingency if in-person events are not possible.
Audiences:
Audiences include:
• Political party leaders and members
• Academics
• Political candidates
• Traditional leaders
• Youth
• Government of Botswana officials including the IEC
• Botswana’s Parliament
• The general public
• Indigenous groups in Botswana
B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
Length of performance period: 18 months
Number of awards anticipated: 1 award
Award amounts: $350,000
Total available funding: $350,000
Type of Funding: FY22 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act
Anticipated program start date: September 30, 2023
This notice is subject to availability of funding.
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 18 months or less.
C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION
1. Eligible Applicants
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
• U.S. - based and Non-U.S. based not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
• U.S. - based and non-U.S. based public and private educational institutions
• Individuals
• U.S. - based and non-U.S. based Public International Organizations
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
None
3. Other Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov, as well as a valid registration on
www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov.
D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
1. Address to Request Application Package
Application forms required below are available at grants.gov
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
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 Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.
The following documents are required:
1. Mandatory application forms
• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at Grants.gov
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at Grants.gov
• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at Grants.gov (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’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.
3. Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but 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 timeframe 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? The performance indicators must include at least one of the following:
• Number of individuals receiving civic education through USG-assisted programs.
• Number of USG-assisted civil society organizations (CSOs) that participate in legislative proceedings and/or engage in advocacy with national legislature and its committees.
• 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
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)
Required Registrations:
All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.
Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.
The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.
Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.
• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.
• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registeri
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