FY 2009 PRM Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO and IO Protection and Assistance Programs for Sri Lankan Refugees in India
December 9, 2008
(Issued December 9, 2008)
Deadline:Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
The following guidelines are issued for proposals from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (IOs) to assist Sri Lankan refugees in India.
As a result of the recent escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka, over 20,000 Sri Lankan refugees have arrived in Tamil Nadu since 2006. Approximately 74,000 officially recognized Sri Lankan refugees live in 117 camps spread throughout the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Another approximately 23,000 officially recognized Sri Lankan refugees live outside the camps in Tamil Nadu.
When a Sri Lankan refugee arrives in India, he or she usually stays at the Mandapam Transit Facility for up to two weeks while registering for placement in a refugee camp. Refugees usually arrive in India with little or no private resources. Assistance is currently needed to improve the Mandapam Transit Facility’s shelter accommodations, water supply, food rations, and clothing for the new arrivals.
Once placed in a refugee camp, the host government generously provides Sri Lankan refugees with accommodation, monthly cash assistance, and access to school, health care, and employment. However, camp conditions are poor, especially in the shelter and water/sanitation sectors, because many of the camps were created in the 1980s and 1990s.
The influx of refugees since 2006 has strained the existing infrastructure of refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. Improvements are needed to enhance the quality of refugee care and strengthen the capacity of existing mechanisms to handle future arrivals.
NGOs and IOs are invited to submit proposals to PRM that would complement existing assistance activities for Sri Lankans and improve services in the following sectors:
To be considered, NGOs and IOs must have proven track records in implementing refugee assistance or other humanitarian assistance programs. Greater consideration will be given to organizations that already have successful operations serving Sri Lankan refugee populations in India. Program proposals must demonstrate consultation and cooperation with UNHCR and appropriate agencies of the host government.
PRM funds programs of 12-months duration. Applicants with existing Cooperative Agreements must re-compete for PRM funding each year. Furthermore, in funding a project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the project in successive years. PRM encourages applicants to seek an array of donors to ensure long-term funding possibilities if pursuing a multi-year strategy.
Proposals must address the following criteria:
(1) At least 50% of beneficiaries must be refugees;
(2) A concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives and indicators (and baselines for indicators where possible) that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound and trackable;
(3) Objectives with impact indicators; and,
(4) A clear transition strategy.
Submission Procedures
Please refer to PRM’s FY 2008 NGO guidelines for detailed instructions on proposal submission requirements by clicking on the “How to Apply” section in Grants.gov or referring to PRM’s website (http://www.state.gov/g/prm/fund/announcements/91668.htm). Project proposals should comply with the general policy guidelines described in PRM’s FY 2008 General NGO Guidelines. (Note: PRM will shortly release its FY2009 General NGO Guidelines.) All proposals should be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov.
Applicants that are not yet registered with www.Grants.gov should do so immediately, as it can take weeks and sometimes longer for a registration to be finalized. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals early. Please contact the Grants.gov help desk to report technical difficulties with Grants.gov (support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726). Make sure to obtain a case number. Applicants who are unable to submit via Grants.gov due to technical difficulties with Grants.gov applications and who have reported the problem(s) to the Grants.gov help desk and received a case number and had a service request opened to research the problem(s), should contact Program Officer Meghann Curtis at CurtisMA@state.gov or 202-663-1950 immediately to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.
IO applicants that respond to this request for proposals will be subject to PRM administrative authorities and procedures for voluntary contributions to IOs.
Once you have submitted your application via Grants.gov, please e-mail Program Officer Program Officer Meghann Curtis at CurtisMA@state.gov to confirm that the submission was received.
PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE GENERAL PRM NGO GUIDELINES:
PRM’s Office of Assistance for Asia and the Near East (PRM/ANE) conducts formal competitive reviews of all proposal submissions by convening proposal review teams to evaluate proposals based on specific evaluation criteria and PRM’s priorities in the context of available funding.
In order to provide NGOs with timely feedback, PRM will inform applicants of a panel’s decision to recommend or not recommend funding proposed activities, and may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will follow up with formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.
PRM Program Officer Contact Information:
Ms. Meghann Curtis
Program Officer, Office of Assistance for Asia and the Near East
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
U.S. Department of State
2401 E St., NW
Suite L505, SA-1
Washington, DC 20522-0105
Phone: (202) 663-1950
Fax: (202) 663-1061
E-Mail: CurtisMA@state.gov
Consulate Chennai Contact Information:
Mr. Rohit Nepal
Political and Economic Officer
U.S. Consulate General Chennai
No. 220, Anna Salai
Chennai, 600 006
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 91 44 2857-4000
E-Mail: NepalRS@state.gov
Mr. Finny Jacob
Political Specialist
U.S. Consulate General Chennai
No. 220, Anna Salai
Chennai, 600 006
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 91 44 2857-4000
E-Mail: JacobFX@state.gov
UNHCR Contact Information:
Ms. Margarita Vargas Angulo
Senior Administrative/Programme Officer
UNHCR
14 Jor Bagh
New Delhi 110003
India
Phone: 91-11-4353-0444
E-mail: Vargasm@unhcr.org
Deadline:Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
The following guidelines are issued for proposals from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (IOs) to assist Sri Lankan refugees in India.
Context
Sri Lankans have been displaced by the conflict in Sri Lanka since 1983. Over the years, many Sri Lankans have sought temporary and permanent refuge in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.As a result of the recent escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka, over 20,000 Sri Lankan refugees have arrived in Tamil Nadu since 2006. Approximately 74,000 officially recognized Sri Lankan refugees live in 117 camps spread throughout the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Another approximately 23,000 officially recognized Sri Lankan refugees live outside the camps in Tamil Nadu.
When a Sri Lankan refugee arrives in India, he or she usually stays at the Mandapam Transit Facility for up to two weeks while registering for placement in a refugee camp. Refugees usually arrive in India with little or no private resources. Assistance is currently needed to improve the Mandapam Transit Facility’s shelter accommodations, water supply, food rations, and clothing for the new arrivals.
Once placed in a refugee camp, the host government generously provides Sri Lankan refugees with accommodation, monthly cash assistance, and access to school, health care, and employment. However, camp conditions are poor, especially in the shelter and water/sanitation sectors, because many of the camps were created in the 1980s and 1990s.
The influx of refugees since 2006 has strained the existing infrastructure of refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. Improvements are needed to enhance the quality of refugee care and strengthen the capacity of existing mechanisms to handle future arrivals.
NGOs and IOs are invited to submit proposals to PRM that would complement existing assistance activities for Sri Lankans and improve services in the following sectors:
- Reception facilities in the Mandapam Transit Facility;
- Camp water/sanitation, and;
- Camp shelter.
To be considered, NGOs and IOs must have proven track records in implementing refugee assistance or other humanitarian assistance programs. Greater consideration will be given to organizations that already have successful operations serving Sri Lankan refugee populations in India. Program proposals must demonstrate consultation and cooperation with UNHCR and appropriate agencies of the host government.
PRM funds programs of 12-months duration. Applicants with existing Cooperative Agreements must re-compete for PRM funding each year. Furthermore, in funding a project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the project in successive years. PRM encourages applicants to seek an array of donors to ensure long-term funding possibilities if pursuing a multi-year strategy.
Proposals must address the following criteria:
(1) At least 50% of beneficiaries must be refugees;
(2) A concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives and indicators (and baselines for indicators where possible) that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound and trackable;
(3) Objectives with impact indicators; and,
(4) A clear transition strategy.
Submission Procedures
Please refer to PRM’s FY 2008 NGO guidelines for detailed instructions on proposal submission requirements by clicking on the “How to Apply” section in Grants.gov or referring to PRM’s website (http://www.state.gov/g/prm/fund/announcements/91668.htm). Project proposals should comply with the general policy guidelines described in PRM’s FY 2008 General NGO Guidelines. (Note: PRM will shortly release its FY2009 General NGO Guidelines.) All proposals should be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov.
Applicants that are not yet registered with www.Grants.gov should do so immediately, as it can take weeks and sometimes longer for a registration to be finalized. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals early. Please contact the Grants.gov help desk to report technical difficulties with Grants.gov (support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726). Make sure to obtain a case number. Applicants who are unable to submit via Grants.gov due to technical difficulties with Grants.gov applications and who have reported the problem(s) to the Grants.gov help desk and received a case number and had a service request opened to research the problem(s), should contact Program Officer Meghann Curtis at CurtisMA@state.gov or 202-663-1950 immediately to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.
IO applicants that respond to this request for proposals will be subject to PRM administrative authorities and procedures for voluntary contributions to IOs.
Once you have submitted your application via Grants.gov, please e-mail Program Officer Program Officer Meghann Curtis at CurtisMA@state.gov to confirm that the submission was received.
PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE GENERAL PRM NGO GUIDELINES:
- Budget must include a specific breakdown of funds being provided by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own organization (where applicable). PRM places great value on multi-lateral support for humanitarian programs.
- Budgets for projects with multiple objectives should be broken down by objective.
- Organizations that received previous PRM funding must demonstrate how proposed new activities build upon previous achievements and/or challenges.
- Focus on impact indicators as possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one impact indicator.
- PRM will not fund projects that require a period of time at the beginning of the project for community assessments or establishment of baselines. These activities must already have occurred and be incorporated into proposed indicators.
PRM’s Office of Assistance for Asia and the Near East (PRM/ANE) conducts formal competitive reviews of all proposal submissions by convening proposal review teams to evaluate proposals based on specific evaluation criteria and PRM’s priorities in the context of available funding.
In order to provide NGOs with timely feedback, PRM will inform applicants of a panel’s decision to recommend or not recommend funding proposed activities, and may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will follow up with formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.
PRM Program Officer Contact Information:
Ms. Meghann Curtis
Program Officer, Office of Assistance for Asia and the Near East
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
U.S. Department of State
2401 E St., NW
Suite L505, SA-1
Washington, DC 20522-0105
Phone: (202) 663-1950
Fax: (202) 663-1061
E-Mail: CurtisMA@state.gov
Consulate Chennai Contact Information:
Mr. Rohit Nepal
Political and Economic Officer
U.S. Consulate General Chennai
No. 220, Anna Salai
Chennai, 600 006
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 91 44 2857-4000
E-Mail: NepalRS@state.gov
Mr. Finny Jacob
Political Specialist
U.S. Consulate General Chennai
No. 220, Anna Salai
Chennai, 600 006
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 91 44 2857-4000
E-Mail: JacobFX@state.gov
UNHCR Contact Information:
Ms. Margarita Vargas Angulo
Senior Administrative/Programme Officer
UNHCR
14 Jor Bagh
New Delhi 110003
India
Phone: 91-11-4353-0444
E-mail: Vargasm@unhcr.org
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