Request for Statements of Interest: Global Support for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Implementation by Women-led Civil Society

About the Organization:

The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) has a mandate to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls through U.S. foreign policy. Headed by an Ambassador-at-Large, the office leads the Department's efforts to empower women and girls in U.S. diplomacy, partnerships, and programs.

Background:

Global instability and violent extremism threaten U.S. and global security. The U.S. Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (WPS Act),3 further expanded upon by the U.S. Strategy on WPS (WPS Strategy),4 and the Department of State's Plan to Implement the U.S. Strategy on WPS (State Department WPS Implementation Plan)5 have identified women's safety and women's leadership in preventing, resolving, and recovering from conflict and crisis as crucial to sustainable peace and security. Promoting women's meaningful participation across efforts to prevent conflict and build peace is not simply a "women's issue;" it is a national security issue.

As outlined in WPS Strategy Line of Effort 1 and WPS Implementation Plan Department Outcome 1, women's meaningful participation in peace and security increases the durability and effectiveness of solutions. Women living in areas affected by conflict, crisis, and violent extremism – the very context in which their leadership is needed most – face heightened risks of violence. For women from religious and ethnic minority groups, these risks are further amplified. As outlined in WPS Strategy Line of Effort 2 and WPS Implementation Plan Department Outcome 2, prevention of and response to violence against women is therefore a key element of the U.S. Government's approach to advancing WPS and human rights.

Grant:

Estimated Total Program Funding: $5,200,000

Award Ceiling: $5,200,000

Award Floor: $5,200,000

At least $2,500,000 of the funding available under this RSOI is directed for work to support Women and Girls at Risk from Violent Extremism and Conflict, and at least $2,500,000 of the funding available under this RSOI is directed for work to address GBV. Activities must align with those earmarks; please see the appropriations language in Annex A.

Eligible Applicants:

Organizations submitting SOIs must meet the following criteria:

Be a U.S.- or foreign-based non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO); or

Be a private, public, or state institution of higher education; and

Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active and equitable partnerships with in country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including NGOs and private sector actors; and

Have demonstrable experience administering successful and preferably similar programs in size, scope, and focus. S/GWI reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.

Public International Organizations (PIOs) are not eligible to apply as prime applicants under this RSOI, though they may partner on a proposal as a sub-awardee.

S/GWI maintains an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. S/GWI welcomes SOI submissions irrespective of race, ethnicity, heritage, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), February 12, 2021

If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: SGWIProjectProposals@state.gov