OpportunityTitle: Anti-Corruption Program
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Local Civil Society Organizations (including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and higher education institutions).  Applicants should note that the following criteria (1) serves as a standard against which all proposals will be evaluated, and (2) serves to identify the significant matters that should be addressed in all proposals.  The USG will award grants to the applicants whose proposal represent the best value to the USG on the basis of technical merit and cost.  Each application will be evaluated by a selection committee of U.S. Embassy Managua employees.  The evaluation criteria are as follow:  &#149; The project promotes a cultural change in Nicaragua&#146;s society towards corruption, by educating on its concept and effects and highlighting the importance of reporting such acts as a means to promote ethical behaviors in all sectors of society, targeting the Departments of Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Chontales, Rivas and the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), (as outlined in the Objectives).    &#149; The proposed activities for Project Component A (below) are linked to USAID&#146;s existing transparency related programs in the selected departments.      &#149; The project has a tangible outcome/result.  &#149; The proposal must contain a component for long term long-term sustainability; and portability to other areas of the country of best practices and lessons learned.   &#149; The organization has demonstrated that they have technical capacity, organizational capacity, and leadership to carry out the project.    &#149; The project is scheduled (and likely) to be completed in six months.    &#149; The costs are reasonable, allowable, and allocable and the proposal is cost effective.    &#149; The organization is non-partisan and not working on behalf of a specific political party or lobbying for a particular political agenda.    &#149; The proposal includes all sectors working against corruption and raising awareness among Nicaraguan businessmen, civil society activists and journalists on the negative impact of corruption and ways in which to report it.
Description: The U.S. Embassy in Managua is pleased to announce that we are currently accepting applications for the Anti-Corruption (AC) Grant Program. The AC Grant Program provides $65,000 for a Nicaragua-led project that promotes a cultural change in Nicaragua&#146;s society towards corruption. The project seeks to (1) Educate Nicaraguan businessmen, civil society activists, civil society in general, and journalists on the corruption concept and its effects, targeting the departments of Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Chontales, Rivas and the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS); (2) Highlight the importance of reporting corruption acts as a mean to promote ethical behaviors in all sectors of society. Project objectives will be achieved by: A. Improving society&#146;s concept of corruption and understanding of the negative effects of corruption on economic development and social well being. B. Gather data from other CSOs that currently track corruption in Nicaragua, to further understanding of corrupt practices in the country and their negative effects on Nicaraguan society. C. Present an annual report and recognize those actors at the national level who are working to fight against corruption by establishing an annual Ethics Awards, thus improving the national climate towards non-corrupt actors. Project Components: Component A. Society&#146;s Concept of Corruption ($55,000): A Nicaraguan Civil Society Organization (CSO) will partner with a private sector chamber of commerce to conduct a series of workshops/trainings (combined with any other innovative events) of local civil society activists, journalists, and businessmen in the country&#146;s five targeted Departments. These workshops/trainings and other innovative events will focus on defining corruption in general and specific terms, and highlighting examples of corruption at the local level, with an emphasis on showing the impact of corrupt practices on society and the economy in general. These trainings will also highlight the ways in which citizens can report corrupt practices, both to the government and through already established civil society avenues. Additionally, a public media campaign in these communities will accompany the focused workshops. Component B. Annual Report ($0.00): Some CSOs are already tracking corruption data and developing annual reports on corruption in Nicaragua. The grantee will track, in as detailed a manner as possible, cases of corruption within the government and the private sector, highlighting annual trends. Component C. Presentation of Report and Ethics Awards ($10,000): A Nicaraguan CSO will partner with private sector organizations to hold annual Ethics Awards event and present the annual report. The event will bring together the private sector and civil society to highlight the problem of corruption in the country by holding up positive examples from the private sector, the government, media and civil society of the fight against corruption. The annual report will also be presented at the event and vast media attention should be given to it (including new media). The grant will be awarded through an open, merit-based competition. The purpose of this request for proposals is to inform potential applicant organizations of programmatic, procedural and funding information for the Anti-Corruption Grant Program. Applications are only accepted in English. Technically eligible submissions are those which: 1) arrive electronically via www.grants.gov and to ManaguaINL@state.gov by August 20th, 2012 before 1700 hours; 2) heed all instructions contained in the solicitation documents and Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI), including length and completeness of submission; 3) do not violate any of the guidelines stated in the solicitation and this document. All inquires should be directed to ManaguaINL@state.gov. We look forward to working with you. This RFA is pending availability of funds.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: U.S. Embassy Managua, U.S. Department of State
GrantorContactText: Nicholas Griffith &lt;br/&gt;Narcotics Affairs Officer &lt;br/&gt;Phone 3019858861