The U.S. Embassy in Dakar, alongside the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), has announced a call for proposals for the Julia Taft Refugee Fund for fiscal year 2021. This initiative aims to address low-cost, critical gaps in refugee protection and assistance in Guinea-Bissau.
The fund will provide financial support ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for sustainable projects that benefit refugees or refugee returnees. Proposals focusing solely on non-refugee populations will not be considered. The fund is not intended as an emergency resource.
Eligible applicants include registered organizations such as NGOs, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations, with local NGOs given priority. All proposals must be submitted by February 5, 2021.
Applications must include a detailed project timeline, budget, CVs of key personnel, reference letters from donors or stakeholders, proof of national registration of the organization, bank account verification documents, and a signed code of conduct consistent with Inter-Agency Standing Committee recommendations.
A selection committee at the U.S. Embassy will evaluate applications based on organizational capacity, sustainability plans beyond the award's life span, cost-effectiveness relative to proposed activities and results, and monitoring and evaluation plans with specific indicators.
Successful applicants will receive further instructions upon notification. Once awarded funds are distributed, grantees are responsible for program and financial reporting according to the award agreement.
Potential funded activities include improving mental health services for refugees, building playgrounds for children in refugee communities, supporting sports programs or shelters for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), providing vocational training programs or business training for refugees, supporting income-generating projects or healthcare services for persons with disabilities and empowerment projects for urban refugee women and girls.
Applicants should ensure their proposals align closely with local contexts while leveraging their organization's competencies and capacities.