Request for Applications No. P4767-2023-06

Date of holding: 2023-05-15 00:00

The deadline for submitting documents: 2023-05-15 00:00

Institutional and Project Grants

 This is an open-ended competition. Pact will review applications on a rolling basis. No applications will be accepted after May 15, 2025. 

This Request for Applications (RFA) is part of the Enhance Non-Governmental Actors and Grassroots Engagement Activity funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented in Ukraine by Pact (USAID/ENGAGE). USAID/ENGAGE will provide support to national, regional, or local organizations and coalitions, including established CSOs, as well as unregistered groups and informal civic initiatives nationwide. The purpose of USAID/ENGAGE is to increase citizen awareness of and engagement in civic activities at the national, regional, and local level. More detailed USAID/ENGAGE Activity description can be found here. 

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Our vision is thriving, resilient and engaged communities leading their own development.  

Background 

Ukraine’s development context demands constant caution and planning for prompt adaptation to unforeseen circumstances, address unanticipated shifts in the political and economic environment. USAID/ENGAGE, in line with Pact’s flexible and adaptive approach for responding to emerging threats and opportunities, manages a rapid-response facility to support vital evolving initiatives tackling imminent needs. 

Today Ukraine is forced to fight simultaneously in two different directions. Externally, it deals with the Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of the country, threatening civilian life, infrastructure and the very existence of its polity. Internally, the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, challenges of ongoing state finance, public administration, decentralization reforms remain on the top of the national agenda, both for government and civil society. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated these trends and put unprecedented pressure on governments, businesses, and society as a whole. 

Ukraine’s commitment and capacity to progress towards self-reliance is hampered by this ongoing two-front war — against Russia’s full scale aggression on the one hand, and against its internal legacy of corruption on the other. The vibrancy of Ukrainian CSOs is often cited as a defining strength in Ukraine’s democracy, one that markedly distinguishes Ukraine from other post-Soviet countries. Russia’s aggression threatening the lives of Ukrainians, the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity affects poses also existential threat to Ukrainian CSOs, activists, their initiatives. The millions who internally relocated or seek temporary protection in other countries include hundreds of civil society representatives. Many activists who remained in-country live in permanent fear from abduction, deportation, prosecution by regular or paramilitary enemy forces. Many civilians who oppose the aggression reported missing.  

Since the outbreak of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, it is no longer tenable for CSOs to carry out activities as normal. The entirety of CSO infrastructure sustained long-term damage. The non-governmental sector is struggling to operate, among them sub-sectors that are on the verge of survival. Despite of the circumstances, the sector is adapting and their support to Ukrainian citizens is more important than ever. To address immediate and emergent needs of CSOs, ENGAGE has been managing and adapted our a rapid-response facility accordingly. 

Goal of the Request for Applications 

The goal of this RFA is to meet the emergent organizational, operational, and programmatic needs of civil society organization for their survival, resilience, and adaptation in the unparalleled gruesome environment to be able to regroup, reboot and continue their efforts in engaging and assisting Ukrainian citizens in their strive for humanitarian support, effective civil society development, local and national governance, anti-corruption and accountability, rule of law, electoral process, inclusive development (of persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) and other vulnerable groups); EU integration, or other relevant areas that arose as a result of Russia’s aggression and important to citizens and CSOs. 

Thematic Priorities 

 — Institutional core-support to national and subnational organizations, networks and coalitions such as: 

• Organizational resiliency, including but not limited to maintenance of staff, office space, equipment, relocation of offices, communication, IT security. 
• Organizational development, including but not limited to strategic planning, developing new organizational units, engaging volunteers. 
• Organizational technical development, but not limited to adopting new skills and competences such as civilian defense, humanitarian aid (distribution of commodities), document human rights abuses, environmental risks, media, communication, civic education skills to support the public with fact-based information. 
• Adaptive management, including but not limited to alternative organizational structure, adjustment of policies, establishing new networks and relationships both domestically and internationally, develop plans for post-war reconstruction. 
• Enhance citizen engagement, but not limited to effectively learning of and responding to their needs, advocate for their causes, receive feedback from, and guidance and oversight by direct beneficiaries. 

 — Project support to national and subnational organizations, networks and coalitions to carry out activities, such as: 

• Analyze and communicate the consequences of martial law at the local level.
• Produce and disseminate information on the economy of war, causes and consequences of land, tax or other government policies issued under martial law and impacts they have on ordinary Ukrainians, the civil society sector, as well as small businesses.
• Analyze and provide information about liberated areas as well as practical information on infrastructure restoration, access to services (including transfers, medicine, water, food and energy supplies and others), access to schooling, employment and engagement opportunities.
• Produce and disseminate information about the implications of Russia’s aggression for the lives of ordinary Ukrainians, government institutions, civil society, volunteers, IDPs and others as well as its effects on the state of reforms, including EU integration.
• Produce and disseminate information about relocation from conflict zones (including people with disabilities, families with children); distribute emergency assistance (such as medication, food) to civilians; support state and local authorities to evacuate civilians and establish hotlines or other resource information for IDPs.
• Stimulate civic participation in the efforts to fight against Russian aggression through featuring personal stories of ordinary Ukrainians.
• Promote social cohesion at the time of war.
• Support cultural, educational, youth, and other civic initiatives and advocacy campaigns that seek to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage sites, including support to IDP artists.
• Support activists, vulnerable groups, but not limited to in hard-to-reach environments, such as in temporarily occupied territories.
• Support projects aimed at addressing the challenges and needs of IDPs and vulnerable populations.
• Assist, manage, and coordinate direct citizen needs with available domestic and/or international, but not limited to support centers to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Implement international advocacy campaigns promoting Ukraine’s European aspirations and the need for humanitarian and military aid, including side events at security, human rights and development conferences.
• Advocacy and oversight of national and subnational government, other entities and individuals.

Expected Results 

Upon completion of the grant, applicant organizations will have to demonstrate achievement of one or more of the following results: 

• Citizen understanding of fundamental roles and responsibilities within a democratic society increased.
• Citizen awareness of corruption increased.
• Access to civic education resources maintained during crises and other unforeseen circumstances.
• Visibility of creative approaches to increasing civic education among Ukrainian citizens increased.
• Delivery of formal and informal civic education initiatives developed.
• Partnerships between relevant government bodies, private and civic sectors committed to advancement of civic education initiatives created.
• Effective civic advocacy and oversight campaigns implemented.
• Issues advocated for by civil society included in government policies and legislation.
• Civic initiatives which involve public and private partnership opportunities supported.
• CSOs and citizen feedback mechanisms institutionalized at national and local levels.
• Civic engagement in national, regional and local level coalitions and initiatives increased.
• Civic engagement in anti-corruption efforts increased.
• Information sharing and networking among local level CSOs, grass roots initiatives, civic activists increased.
• Constituent outreach of CSOs improved.
• CSOs’ use of ICT to share information and engage constituents institutionalized.
• CSOs’ ability to constructively engage with traditional and social media institutionalized.
• Citizen awareness and understanding of government reforms increased.
• Citizen awareness of role and importance of civil society organizations increased.
• Public trust in CSOs improved.
• Organizational capacity of CSOs improved.
• Citizen understanding of the impacts of martial law and other legal and regulatory changes on their everyday lives increased
• CSOs’ awareness of impacts of martial law and other legal and regulatory changes on their operations increased
• Citizen awareness of efforts to fight against Russian aggression increased
• Citizens’ understanding of ways they can actively engage in efforts to fight Russian aggression increased.
• Effective civic initiatives and advocacy campaigns on cultural heritage protection implemented.
• International awareness of domestic events taking place inside of Ukraine increased.
• CSOs ability to address newly emerging needs of Ukrainian citizens increased.

Eligibility 

• Officially registered CSOs, unregistered groups and informal civic initiatives from all regions of Ukraine are eligible to apply.  
• As part of this competition, Pact cannot award grants to business organizations, political parties, government institutions, or individuals. 

Evaluation Criteria 

Each application will be evaluated against the following criteria based on its own merit: 

• Relevance to the stated goals and themes of the RFA (25%) 

• Technical approach to addressing the stated problem of the applicants’ proposal (35%) 
• Ability to deliver the expected results of the RFA (20%) 
• Ability to serve and engage directly with citizens, convene a wide range of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders (20%) 

 Tentative Duration of Grants: Independent of their start date, all subawards must end before June 30, 2025. 

 Grant Amount: Each subaward’s expected ceiling is $100,000 per twelve months. Larger amounts will also be considered if they are reasonable and justified. 

Applicants should submit their budgets in UAH. 

Please note that Pact makes payments to its subawardees only via wire transfer! Unregistered groups and informal civic initiatives should apply for this competition in partnership/consortium with an officially registered CSO that agrees to administer the initiative’s funds. 

There is no deadline for submission of the applications: This is an open-ended competition. Pact will review applications on a rolling basis. Applicants will receive feedback within two weeks of the date Pact receives a complete grant application package. We reserve the right not to inform apparently unsuccessful applicants. No applications will be accepted after May 15, 2025. 

Application Process  

Submit completed applications by e-mail to grants.engage@pactworld.org with the subject: “Response to RFA P4767-2023-06.” 

Complete application package: 

(1) Completed application form. 

(2) Annexes: 

• for registered organizations: proof of legal status; 

• for unregistered groups or informal civic initiatives: MOUs, support letters, guarantee letters, or other documents between the applying group and their CSO partner, which needs to be legally registered. 

Please scroll down for the application form, which you may download, fill and return to the above e-mail address. 

Additional technical notice: 

• Short-listed applicants will be requested to submit a full detailed budget and accompanying detailed budget narrative. 

• Short-listed applicants will be required to have a SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) number (a twelve-digit identification number required for all procurement-related activities) in order to be able to receive funds. 
• Short-listed applicants will be requested to submit SRRA Snapshot Form for Subrecipients (in either Ukrainian or English.) 

Terms and Conditions 

Standard provisions: The Standard Provisions for Non-U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations as applicable will apply to these grants. 

Unallowable expenses: Pact do not fund procurement of: 

• Abortion equipment and services. 
• Agricultural commodities. 
• Commodities and services for support of police or other law enforcement activities. 
• Construction works. 
• Fertilizer. 
• Luxury goods and gambling equipment. 
• Military equipment. 
• Motor vehicles. 
• Pesticides. 
• Pharmaceuticals. 
• Surveillance equipment. 
• Used equipment. 
• U.S. Government-owned excess property. 
• Weather modification equipment. 

The full list of unallowable expenses please consult paragraphs M6, M12, M14, M20, and M29 of the Standard Provisions for Non-U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations cited above. 

Permission for use and disclosure: By applying under this RFA, the applicant consents to the disclosure of the documents submitted by the applicant to the reviewers involved in the selection process. Please note that all reviewers are bound by non-disclosure agreements.  

Disclaimers: 

• Pact may cancel the solicitation and not award any funds. 
• Pact may reject any or all applications received. 
• Issuance of solicitation does not constitute award commitment by Pact. 
• Pact reserves the right to disqualify any application based on applicant’s failure to follow solicitation instructions. 
• Pact will not compensate applicants for their response to the solicitation. 
• Pact reserves the right to issue an award based on initial evaluation of applications without further discussion. 
• Pact may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation or to issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities. 
• Pact reserves the right to waive minor application deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition. 
• Pact may contact applicants to confirm contact person, address, and that the application was submitted for this solicitation.  
• Pact may contact listed past performance references without notice to the applicant. Pact also reserves the right to contact other past performance information sources that the applicant did not list in the application. 
• By applying, the applicants confirm they understand these terms and conditions. 

Questions About this RFA

If you have questions, please submit them electronically to grants.engage@pactworld.org.

The email subject line should read “Questions on RFA P4767-2023-06 – name of organization submitting the question.”

Questions to this RFA will be answered on a biweekly basis in form of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

You can download an application form and answers to the frequently asked questions (updated on February 9, 2023) by the link below.