This Request for Proposals is also available in Arabic. 

Background

Considered to be one of the most fragile countries in the Middle East, Yemen’s economy and infrastructure have been devastated by a war between forces of the internationally-recognized government, and those allied with the Houthi movement and the former President Salih. More than 6,800 people have been killed and 35,000 injured since the beginning of the conflict that triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, leaving 80% of the population in dire need of aid and approximately three million internally displaced. Despite a UN-brokered cessation of hostilities among the warring parties, fighting continues with no side appearing close to a decisive military victory. Meanwhile, militants affiliated with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and rival affiliates of the Islamic State (ISIS) have taken advantage of the chaos by seizing territories in the southern part of the country and carrying out frequent attacks against government controlled cities.

While there is much disagreement over the likely shape of any future Yemeni state -- whether a united Yemen with a central government or a collection of federal semi-autonomous regions -- there is a strong need to strengthen the social fabric of local communities, in the face of continued violence. The longer the fighting continues, the greater the danger of extremist groups such as AQAP and ISIS entrenching themselves, seizing further territory, and rendering obsolete any peace and reconciliation agreement.

Throughout Yemen, civil society organizations (CSOs) remain actively involved in the provision of humanitarian aid, social services, peace and war reporting, and public information. However, CSOs can play a bigger role in reducing the impact of the violent conflict on the population, and foster social cohesion through targeted peacebuilding activities. While they cannot serve as a substitute for the government, they are effective contributors to peace and security and, by and large, a better alternative to militia-led activities. Yemeni CSOs enjoy a strong history of over 35 years of active engagement as well as a culture of volunteerism, but the prolonged conflict poses a danger to their sustainability. The international community can benefit from investment in Yemeni civil society to develop viable solutions to the crisis.

Description

USIP seeks to deepen the impact of current interventions centered on the strengthening of social cohesion, led by CSOs in Yemen. Under this competition, USIP seeks to solicit proposals for projects which aim to:

• Strengthen community-based conflict mitigation structures and systems.
• Enhance community security, access to justice, community-based dialogue and other social cohesion mechanisms.

How to Apply

This Request for Proposals involves a two-step application process:

Step One in the process is to submit a mandatory concept note. Concept Notes should be submitted using the USIP online Grants Management System Fluxx. This system is used by all applicants, reviewers, grantees, and USIP staff for each step of the application process and grant administration. To register for this competition, please visit https://usip.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new and complete the registration form. Be sure to select “Middle East and Africa” for the center to which you are applying. USIP will contact applicants directly to provide access to the concept note application form in the system. Please allow 3 business days for the registration to be approved. All applicants seeking consideration for this competition must register by April 1, 2017, at 5 pm U.S. Eastern Standard time.

The concept note template in the Fluxx system will guide you through the process and help you formulate your proposal narrative in the following sections:

1. How the proposed project will contribute to the themes discussed above in the priorities;
2. The goals of the project and the activities that will be implemented;
3. The qualifications of the organization and the project team;
4. How the project will be monitored and evaluated; and
5. The estimated cost of the project. (A full budget is not necessary)

Step Two: After a review of the concept notes, a select number of applicants will be contacted and asked to submit a full proposal, this is the second step. The proposals will also be submitted through Fluxx. USIP Grants staff will be able to provide technical assistance throughout the process. Please contact meagrants@usip.org with any questions.

Eligibility and Guidance

• Non-profit and academic institutions are eligible to apply for funding, provided they are duly registered organizations with demonstrated capacity to manage U.S. government funding. Private sector for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. USIP does not make grants to individuals.
• Support cannot be provided to government agencies or to employees thereof.
• Support cannot be provided to non-governmental organizations for a formal evaluation of their own programming unless otherwise indicated. USIP will, however, consider applications that propose an NGO research or evaluation consortium for the purposes of conducting a comparative study.
• Those currently working on USIP-funded projects or contracts may not be eligible to apply. Please contact meagrants@usip.org with any questions.
• USIP does not provide funds for the creation of a new organization, the construction or maintenance of an office, direct social services, or micro-enterprise projects.
• Grant funds are not available for degree-related work. Requests for dissertation research support should be directed to USIP’s Jennings Randolph Peace Scholarship Dissertation Program.
• Applications that list as participants, consultants, or project personnel any members of USIP’s Board of Directors, staff or fellows will not be accepted, nor will applications that list USIP as a collaborator in the project’s activities.
• Please review the Grant Application Process and Frequently Asked Questions “FAQ” sections of the website.

Timeline

September 2017 Notification

• Concept Notes: Concept notes may be submitted beginning immediately, and will be considered as they arrive. The deadline for submitting concept notes is Monday, April 10, 2017.
• Proposals: we will invite selected applicants to develop their concept note into a full application by May 1, 2017, and full applications will be due no later than June 1, 2017.

Final award notification is announced in Mid-September 8, 2017. Please feel free to be in touch with specific questions or for additional information as you submit concept notes. Do not submit a full application unless you have been invited to do so. USIP will not review unsolicited applications. All submissions will receive a response. You may submit your questions to meagrants@usip.org.

Proposal Guidance

Stronger project proposals will include or reflect:

• A clearly articulated link to USIP’s conflict resolution and peacebuilding mandate.
• A demonstrated awareness of previous and current related work being implemented by other organizations, and an explanation of how the proposed project offers a unique contribution.
• A well-developed project logic, with clearly-defined objectives aligning with the problem to be addressed, and clearly-defined activities that relate to the objectives.
• A demonstrated- organizational capacity and, where relevant, personnel based in the countries where the grant funds are being applied.
• demonstrated- awareness of possible risks and security challenges, as well as strategies to mitigate them.
• A thoughtful monitoring and evaluation plan that will provide evidence on whether the project achieved its objectives.
• A demonstrated ability to engage men and women equally in their programing as appropriate to the scope of the project.

Funding

Under this grant competition, USIP seeks to make two or three small grants with the range of $15,000 (minimum) to $50,000 (maximum).

Final decisions regarding funding will be made by the United States Institute of Peace Board of Directors. If you have any questions, please email Raya Barazanji at rbarazanji@usip.org.