This Request for Proposals is also available in Arabic.

Background

Ongoing violent conflict, a political vacuum, and economic and social problems have left much of Libya riddled by war and suffering at the hands of extremists. Polarization at the community level, internal displacement, migrants, poverty, and rising tensions among youth, tribes, militias, and political actors are among the issues that have emerged since the 2011 uprisings. United Nations-supported talks, resulting in the Government of National Accord (GNA), were ultimately unsuccessful in rallying enough support for the government, leaving a power gap at the national level, and sustained violence around the fragmented country.

The ongoing conflicts have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and hampered access to basic services. Increased volatility is also due to the extending reach of the Islamic State (ISIS) forces, as well as militias aligning with ISIS. Human Rights Watch and other advocates have reported that forces engaged in the conflict, on both sides, are guilty of gross human rights violations including unlawful detention, indiscriminate attacks, and revenge killings.

Libyan civil society continues to play an important role in mitigating violence. Through small projects, and community-based initiatives, civil society organizations (CSOs) deliver a wide range of humanitarian aid and social services, and fulfill needs normally met by government institutions. Libyan CSOs also play active roles in promoting civic engagement and political participation in the transition to a democracy. A number of CSOs provide public information, organize public debate sessions with political candidates, and facilitate trust-building forums between candidates and their constituencies.

Despite limitations on the extent to which they can affect the overall course of the conflict, Libyan CSOs do have the potential to lead effective reconciliation initiatives at the local level. Such community-based initiatives can contribute to peace and stability, strengthen community resilience to violence, and serve as the necessary foundation for national reconciliation initiatives.

As international efforts to broker a political settlement in Libya continue, the fact is that these stabilization efforts have exclusively focused on a top-down approach. Recent UN and other Libya actors’ reports highlight the absence of a bottom-up consensus building process, which is key to informing national stabilization plans and efforts to build a sustainable Libyan social contract. The engagement of Libyan CSOs will allow for a bottom-up process focused on inclusive dialogue and bridging community divides to foster an environment conducive to national reconciliation.

Description

USIP seeks to strengthen the ability of Libyan CSOs to engage a wider range of community structures, and deepen the impact of current interventions centered on conflict resolution and reconciliation, consensus, and trust-building opportunities. Under this competition, USIP is soliciting proposals for projects which contribute to the peaceful resolution of community-based conflict, including those that resolve property disputes, engage consensus-building initiatives, and facilitate the return of refugees and internally displaced populations (IDPs) to their homes. The projects will also aim to build the capacity for reconciliation, conflict resolution, and conflict prevention among women’s groups, local youth groups, and university students, with a special focus on conflict-affected and disadvantaged areas.

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

1. 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.
2. 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, 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.
• A 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 programming as appropriate to the scope of the project.

Funding

Under this grant competition, USIP seeks to make two or three (2-3) small grants in 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.