Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009573
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity (SFOP0009573) to support projects in Brazil and Colombia that advance WHA's Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) goals. The overall purpose is to help push forward reforms that promote equity and equality, reduce or remove barriers that keep people excluded from social, political, and economic participation, and expand fair access to opportunities for marginalized and underserved communities. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement during the life of the project (for example, coordination on activities, alignment with diplomatic priorities, and ongoing communication about implementation and results).
At the core of the opportunity is the idea that stronger, better-connected civil society networks can drive meaningful change. The program is designed to increase collaboration among civil society organizations and community networks in both countries, helping them work together more effectively, share strategies, and build coalitions that can advocate for inclusive policies and reforms. A major emphasis is placed on training and leadership development for diverse civil society leaders, along with capacity building for organizations and community-based networks so they are better equipped to engage governments, influence policy, and sustain advocacy over time.
Country-specific alignment is central to what WHA is asking for. In Colombia, proposals are expected to focus on civil society engagement connected to the U.S.-Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality (CAPREE). The opportunity highlights that this can include, but is not limited to, using CAPREE as a platform to advance a stated U.S. government priority: full implementation of the Ethnic Chapter of Colombia's 2016 Peace Accord. In practical terms, this signals that projects should not be generic inclusion initiatives; they should be designed in a way that clearly supports or complements CAPREE and contributes to progress on commitments tied to the Peace Accord's Ethnic Chapter, such as strengthening the participation and rights of ethnic communities and ensuring that peace-related reforms are implemented in ways that address racial and ethnic inequities.
In Brazil, proposals are expected to align with the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER). That focus suggests WHA is looking for activities that connect civil society work directly to the themes and objectives embedded in JAPER, such as combating discrimination and advancing equal opportunity. The emphasis on dialogue and network strengthening indicates that projects might involve convenings, structured exchanges, coalition-building efforts, leadership training, or other capacity-building activities that help Brazilian civil society actors coordinate and amplify their impact in line with JAPER priorities.
A key requirement across both countries is that proposals need to draw a clear, explicit line between the proposed activities and the objectives of the relevant bilateral frameworks (CAPREE in Colombia and JAPER in Brazil). The announcement calls for concrete examples that demonstrate how the project will operationalize these agreements rather than merely referencing them. That implies applicants should spell out how specific trainings, dialogues, partnerships, advocacy strategies, or network-building efforts will contribute to measurable advances in equity, inclusion, and the reduction of racial and ethnic discrimination, while also strengthening civil society's ability to sustain engagement beyond the project period.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.750, with an award ceiling of $987,654. The posting shows an original closing date of May 24, 2023, and it is issued by the Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, with eligibility described broadly as "Others" (meaning applicants would need to consult the full eligibility language in the official notice for specifics). Overall, the grant is aimed at practical, collaborative civil society work that advances racial and ethnic equality goals in Brazil and Colombia through the lens of established U.S. bilateral action plans and by building durable networks and leadership capacity among historically marginalized communities and their advocates.Apply for SFOP0009573
- The Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Civil Society Dialogue in Brazil and Colombia in Support of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) Goals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.750.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $987,654.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA), identified as SFOP0009573. It supports projects in Brazil and Colombia that advance WHA's Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) goals.
2. What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program is intended to help advance reforms that promote equity and equality, reduce or remove barriers that exclude people from social, political, and economic participation, and expand fair access to opportunities for marginalized and underserved communities.
3. What type of award will be used?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This typically means the Department of State expects substantial involvement during implementation, such as coordinating on activities, aligning work with diplomatic priorities, and maintaining ongoing communication on progress and results.
4. Which countries are eligible for project activities?
The opportunity supports projects in Brazil and Colombia.
5. What are WHA's RESI goals in this context?
Based on the description provided, the RESI goals here focus on promoting equity and equality, reducing racial and ethnic discrimination, removing participation barriers, and improving access to opportunities for marginalized and underserved groups.
6. What kinds of projects does WHA want to fund?
The opportunity emphasizes practical civil society-focused work, especially efforts that strengthen and connect civil society networks so they can collaborate, share strategies, build coalitions, and advocate for inclusive policies and reforms.
7. Why is civil society networking a central theme of this opportunity?
The program is built around the idea that stronger, better-connected civil society networks can drive meaningful change. The goal is to increase collaboration among civil society organizations and community networks in both countries.
8. What activities are specifically highlighted as priorities?
The notice highlights training and leadership development for diverse civil society leaders, along with capacity building for organizations and community-based networks. Activities may include structured dialogues, convenings, exchanges, coalition-building, and other efforts that help civil society engage governments, influence policy, and sustain advocacy.
9. What does "capacity building" mean in the context of this grant?
In this opportunity, capacity building refers to strengthening organizations and community-based networks so they are better able to engage governments, influence policy, coordinate advocacy, and sustain their work over time.
10. What is required for proposals in Colombia?
In Colombia, proposals are expected to focus on civil society engagement connected to the U.S.-Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality (CAPREE).
11. How does CAPREE relate to Colombia's 2016 Peace Accord?
The opportunity notes that CAPREE can be used as a platform to advance a stated U.S. government priority: full implementation of the Ethnic Chapter of Colombia's 2016 Peace Accord. Projects are expected to be designed to support or complement CAPREE and contribute to progress on commitments tied to the Ethnic Chapter.
12. Does the opportunity require projects in Colombia to address the Ethnic Chapter of the Peace Accord?
The opportunity highlights this as a priority area and signals that projects should clearly support or complement CAPREE in ways that contribute to progress on commitments tied to the Peace Accord's Ethnic Chapter, such as strengthening participation and rights of ethnic communities and addressing racial and ethnic inequities in peace-related reforms.
13. What is required for proposals in Brazil?
In Brazil, proposals are expected to align with the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER).
14. What kinds of Brazil-focused activities seem consistent with JAPER alignment?
The opportunity suggests activities that connect civil society work to JAPER themes and objectives, such as combating discrimination and advancing equal opportunity. The notice also points to dialogue and network strengthening, including convenings, structured exchanges, coalition-building, leadership training, and related capacity-building efforts.
15. Can applicants propose general inclusion or diversity projects?
The opportunity indicates that projects should not be generic inclusion initiatives. Proposals need to be designed in a way that clearly supports or complements the relevant bilateral framework: CAPREE in Colombia or JAPER in Brazil.
16. How explicit must the alignment be with CAPREE or JAPER?
The announcement calls for a clear, explicit line between proposed activities and the objectives of the relevant bilateral frameworks. It asks for concrete examples showing how the project will operationalize CAPREE or JAPER rather than simply referencing them.
17. What does "operationalize" CAPREE or JAPER mean for an applicant?
In practical terms, it means describing how specific project activities (for example, trainings, dialogues, partnerships, advocacy strategies, or network-building efforts) will directly contribute to advances in equity and inclusion and reduce racial and ethnic discrimination, while strengthening civil society's ability to sustain engagement beyond the project period.
18. What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
Based on the description, the program seeks measurable advances in equity and inclusion, reductions in racial and ethnic discrimination and exclusion barriers, stronger civil society coalitions and networks, improved leadership skills among diverse civil society leaders, and increased ability of organizations to engage government and influence policy over time.
19. What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.750.
20. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $987,654.
21. What was the closing date shown in the posting?
The posting shows an original closing date of May 24, 2023.
22. Who is the issuing agency?
The issuing agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA).
23. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others." The description indicates that applicants would need to consult the full eligibility language in the official notice for specific eligibility requirements.
24. What does "Others" mean under eligibility?
Only the label "Others" is provided in the summary information shared. This generally implies that the detailed eligibility criteria are defined in the official notice and should be reviewed there for specifics.
25. What makes this a "cooperative agreement" rather than a typical grant?
The description notes that a cooperative agreement typically includes substantial involvement by the Department of State during the project, such as coordination on activities, ensuring alignment with diplomatic priorities, and ongoing communication about implementation and results.
26. Is the program focused more on service delivery or policy and advocacy capacity?
The emphasis in the description is on building stronger civil society networks, leadership development, and organizational capacity to engage governments and influence policy, rather than on stand-alone service delivery.
27. Does the opportunity emphasize sustainability after the project ends?
Yes. The description underscores building durable networks and strengthening civil society capacity so advocacy and engagement can be sustained beyond the project period.
28. Are projects expected to work with historically marginalized communities?
Yes. The overall purpose includes expanding fair access to opportunities for marginalized and underserved communities, and strengthening leadership and networks among historically marginalized communities and their advocates.
29. Can one project cover both Brazil and Colombia?
The opportunity supports projects in both countries and includes country-specific alignment expectations for each. The information provided does not specify whether a single project may cover both countries, but any activities in each country would need to align explicitly with the relevant framework (CAPREE for Colombia and JAPER for Brazil).
30. What should an applicant keep front-and-center when drafting a proposal?
The core requirement is to draw a clear, explicit connection between proposed activities and the objectives of CAPREE (in Colombia) or JAPER (in Brazil), using concrete examples that show how activities will operationalize those frameworks while strengthening civil society networks, leadership, and organizational capacity.
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