Opportunity Information: Apply for SCS 800 23 GR 001 WHA 030723
The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called Strengthening Government Through Civil Society Engagement (Funding Opportunity Number: SCS 800 23 GR 001 WHA 030723; CFDA: 19.750). The overall aim is to reinforce Costa Rican government institutions by supporting projects where civil society organizations actively engage with government actors to improve governance, transparency, accountability, and service delivery. The funding comes from FY 2022 Economic Support Funds (ESF), with an anticipated project start date of September 30, 2023, and a maximum project length of two years. The Embassy expects to make roughly 3 to 5 awards, each ranging from USD 150,000 to USD 250,000, with an award ceiling of USD 250,000. Applications were originally due May 7, 2023, and the Embassy retains full discretion to fund any, all, or none of the submissions and to set final award amounts.
Programmatically, proposals are expected to align primarily with Pillar II of the U.S. Root Causes Strategy (RCS): combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law. Applicants are expected to spell out clear, measurable objectives and indicators so progress can be tracked and demonstrated throughout implementation. While Pillar II is the core focus, projects may also incorporate elements tied to Pillar III (promoting respect for human rights, labor rights, and a free press) and Pillar IV (countering and preventing violence, extortion, and crimes linked to gangs, trafficking networks, and other organized criminal groups). Even with that broader context, the grant explicitly restricts certain uses of funds: awards cannot be used for law enforcement activities, training members of law enforcement, or providing social services.
The target approach emphasizes civil society as the driver of change, working alongside (but not financially supporting) Costa Rican public institutions. The Embassy is looking for implementation strategies that build strong, capable, and accountable governance by improving the delivery of government services, especially for vulnerable or marginalized communities. Geographic emphasis is placed on areas outside the Central Valley, with a particular focus on Limon Province. The intention is that proposed activities will assist or complement efforts by central, local, or municipal authorities to increase or improve services, while also strengthening the public’s ability to monitor government performance and hold institutions accountable. A key boundary is that proposals cannot provide direct support to the central, regional, or municipal governments of Costa Rica; instead, support should flow through civil society-led initiatives that engage government counterparts and systems.
The opportunity is also explicit about who should benefit from the work. Proposals should be designed with vulnerable populations in mind, which may include women and girls, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, people of African descent, racial and ethnic minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons, religious minorities, LGBTQI persons, rural residents, migrants, and people impacted by persistent poverty or inequality. In practical terms, this means applicants should be able to explain not only how governance will improve in general, but also how improvements will reach communities that are often underserved and how citizens in those communities will gain better access to information, participation, and accountability channels.
Applicants are encouraged to build projects around one or more of four “ideal” objectives laid out in the notice. The first objective centers on supporting civil society organizations as they work with government entities to advance anti-corruption initiatives and expand transparency and openness. The second objective focuses on creating or improving tools that promote responsible management of public resources, including strengthening the ability of government to publish public-facing data in formats that are easy for citizens to access and use. The third objective is specific to Limon Province, calling for work that addresses pressing local needs through measures such as anti-corruption actions, more accountable local governance and transparency mechanisms, stronger inter-institutional coordination, and improved employability governance and jobs policy. The fourth objective emphasizes environmental governance, aiming to strengthen civil society’s role in shaping, monitoring, or improving how environmental decisions are made and implemented.
Eligibility is broad within the non-profit and academic space. The Embassy invites applications from qualified U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations, including those with 501(c)(3) IRS status, as well as non-U.S.-based NGOs. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities described in the notice may also apply. The legal authority for the program is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Overall, the opportunity is geared toward practical, measurable governance improvements driven by civil society engagement, with a strong anti-corruption and transparency orientation and a clear priority on underserved populations and regions, especially Limon.Apply for SCS 800 23 GR 001 WHA 030723
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Government Through Civil Society Engagement" 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 07, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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