Deadline: 18 June 2019

The United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs INL is seeking applications to implement a program entitled “Professionalizing the Judicial Sector in the Central African Republic.”

The overarching goal of this cooperative agreement program is to increase the capacity of the Central African Republic (CAR) criminal justice system to deter and sanction criminality and protect victims’ rights, including vulnerable populations (women, children, LGBT, etc.) and those who endured crimes related to conflict, suffered under the hands of armed groups, and survived crimes of sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV), and accusations of witchcraft.

This project seeks to provide training and technical assistance to strengthen the ability of CAR civil society organizations, lawyers, police investigators, prosecutors, and judges to ensure justice for SGBV survivors and crime victims in Bangui and CAR’s provinces, while also providing urgently needed legal services to SGBV survivors and victims of other serious crimes and human rights violations.

The mission of the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is to minimize the impact of international crime and illegal drugs on the United States, its citizens, and partner nations by providing effective foreign assistance and fostering global cooperation.

Objectives

The Bureau’s priority programs support three inter-related objectives:

• BUILDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS: Institutionalize rule of law by developing and expanding criminal justice systems to strengthen partner country law enforcement and judicial effectiveness, foster cooperation in legal affairs, and advance respect for human rights;
• COUNTER-NARCOTICS: Disrupt the overseas production and trafficking of illicit drugs through targeted counter-narcotics and institution-building assistance and coordination with foreign nations and international organizations, and;
• TRANSNATIONAL CRIME: Minimize the impact of transnational crime and criminal networks on the United States and its allies through enhanced international cooperation and foreign assistance.

Funding Information

• Award Ceiling: $2,000,000
• Award Floor: $1,500,000

Project Goals

1. GOAL 1:
   • Central African citizens increasingly access formal and informal justice, particularly members of vulnerable populations, SGBV survivors, and victims of crimes perpetrated by armed groups and criminal gangs.
     • Outcome 1.1. Victims and their communities have increased access to legal services, notably through the increased presences of lawyers in CAR communities.
     • Outcome 1.2. Local citizens have increased knowledge of the types of services and resources available to them in order to resolve complaints.
     • Outcome 1.3. Victims and their communities have increased knowledge of their rights and of legal services to protect them.
     • Outcome 1.4. Mobile teams extend the reach of the legal centers and facilitate access to justice for communities under-served due to the existing state of CAR’s judicial sector.
2. GOAL 2
   • The CAR Justice Sector demonstrates increased will and capacity to appropriately handle criminal cases, and their responses to Central Africans’ complaints, cases, and other violations of rights are complementary and comprehensive.
     • Outcome 2.1. Prosecutors independently investigate and litigate cases in a fair, timely, and informed manner.
     • Outcome 2.2. Defense counsel professionally reivews and litigates cases in a fair, timely, and informed manner.
     • Outcome 2.3. Courts independently adjudicate cases in a fair and timely manner.
     • Outcome 2.4. Bar Association Attorneys strengthen their professional responsibility and ability to provide defense counsel to the accused.
     • Outcome 2.5. Government Actors and CSO partners have enhanced understanding of how to coordinate responses to several types of cases including those of vulnerable populations, SGBV, and victims of crimes perpetrated by armed groups and criminal gangs.
     • Outcome 2.6. Where relevant and appropriate, legal centers encourage the Police and Gendarmerie efficiently respond to and assist the investigation of complaints, and observe the rights of victims of and alleged perpetrators.
     • Outcome 2.7. Justice Sector Actors and implementers regularly dialogue to coordinate efforts to respond to complaints and violations of individual rights and the law.
3. GOAL 3
   • The CAR Legal Center project engages in efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the functions and services offered by the Legal Centers and their mobile teams.
     • Outcome 3.1. Local and national participation and support for legal center functions and services increase.
     • Outcome 3.2. The cost of these functions and services falls in line with the needs of one of the world’s least developed country.
     • Outcome 3.3. The availability, when possible, expands to other CAR provincial cities either through legal centers or mobile teams.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants that qualify to receive U.S. grants (such as U.S. not-for-profit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or U.S. based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code; foreign not-for-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or foreign based educational institutions, with the ability to develop and successfully implement a project in Central African Republic and meet INL’s reporting requirements. Organizations must also be able to demonstrate current (or pending) country registration in CAR, if required by the country of project implementation.
• Must have demonstrated experience implementing similar judicial capacity building programs in a civil law context in sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in a Francophone country. INL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering similar programs and/or federal grant awards.
• Must have demonstrated experience implementing similar capacity building programs within a civil law system. INL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering similar programs and/or federal grant awards.
• Must have an established office in Bangui, Central African Republic, and have been working in the country for at least two years.
• Applicants must propose a Country Director, Program Officer (U.S. based), and In-Country Project Manager who meets the following minimum qualifications.
• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • U.S. Citizen or Third Country National with a minimum of three years of experience in working with justice sector capacity building in a civil law context. A U.S. or home country driver’s license valid for the full period of prospective deployment are acceptable.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent, in Criminal Justice, Law, or related field.
  • Must demonstrate extensive knowledge of court operations and procedures, with experience in practical application of such.
  • In-Country project Manager must have at least two (2) years of experience conducting training for justice sector actors.
  • Must have demonstrable experience working with international and foreign assistance entities, assistance missions, programs, and implementers.
  • French language capability at or above a level equivalent to a recognized foreign language proficiency measurement framework, such as the Foreign Service Institute’s defined 3/3 level or Common European Framework for Reference for Language’s B2 or C1 level, Berlitz, or other. Demonstration or proof of language capability required, unless the individual is a native French speaker.
  • Fluent in the English language (spoken and written).
  • Strong skills in using Microsoft Office products.
  • Candidates for In-Country Project Manager shall be submitted and receive approval from the INL Program Officer.
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience in curriculum development and training.
  • Experience working with an overseas justice sector or judicial system.
  • Experience working with a civil law (a.k.a Napoleonic, European) justice system (U.S. operates under common law) 18.
  • Applicants must have the ability to produce course materials, deliver training, and conduct evaluations in French and English. The applicant’s staff should be proficient in English in order to fulfill reporting requirements.
  • Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with stakeholders in order to successfully carry out the proposed program.
  • Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal; however, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.
  • Applicants must be able to respond to the NOFO and mobilize in a short period of time.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply via given website.

For further information, please visit, https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=315037