G/TIP FY 2010 ANTI-TRAFFICKING COMPETITIVE GRANT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 112504 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG, SIPDIS SUBJECT: G/TIP FY 2010 ANTI-TRAFFICKING COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM STATE 00112504 001.2 OF 005 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paras 8 and ¶9. ¶2. (U) Summary: The Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) is conducting a two-stage competitive process for FY 2010 funding of projects that will improve the response to trafficking in persons. In the first stage, G/TIP is requesting brief Statements of Interest (SOI) from organizations interested in submitting proposals for projects. In the second stage, G/TIP will invite applicants whose SOIs are reviewed favorably to submit full proposals for consideration of funding. This cable provides all embassies with summary information about the 2010 competitive grant process. All posts are requested to review the solicitation on the G/TIP website (provided below). G/TIP has identified 40 priority countries for this solicitation. Posts in each of the 40 priority countries below are requested to publicize it to non-governmental organizations, public international organizations, and institutions of higher education that are active in combating human trafficking and to encourage them to apply. G/TIP is most likely to fund proposals that target a priority country and that are responsive to the country-specific recommendations listed in the 2009 TIP Report. Pending appropriations, G/TIP anticipates awarding grants of up to $750,000 per project. The deadline for SOI submissions to G/TIP is December 3, 2009, 5:00 p.m. EST. End Summary. 3.(U) G/TIP is pleased to announce publication of its open competition for assistance awards to improve the response to human trafficking abroad. G/TIP's 2010 Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) will be posted on G/TIP's website (www.state.gov/g/tip) , www.GrantSolutions.gov, and www.Grants.gov on November 2, ¶2009. U.S. and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs) are encouraged to submit SOIs for anti-trafficking programs to be conducted in a single country abroad, within a region, or in more than one region. 4.(U) This year, G/TIP is taking additional steps to reduce the burden on posts, which assisted G/TIP in the review of more than 290 full proposals for anti- trafficking projects in 2009. G/TIP is implementing a two-stage competitive process for 2010 funding. The 2010 solicitation announces the first stage: G/TIP requests applicants to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI),a two-page summary of a proposed project along with two required standard forms. Once again this year, G/TIP will handle the administrative burden of receiving submissions directly from all applicants rather than requiring embassies to manage this task. 5.(U) Embassies will retain their full ability to rank and prioritize proposed projects for consideration. G/TIP will provide all SOIs that meet the technical requirements to posts for review in early January. G/TIP will also notify posts of SOIs for bilateral projects which do not pass the technical review. Following post review, SOIs will undergo a competitive panel review and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal that expands on their SOI. These proposals will be shared with posts prior to the final interagency panel review in G/TIP. We believe that the review of two-page SOIs and selected full proposals will be less burdensome for posts and that it will save many applicants the time and resources required to prepare a full proposal. 6.(U) Applicants will submit proposals via www.GrantSolutions.gov or www.Grants.gov. The GrantSolutions website is a new option and it is available to all applicants, but G/TIP especially encourages foreign NGOs and PIOs to submit proposals through this web site. All SOIs must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) Thursday, December 3, 2009. G/TIP will not accept proposals submitted via email, fax, the U.S. postal system, FedEx, UPS and similar delivery companies, or courier. 7.(U) In order to target our funds most effectively and STATE 00112504 002.2 OF 005 SUBJECT: G/TIP FY 2010 ANTI-TRAFFICKING COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGR save precious resources of both posts and potential applicants, G/TIP identified 40 priority countries for FY10 funding based on several factors, including Trafficking in Persons Report Tier rank, political will to improve the response to trafficking, economic resources, and ongoing USG support for anti-trafficking programs. All are ranked as Tier 3, Tier 2 Watch List, Tier 2, or listed as a Special Case in the 2009 TIP Report. This is in keeping with the philosophy of deploying scarce resources where they are most needed and prioritizing the use of our funds. 8.(U) For more detailed guidance on examples of projects that G/TIP seeks to fund, applicant organization criteria, technical requirements for SOIs, the competitive review process, submission instructions for applicants, and additional information, please see the complete solicitation at www.state.gov/g/tip. Below are excerpts (not/not the complete solicitation) of the solicitation for posts' review. 9.(U) Action Request for Embassies in 40 Priority Countries: Priority country embassies are requested to download the complete solicitation from the G/TIP website and publicize it to NGOs, PIOs, and institutions of higher education that are active in combating human trafficking and to encourage them to apply as described in the solicitation. Posts should also refer interested applicants to www.GrantSolutions.gov and www.Grants.gov for applications procedures, technical criteria, and other solicitation details. Posts may direct questions about this solicitation via email to Mark Forstrom at ForstromMA@state.gov. 10.(U) Action Request for all other Embassies: Given widespread interest in anti-TIP programming, all other embassies are requested to review the complete solicitation on the G/TIP website and be prepared to respond to inquiries. Posts should also refer interested applicants to the G/TIP website and to www.GrantSolutions.gov and www.Grants.gov for complete solicitation and application details. Posts may direct questions about this solicitation via email to Mark Forstrom at ForstromMA@state.gov. 11.(U) Begin Brief Excerpts from Request for Statements of Interest for 2010 G/TIP Anti-TIP Projects EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) is pleased to announce a two-stage competitive process for 2010 funding of projects that will improve the response to trafficking in persons outside the United States. The first stage is submission and competitive panel review of two-page Statements of Interest (SOI) from organizations interested in submitting proposals for projects that combat human trafficking. In the second stage, G/TIP will invite applicants whose Statements of Interest are reviewed favorably to submit proposals that expand on their SOI. These proposals will also be reviewed by a panel for consideration of funding. This announcement initiates the first stage, and G/TIP is now requesting applicants to submit a Statement of Interest, as described in this solicitation. U.S.-based non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGO),public international organizations (PIO),foreign NGOs, and institutions of higher education are encouraged to apply by submitting a Statement of Interest. Pending appropriations, G/TIP anticipates awarding grants of up to $750,000 per project. BACKGROUND The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106- 386),as amended (TVPA),authorized the establishment of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) in the U.S. Department of State. The mission of G/TIP is to combat modern slavery by employing a "3 Ps" strategy: preventing trafficking in persons, protecting and assisting trafficking victims, and prosecuting traffickers and others who profit from trafficking in persons. Additionally, as Secretary Clinton has indicated, G/TIP will seek partnerships to effectuate this strategy. G/TIP provides leadership and coordination within the U.S. government and engages with foreign governments, civil society, and multilateral organizations to focus attention and devote resources to addressing human trafficking. The TVPA also requires that the Department of State STATE 00112504 003.2 OF 005 SUBJECT: G/TIP FY 2010 ANTI-TRAFFICKING COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGR submit an annual assessment of "severe forms of trafficking in persons" and governments' efforts to address them. The State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report),published in June each year, is an important diplomatic tool in the Department's dialogue with other governments and also serves as the guide for U.S. foreign assistance to governments and NGOs in countries working to eradicate trafficking. The 2009 TIP Report, available at http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/, includes Tier rankings and country-specific recommendations for 173 countries and evaluations of two additional countries. As reflected in the 2009 TIP Report, despite laudatory global progress in establishing structures such as national action plans and counter-trafficking laws, much remains do be done to operationalize these promises. The number of reported trafficking cases appears to be in stasis; labor trafficking cases made up only 104 of the 2,983 convictions in the 2009 reporting period, despite ILO statistics that indicate millions of persons labor in bondage around the world as well as suffer in sexual servitude. Prevention and victim protection efforts often are developed in isolation and are not integrated into the 3Ps structure that is the vision of the TVPA. Pursuant to the TVPA, human trafficking is at its essence all the activities involved in obtaining or maintaining compelled service of a person by another. G/TIP seeks to fund programs that reflect this view. 2010 G/TIP GRANT COMPETITION OVERVIEW G/TIP allocates foreign assistance aimed at improving the response to trafficking in persons in other countries through an open competitive process. G/TIP announces a solicitation for applications early each fiscal year and the office strives to award new grant projects late in the same fiscal year. In 2009 the response to G/TIP's solicitation reached record levels; nearly 400 proposals were submitted for review. In an effort to manage the 2010 competitive grant process most effectively and to save hundreds of applicants the time and resources required to prepare a full proposal, G/TIP is using a two-stage competitive process for 2010 funding. This solicitation announces the first stage: G/TIP requests applicants to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI),a two-page summary of a proposed project that includes the information described below. Following a competitive panel review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal that expands on their SOI. These proposals will then be reviewed and considered for funding. Given the limited funding available, G/TIP has identified 40 countries as priorities for this solicitation. SOIs that address human trafficking issues in the named countries are especially encouraged. Applicants are urged to review the country-specific recommendations listed in the country narratives of the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report as these will guide anti- trafficking programming under this announcement. Pending the appropriation of funds, G/TIP anticipates awarding grants of up to $750,000 for 36 months per project to organizations which, in the second stage of this competition, are invited to submit full proposals and are successful in the competitive review of proposals. U.S.-based non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGO),public international organizations (PIO),foreign NGOs, and universities are eligible to submit SOIs. On a limited basis, for-profit organizations are also eligible to submit SOIs; however, they may not take a profit from grant-funded activities. G/TIP FUNDING PRIORITIES AND PROJECT EXAMPLES Generally, G/TIP prioritizes foreign assistance in countries ranked as Tier 3, Tier 2 Watch List, and in some cases, Tier 2, where governments have the political will to improve the response to trafficking, but lack the economic resources to address the problem. For this solicitation G/TIP has designated 40 countries as priorities for 2010 funding, based on a review of the 2009 Tier rankings, current anti-trafficking programming, and consultation with other offices in the Department. Some countries with significant trafficking problems have received extensive programmatic attention in recent years from G/TIP, other USG agencies, international organizations, and donor nations. Priority designations for this solicitation respond to the needs articulated in the 2009 report, but also take into account current STATE 00112504 004.2 OF 005 G/TIP is most interested in SOIs for projects in the priority countries listed below and that are responsive to the country-specific recommendations listed in the 2009 TIP Report. Under limited circumstances, G/TIP may fund projects in countries that are not listed below. These may include proposals that exhibit innovative programming, address special country circumstances, or that serve as special models for replication in other countries. A limited number of global projects may also be funded. Recognizing that many cases of human trafficking are transnational and that effective remedies must be designed to meet specific challenges, G/TIP also encourages SOIs that address cross border and regional trafficking problems, for example, a project that develops and implements strategies for improving the response to human trafficking in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The countries selected for priority funding consideration in this solicitation are listed below. AFRICA REGION Angola Burundi Chad Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Cote d'Ivoire Ethiopia Ghana Lesotho Mali Mauritania Mozambique Rwanda Swaziland EAST ASIA/PACIFIC REGION Cambodia Indonesia Laos Papua New Guinea Philippines Thailand Vietnam EUROPEAN REGION Albania Azerbaijan Montenegro NEAR EAST REGION Iraq Jordan Lebanon SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN REGION Bangladesh India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan WESTERN HEMISPHERE REGION Argentina Belize Dominican Republic Guatemala Guyana Haiti Mexico Nicaragua BIDDERS' CONFERENCE G/TIP will host a Bidders' Conference on November 5, 2009, at the Department of State in Washington, DC. This conference will provide an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about the G/TIP request for Statements of Interest (SOI),G/TIP programming priorities, the SOI submission/review process, and the management of grant awards to successful applicants. Information about this conference can be viewed on our website at: www.state.gov/g/tip. Materials from the conference will be published on the website after November 5, 2009. End Excerpts from the G/TIP 2010 Request for Statements STATE 00112504 005.2 OF 005 ¶12. Minimize considered. CLINTON