U.S. AMBASSADORS FUND FOR COUNTERTERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 019846 SENSITIVE SIPDIS, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC EFIN PTER KCRM KPAO PTER KHLS AEMR SUBJECT: U.S. AMBASSADORS FUND FOR COUNTERTERRORISM FOR AMBASSADORS FROM S/CT - AMBASSADOR DELL DAILEY ¶1. (SBU) Summary: This cable provides guidance and instructions for the administration of the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Counterterrorism. The Fund was established in 2008 by the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (-S/CT) to support projects that apply tools of soft power to counterterrorism assistance in order to enhance the ability of law enforcement personnel to deter international terrorist acts, and to counter violent extremist ideology and recruitment. This cable provides an overview of the program and its requirements, kinds of activities supported, exclusions, review criteria, selection process, and timeline. Program Overview ¶2. (SBU) S/CT invites proposals that enhance the ability of law enforcement personnel to deter international terrorist acts, by applying the tools of soft power and supporting USG efforts to counter violent extremist ideology and recruitment. Projects should be regional in scope and/or impact. Applicants can request up to $100,000 to support programming for up to 24 months. Funds must be obligated before September 30, 2010. S/CT will award a total of $1,500,000 in FY 2009. These funds are provided through --- -S/CT's FY'09 Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs (NADR) global account. Background ¶3. (SBU) In the struggle against violent extremism, our focus must be on prevention. This can most effectively be done by using the tools of soft power to counter the ideology that enables violence and to stop the flow of new recruits into extremist movements. ¶4. (SBU) The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Counterterrorism will fund innovative activities and programs that aim to delegitimize extremist ideologies, diminish support for violent extremism and prevent radicalization and recruitment. Proposals to develop needed capacity in host governments to counter violent extremism, or that propose innovative ways to reach wide or difficult-to-access target audiences are encouraged. Proposals should demonstrate potential for sustained impact. Proposals to support traditional public diplomacy activities, to host conferences with little sustainable impact or follow-on activities, or to support activities that have existing sources of potential funding such as bringing visitors to the U.S. will be less competitive. Requirements ¶5. (SBU) Proposals must fit within the NADR/ATA authority: assistance to enhance the ability of law enforcement personnel to deter terrorists. Proposals that focus exclusively on developed countries are not suitable generally for this assistance program. Proposals with religious aspects or faith-based implementers must not violate any Constitutional issues or support proselytizing. ¶6. (SBU) Proposals will be accepted from U.S. Embassies on behalf of eligible entities. Eligible entities are foreign government non-defense agencies and ministries; non- governmental organizations; educational institutions; and commercial partners. Proposals must demonstrate how the program will enhance the ability of law enforcement personnel in a foreign country or countries to deter terrorist acts by applying the tools of soft power and support USG efforts to counter violent extremist ideology and recruitment. Where appropriate, Embassies should engage with their respective Regional Strategic Initiative (RSI) Coordinator as they develop proposals. Types of Activities Supported ¶7. (SBU) Soft counterterrorism measures aim to combat the appeal of extremist beliefs, undermine support for violent extremist organizations and prevent radicalization and recruitment. The types of activities supported will depend on location and context. Proposed activities may include education programs and materials that provide access to a wide range of alternative views and foster critical thinking; coordinated public relations and media efforts that challenge the voices of violent extremism; public awareness campaigns that strengthen public understanding of STATE 00019846 002 OF 002 the threat and enhance support for law enforcement efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism; digital engagement to counter enemy use of cyberspace; building and strengthening CT networks and communities to counter violent extremism; and empowering and amplifying non- extremist voices. Exclusions ¶8. (SBU) The Fund will not support the following: - Infrastructure development - Training - Equipment purchases Submission Process ¶9. (U) Proposals must be submitted to S/CT by individual Embassies, which may forward multiple projects for consideration. Embassies may be awarded funding for multiple projects. Individual project requests should not exceed $100,000. ¶10. (SBU) Application forms are posted on S/CT's Intellipedia website (http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Coun terterrorism) . To the extent possible, posts should submit their proposals via the web. If not possible, cable applications will also be accepted. Applications must include the following information: - Name of proposed project - Executive summary of the proposed project - Explanation of how the proposal will enhance the ability of law enforcement organizations to deter terrorists and terrorist groups - Contact officer - Planned start date - Estimated total cost - Potential supplementary sources of funding (e.g., from local or regional partners) - Target audience for project and desired effect on audience perceptions - Tasks and activities - Measures of effectiveness - Plan to disseminate best practices, if appropriate Review Criteria and Selection Process ¶11. (U) Applications will be competitively reviewed according to the criteria stated below: - Alignment with NADR/ATA statutory authority requirements. - Advances Program objectives as described above. - Endorsement by Embassy. - Advances regional CT priorities. Timeline ¶12. (U) April 15, 2009: Deadline for submission of all proposals to S/CT. May 31, 2009: S/CT completes evaluation of proposals, announces awards. Once Congressional Notification has cleared internally and on the Hill, S/CT will provide a fund cite to a post POC to be placed on the obligating document. Posts will be required to administer the funds through their own grant authority. Therefore, posts must have a warranted Grants Officer at post, who can sign the awards, and must designate a Grants Officer Representative at post who will monitor the activities of the award. Grant warrants require training and can only be issued by A/OPE/FA (http://aopefa.a.state.gov). A copy of the obligating document (e.g., assistance award agreement) which includes the fiscal data must be sent to S/CT POC Jacqueline Pinnix (pinnixja@state.gov). ¶13. Minimize considered. CLINTON