Request for Applications (RFA)

Background

The USAID Rule of Law Program is a five-year activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the East-West Management Institute, Inc. (EWMI). EWMI is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization with extensive experience in supporting legal and judicial reforms around the world. The goal of the USAID Rule of Law Program is to strengthen the rule of law in Georgia by attaining the following objectives:

Objective 1: Independence and effectiveness of justice system institutions strengthened 

Objective 2: Equal access tojustice for all enhanced

Objective3: Citizen and institutional oversight of justice institutions increased

In pursuit of Objective 3, the Program announces a grants competition to support civil society organizations’ (CSOs), citizen groups’, and media organizations’ efforts to raise awareness and promote discussions on the state of the Georgian judiciary. The Program will support projects enhancing citizens’ understanding of the developments in the court system and mobilizing public opinion in support of progressive changes. 

Problem Statement

Public opinion surveys reveal the population’s low level of trust in the court system, but at the same time the low ranking assigned to the judiciary in the hierarchy of challenges experienced by the citizens of Georgia. The latest International Republican Institute (IRI) Georgia Poll indicates that only three percent of the population mentions the judiciary among the three biggest challenges for Georgia’s democratic development and future. According to the same poll, 50% have an unfavorable opinion on the Georgian courts. An earlier survey conducted by local CSOs that measured the knowledge and attitudes of Georgians towards the judiciary also showed that the public does not consider the judiciary as a primary problem. Georgians are less informed about the court system and the ongoing reforms, despite expressing interest in developments in the court system.

The courts have come to the mainstream media’s attention in relation to high-profile cases. Georgian CSOs have also been trying to raise public awareness of institutional issues concerning judiciary, monitoring developments in the sector and promoting their findings. CSOs were particularly active during the selection and appointment of Supreme Court judges in 2019-2020, publishing materials in social media and cooperating with mainstream media outlets. However, as the above-mentioned polls reveal, these initiatives have not impacted citizens at the grassroots level. There is still a gap in the public awareness of how the problems in the court system affect the citizens’ lives and the country’s democratic development.   

The low ranking assigned by the population to the challenges in the court system contrasts with the inclusion of judicial independence and court system reforms in the set of recommendations made by the EU for granting membership candidate status to Georgia. There is a need to fill-in the awareness and knowledge gap. The Program aims to address this need by supporting CSO and media initiatives    promoting the public’s understanding of why the judiciary matters for Georgia’s development and create momentum for change. 

Grant Program Goals and Objectives

The goal of the grants competition is to mobilize public support for progressive changes in the court system through awareness-raising initiatives aimed at informing the public and promoting discussions on the current state of the Georgian judiciary. 

The USAID Rule of Law Program will fund projects designed to run innovative awareness-raising actions / campaigns focusing on: 

• Explaining connections between the state of judiciary and EU integration;
• Explaining connections between the state of the courts and individuals’/communities’ everyday problems.

The initiatives should not be limited to the explanation of the problems of the court system, but also incorporate solutions. They may also include positive examples of judicial competence and integrity.

Projects should target general public/communities. Accordingly, the content and forms of awareness-raising activities should be highly accessible and easily understandable for the public. 

The geography of the activities is not limited, although initiatives in the regions are encouraged.

Proposals involving youth participation, as well as partnerships with regional organizations, media and academia, are encouraged. 

Applicants need to address the awareness raising actions in sufficient detail, including: main topics/issues, the local context, timeline, channels of communication, and mapping of target groups and other stakeholders. The activities may include but are not limited to: public/community outreach events/meetings, door-to-door campaigns, informational games, exhibitions, performances and competitions, activities carried out through/in partnership with online and traditional media outlets, and social media campaigns [online quizzes, video, audio and visual materials/posts].

Selection Criteria

The following general criteria will be used to assess the projects:

• Degree of compliance with the objectives and requirements of the competition (15%);
• Scope and relevance of the project’s impact (15%);
• Effectiveness of project approach, including the communication plan (30%);
• Capacity to implement the project as demonstrated by:
  • the relevant qualifications of involved personnel and/or experts(10%);
  • past successful experience in the field (10%);
  • the capacity of the responsible organization to manage finances effectively (10%).
• Sustainability of the project (please note that sustainability can refer to activities, structures, knowledge, and outcomes that result from the project implementation) (5 %);
• Cost-effectiveness of the project(5%).

The projects demonstrating the following are encouraged:

• Innovative, results-oriented, and feasible action plans;
• Staffing structure and responsibilities of project team members clearly defined;
• Involvement of communications specialists;
• Partnerships with grassroots organizations and media outlets, including those in the regions;
• Proposals demonstrating a higher share of the budget allocated for specific awareness-raising activities and products.

Selection Process

To ensure an objective selection process, proposals will be reviewed following the rules and procedures of the USAID Rule of Law Program. The grant award decision will be made by the USAID Rule of Law Program, with the approval of USAID. During the review process, additional information may be requested. Applicants will be asked to present any requested additional information within five working days.

The USAID Rule of Law Program anticipates multiple awards under the competition. The Program reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and reserves the right not to make any awards. All costs associated with preparing proposals are the sole responsibility of the organization submitting the proposal, and neither EWMI nor USAID will reimburse organizations for costs incurred in preparing proposals. Before the final award, applicants may be required to go through security and risk assessments.

Grant Funds

The projects lasting from 8 to 12 months will be funded. The grant ceiling is $30,000 for 8-month projects and $40,000 for 12-month projects. The proposed project duration and expenses should be well justified. Applicants are required to provide cost-share for the projects equal to at least 5% of the requested funding. Higher contributions are welcome.

Grant funds may be used for the following:

1. Direct costs for project-related products, events/outreach actions;
2. A pro-rated portion of salaries for key project staff, e.g., director, communications/PR manager, accountant;
3. Transportation of project participants;
4. Other expenses directly related to project implementation.

Grant funds may be used only for activities directly related to the implementation of a grant project. Grant funds cannot be used for ongoing expenses, construction expenses, the purchase of real estate, or an organization’s debt. A clear justification must be provided for project staff salary levels and hours dedicated to project activities.

The following program activities can not be supported by the USAID Rule of Law Program:

• Support for or lobbying on behalf of a particular political party;
• Religious activities; however, the USAID Rule of Law Program may support a religious organization for non-religious aims if its proposal corresponds to project objectives;
• Humanitarian activities;
• Theoretical research;
• Individual or group travel grants; or
• Capital construction projects.

Eligibility

The competition is open for NGOs, media organizations, and unregistered citizen groups. Prior experience of awareness raising actions/campaigns will be considered an advantage. Applicants may team up with other organizations (other CSOs, academic institutions, media organizations) and submit joint proposals.

Proposal Submission Process

The applicants must present all the following documents:

• A proposal in Georgian or English, written according to the application form;
• A detailed, itemized budget and budget notes, using the provided forms.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

A proposal can be conditionally approved, with the applicant being required to submit a more detailed work plan. Proposals submitted to the competition must be the original and sole work of the applicant. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification from the competition.

The USAID Rule of Law Program will retain all materials submitted through the competition in our records. The USAID Rule of Law Program does not use the information presented by applicants for purposes other than review and does not provide this information to any outside persons or institutions, except when required by law or requested by the donor.

The application must be submitted to nghvinjilia@ewmi.org with “Awareness Raising Grant Competition” written in the subject line.

Application Forms can be obtained from here. Applicants can request additional information as well as application forms, electronically, by addressing the USAID Rule of Law Program’s Civil Society and Grants Specialist at nghvinjilia@ewmi.org.

Competition Timeline

Announcement: November 22, 2022

Meetings with potential applicants: [1] 

• Batumi, Center for Civic Engagement: 16:00, November 30, 2022
• Kutaisi, Center for Civic Engagement: 15:00, December 1, 2022
• Gori, Center for Civic Engagement: 12:00, December 9, 2022
• Tbilisi: 11:00 December 13, 2022 (via Zoom)

Deadline for submission of applications: January 10, 2023, at midnight(Georgia time). Late applications will not be considered.

Award announcement: on or about February 28, 2023

Contact Information:

USAID Rule of Law Program

5 Marjanishvili Street 0102 Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel: (995 32) 2505404

Email: Info.rolp@ewmi.org

[1] If you are interested to attend the meeting in one of those cities, please RSVP at nghvinjilia@ewmi.org before November 29, 2022