Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa (19.517)

Program

19.517 Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa

Federal Agency

Agency: U.S. Department of State
Office: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

Authorization

The Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962, as amended (MRA), 22 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., 22 U.S.C 2601.

Program Number

19.517

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Assistance will contribute to the basic needs of some 2 million refugees and millions more conflict victims spread across the African continent (both Sub-Saharan and North Africa). NGOs are key partners of international organizations in Africa, often in specialized areas such as health care, water, sanitation, food distribution, and education. Funds will be provided directly to NGOs to complement the programs of UNHCR and to bring basic assistance up to international life-sustaining standards of care.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The cooperative agreement, grant or contribution provides funds to meet the organization's objectives as approved by the Bureau. Funding documents authorize funds based on the organization's budget submission after Bureau approval.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

United Nations, international and non- governmental organizations. MRA designates primary UN or IO recipient organizations. NGO activities must be complementary to, and coordinated with, UN programs.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Refugees and victims of conflict requiring assistance.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must submit proposals for the Bureau's consideration via Grants.gov (international organizations submit appeals to the Bureau). NGOs may submit propsals in response to funding opportunity announcements posted by the Bureau on Grants.gov to fill critical needs, with Bureau review occurring following the deadline of the funding announcement. (Funding announcements are also posted at http://www.state.gov/g/prm/c27111.htm.) IO and NGO representatives are also encouraged to communicate directly with Bureau program officers regarding priorities and funding timelines. NGOs that have never received PRM funding must be prepared to demonstrate that their organizations meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government before they can be eligible to receive Bureau funding.

Award Procedure

The Assistant Secretary of the Bureau makes funding decisions based on recommendations from the Bureau's Office of Assistance for Africa and other Bureau offices. The Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the Bureau signs the cooperative agreement.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewals or extensions require additional approval.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements. Although there are no matching requirements, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting organization.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, funds are awarded for a 12-month period. Shorter time periods may also be authorized. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payments will be made through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (PMS). Recipients request funds based on immediate disbursement requirements and disburse funds as soon as possible to minimize the Federal cash on hand in accordance with the policies established by the U.S. Treasury Department and mandated by the OMB Circulars.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

PRM requires program reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the validity period of the agreement. A program report is required within thirty (30) days following the end of each three month period of performance during the validity period of the agreement. The final program report is due ninety (90) days following the end of the agreement. The submission dates for program reports will be written into the grant or cooperative agreement. Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement (January 30th, April 30th, July 30th, October 30th). The final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement. For agreements containing indirect costs, final financial reports are due within 60 days of the finalization of the applicable negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). No progress reports are required. Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement (January 30th, April 30th, July 30th, October 30th). The final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement. For agreements containing indirect costs, final financial reports are due within 60 days of the finalization of the applicable negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). The general performance of the Recipient's operations will be evaluated and monitored to ensure that the established objectives are being successfully met and to determine whether the performance is in compliance with the terms of the award.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Bureau funds must be included in an appropriate audit or audits performed by independent public accountants in accordance with U.S. Government Auditing Standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States covering financial audits. The audit report is due 30 days after issuance or nine months after the end of the audit period.

Records

Retention and access requirements for records are set forth in 22 CFR 145.53.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: Est not available. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

19-1143-0-1-151.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $318,790,207; FY 09 est $354,000,000; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For FY09 under MRA, assistance for Africa was given to seven IO’s totaling $289,119,126. Assistance for 32 NGO’s ranged from $200,000 to $2.45 million, with an average of $1.5 million.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

All inquiries should be directed to the information contacts listed below.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Mary Lange, Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and MIgration (PRM), 2401 E Street NW, L505 , Washington, District of Columbia 20522-0105 Email: LangeMM@state.gov Phone: (202) 663-1041 Fax: (202) 663-1530

Web Site Address

http://www.state.gov/g/prm

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The Bureau's main objective is to help ensure that refugees and victims of conflict have access to basic life-sustaining resources in ways that meet internationally accepted standards of care in shelter, food supply, nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and public health. NGO proposals should clearly use SPHERE standards as the basis for design, implementation, and evaluation, including proposed objectives and indicators. Underlying PRM's support for humanitarian assistance is a commitment to protection, targeted support to women, vulnerable individuals, coordination with relevant UN agencies and other NGOs, sustainability of programming, security, and capacity building. NGOs in search of Bureau funding would do well to address these specific areas in any proposals sent for funding.