Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Western Hemisphere (19.518)
Program
19.518 Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Western Hemisphere
Federal Agency
BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES, AND MIGRATION, DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Authorization
The Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962, as amended, (MRA) and 22 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Program Number
19.518
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The civil conflict in Colombia continues to be a primary cause of displacement and humanitarian suffering in the Western Hemisphere. For the past several years, the Bureau in conjunction with the Government of Colombia, International Organizations, NGOs, and the international community has sought to address the needs of more than 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) inside Colombia, and thousands of refugees outside Colombia. While Colombia represents the most significant humanitarian assistance requirement in the region, ongoing programs of protection and humanitarian law dissemination throughout the hemisphere are needed to maintain capacity for dealing with the needs of refugees and conflict victims now and in the future.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
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
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must submit proposals for the Bureau's consideration (international organizations submit appeals to the Bureau). NGOs may submit proposals at any time throughout the year to fill a need as it arises, with Bureau consideration granted shortly thereafter. Where there is a specific or immediate priority or need, the Bureau will issue policy and program guidelines and will invite NGOs to submit proposals by a specific deadline for Bureau review. 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 Policy and Resource Planning and other Bureau Offices. The Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the Bureau signs the cooperative agreement.
Deadlines
Deadlines vary according to the type of proposal being submitted. For new proposals, the deadline is no later than June 30 of the current fiscal year (unless an unforeseen emergency occurs that would necessitate additional funding beyond the stated deadline.) Proposals for follow-on programs are due 90-days before expiration of the current agreement. Proposals tied to specific program guidelines are due per the deadline of the program-issued guidelines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Renewals or extensions require additional approval.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Bureau's funds are intended to partially cover an organization's budget request with remaining funds expected from other resources.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Generally, funds are awarded for a 12-month period. Shorter time periods may also be authorized.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly financial reports are due forty-five days after the close of a calendar year quarter. A preliminary final financial report is due 90 days after the expiration of an agreement with a final financial due upon issuance of final indirect cost rates. The Bureau program office may require additional reporting; the organization will be notified of any additional reporting requirements informally.
Audits
The Bureau's 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 must be performed to meet the provisions of OMB Circular A-133- Revised, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. The audit report is due 30 days after issuance or nine months after the end of the audit period.
Records
The grantee shall maintain files for a three-year period after submission of final financial report.
Program Accomplishments
In FY 04, more than $581 million was provided for programs worldwide, by the Bureau multilaterally through the United Nations and international organizations and bilaterally to NGOs that fill gaps in the international community's multilateral response. Bureau funding was focused on three priority areas: (1) promoting access to effective protection and first asylum for refugees and conflict victims, with protection of women and children as a priority; (2) providing humanitarian assistance across geographic regions and according to internationally accepted standards; and (3) supporting voluntary repatriation, including sustainable reintegration of refugees in countries of origin.
Financial Information
Account Identification
19-1143-0-1-151.
Obligations
MRA for the Western Hemisphere: FY 04 $20,537,094; FY 05 $25,000,000 (proj.); and FY 06 est $26,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For FY 04 under MRA, assistance for the Western Hemisphere ranged from $37,006 to $6 million, with an average of $1.4 million. Assistance to NGOs ranged from $7,006 to $3.2 million, with an average of $451,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
All inquiries should be directed to the information contacts listed below.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Programmatic: c/o Director, Office of Assistance for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Email address: prm-eca@state.gov, Phone: 202/663-1062, FAX: 202/663-1530. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, SA-1, Suite L505, Washington, DC 20522-0105. Financial: Office of the Comptroller, SA-1, Suite L303, Washington, DC 20522-0105, Telephone: 202/663-1022.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
None.
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.
