Julia Taft Refugee Fund for FY 2022 | DOS CONAK FY22 00 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS CONAK FY22 00 02

The Julia Taft Refugee Fund for FY 2022 was a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity managed by the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, in coordination with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). It opened January 19, 2022 and closed February 14, 2022 (16:30 GMT). The funding instrument was a grant under CFDA 19.517 (Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa). Awards were relatively small and meant to be flexible and fast-moving compared to large multilateral programs, with a minimum award size of $5,000 and a maximum (ceiling) of $25,000. The notice indicated an expectation of one award.

The purpose of the fund was to address critical refugee protection and assistance needs in Guinea, especially gaps that were not being met by other actors. In practical terms, the Embassy positioned the Taft Fund as a way for the Ambassador and PRM to support targeted, high-impact interventions that respond to specific local needs rather than long-term, ongoing service delivery. The opportunity emphasized that projects should be one-time interventions and that the fund is not intended to function as an emergency response mechanism or a source of sustained, multi-year programming.

Eligibility and project design requirements were centered on serving refugees and refugee returnees. Proposed projects were expected to have a beneficiary population that is at least 50 percent refugees or returnees. While the program discouraged proposals primarily serving other groups, it left room for exceptions in areas where PRM recognizes other "populations of concern," such as internally displaced persons, vulnerable migrants, and stateless persons. It also highlighted a protection and inclusion priority: PRM expressed interest in supporting local organizations that expand equitable access to protection, assistance, and solutions for LGBTQI refugees and stateless persons. Proposals that also benefit host communities alongside refugees could receive favorable consideration, reflecting an interest in easing pressure on host areas and improving social cohesion where feasible.

A key constraint shaped what could be funded and how projects could be implemented. Due to Section 7008 restrictions, the U.S. government could not provide assistance to the Government of Guinea until a democratically elected government was installed. As a result, projects could not involve government officials or employees acting in an official capacity, and activities could not take place in government-owned facilities. The notice explicitly extended this restriction to local institutions such as schools and local government representatives, which meant applicants had to design activities that could be delivered through non-governmental channels and venues.

The Embassy invited applications from registered organizations such as NGOs, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations, with a clear preference for national and local NGOs. International NGOs could be considered, but the stated goal was to strengthen and rely on capable local organizations. Applicants were expected to demonstrate basic operational readiness, including relevant technical expertise, a functioning financial management system, and an existing bank account.

The application process was intentionally flexible on format but strict on content and compliance. Proposals had to be written in English, pages needed to be numbered, and applicants had to provide a detailed budget and budget narrative. A distinctive requirement was mandatory consultation with UNHCR: every applicant needed to consult UNHCR on the proposed project and submit a letter from UNHCR confirming that the consultation occurred. Required components included a summary cover sheet, a complete narrative proposal (covering the organization background, problem statement, goals and measurable objectives, activities, monitoring and evaluation, sustainability, key personnel and time allocations, a schedule with milestones, and a line-item budget), plus attachments such as federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and SF-LLL if applicable). Applicants also needed to provide a Code of Conduct aligned with Interagency Standing Committee core principles, including prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation (PSEA), and could include supporting documentation like CVs and letters of support.

On registrations and compliance, the notice emphasized that organizations could not be on the Excluded Parties List System (as reflected in SAM.gov) and laid out the common U.S. government registration expectations. Applicants were instructed to obtain a unique entity identifier (UEI) (the notice also references DUNS, consistent with the transition period at the time), an NCAGE/CAGE code, and an active SAM.gov registration (renewed annually). These registrations were described as free of charge, and the Embassy offered an email point of contact for registration difficulties.

Applications were reviewed in two stages: an initial technical eligibility screening followed by evaluation by a selection committee at the U.S. Embassy Conakry. The main scoring factors were organizational capacity and past performance (including financial controls), the quality and feasibility of the program idea and timeline, clarity and measurability of goals and objectives, the reasonableness and completeness of the budget and justification, and the strength of the monitoring and evaluation plan (including output and outcome indicators and when/how they would be measured). The Embassy noted that final decisions could also consider a site visit (if possible) and any other available information about the organization.

The notice provided a wide range of example activities to illustrate what could fit the fund, as long as the proposal was tied to the local context and the applicant had the capacity to implement it. Examples included mental health support for refugee communities; sports and youth development programs; building a playground for refugee children; education initiatives; livelihoods and vocational training; early childhood education, health, and nutrition activities; water, sanitation, health, and livelihoods support; protection services for vulnerable refugees; shelters or services for women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence; security upgrades in camps; support for unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers through transit centers; and small-scale income-generating projects (for example, cooperatives, gardening and small business training, soap manufacturing, and agricultural support to returnee families). Taken together, these examples signal that the Embassy was open to protection, services, and livelihood projects, provided they were practical, measurable, and achievable within a modest budget.

Submission was accepted either by email to ConakrySSH@state.gov or via hard copy delivered to the U.S. Embassy in Conakry by the closing deadline, with the subject line "Julia Taft Refugee Fund for FY 2022." After awards, recipients would be required to follow the grant agreement, could only incur costs starting on the official award start date signed by the Grants Officer, and would need to provide program and financial reports on the schedule set in the award document. Payments were expected to be made in at least two installments by bank transfer, either as advances or reimbursements, depending on implementation needs.

Finally, the opportunity included standard federal disclaimers: funding depended on availability of funds; issuing the notice did not guarantee an award; the U.S. government was not responsible for proposal preparation costs; it could reject any or all proposals; and any future extensions or additional funding were entirely discretionary rather than guaranteed. It also noted communication limits during the competition, stating that after submission, State Department staff could not discuss the competition with applicants until the review process was complete.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Guinea in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Julia Taft Refugee Fund for FY 2022" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.517.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 19, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 14, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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