Local Governance and Accountability Project | COTONOU PSF FY2024 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for COTONOU PSF FY2024 001

The U.S. Embassy in Cotonou is funding a single, one-year project called the Local Governance and Accountability Project under the Prevention and Stabilization Fund (PSF), using FY 2023 to FY 2025 Economic Support Fund (ESF) resources. The grant is intended to strengthen civic participation and improve how local government engages with people in marginalized communities in northern Benin, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability, and practical collaboration between citizens, civil society, and commune-level authorities. The core idea is to equip underrepresented groups and the civil society organizations that support them with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to participate more meaningfully in local governance and political life, ultimately leading to better representation and improved public service delivery.

Geographically, the opportunity prioritizes Borgou Department, especially the communes of Bembereke, Kalale, Perere, and Sinende. While the current call emphasizes these areas, the notice also leaves room for the project to expand into additional departments or communes later, depending on program decisions. The background framing is that decentralization in Benin since 2013 has generally increased citizen participation by bringing governance closer to communities, but that many rural and marginalized populations still remain outside real decision-making channels. This gap can leave communities feeling ignored by central and local authorities, weaken their ability to influence policies, and increase social resentment. The announcement highlights an additional stabilization concern in the north: approximately 6,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benin who have been uprooted by insecurity and violence, and who may face even greater barriers to participation and access to services.

Programmatically, the Embassy is looking for projects that align with three broad objectives. First, it aims to build the capacity of targeted groups to participate in policy dialogue, political processes, and upcoming local and national elections. The targeted groups explicitly include women, minority ethnic groups, LGBTQI persons, religious minorities, and especially internally displaced persons. Second, it seeks to raise civic awareness and deepen citizen engagement so that the political system becomes more inclusive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of these communities. Third, it supports efforts to protect and promote human rights and equal protection under the law for targeted groups and other at-risk community members, reinforcing the idea that fair treatment and inclusive governance can help prevent conflict driven by exclusion and frustration.

In terms of award structure, the Embassy anticipates making one grant with a total value of USD 250,000, pending the availability of funds. The project period is 12 months, with an anticipated start in October 2024 and an anticipated end in September 2025. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.979.

Eligibility is limited to Benin-based non-profit, non-governmental organizations that can document legal registration (for example, a recepisse de declaration d'association or an Extrait du Journal Officiel). Applicants must have a bank account in the organization’s name and be able to receive funds electronically, including providing full electronic funds transfer details (bank name, account name, account number, and account type). Personal bank accounts for representatives are not allowed, and the notice specifically states that accounts at Banque de l'habitat, BSIC, and CLCAM are not accepted. Organizations must also have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). A key compliance point is that the proposed activities cannot already be funded or under consideration for funding by other donors or by the Government of Benin for the same work, which is meant to prevent duplication.

Applications must be submitted by email to CotonouGrants@state.gov no later than May 17 at 11:59 p.m. West Africa Time (GMT+1). Late submissions are automatically disqualified. Proposals may be submitted in English or French, and applicants are instructed to reference the funding opportunity number (COTONOU PSF FY2024 001) in their materials. Questions about the application process can be sent to the same email address, but the Embassy notes that it does not provide pre-consultations for questions already addressed in the notice, and that once a proposal is submitted, staff will not discuss the competition with applicants until the review process is fully complete.

• The U.S. Mission to Benin in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Governance and Accountability Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.979.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for COTONOU PSF FY2024 001

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