Rolling deadline

The United States Institute for Peace (USIP) invites applicants for its Priority Grant Competition, the funding for which intends to:

• Support non-profit organisations working in or on Afghanistan, Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sudan.
• Support innovative peacebuilding projects involving: research; the identification of promising models and effective practices; the development of practitioner resources and tools; the development and delivery of education, training and dialogue programmes; and the production of films, radio programmes, and other media.

The Priority Grant Competition funds activities that enhance mechanisms for advancing the knowledge and practice of conflict prevention, conflict management, and post-conflict peacebuilding according to the priority areas identified below for each country:

• For Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sudan, preference is given to applications submitted by non-profit organisations based in these countries.
• For Iran, preference is given to proposals focusing on Iranian relations with its neighbours in the region; its relations with the West; and Iran’s role in regional and international affairs.
• Applicants may apply at any time throughout the year. Awards will be announced throughout the year.
• The amount of all awards will be based on the proposed budget and work plan, and on negotiations with successful applicants.
• The Institute gives priority to projects that are likely to generate findings that are accessible to policymakers and practitioners and that demonstrate promise of having a substantial impact. Projects that result in findings made widely available to the public through published writings, manuals, curricular materials, web sites, documentary films, etc., are more likely to be funded than those that have limited impact.

The awards generally range from US$45,000 to US$140,000.

US and international individuals and non-profit organisations may apply. Individuals whose proposals are funded will be required to identify a non-profit organisation to receive and manage the grant monies. With the exception of Iran, applicants from outside a priority country must partner with a non-profit organisation located within the priority country. The project must be based in the priority country.

There are two stages to the application process. The first is described as:

• "Submit a short (3-5 pages) pre-proposal statement that includes a description of your organization (including a brief history, purpose, structure, and registered non-profit status) and a description of the proposed project.
• Include an overview of the needs that the project will address, the goals or objectives that the project intends to achieve, and how it will contribute to USIP’s objective for the particular Priority Grant country, as described below.
• Provide a brief overview of the proposed activities, products, time-frame, and estimated costs (both project total and the amount you would like USIP to cover).
• Email this short pre-proposal to the individual designated as the contact person for the Priority Grant country in either PDF or .doc (Word, rich text) format, or send it by fax to 202 833 1018. If you are faxing the document, please be sure you add a cover page to the attention of the contact person."

Click here for more information on both stages of the process, as well as the email addresses of contacts for stage one submission, as listed by country.

USIP website on November 27 2009.