Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006817
This funding opportunity, titled "Programs Benefiting Refugees and Vulnerable Populations in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006817), was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.517. It is a discretionary grant opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically means the funder expects a higher level of involvement in the project compared with a standard grant (for example, through coordination, technical input, or shared planning during implementation). The opportunity was posted on April 16, 2020, with an original closing date of May 18, 2020. The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000, while the expected number of awards is not specified in the source data.
The core purpose of the opportunity is to fund protection, assistance, and durable or sustainable solutions for people affected by displacement and conflict in specific West African contexts. The geographic focus includes refugee populations and their host communities in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria, plus refugee returnee populations in Senegal. PRM makes clear that proposals must align with its mandate and priorities: it will only consider programs where at least 50 percent of the intended direct beneficiaries are refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, or Nigeria, or refugee returnees in Senegal. This 50 percent threshold is a central eligibility condition for program design and targeting, and it signals that while host communities can and should benefit (especially where refugees live outside camps), the programs must be primarily refugee- or returnee-centered in who they serve.
A key design expectation is the use of community-based approaches, particularly for programs operating in non-camp settings. In practice, this means proposals should show how activities will be structured around community participation, local priorities, and shared services or mechanisms that reduce tension and improve outcomes for both displaced people and hosts. PRM explicitly encourages applicants to ensure that host communities are not treated as an afterthought, but rather as part of the overall solution in areas where refugees and local residents live side by side. At the same time, the opportunity emphasizes that activities must fall within sectors laid out in country-specific guidelines (not included in the excerpt you provided), implying that applicants are expected to tailor interventions to each country context and to PRM-defined sector parameters rather than proposing unrelated development work.
Protection mainstreaming is highlighted as an expectation across all proposed sectors and activities, with particular emphasis on gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation. This is framed as something to be integrated into programming rather than treated as a standalone component only. In practical terms, PRM is signaling that proposals should show how services, infrastructure, distribution systems, outreach, case management pathways, and community engagement will be designed to reduce exposure to GBV, improve safe access to assistance, and strengthen protective environments for women, girls, and other at-risk groups. The emphasis on protection mainstreaming also suggests PRM will look for evidence of thoughtful risk analysis, safe referral considerations, staff training, and monitoring approaches that can detect and address protection concerns as they arise.
The opportunity also allows for host government capacity building, but only insofar as it supports refugee assistance and protection outcomes. In other words, capacity building is acceptable when it strengthens systems that directly affect refugees and returnees, such as local service delivery, coordination mechanisms, protection response, registration or documentation support, or other relevant institutional functions. It is not presented as a primary standalone objective, but as a supportive element tied to tangible benefits for the displaced populations PRM is mandated to serve.
Finally, PRM strongly recommends multi-year proposals for activities that are multi-year in nature, especially when they build on previous year work. This reflects a preference for continuity, scaling proven approaches, and investing in longer-term programming that can show a clear progression from earlier phases to improved outcomes. For applicants, this implies the proposal should lay out a coherent multi-year theory of change, phased implementation plan, and a realistic path for sustaining results, while staying anchored to PRM priorities and the required beneficiary composition.Apply for SFOP0006817
- The Department of State, Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Programs Benefiting Refugees and Vulnerable Populations in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal" 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 Apr 16, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2020. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Programs Benefiting Refugees and Vulnerable Populations in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal (SFOP0006817)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Programs Benefiting Refugees and Vulnerable Populations in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal" with Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006817.
Which U.S. government office is offering this funding?
This funding opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 19.517.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means PRM expects a higher level of involvement than in a standard grant (for example, coordination, technical input, or shared planning during implementation).
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on April 16, 2020, and the original closing date was May 18, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000.
How many awards does PRM expect to make?
The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source information.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to fund protection, assistance, and durable or sustainable solutions for people affected by displacement and conflict in specific West African contexts.
Which countries are included in the geographic focus?
The geographic focus includes refugee populations and host communities in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria, as well as refugee returnee populations in Senegal.
Who must be the primary direct beneficiaries of proposed programs?
PRM will only consider programs where at least 50 percent of the intended direct beneficiaries are refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, or Nigeria, or refugee returnees in Senegal.
Does the 50 percent requirement apply to host communities?
The 50 percent threshold is focused on ensuring proposals are primarily refugee- or returnee-centered in who they serve. Host communities can and should benefit, but the program must meet the minimum share of direct beneficiaries who are refugees (or returnees in Senegal).
Are proposals allowed to include both refugees and host communities as beneficiaries?
Yes. PRM notes that host communities can and should benefit, especially where refugees live outside camps, but proposals must still meet the requirement that at least 50 percent of intended direct beneficiaries are refugees (or returnees in Senegal).
What approach does PRM expect for programs in non-camp settings?
PRM highlights community-based approaches, particularly for programs operating in non-camp settings. Proposals are expected to show how activities will be structured around community participation, local priorities, and shared services or mechanisms that reduce tension and improve outcomes for displaced people and host communities.
How does PRM want applicants to treat host communities in areas where refugees live alongside local residents?
PRM encourages applicants to ensure host communities are not treated as an afterthought, but rather included as part of the overall solution in communities where refugees and local residents live side by side.
Are there sector limits or country-specific requirements for proposed activities?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that activities must fall within sectors laid out in country-specific guidelines (not included in the provided excerpt). This implies applicants are expected to tailor interventions to each country context and to PRM-defined sector parameters.
What does PRM mean by "protection mainstreaming" in this opportunity?
Protection mainstreaming is described as an expectation across all proposed sectors and activities. It is presented as something to integrate into programming rather than treat only as a standalone component.
Is gender-based violence (GBV) specifically emphasized?
Yes. PRM places particular emphasis on GBV risk mitigation as part of protection mainstreaming.
How is GBV risk mitigation expected to be reflected in program design?
The opportunity signals that proposals should explain how services, infrastructure, distribution systems, outreach, case management pathways, and community engagement will be designed to reduce exposure to GBV, improve safe access to assistance, and strengthen protective environments for women, girls, and other at-risk groups.
Does PRM expect protection risk analysis and monitoring to be included?
Yes in principle, based on the stated expectations around protection mainstreaming. The description suggests PRM will look for evidence of thoughtful risk analysis, safe referral considerations, staff training, and monitoring approaches that can detect and address protection concerns as they arise.
Can an applicant propose host government capacity-building activities?
Yes, but only insofar as the capacity building supports refugee assistance and protection outcomes. It is presented as a supportive element tied to tangible benefits for refugees and returnees, not as a standalone primary objective.
What kinds of capacity building are implied to be acceptable under this opportunity?
The description indicates capacity building is acceptable when it strengthens systems that directly affect refugees and returnees, such as local service delivery, coordination mechanisms, protection response, registration or documentation support, or other relevant institutional functions.
Does PRM prefer multi-year proposals?
Yes. PRM strongly recommends multi-year proposals for activities that are multi-year in nature, especially when they build on previous year work.
What does PRM's multi-year preference imply for how applicants should present their plans?
It implies proposals should present a coherent multi-year theory of change, a phased implementation plan, and a realistic path for sustaining results, while staying anchored to PRM priorities and meeting the required beneficiary composition.
What does PRM mean by "durable or sustainable solutions" in this context?
Based on the opportunity description, the term refers broadly to outcomes that go beyond short-term relief and contribute to longer-term resolution and stability for people affected by displacement and conflict, alongside protection and assistance.
Does the opportunity focus only on camp-based programs?
No. The opportunity specifically highlights community-based approaches for non-camp settings, suggesting programs may operate where refugees and host communities live side by side outside camps.
Does this opportunity include refugee returnees, and if so, where?
Yes. It includes refugee returnee populations in Senegal, and proposals focused on Senegal must ensure at least 50 percent of intended direct beneficiaries are refugee returnees.
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