Opportunity Information: Apply for S PM070 19 GR 501
The CARSI Small Grants Program: Panama Forward Fund is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the U.S. Mission to Panama (U.S. Embassy Panama) that supports projects designed to strengthen democracy, accountability, and good governance in Panama. The funding comes from Fiscal Year 2018 Economic Support Funds, with total available funding up to USD 750,000. Projects are expected to run for about 18 to 24 months, with an anticipated start date of September 30, 2019. The Embassy expects to make multiple awards under this competition, with a planned range of at least one award and up to five awards (the listing also indicates an expected three awards), and it retains discretion over whether to fund any applications and at what level.
The program is centered on practical, governance-focused initiatives rather than security or policing work. Proposed activities are meant to advance one or more of four main objectives: first, supporting a competent and independent civil service within the Panamanian government; second, promoting stronger government accountability in the management of public resources and efforts to increase revenues; third, strengthening the ability of Panamanian civil society to hold the government accountable; and fourth, reinforcing the rule of law by supporting improvements within the Panamanian judicial sector. A key requirement is that any project must not only align with one or more of these objectives, but also meet at least one of the related sub-objectives described in the NOFOs detailed project description section.
A major restriction is that grant funds cannot be used for law enforcement activities or for training members of law enforcement. In other words, even though parts of the focus area touch the justice sector and rule of law, proposals must be designed in a way that avoids police training or other law-enforcement-specific capacity building and instead concentrates on institutional strengthening, transparency, oversight, civic participation, public financial accountability, civil service professionalism, or judicial-sector reforms consistent with the NOFO.
Eligible applicants include a range of higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. Specifically, the opportunity is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also other than higher education institutions). The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant, tied to assistance listing/CFDA number 19.750, and is associated with activity areas that include community development, education, and law/justice/legal services (plus an additional category noted as "Other" in the posting).
For timing and administrative details, the funding opportunity number is S PM070 19 GR 501. The notice was created on April 5, 2019, and the original closing date for applications was June 4, 2019. Applicants seeking clarification were directed to contact the Embassy at PanamaGrants@state.gov. The legal authority cited for the program is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, which is the standard statutory basis for many U.S. foreign assistance and governance-focused grant programs.Apply for S PM070 19 GR 501
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Panama in the community development, education, law, justice and legal services, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CARSI Small Grants Program: Panama Forward Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.750.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 05, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 04, 2019. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: CARSI Small Grants Program - Panama Forward Fund (U.S. Embassy Panama)
What is the CARSI Small Grants Program: Panama Forward Fund?
The CARSI Small Grants Program: Panama Forward Fund is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered through the U.S. Mission to Panama (U.S. Embassy Panama). It supports projects designed to strengthen democracy, accountability, and good governance in Panama.
Who is running this grant program?
The opportunity is run through the U.S. Mission to Panama (U.S. Embassy Panama) under the U.S. Department of State.
What is the purpose or focus of this funding opportunity?
The program focuses on practical, governance-oriented initiatives in Panama, aimed at strengthening democracy, accountability, good governance, and rule-of-law-related improvements (as described in the NOFO).
Is this a security, policing, or law enforcement grant?
No. The program is centered on governance-focused initiatives rather than security or policing work.
What are the main objectives that projects must address?
Proposed activities are intended to advance one or more of these four main objectives:
- Support a competent and independent civil service within the Panamanian government.
- Promote stronger government accountability in the management of public resources and efforts to increase revenues.
- Strengthen the ability of Panamanian civil society to hold the government accountable.
- Reinforce the rule of law by supporting improvements within the Panamanian judicial sector.
Do projects have to meet sub-objectives in addition to the main objectives?
Yes. A key requirement is that a project must align with one or more of the four main objectives and also meet at least one of the related sub-objectives described in the NOFO's detailed project description section.
What activities are specifically prohibited with these funds?
Grant funds cannot be used for law enforcement activities or for training members of law enforcement. Proposals must avoid police training or other law-enforcement-specific capacity building.
If the program includes rule of law and the judicial sector, can an applicant include police training as part of a justice-sector project?
No. Even though the opportunity includes rule of law and judicial-sector improvements, the restriction remains: funds cannot be used for law enforcement activities or training law enforcement personnel.
What types of approaches does the Embassy expect instead of law enforcement training?
Based on the program description, proposals should concentrate on areas such as institutional strengthening, transparency, oversight, civic participation, public financial accountability, civil service professionalism, or judicial-sector reforms consistent with the NOFO.
How much total funding is available under this opportunity?
Total available funding is up to USD 750,000.
What is the source of the funding?
The funding comes from Fiscal Year 2018 Economic Support Funds.
How long are projects expected to last?
Projects are expected to run for about 18 to 24 months.
What was the anticipated start date for funded projects?
The anticipated start date listed for projects is September 30, 2019.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy expects to make multiple awards. The planned range described is at least one award and up to five awards, and the listing also indicates an expected three awards.
Is the Embassy required to fund applications submitted under this competition?
No. The Embassy retains discretion over whether to fund any applications and at what level.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also other than higher education institutions)
Is this opportunity categorized as a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is tied to Assistance Listing/CFDA number 19.750.
What are the activity areas associated with this opportunity?
The posting associates the opportunity with activity areas including community development, education, and law/justice/legal services, plus an additional category noted as "Other."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is S PM070 19 GR 501.
When was the notice created?
The notice was created on April 5, 2019.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date for applications was June 4, 2019.
How can applicants request clarification about the opportunity?
Applicants seeking clarification were directed to contact the Embassy at PanamaGrants@state.gov.
What legal authority is cited for this grant program?
The legal authority cited is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
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