2017 Caucasus | SFOP0001628

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0001628

The 2017 Caucasus grant opportunity (SFOP0001628) is a discretionary funding notice from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), aimed at supporting refugees and conflict-affected populations in Georgia and Armenia through a cooperative agreement. The core expectation is that proposed projects primarily benefit refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and/or returnees, and PRM will only consider proposals where at least 50 percent of the intended beneficiaries fall into one or more of those categories. In practice, this means applicants need to design programs where displaced and conflict-affected people are not a minor add-on group, but the central focus of services and results.

PRM is looking for proposals in one or more specific program sectors. Under Protection, the opportunity highlights practical, community-level support such as grassroots legal assistance, counseling, community mobilization, integration support, and clear information-sharing about available services. Protection proposals can also align with or reinforce government efforts related to durable housing solutions and cultural orientation, particularly for vulnerable displaced communities that face barriers navigating institutions, documentation, housing processes, or local services.

Under Livelihoods, PRM is interested in initiatives that help displaced people move toward self-sufficiency through employment, including vocational skills training and job placement assistance. A key condition is that livelihood activities must be based on solid market and livelihoods assessments, meaning proposals should show evidence that the training or employment pathways match real local demand and realistic income opportunities. Applicants are also expected to explain how their livelihoods work complements, rather than duplicates, existing government or UN initiatives and plans, with enough detail to show coordination and added value.

The opportunity also prioritizes Gender-based Violence (GBV) programming, with an emphasis on comprehensive approaches rather than isolated activities. Examples include core service provision for survivors, prevention and behavior change interventions, and empowerment programming for women and girls. PRM also signals openness to proposals that promote, apply, or build capacity around the 2015 Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) GBV Guidelines for Humanitarian Settings, suggesting that projects aligned with recognized humanitarian standards and coordination practices would be responsive to PRM expectations.

For Georgia only, PRM includes a dedicated track for Confidence Building across communities divided by conflict. This can include information campaigns that reduce tensions, support conflict mitigation, and improve awareness of government programs and policies relevant to displaced persons. The notice gives examples of policy areas that could be addressed through outreach and community engagement, including youth, women and girls, language training (including first mother-tongue language training), health, and other assistance-related reforms. Any proposals involving healthcare must clearly identify a specific gap in services for displaced or conflict-affected groups and show that the project is targeting that gap directly. PRM also emphasizes that confidence-building projects should aim to function as models or pilot initiatives that can be mainstreamed into broader systems of support for displaced persons. The notice specifically notes deteriorating conditions in Gali and expresses interest in projects that assist conflict-affected communities and PRM populations of concern there, particularly youth.

From an award structure standpoint, this funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a closer level of engagement and oversight by the funding agency than a standard grant. The proposed program start date is September 15, 2017, and PRM will consider program plans covering one year of activities. For organizations applying individually, budgets must fall within strict limits: proposals requesting less than $125,000 or more than $200,000 per year will be disqualified. The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The opportunity was posted on April 26, 2017, with an original closing date of May 25, 2017. The CFDA number is 19.520, and the funding activity category is listed as "Other."

Finally, the notice clarifies that international multilateral organizations (for example, UN agencies) should not apply through Grants.gov in response to this announcement. Instead, multilateral organizations seeking funding for relevant programming are directed to contact the designated PRM Program Officer before the closing date. This effectively separates the application pathway for NGOs and similar eligible applicants from the pathway used by multilateral entities.

• The Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2017 Caucasus" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.520.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-05-25. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for SFOP0001628

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