Работа и карьера

ТИП КОНКУРСА : 

Request For Applications (RFA)

ПОДРОБНОЕ ОПИСАНИЕ : 

The Armenia Integrity Project (AIP) is a five-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Dexis Consulting Group. The aim of the project is to reduce opportunities for corruption and reinforce public demand for improved governance and accountability in Armenia. Specifically, AIP provides technical assistance to the Corruption Prevention Commission (CPC) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in line with their goal to advance the Government’s corruption prevention agenda.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in combating corruption through various means - acting as watchdogs, advocating for strong anti-corruption policies, raising public awareness, and engaging communities. If they are well capacitated and equipped with relevant tools, they can monitor government activities, conduct investigations, and promote transparency to hold public officials accountable. By educating and empowering citizens, CSOs can mobilize grassroots efforts and provide legal support to victims of corruption and whistleblowers. They can also conduct research, form partnerships, and develop accountability mechanisms to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.

CSOs can play a pivotal role not only in keeping the government accountable but also in supporting state agencies responsible for the implementation of anticorruption reforms to strengthen integrity systems in the country. CSOs equipped with capacity, expertise, and resources will become more effective in monitoring and advocating for enforcement of the current Anti-corruption (AC) strategy adopted by the Government.

Goal of the Request for Applications (RFA):
The Armenia Integrity Project (AIP) is working to strengthen corruption prevention institutions and integrity systems in Armenia. For this objective, AIP is building and strengthening the capacity of the CPC to lead the country’s corruption prevention efforts. In this endeavor, strong and capacitated CSOs can play a key role in supporting the CPC in defining, analyzing, and acting based on relevant collected information to reduce opportunities for corruption, strengthen internal controls and external oversight, and promote integrity throughout the public sector. Recognizing the important power and potential of CSOs and guided by the Armenian Anti-Corruption Strategy action plan for 2023-2026, AIP, together with the CPC, is endorsing efforts to build the capacity of larger CSO community (non-governmental organization), members and affiliates on integrity systems. This long-term approach aims to strengthen public oversight and monitor the implementation of integrity reforms in the country, as well as to sustain corruption prevention mechanisms.
The primary objective of this RFA is to identify an organization capable of providing capacity strengthening opportunities to CSOs. These initiatives should aim at enhancing the knowledge and capabilities of CSOs to monitor and report on anti-corruption issues. This RFA aims to empower CSO members and affiliates to meaningfully contribute to integrity reforms, thereby supporting joint efforts to prevent corruption and strengthen integrity systems.

Target groups
Applicants should target at least 1,000 people affiliated with non-governmental organizations (CSOs and foundations, activists, members of formal and non-formal civil society groups, etc.), with the objective of building their capacity on corruption prevention, including integrity systems, through trainings, workshops, discussions, etc. (both online and in person).

ТРЕБОВАНИЯ : 

A proposal under this RFA should include comprehensive trainings for the CSOs, focusing on skills and knowledge transfer intended to prevent corruption, including reducing corruption risks in public administration (i.e. public expenditure tracking or integrity training) and financing political parties. This training should pay special attention to the issue of public integrity.
The trainings should focus on the following:
- Mechanisms for detecting violations of conflict of interest rules, incompatibility requirements and other restrictions (including restriction to receive gifts).
- Legal regulations on conflict of interest.
- Code of conduct (both for public officials and other public servants) as an initial part of the integrity system.
- Integrity verification as a mechanism for corruption prevention.
- Declaration systems as a corruption prevention mechanism.
- Verification of political party annual reports and political party financing as a mechanism to prevent corruption.
- Public expenditure monitoring and tracking.
- Mechanisms for the disclosure of donations, including in-kind donations received by the political parties, their transparency and accountability.
- Strengthening the capacities of CSOs and CSO networks on data mining and analysis techniques for oversight, monitoring, investigative/fact finding actions.
- Strengthening the capacities of CSOs and CSO networks to raise funds for non-formal anti-corruption, education, and public awareness programs for insuring sustainability of efforts.
The training must follow a documented agenda with expected competencies for the trainees and clear learning objectives, including pre- and post-training testing to ensure that competency is achieved.
The CSO members and affiliated activists should learn how effectively to detect violations of incompatibility requirements, other restrictions (including the restriction to receive gifts), conflicts of interest, code of conduct, monitor integrity checking (more specifically what is included in the framework of the integrity check and how to monitor information, in order to provide alternative data to the CPC ), and analyze asset declarations, as well as annual reports of political parties for red flagging possible corruption risks. CSOs, among others, should be equipped to conduct their own investigations including the verification of political party annual reports as a mechanism to prevent political corruption.
For this purpose, the organization selected for the award must utilize not only traditional training methods and techniques, but also promote innovative methods for larger outreach and greater impact.
This might include but is not limited to:
- Interactive e-learning modules that cover topics such as incompatibility requirements, other restrictions (including restriction to receive gifts), conflicts of interest, code of conduct, monitoring of integrity checks (with the specific focus on the framework of integrity checks and how to monitor information, in order to provide alternative data to the CPC ), and analyzing asset declarations, as well as annual reports of political parties for red flagging possible corruption risks (hereinafter referred as focus areas). These modules should be interactive, incorporating quizzes, case studies, and scenario-based learning to ensure engagement and practical understanding. Interactive e-learning modules based on focus areas (p.3) shall contain information on toolkits and tracking techniques, information analysis within different databases (including accessing and analyzing foreign databases) and media publications.
- Peer learning and networking platforms where activists can share experiences, best practices, and resources. These platforms can facilitate peer learning and foster a supportive community.
- Hosting/organizing regular webinars and live workshops featuring experts in anti-corruption, legal frameworks, and investigative journalism. These sessions can provide up-to-date information, practical tips, and opportunities for Q&A.
- Chatbots that can answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about focus areas identified above. These bots can provide instant answers and direct users to relevant resources or training modules.
It is encouraged to incorporate both capacity-building technical expertise and sector-related expertise to ensure the involvement of highly qualified experts from the anti-corruption sector. Along with theoretical knowledge, there should be opportunities for trainees to apply the knowledge they gained within the framework of anti-corruption initiatives, in line with the principle of learning by doing.
Additionally, there is a need to provide CSO members and affiliated activists with opportunities to build connections with responsible public institutions like the CPC and the MoJ. This will enable them to contribute cooperatively and meaningfully to the work of these critical institutions.

General Approach
Proposed grant activities should be implemented in close cooperation with the CPC and AIP’s project team. The awardee will be encouraged to establish cooperative relationships with other relevant stakeholders, especially with the Ministry of Justice, as well as other state and local government institutions. The awardee will also be expected to coordinate activities with AIP-supported CSO initiatives targeting integrity and corruption prevention, and actively contribute to the non-formal network of AIP CSO partners for integrity reforms.

AWARD INFORMATION
Subject to the availability of funds, Dexis expects to award one Fixed Amount Award grant under this RFA. The estimated total amount available and period of performance for this grant award is: 45,000,000.00 AMD with a period of performance of up to 14 months.

ПРОЦЕДУРА ПОДАЧИ ЗАЯВОК : 

Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted by emailing [email protected] no later than August 2, 2024.

An in-person, informational “Knowledge and Clarification Session” will be held on August 6, 2024, at 15:00 Armenian Time at AIP’s office (28 Zarobyan street, Yerevan, RA) and online.

All applications and modifications thereof must be submitted electronically. Please email the completed applications to [email protected] no later than August 29, 2024, at 18:00 Armenian time

The complete application package must be submitted in the required format with the required attachments. This includes:
1. Grant Application Form
2. Grant Budget Form (in the required Excel format)
3. Grantee Self-Assessment for Fixed Amount Awards
4. Proof of legal registration
5. Proof of the organization’s active registration at sam.gov (this link includes instructions on registering on sam.gov)
6. Profile and portfolio of the applicant organization with information about previous experience with projects of similar scale and methodology (at least three references required)
7. Structure of the team - qualifications and experience of team members – CVs of team members and consultant-experts

The application language is English.

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ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ЗАПИСИ : 

All the relevant information regarding the entire RFP, as well as Attachment 1,2,3 please see in the files attached.

IMPORTANT NOTE
The Armenia Integrity Project reserves the right not to make any award or fund any grant under this RFA.

ВЛОЖЕНИЯ:

Attachment 1_Grant application form.docx - Attachment 1 Attachment 2_Grant budget form.xlsx - Attachment 2 Attachment 3_Grantee Self-Assessment for Fixed Amount Awards.docx - Attachment 3 2101-RFA-006- Empowering CSOs for Enhanced Integrity in Armenia_Final (1).docx - Attachment 4