To strengthen the ability of African institutions to manage and conserve species, habitats, and ecological process for the benefit of the people of Afican and the world.

Of particular interests are projects that build the human and institutional capacity of effectively conserve and manage natural

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protected areas in Africa.

Of particular interest are projects that provide training to: (1) Increase human and institutional capacity to mitigate the impact of extractive industries, climate change, human/wildlife conflict, illegal trade in bushmeat, and/or wildlife disease in and around protected areas; (2) Strengthen human and institutional capacity to administer protected areas by focusing on: human resource management, financial management, vehicle and facility maintenance, grant writing and project implementation, community outreach and education, conflict resolution, and coalition building; (3) Increase the capacity of universities, colleges or other institutions to deliver training programs on protected area management; and (4) Strengthen decision makers' knowledge of concepts relevant to protected area design, legislation, policy, and finance, and the importance of harmonizing these with other national sectoral policies; (5) Assess the capacity of protected areas and/or institutions responsible for their management.

This is a new program that will begin funding projects in FY 2008.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Projects should take place in Africa.

If work is to be conducted outside Africa, the proposal must explain how the proposed activities will further protected area conservation and management within Africa to be eligible for funding.

The Division of International Conservation will not fund: the purchase of firearms or ammunitions; buying of intelligence information or paying informants; gathering information by persons who misrepresent their identity; law enforcement operations that prompt suspects to carry out illegal activities so they may be arrested (entrapment); or any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws or regulations of either the U. S. or the country in which the activity would occur.

This program is administered in compliance with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, as amended.

These funds may not be used towards training Federal government personnel.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Federal, State and local government agencies; non-profit, non-governmental organizations; and public and private institutions of higher education, or any of the stated associate entities on behalf of an eligible individual.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Federal, State and local government. agencies; nonprofit, non-governmental organizations; and public and private institutions of higher education. All recipients, both individual and institutional, must have a bank account and have the ability to receive funds directly.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

The program announcement and application instructions for this program can be found at the Grants.gov website: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do. Complete application information can also be found at http://www.fws.gov/international/dicprograms/africa_program.htm, or, if unable to access the website, by requesting a paper copy from the Division of International Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 100, Arlington, VA 22203, Telephone: (703) 358-1754. A proposal will not be considered complete if all required elements are not submitted as instructed. U.S. applicants must submit (among other elements) a complete, signed Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance.

Award Procedures

Projects are reviewed and competitively selected for funding based on established criteria. Review criteria can be found in the application information at http://www.fws.gov/international/dicprograms/africa_program.htm. Once a proposal has been selected for funding, an Assistance Award between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Recipient is drafted by the Division of International Conservation. The draft Award is then submitted to the Division of Contracting and Facilities Management (CFM)where it is executed by an FWS Contracting Officer. Fully executed Awards are sent to the Recipient either electronically or through the mail. The Division of International Conservation then administers all other aspects of the Assistance Award.

Deadlines

For fiscal year 2009 proposals must be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service on or before June 15, 2009.

Authorization

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended(16 U.S.C. 1531-43).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Decisions on funding of project proposals are normally made no later than 180 days after the receipt of the project proposals.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

None. However, at the discretion of the Division of International Conservation awards can be modified, e.g.; extended for time or budget changes.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Applicants and/or other project partners are encouraged, to the extent possible, to contribute funds to the project, which may include cash or in-kind contributions.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awarded funds must be spent during the approved project period of performance, in accordance with program financial and performance reporting procedures.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Financial and performance reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions established in the Assistance Award.

Complete reporting requirements can be found at this programs web page at http://www.fws.gov/international/dicprograms/africa_program.htm.

For financial reporting, Domestic Recipients with no program income to report shall use Standard Form 269a.

Domestic recipients with program income to report shall use Standard Form 269.

Non-domestic Recipients shall submit a financial status report that follows the same format of the original project proposal budget table, itemizes expenditures for the reporting period, and describes any deviations from the approved project budget.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133(Revised June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,00 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular A-133.

Records

Recipient will maintain records in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR part 12, Subpart C, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments and 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-303.

Obigations

FY 07 $0; FY 08 $500,000; and FY 09 est $307,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Variable amounts. Due to the limited funding available and the desire to support diverse projects, preference will be given to proposals requesting $50,000 or less. Higher amounts may be requested with appropriate justification.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Awards will be administered in conformance with the Assistance Award Guidelines established by the Division of International Conservation, which uses as its source all applicable award terms and conditions found at http://www.doi.gov/pam/TermsandConditions.html. The Assistance Award Guidelines can be found on-line at http://www.fws.gov/international/dicprograms/africa_program.html or by contacting the Division of International Conservation at(703)358-1754.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Region 1, (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Hawaii, Trust Territories of the Pacific) Regional Director: Renne Lohoefener, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4181. Telephone: (503) 872-2716; Fax: (503)231-6118. California Nevada Operations Office Regional Director: Steve Thompson, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W2606 Sacramento, CA 95825. Telephone: (916) 414-6486; Fax: (916) 414-6464 Region 2 (New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas) Regional Director: Benjamin Tuggle, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Telephone: (505) 248-6910; Fax: (505) 248-6282. Region 3, (Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa). Regional Director, Robyn Thorson Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111. Telephone: (612) 713-5284; Fax: (612) 713-5301. Region 4, (Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico). Regional Director: Sam Hamilton, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345. Telephone: (404)679-4006 Fax: (404) 679-4000. Region 5, (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island) Regional Director: Marvin Moriarty, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035. Telephone: (413) 253-8308. Fax: (413) 253-8300. Region 6, (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota) Regional Director, Mitch King, P.O. Box 25486, DFC Denver, CO 80225. Telephone: (303) 236-7920 Fax: (303) 236-8295 Region 7 (Alaska) Regional Director: Tom Melius, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503. Telephone: (907) 786-3306 Fax: (907) 786-3542.

Headquarters Office

Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. Contact: Chief, Division of International Conservation, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1622. Telephone: (703) 358-1754. Fax: (703) 358-2115. E-mail: WWB_Africa@fws.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Due to the limited funding available and the desire to support diverse projects, preference will be given to proposals requesting $50,000 or less. A complete list of the criteria used to select projects under this program will be included as part of the Wildlife Without Borders-Africa Notice of Funding Availability and Application Instructions at http://www.fws.gov/international/dicprograms/africa_program.html Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Division of International Conservation at (703) 358-1754 or WWB_Africa@fws.gov.