Conflict and Stabilization Operations
CSO"s mission is to strengthen U.S.
national security by breaking cycles of violent conflict and mitigating
Guided by local dynamics, CSO acts quickly to devise sustainable solutions to address the full spectrum of conflict, from prevention to crisis response to stabilization.
Building more effective partnerships with capable implementing organizations with experience in conflict prevention and stabilization activities is integral to the CSO mission and as such, CSO seeks to identify qualified partners, facilitators and implementers from among private and nonprofit entities.
Funding may be made available for flexible, rapid, targeted, and high-impact awards to organizations to prevent, mitigate and/or respond to conflict situations and stabilize
countries around the world.
The Department of State strives to create a more secure, democratic and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2012: In 2012, CSO focused 80 percent of its effort on four major engagements - Burma, Honduras, Kenya and Syria. CSO also worked in more than 15 other countries, including Afghanistan, Belize, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan.
In Syria, CSO is focused on strengthening the unarmed opposition. Working from Turkey, CSO allocated $23 million in program funds to:
- Enable the opposition to build mass communications and improve internal and external communications networks;
- Develop civilian leadership capacity for governance transition.
CSO co-funded the Syrian-run Office of Syrian Opposition Support, the hub for an expanding network of nearly 500 Syrian activists, administrators, and journalists. This connection provides insights about events inside Syria, expands assistance networks, and identifies local leaders. Through U.S., Canadian, and UK support, creative Syrian opposition TV ads and social media promote unity and tolerance among broad audiences.
In Kenya, where more than 1,000 people died and 350,000 people were displaced after the 2007 elections, CSO is integrating State Department efforts to help Kenyans prevent violence during the March 2013 election and potential runoff. CSO staff are assisting embassy efforts to build and focus Kenyan partnerships, particularly at the provincial and local levels. CSO supported existing local entities to organize nearly 50 Kenyans to establish a violence early-warning network in targeted hotspots.
In Honduras, where homicide levels are the highest in the world outside of war zones, CSO is sharpening Honduran efforts to reduce violence and address impunity through:
- Assistance for Honduran-created TV spots that show how citizens can help stem violence
- Support for government and NGO efforts to reform the police and the attorney general s office through confidence-building purges of corrupt officials and reform legislation
- Funding for a model community homicide-reduction initiative
In Burma, one of the last two countries still employing anti-personnel landmines, CSO is working with the government, ethnic minorities, and international partners to assist 5.2 million people living in landmine-contaminated areas. These efforts aim to build confidence through mine risk education and support to survivors of landmines. Fiscal Year 2013: N/A. Fiscal Year 2014: N/A.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Some examples of past CSO activities include: Burma: CSO is supporting efforts to increase trust between the Burmese government and ethnic minorities by developing locally-owned programs, including mine-risk education, survivor assistance, and non-technical surveys.
Kenya: CSO is working with the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi and other partners to prevent the sort of violence that occurred after the 2007 elections.
The goal is to promote free, fair, and peaceful elections that will help ensure Kenya"s stability and prosperity.
To help achieve this goal, our team is focusing on hotspots and is working alongside Kenyan groups such as Champions of Peace.
Sierra Leone: CSO piloted a project from June 2012-January 2013 to strengthen the role of women in conflict mitigation and prevention during the 2012 election cycle in Sierra Leone.
The project focused on boosting the involvement of women in conflict prevention and non-violence advocacy at the national and sub-national levels and developing relationships between women and local election authorities to build and strengthen early warning and response networks in the lead up to and during the elections.
Honduras: CSO is working to improve security in Honduras by reforming the security sector and visibly reducing violence.
CSO works with local partners to increase public confidence in government institutions as well as to decrease impunity by supporting civil society and government institutions to reform the security sector.
CSO also attempts to decrease homicide rates and other manifestations of intimidation in urban centers by mobilizing civil society and local leaders.
The above examples are illustrative only.
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Beneficiary Eligibility
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Award Procedures
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Authorization
State Department Basic Authorities Act; Foreign Assistance Act.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 60 to 90 days. Due to the rapid response nature of CSO s engagements, organizations should be prepared to respond to subsequent invitations for proposals within a short time, such as within 10 working days. CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements. CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: SF-270, PMS, or other methods as necessary, CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly or as stipulated by the award, CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Quarterly or as stipulated by the award, CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Quarterly or as stipulated by the award , CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Quarterly or as stipulated by the award,
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. OMB Circular A-133 Audit
Records
Records are maintained for three years after the close-out of the award.
Financial Information
Account Identification
19-0113-0-0-000 - 1207; 19-7223-1-0-370 - ESF; 19-0121-0-0-000 - CSO Account.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $20,969,185; FY 13 est $10,666,942; and FY 14 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Sara A. Mangiaracina 2121 Virginia Ave., NW
Suite 7100, Washington, District of Columbia 20037 Email: MangiaracinaSA@state.gov Phone: 202-663-0335
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
CSO recommends applicants view the open application on www.grants.gov for more information.
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