In FY 05, more than $608 million was provided for programs worldwide, by the Bureau multilaterally through the United Nations and international organizations and bilaterally to NGOs that fill gaps in the international community's multilateral response. Bureau funding was focused on three priority areas: (1) promoting access to effective protection and first asylum for refugees and conflict victims, with protection of women and children as a priority; (2) providing humanitarian assistance across geographic regions and according to internationally accepted standards; and (3) supporting voluntary repatriation, including sustainable reintegration of refugees in countries of origin.

Uses and Use Restrictions

The cooperative agreement, grant or contribution provides funds to meet the organization's objectives as approved by the Bureau.

Funding documents authorize funds based on the organization's budget submission after Bureau approval.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

United Nations, international and non-governmental organizations.

MRA designates primary UN or IO recipient organizations.

NGO activities must be complementary to, and coordinated with, UN programs.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Refugees and victims of conflict requiring assistance.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must submit proposals for the Bureau's consideration (international organizations submit appeals to the Bureau). NGOs may submit proposals at any time throughout the year to fill a need as it arises, with Bureau consideration granted shortly thereafter. Where there is a specific or immediate priority or need, the Bureau will issue policy and program guidelines and will invite NGOs to submit proposals by a specific deadline for Bureau review. NGO representatives are also encouraged to communicate directly with Bureau program officers regarding priorities and funding timelines. NGOs that have never received PRM funding must be prepared to demonstrate that their organizations meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government before they can be eligible to receive Bureau funding.

Award Procedures

The Assistant Secretary of the Bureau makes funding decisions based on recommendations from the Bureau's Office of Policy and Resource Planning and other Bureau Offices. The Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the Bureau signs the cooperative agreement.

Deadlines

Deadlines vary according to the type of proposal being submitted. For new proposals, the deadline is no later than June 30 of the current fiscal year (unless an unforeseen emergency occurs that would necessitate additional funding beyond the stated deadline.) Proposals for follow-on programs are due 90-days before expiration of the current agreement. Proposals tied to specific program guidelines are due per the deadline of the program-issued guidelines.

Authorization

The Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962, as amended, (MRA) and 22 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

None.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Renewals or extensions require additional approval.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Bureau's funds are intended to partially cover an organization's budget request with remaining funds expected from other resources.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, funds are awarded for a 12-month period. Shorter time periods may also be authorized.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Quarterly financial reports are due forty-five days after the close of a calendar year quarter.

A preliminary final financial report is due 90 days after the expiration of an agreement with a final financial due upon issuance of final indirect cost rates.

The Bureau program office may require additional reporting; the organization will be notified of any additional reporting requirements informally.

Audits

The Bureau's funds must be included in an appropriate audit or audits performed by independent public accountants in accordance with U.S. Government Auditing Standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States covering financial audits. The audit must be performed to meet the provisions of OMB Circular A-133- Revised, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. The audit report is due 30 days after issuance or nine months after the end of the audit period.

Records

The grantee shall maintain files for a three-year period after submission of final financial report.

Financial Information

Account Identification

19-1143-0-1-151.

Obigations

FY 07 est not available; FY 08 est not available; FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For FY 05 under MRA, assistance for the Western Hemisphere Andean region was approximately $25.4 million, with the bulk ($16.4 million) going to UNHCR and ICRC, our primary international organization partners in the region. Assistance for five NGOs ranged from $356,500 to $1,287,858, with an average of $979,667.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

All inquiries should be directed to the information contacts listed below.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Programmatic: c/o Director, Office of Assistance for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Email address: prm-eca@state.gov, Phone: 202/663-1062, FAX: 202/663-1530. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, SA-1, Suite L505, Washington, DC 20522-0105. Financial: Office of the Comptroller, SA-1, Suite L303, Washington, DC 20522-0105, Telephone: 202/663-1022.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The Bureau's main objective is to help ensure that refugees and victims of conflict have access to basic life-sustaining resources in ways that meet internationally accepted standards of care in shelter, food supply, nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and public health. NGO proposals should clearly use SPHERE standards as the basis for design, implementation, and evaluation, including proposed objectives and indicators. Underlying PRM's support for humanitarian assistance is a commitment to protection, targeted support to women, vulnerable individuals, coordination with relevant UN agencies and other NGOs, sustainability of programming, security, and capacity building. NGOs in search of Bureau funding would do well to address these specific areas in any proposals sent for funding.