PRM funding opportunity for the 2012 Cultural Orientation Technical Assistance Program aimed at assisting the admitted refugees in the US

 

The Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration is currently seeking proposals from eligible organizations for the fiscal year 2012 Cultural Orientation (CO) Technical Assistance Program overseen by the Bureau.

This program aims at complementing the Reception and Placement Program, the purpose of which is to promote the effective resettlement of all persons who are admitted to the United States under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, including assisting refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment as quickly as possible.

Program Objectives

Objectives of the CO Technical Assistance Program administered by the Bureau are:

-      to strengthen linkages between overseas cultural orientation programs and reception and placement activities;

-      to provide information and materials to overseas cultural orientation programs and to domestic refugee service providers;

-      to provide support and technical assistance to overseas cultural orientation programs on request;

-      with input from the Cultural Orientation Working Group and guidance from the Bureau, to provide feedback to overseas cultural orientation programs as needed; and

-      to provide other technical assistance requested by the Bureau, subject to availability of funds and adequate staffing levels to perform assigned tasks.

Eligibility

The Bureau intends to award one Cooperative Agreement in FY 2012 to a well-qualified non-profit organization with the required technical expertise in cultural orientation program activities. This will include agencies that have demonstrated satisfactory performance under previous agreements with the Bureau and/or agencies that meet the selection criteria described below and have demonstrated the capacity to provide required services. Applicants should understand that receipt of prior funding for the CO Technical Assistance Program is not a pre-condition for and does not guarantee continued participation in FY 2012.

In order to be considered for participation in the program, applicants must:

-      demonstrate knowledge and experience in cultural orientation curriculum and materials development, in educational program implementation, in basic ESL curriculum and materials development, and in adult teaching and learning methodology;

-      demonstrate experience working in a refugee context or with other migrant populations in the United States; and

-       demonstrate financial stability and provide documentation of at least three full years of operation in a 501(c)(3) non-profit status.

Last date for submission of applications is November 21, 2011

For more information and details, you can visit this link.