Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund Projects

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund (FTIF). This program aims to assist governments and civil society organizations in enhancing budget transparency, improving public financial management practices, and advancing the transparency of natural resource management. The available funding totals $740,009, with one to two awards anticipated, each with a project period of 10 to 24 months and an option for extension based on performance and the availability of funds. Proposals must address findings from the Department’s 2024 Fiscal Transparency Report (FTR) and align with U.S. strategic priorities. The program seeks proposals that support specific fiscal transparency objectives, including improving the reliability, completeness, and public availability of budget information; enhancing parliamentary and legislative oversight of budget processes; increasing transparency in natural resource extraction and revenue management; and supporting public participation in fiscal governance. Projects may also focus on improving audit institutions, strengthening oversight of public expenditure, and building the capacity of civil society organizations, watchdog agencies, and media for fiscal transparency advocacy and reporting. Regional or multi-country projects are encouraged where capacity allows. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity. Proposals must clearly outline objectives, anticipated impacts, implementation plans, and performance evaluation metrics. Activities can include technical assistance for government reforms, capacity-building workshops, investigative journalism initiatives, IT infrastructure development, and public outreach campaigns to enhance transparency and accountability. The application must include a completed SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), a proposal narrative, a detailed budget justification, and supporting documents such as resumes of key personnel, letters of support from project partners, and a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable. Proposals should demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period and provide mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating project outcomes. Applications must be submitted by January 13, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST via Grants.gov or MyGrants. All submissions must be in English, use 12-point Calibri font with one-inch margins, and follow the specified formatting guidelines. Required registration in SAM.gov and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) are mandatory for application eligibility, and applicants should begin the registration process early to avoid delays. Proposals will be evaluated based on fiscal transparency objectives, alignment with FTIF goals, project design and sustainability, alignment with U.S. government strategies, risk mitigation, monitoring plans, and cost-effectiveness. Award decisions will consider technical merit, alignment with program goals, and organizational capacity. Selected recipients will be required to submit quarterly reports, including financial updates and narrative progress summaries, throughout the grant performance period. Successful applicants will work closely with the State Department to ensure effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Lewis May (mayal@state.gov) and Geoffrey Thomas (thomasgf@state.gov). An informational webinar will be held on November 21, 2024, at 9:00 PM EST to assist applicants in preparing their submissions.