Promote Transparency by Enhancing Citizens Access to Information on Public Revenues.

The U.S. Department of State, through Embassy Nouakchott, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund (FTIF), titled “Promote Transparency by Enhancing Citizens’ Access to Information on Public Revenues.” This funding opportunity seeks to support innovative, two-year projects in Mauritania that aim to enhance budget transparency and strengthen public access to fiscal data. The initiative is grounded in findings from the 2024 Fiscal Transparency Report, which commends Mauritania for progress in releasing budget documents and audit reports but identifies remaining challenges, particularly regarding government debt and the transparency of state-owned enterprise obligations. The overarching goal of the program is to foster accountability and transparency in Mauritania’s fiscal governance, specifically in sectors such as natural gas, mining, and fisheries. Funded projects should collaborate with public institutions, civil society, and the media to expand citizen access to budgetary information. Applicants are expected to implement initiatives that include developing digital tools like multilingual web and WhatsApp-based applications, conducting trainings for stakeholders, and disseminating fiscal data through media and civil platforms. These interventions should lead to greater public trust, civic oversight, and private-sector confidence in the country's regulatory environment. Up to $600,000 in total funding is available for this round, with individual awards ranging from $150,000 to $400,000. Two awards are anticipated, and funding will be distributed as cooperative agreements under the Foreign Assistance Act, using Fiscal Year 2024 Economic Support Funds. The expected start date for selected projects is October 1, 2025, and project durations must not exceed 24 months. Substantial involvement by the U.S. Embassy will be required, including validation of platforms and content, selection of partners, and outreach strategy design. Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profits, public international organizations, foreign public organizations, and institutions of higher education. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Only one application per organization is allowed, and eligible organizations must be based in Mauritania. Matching funds are not required. Proposals must include mandatory federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B if applicable), a 10-page project proposal, budget justification, resumes of key personnel, letters of support from partners, and relevant certifications. The evaluation process is merit-based, with proposals assessed on six criteria: program idea quality (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), program planning (15 points), monitoring and evaluation (15 points), budget reasonableness (10 points), and sustainability (10 points). Applications will be reviewed first for technical eligibility, followed by a merit panel review, and may undergo a final high-level review based on alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives. Applications must be submitted by email to Nouakchottgrants@state.gov no later than 08:00 A.M. local time on Monday, September 8, 2025. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by September 26, 2025. Payment for awarded grants will be processed using Form SF-270 and can be requested on an advance or reimbursement basis. Grantees must submit quarterly financial and performance reports and a final report within 120 days of the project’s conclusion. Additional compliance with U.S. federal regulations and human rights vetting requirements will be enforced, particularly regarding foreign military or law enforcement beneficiaries.

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