Strengthening Women-Led Community Policing in Maradi Region | NIGER STATE WPS 2024 003 V2

Opportunity Information: Apply for NIGER STATE WPS 2024 003 V2

The U.S. Embassy in Niamey (U.S. Department of State) is seeking proposals for a cooperative agreement to support a project in Niger's Maradi Region that increases and locks in women's participation in community policing and security decision-making. The opportunity is framed around a worsening security environment along the Niger-Nigeria border, where armed banditry and transnational organized crime have intensified since the July 2023 coup. The Embassy is emphasizing that women in communities targeted by criminal groups often have valuable information and social influence because of their proximity to the relationships and networks that criminal actors rely on for selecting targets, organizing attacks, and facilitating trafficking activity linked to violent extremist organizations such as ISWAP.

A core problem the grant aims to address is the loss of formal representation women leaders had previously secured in local security governance. Before the coup, women civil society leaders in Maradi won a representative seat on the Maradi Regional Security Council through advocacy and support connected to the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership-funded "Women Preventing Violent Extremism" project. After the coup, leadership changes under the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP) removed key champions and replaced officials with appointees who have not been trained in gender mainstreaming, contributing to women losing their seat and weakening gender inclusion in security decision-making. With insecurity rising, the Embassy is calling for renewed efforts that do more than temporary participation and instead re-establish formal, durable mechanisms for women's representation on regional and departmental security councils and other relevant deliberative bodies.

The program's stated objective is that, by 2026, women leaders in Maradi will increase and institutionalize their leadership in community policing and peace and security decision-making. Applications are expected to present a clear strategy and practical procedures for institutionalization, meaning concrete steps that embed women's leadership into how security decisions are made rather than relying on ad hoc invitations or one-off consultations. The solicitation strongly signals that the project should build on existing women-led peacebuilding work in Maradi, especially initiatives associated with the Martaba Network, and should prioritize working with women leaders who have already received training in mediation and countering violent extremism (CVE). Applicants are explicitly discouraged from proposing new rounds of training for local women leaders; instead, the focus should be on strategic actions that translate existing capacity into formal roles, influence, and recognized participation in peace processes and community policing structures.

Illustrative activities suggested by the Embassy include conducting a rapid gender inclusion assessment of community policing and security decision-making in Maradi; developing a gender inclusion strategy tailored to security decision-making in the region; holding advocacy meetings aimed at implementing that strategy; supporting gender-inclusive peace monitoring; and carrying out public sensitization efforts to promote acceptance of gender inclusion in security governance. The solicitation also highlights that close collaboration with Nigerien authorities is essential, specifically mentioning the Ministry of Interior's Stabilization Unit and the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace (HACP), along with other partners already implementing community policing work in Maradi. To keep coordination consistent and to avoid parallel efforts, applicants should budget for quarterly meetings of a project advisory group designed to align the project with Nigerien authorities and with other women, peace, and security partners working in the same space.

The primary participants and target audiences are the Martaba Network of women community leaders in Maradi and the broader coalition of local and national stakeholders who influence security governance, including community leaders, women's leaders, and government counterparts. The successful implementer is expected to manage relationships across this coalition and demonstrate a proven track record in gender inclusion within local peacebuilding, ideally with prior collaboration with Nigerien national or local authorities.

In terms of eligibility and funding details, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement instrument (meaning ongoing collaboration with the funder is typically expected). It has an award ceiling of USD 75,000, with one award anticipated. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations. While the work is focused on Maradi Region, the notice indicates that priority will be given to Nigerien not-for-profit organizations, particularly those led by women and based in Diffa Region. The opportunity number is NIGER STATE WPS 2024 003 V2, the agency is the U.S. Mission to Niger, and the original closing date is August 5, 2024.

• The U.S. Mission to Niger in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Women-Led Community Policing in Maradi Region" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.222.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NIGER STATE WPS 2024 003 V2

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