Opportunity Information: Apply for DOSBJL PE 18 GR 001
The U.S. Embassy in Banjul, through the U.S. Department of State, announced a grant competition to fund a program in The Gambia focused on strengthening budget transparency, improving public financial management practices, and making natural resource governance more open. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DOSBJL PE 18 GR 001) is structured as a grant and falls under a natural resources-related funding category (CFDA 19.322). The eligible applicants listed for this competition are private institutions of higher education. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $550,000, with the opportunity originally closing on August 5, 2018, and a creation date of July 17, 2018. The overall idea is to support both government institutions and civil society efforts so that public finances and resource-related decisions can be scrutinized more easily by citizens, oversight bodies, and other stakeholders.
The program is organized around four main objectives, and progress across each objective area is treated as the marker of success. The grant can include an initial, relatively short pre-program phase dedicated to research and gathering information, which would typically help confirm baseline conditions, map key stakeholders, identify existing laws and processes, and clarify where the biggest transparency gaps exist. From there, the project is meant to combine practical capacity-building (such as training and technical assistance) with concrete improvements in how information is produced, organized, and released to the public.
The first objective is to improve the completeness of government budget documents. This part emphasizes training Gambian government officials so that budgets contain detailed, structured information rather than broad totals. Specifically, budgets are expected to show expenditures broken down by ministry and revenues broken down by source and type, and they should not omit special accounts or funds that can otherwise sit outside the main budget framework. The budget should also capture significant resources that may not be traditional cash expenditures, including foreign assistance, and it should provide clearer visibility into state-owned enterprises by detailing government allocations to them as well as what those enterprises earn. In practical terms, this objective is about ensuring the budget tells a full story of government finances, including flows that are often fragmented across institutions or reporting systems.
The second objective is to make budget information publicly available in a usable way. Under this goal, the program would work with government officials to ensure that core budget documents are accessible to the public, including the executive budget proposal, the enacted budget, and full end-of-year reports. It also calls for the publication of complete information on public debt obligations, which is often essential for understanding fiscal risk and long-term sustainability. The opportunity expresses a preference for public access through online publication, but it also allows for hard-copy access through government offices or libraries, recognizing that internet access and digital infrastructure may vary. The thrust of this objective is not only producing documents, but also ensuring they can actually be found and used by citizens, journalists, watchdog groups, researchers, and legislators.
The third objective focuses on audits and oversight. The program would work with The Gambia's supreme audit institution to support the publication of audit reports within a reasonable period of time. Timely audits are a key accountability tool because they help identify mismanagement, weaknesses in controls, and irregularities while corrective actions are still feasible. This objective points to the importance of both the production of audit findings and the public release of those findings, since transparency is limited if audits remain internal or are released too late to matter.
The fourth objective addresses transparency in natural resource extraction. Under this component, the program would work with Gambian government officials to clarify, through law or regulation, the procedures and criteria used to award natural resource extraction contracts and licenses. In addition to establishing clearer rules, the project aims to make information about awards publicly available. This objective is intended to reduce the risk of opaque decision-making and strengthen public confidence by making it easier to understand who receives extraction rights, under what terms, and through what process. It also aligns natural resource governance with broader transparency norms that help deter corruption and improve the management of public assets.
Expected results (measures and deliverables at project completion) would logically track the four objectives and translate them into observable outputs and changes in practice. On complete budgets, the project should result in improved budget documentation that consistently includes ministry-level expenditure detail, revenue breakdowns by source and type, full inclusion of special accounts or funds, and explicit accounting for significant cash and non-cash resources such as foreign aid. It should also produce clearer, more consistent reporting on financial relationships with state-owned enterprises, including allocations and earnings, making those entities less of a blind spot in fiscal reporting. A measurable result here could be the adoption of standardized templates or guidance that officials use to compile budgets, along with evidence that the next budget cycle reflects these improvements.
On public budgets, a clear outcome would be routine public access to the executive budget proposal, enacted budget, and end-of-year reports in full, along with published data on debt obligations. The tangible deliverables could include a functioning online portal or web page where these documents are posted, or an established distribution and archiving system through government offices and libraries, supported by written procedures that define what must be published and when. Measurement would focus on whether the documents are actually available to the public, whether they are complete (not partial summaries), and whether publication is timely and consistent across reporting periods.
On audits, the expected result would be a strengthened process for producing and releasing audit reports, culminating in audit reports being published within a defined, reasonable timeframe. Deliverables might include improved internal workflows, training materials, publication schedules, or agreed protocols between the audit institution and relevant government bodies. Measurable indicators could include the number of audit reports published, average time between audit completion and publication, and evidence that the public can access these reports without special permission.
On natural resource extraction, completion would ideally produce clearer legal or regulatory language describing the criteria and procedures for awarding contracts and licenses, paired with a public-facing mechanism that discloses awards. Deliverables might include drafted or finalized regulatory text, public notices, or an online and/or physical registry of extraction awards. Measurement could include whether the procedures are formally adopted or operationalized, whether award information is consistently disclosed, and whether the disclosure includes meaningful details (such as the identity of awardees and the nature of the license or contract).
Taken together, the project is designed to leave behind stronger public financial management practices, more accessible fiscal information for public oversight, improved audit transparency, and clearer, more open governance of natural resource extraction. The long-term value is that citizens and institutions would have better tools to track how public money is planned, spent, and audited, and how natural resource rights are allocated, which can support accountability and trust in public institutions.Apply for DOSBJL PE 18 GR 001
- The U.S. Mission to Gambia in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Banjul Political Economic Section FY 2017 Fiscal" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.322.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-07-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-05. (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 $550,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant competition announced by the U.S. Embassy in Banjul to fund a program in The Gambia focused on strengthening budget transparency, improving public financial management practices, and making natural resource governance more open.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOSBJL PE 18 GR 001.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The opportunity is structured as a grant.
What is the funding category and CFDA number listed?
The posting places the opportunity in a natural resources-related funding category and lists CFDA 19.322.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicants listed for this competition are private institutions of higher education.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling shown in the posting is $550,000.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The creation date is July 17, 2018. The posting indicates the opportunity originally closed on August 5, 2018.
Where will the program take place?
The program is intended to be implemented in The Gambia.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The core idea is to strengthen transparency and oversight of public finances and natural resource-related decisions so citizens, oversight bodies, civil society, and other stakeholders can more easily scrutinize how money is planned, spent, reported, and audited, and how extraction rights are awarded.
How is success defined in this program?
Success is tracked through progress across four main objective areas. Progress on each objective is treated as the marker of success.
Does the grant allow for an initial research or scoping phase?
Yes. The grant can include an initial, relatively short pre-program phase dedicated to research and information gathering to confirm baseline conditions, map key stakeholders, identify existing laws and processes, and pinpoint the biggest transparency gaps.
What are the four main objectives of the program?
The program is organized around four objectives: (1) improve the completeness of government budget documents, (2) make budget information publicly available in a usable way, (3) strengthen audits and oversight through timely publication of audit reports, and (4) increase transparency in natural resource extraction by clarifying award procedures and disclosing awards.
Objective 1: What does "improve the completeness of government budget documents" mean here?
This objective emphasizes making budgets detailed and structured rather than limited to broad totals. It focuses on training government officials and improving how budget information is compiled so the budget reflects a full picture of government finances.
What specific budget details are expected to be included under Objective 1?
The budget is expected to show expenditures broken down by ministry and revenues broken down by source and type. It should also avoid omitting special accounts or funds that might otherwise remain outside the main budget framework.
Does the program expect the budget to include resources beyond traditional cash spending?
Yes. The budget should capture significant resources that may not be traditional cash expenditures, including foreign assistance, so the budget tells a fuller story of government financing.
How does Objective 1 address state-owned enterprises (SOEs)?
It aims to provide clearer visibility into state-owned enterprises by detailing government allocations to them as well as what those enterprises earn, reducing fiscal blind spots related to SOEs.
Objective 2: What does it mean to make budget information publicly available "in a usable way"?
This objective is about ensuring core budget documents are accessible to the public and can actually be found and used by citizens, journalists, watchdog groups, researchers, and legislators, rather than merely being produced internally.
Which budget documents are identified as core documents to be made public?
The objective specifically identifies the executive budget proposal, the enacted budget, and full end-of-year reports.
Is public debt information included in the publication goal?
Yes. The program calls for the publication of complete information on public debt obligations, recognizing its importance for understanding fiscal risk and long-term sustainability.
Is online publication required, or are other methods allowed?
The opportunity expresses a preference for online publication, but it also allows for hard-copy access through government offices or libraries to account for differences in internet access and digital infrastructure.
Objective 3: What is the audits and oversight focus?
The program would work with The Gambia's supreme audit institution to support the publication of audit reports within a reasonable period of time, emphasizing that timely public audits are a key accountability tool.
Why is timeliness of audit publication emphasized?
Timely audits help identify mismanagement, weaknesses in controls, and irregularities while corrective actions are still feasible. Transparency is limited if audit reports remain internal or are published too late to matter.
Objective 4: What does the natural resource extraction transparency component aim to do?
This objective focuses on clarifying, through law or regulation, the procedures and criteria used to award natural resource extraction contracts and licenses, and making information about those awards publicly available.
What kinds of disclosures are implied for extraction awards?
The disclosure is intended to make it easier to understand who receives extraction rights, under what terms, and through what process. The posting also notes meaningful details such as the identity of awardees and the nature of the license or contract.
How do the expected results relate to the four objectives?
The expected results are designed to logically track each objective and translate them into observable outputs and changes in practice, such as improved budget documentation, routine public access to key fiscal documents, timely public audit reports, and clearer rules plus public registries or notices for extraction awards.
What are examples of expected deliverables for more complete budgets (Objective 1)?
Examples include improved budget documentation with consistent ministry-level expenditure detail and revenue breakdowns, full inclusion of special accounts or funds, explicit accounting for significant cash and non-cash resources (including foreign aid), and clearer reporting on financial relationships with state-owned enterprises. The posting also suggests standardized templates or guidance for compiling budgets.
How might progress be measured for Objective 1?
Measurement could include evidence that standardized templates or guidance were adopted and that the next budget cycle reflects improvements such as fuller coverage of funds, detailed breakdowns, and improved SOE reporting.
What are examples of expected deliverables for public access to budget information (Objective 2)?
Deliverables could include an online portal or web page where documents are posted, or a distribution and archiving system through government offices and libraries, supported by written procedures defining what must be published and when.
How might progress be measured for Objective 2?
Measurement would focus on whether documents are actually available to the public, whether they are complete (not partial summaries), and whether publication is timely and consistent across reporting periods.
What are examples of expected deliverables for audits and oversight (Objective 3)?
Deliverables might include improved internal workflows, training materials, publication schedules, or agreed protocols between the audit institution and relevant government bodies to enable publication of audit reports within a defined, reasonable timeframe.
How might progress be measured for Objective 3?
Indicators could include the number of audit reports published, the average time between audit completion and publication, and evidence that the public can access the reports without special permission.
What are examples of expected deliverables for natural resource extraction transparency (Objective 4)?
Deliverables might include drafted or finalized legal or regulatory text describing award criteria and procedures, plus public notices and/or an online or physical registry of extraction awards.
How might progress be measured for Objective 4?
Measurement could include whether procedures are formally adopted or operationalized, whether award information is consistently disclosed, and whether disclosures include meaningful details (for example, the identity of awardees and the nature of the license or contract).
Who are the intended beneficiaries and users of the information produced?
The program is designed so that citizens, oversight bodies, civil society groups, journalists, researchers, and legislators can more easily find, use, and scrutinize budget, debt, audit, and natural resource award information.
What long-term value is the program designed to create?
The long-term value described is stronger public financial management practices, more accessible fiscal information for public oversight, improved audit transparency, and clearer, more open governance of natural resource extraction, supporting accountability and trust in public institutions.
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