Civil-Military Collaboration in Diffa Region | NIGER STATE WPS 2024 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for NIGER STATE WPS 2024 001

The U.S. Mission to Niger (U.S. Embassy Niamey), through the U.S. Department of State, is offering a competitive grant opportunity titled "Civil-Military Collaboration in Diffa Region" to support a program that strengthens trust and working relationships among local communities, women civil society leaders, and civilian security forces in Niger's Diffa Region. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects to remain actively engaged with the recipient during implementation. The funding ceiling is $75,000, with one award expected. The opportunity is listed under funding opportunity number NIGER STATE WPS 2024 001, CFDA 19.222, with an original application deadline of 2024-06-03.

The program builds directly on the earlier Nallewaro Project, a Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership-funded initiative that ended in 2021. Nallewaro established women-only and mixed-gender networks linking civilians and law enforcement, and these networks proved effective at integrating women into local conflict management and rapid-response mediation during intercommunal tensions in areas affected by violent extremist organizations. Even after the project closed, the networks continued operating informally and have remained relevant as security conditions worsened, especially following the July 2023 coup d'etat and the reported escalation of violent extremist attacks in Diffa. However, the political and administrative shifts after the coup have slowed progress on formally embedding women into official security decision-making structures, which is seen as necessary to make these networks durable and recognized over the long term.

The core goal of the grant is forward-looking and institutional: by 2026, women leaders in Diffa should increase their participation and more firmly institutionalize their leadership within regional and departmental peace and security decision-making. Applicants are expected to present a clear strategy tailored to the post-July 2023 context, showing they understand the evolving security and political environment and how it affects civil-military cooperation and women's inclusion. A major emphasis is sustainability: proposals should build on what Nallewaro already established rather than restarting from scratch. The Embassy specifically discourages applicants from proposing generic new trainings or repeating past activities unless there is a well-justified, newly identified need. Instead, priority goes to practical steps that anchor the women-only and mixed-gender Nallewaro Networks within ongoing coordination and decision channels.

Illustrative activities include conducting a rapid assessment of how community-security force collaboration and gender inclusion have changed since July 2023; supporting women-led community security monitoring; organizing structured dialogues among community members and civilian security stakeholders; and running public sensitization efforts that normalize and encourage gender inclusion in peace and security work. Regardless of the activity mix, close coordination with Nigerien authorities is described as essential, particularly with the Ministry of Interior's Stabilization Unit and the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace (HACP), along with other community policing partners operating in Diffa. Proposals should also include quarterly meetings of a project advisory group to keep alignment with government counterparts and other actors working in the women, peace, and security space, and to reduce duplication and improve coordination.

The intended participants and audiences include members of the existing Nallewaro Network in Diffa, who are expected to help co-design and implement gender inclusion activities based on their prior training and experience. Successful implementation also depends on the applicant's ability to manage a broad coalition, leveraging established relationships with local and national authorities, community leaders, and women leaders across Diffa Region.

Eligibility is limited to not-for-profit entities, including civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and think tanks. While non-profits in general can apply, priority is explicitly given to Nigerien not-for-profit organizations, especially those led by women and those based in Diffa Region. Competitive applicants are expected to demonstrate a credible track record in gender inclusion within local peacebuilding and prior collaboration with Nigerien national or local authorities, since the project is designed to move from informal gains toward formal, institutionalized participation of women in security governance.

• The U.S. Mission to Niger in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Civil-Military Collaboration in Diffa 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 2024-05-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-03. (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 001

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