The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs? (OES) Office of Environmental Policy at the Department of State is issuing this the Request for Applications (RFA) for a new project: Cleaner Production and Environmental Technologies: Promoting Green Growth through Private Sector Partnerships in Morocco. The purpose of this project is to increase private sector implementation of environmental technologies and cleaner production practices in Morocco in a manner that increases environmental protection while supporting economic growth in Morocco and the United States. Increased growth and development of the industrial sector may result in additional pollution, energy use, and resource degradation. Implementation of environmental technologies and cleaner production practices can help reduce these negative environmental impacts, while increasing economic savings and stimulating trade and investment. This project will support work in Morocco to create private sector partnerships to promote the adoption of environmental technologies and cleaner production practices, primarily in micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and facilitate increased U.S. exports. This project should result in increased economic growth and environmental protection in Morocco. Applicants might consider engaging industry partners in facilitating entrepreneurial approaches to scaling the use of environmental technologies and furthering implementation throughout the private sector. The successful applicant will build on existing environmental performance improvement activities in Morocco, design projects to have a multiplier effect, and build local capacity for continuing implementation of cleaner production practices. The application must also address promotion of jobs for youth and women, and sustainability beyond the project?s lifespan. Additional consideration will be given to programs that provide an opportunity for high-level government buy-in and establish long-lasting partnerships between U.S. organizations and Moroccan/regional organizations to share best practices and enable supply chain linkages. Leveraging in-country knowledge and expertise and mobilizing additional monetary and in-kind resources will be critical components of this Cooperative Agreement. Eligibility is limited to non-profit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U. S. tax code, or similar entities, foreign not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and public international organizations. Applicants must have significant experience working private sector environmental practices, preferably in Morocco or North Africa. Applicants are encouraged to partner or to engage with other institutions to leverage available funds. Proposals should demonstrate creativity, substance, and relevance to OES?s goals of reductions in levels of energy and water use and pollutant emissions from private sector partners leading to environmentally-sustainable economic growth.A grant for up to $396,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in Economic Support Funds (ESF) will be awarded for work with the Moroccan private sector to produce environmental results through greater implementation of environmental technologies while contributing to socially inclusive economic growth. The initial period of performance will be for 18 to 30 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Contact Person: Abby Lindsay Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
[email protected] +1 202-647-8772 (T)+1 202-647-5947 (F)Please read carefully the entire solicitation package including Proposal Submission Instructions if you plan to submit an application; there are steps that you should take immediately in order to make your submissions by the deadline.Thank you for your interest in this grant opportunity. As noted in the Proposal Submission Instructions, in order for your application to be fully processed, your organization must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). If your organization does not already have a registration number, or if your registration number is due to expire, please be advised that the CCR system will be down for routine maintenance from May 23 ? May 29, 2012. In order to avoid delays processing your organization?s application, we encourage you to submit your CCR registration early. If you are unable to do so, please submit your application via email to (
[email protected]). Note that email submissions are not encouraged, and should only be used in the event that your CCR registration cannot be finalized as a result of this routine maintenance.