1. BACKGROUND

Since the 2011 uprising and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, Libya has faced significant political instability and conflict. Human rights violations, including mass arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, unfair trials, gender-based violence, and various forms of discrimination, remain widespread. This situation arises as political elites and numerous quasi-authorities vie for legitimacy and control over different territories in the country. Currently, two rival administrations are competing for power in Libya: the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, and the Government of National Stability (GNS), established by the eastern, Tobruk-based parliament, known as the House of Representatives (HoR).

The situation in Libya remains complex and fluid, influenced by various factions and international actors. Members of the UN Security Council are united in their support for a Libyan-led, inclusive political process aimed at restoring the country’s political, security, and economic stability through elections. On December 16, 2024, the top UN official in Libya announced a new initiative to progress the country towards national elections and address a three-year deadlock over contentious issues related to electoral laws.

Despite the ongoing political gridlock surrounding the legal framework for parliamentary and presidential elections, Libyans have been prevented from voting in national elections since 2014. On November 16, 2024, the Libyan people successfully elected 426 representatives across 58 municipalities, the first elections since 2021. Municipal elections for a second group of municipalities are set to begin in January 2025. However, low voter turnout and apathy remain significant obstacles to Libya’s electoral processes.

Educating citizens about their voting rights, the electoral process, and the importance of participation is essential and requires sustainable efforts. Many citizens lack a comprehensive understanding of democratic principles, including the rule of law, individual rights, and the separation of powers. Furthermore, not all citizens have equal access to resources, opportunities, and participation in civic life. Socioeconomic disparities, discrimination, and exclusion persist.

Additionally, access to independent and accurate information has long been a barrier to effective citizen participation in Libya. Therefore, fostering media literacy is essential to help citizens critically evaluate information and engage in informed debates. Misinformation, echo chambers, censorship, and privacy concerns impede access to reliable, neutral, independent, and accurate information.

Libya’s civil society’s role in strengthening democratic processes and ensuring the integrity of elections has been limited. Local civil society organizations (CSOs) lack resources, and a restrictive operating environment has greatly hindered their effectiveness. Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies that address these challenges and enhance the impact of CSOs in promoting fair and transparent elections.

Libya’s recent electoral reforms, which set aside a specific number of seats for women, people with disabilities, and minorities in municipal council elections, significantly advance the representation of underrepresented groups and change societal attitudes toward their participation in politics. However, it is still crucial to encourage inclusive candidate participation through initiatives promoting diverse candidates’ involvement in elections.

2. RFA OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

To address these challenges, the Libya Engagement with Voters for Equitable Representation (EVER) program - a five-year Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Democracy International (DI) - aims to empower the diversity of Libyan citizens and civil society to advance the democratic process in Libya. As such, DI is seeking applications from qualified local civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), unions, or other similar not-for-profit institutions to raise awareness among citizens —especially women, youth, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities—about their right and responsibilities. The aim is to encourage these groups to actively participate in the democratic process, fostering a more informed and engaged society.

3. ELIGIBILITY FOR APPLICATIONS Qualified local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), unions, or other similar not-for-profit institutions with current and valid registration with the respective authorities in Tripoli and/or Benghazi are welcome to apply. As outlined below, a copy of the registration will be required with the application submission.

Individuals and the following organizations are not eligible to access funding:

• Governmental and semi-governmental institutions

• International organizations

• Political parties or organizations affiliated with or engaging in partisan activities

• For-profit organizations

Only organizations with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) are eligible to receive an award under this RFA. If your organization does not have a UEI, please visit www.SAM.gov to get a Unique Entity ID only.

4. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

In responding to this Request for Applications (RFA), the applicant accepts full responsibility for understanding the RFA in its entirety and detail. This includes making any necessary inquiries with DI to understand the RFA comprehensively. DI reserves the right to disqualify any applicant who does not demonstrate this understanding. Additionally, DI has the sole discretion to determine whether an applicant has shown adequate understanding. Any disqualification or cancellation will occur without fault, cost, or liability to DI.

All applicants must submit an electronic copy of their application via email to the contact person specified above no later than the closing date and time indicated in the schedule. To ensure your application is considered, please include the following items:

A. Technical Application: The Technical Application must consist of a written document in English, using Times New Roman, font size 12. It should provide a detailed description of the applicant’s (a) technical approach, (b) implementation timeline, and (c) results framework to carry out the Program Description outlined above and in Section 6 of this Request for Applications (RFA). The evaluation criteria are also specified in Section 5. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the technical narrative template included in Attachment B.

B. Cost Application—Budget and Budget Narrative: The budget should accurately reflect the technical activities and deliverables costs. All applicants must use the budget template in Attachment C and submit it in Excel as part of their application. The budget must be presented in local currency and USD, with all applicable exchange rates, taxes, and charges identified. Applicants may submit a budget of up to a maximum of USD 20,000. The cost application must also include a budget narrative that describes each cost element of the budget.

C. Organizational background and experience: Applicants should demonstrate prior experience working in the programmatic area selected for their proposed interventions and the ability to target the underrepresented, such as women, youth, people with disabilities, and minority groups. They must also demonstrate experience working across multiple regions, especially in rural areas.

D. Additional documentation: Applicants should include the following documentation with their application:

• Proof of the organization’s registration

• Articles of incorporation or charter

• Mission statement and organizational chart

• CVs of key personnel, including the organization’s Director and anticipated program manager

• Roster of Board members

• A copy of the organization’s most recent final, signed audits/financial statements

• List of funding sources (Current year)

• Any other supporting document that will strengthen the application

Applicants are invited to submit questions for clarification to EVER-PMU@democracyinternational.com by 31 December 2024, 17:00 Washington, DC (EST). DI will respond in writing to all inquiries by 6 January 2025, 17:00 Washington, DC (EST).

All final applications are due by email on 19 January 2025 by 17:00 Washington, DC (EST), with “EVER-2025-001 Grants” as the subject line, to EVER-PMU@democracyinternational.com.

5. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Each response to this RFA will be evaluated based on its demonstrated competence, compliance, format, and organization. The objective is to identify organizations with the interest, capability, and financial strength to implement the project described in Section 6. Applications will be evaluated against the merit review criteria in the table below.

Final proposals that do not meet these criteria will be considered unacceptable.

As part of its due diligence, DI conducts pre-award surveys on all potential awardees to assess their capacity and determine the appropriate award mechanism. DI intends to issue Fixed Amount Awards (FAAs) to selected organizations, and the final milestones and deliverables will be determined in cooperation with the successful applicant(s) based on the awardee’s capacity, technical proposal, nature of the work, duration, and overall value. Additionally, DI may provide ongoing mentorship, training, and oversight to ensure that award management practices align with anti-corruption principles. This support aims to build the capacity of local awardees, enabling them to effectively manage and implement their programs in compliance with donor regulations and with a focus on sustainability.

6. SCOPE OF WORK AND OBJECTIVES

As outlined above, the EVER program seeks applications from qualified local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), unions, or other similar not-for-profit institutions registered in Libya to implement locally led and innovative initiatives to empower diverse citizens and civil society. The awards will be awarded and enforced in accordance with USAID and US Government regulations and DI’s internal award management policies. Applications must specify the geographic area which their proposed concept will cover.

DI invites applicants to submit proposals to advance its goals through the following main objectives:

• Objective 1: Enhance voter registration and turnout, especially among marginalized and underrepresented communities.

-Objective 2: Encourage inclusive candidate participation through initiatives that promote the involvement of diverse candidates in elections, especially women, youth, people with disability, and minorities.

-Objective 3:Promote media literacy to improve the public’s ability to critically evaluate information from various media sources.

All applications should address all three objectives, though equal resources must not be devoted to each objective. Specific guidance on each objective is listed below. Applicants are also encouraged to develop innovative ideas that address the specific objectives.

Illustrative activities for Objective 1 may include:

• Educating citizens about how elections work, including how to register to vote, where and when to vote, and what identification is required.

• Informing citizens about their voting rights and how to protect them, including how to report any issues or irregularities.

• Emphasizing the significance of voting and how it impacts governance and policy-making.

• Teaching citizens about the structure and functions of government, the Constitution, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

• Promoting values such as tolerance, respect for diversity, and the importance of community involvement.

• Encouraging active participation in civic activities, such as attending town hall meetings, joining community organizations, and engaging in public discourse.

• Developing skills necessary for effective participation in civic life, such as critical thinking, public speaking, and advocacy.

• Developing and coordinating community mobilization activities on voter education topics, such as mock polls, street dramas, household visits, or other community events.

• Utilizing sensitive and multifaceted approaches to ensure the inclusion of women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups in electoral processes.

• Working with schools and colleges nationwide to engage and educate new voters before the 2025 municipal elections.

Illustrative activities for Objective 2 may include:

• Training programs to encourage women, youth, PWD, and minorities to run for elective office, position themselves for appointive office, work on a campaign, or get involved in public life in other ways.

• Utilizing model curriculums to educate potential candidates on fundraising, positioning oneself for elected office, navigating the political party structure, media training, the nuts and bolts of organizing a campaign, mobilizing voters, and crafting a message.

• Helping to change attitudes and norms that hinder the participation of women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups by highlighting the importance of inclusivity and the benefits of diverse representation in democratic processes.

• Advocating for legal and policy reforms to protect and promote the rights of women, PWDs, and minorities. This may include supporting quotas or other measures to ensure representation in elected bodies and processes.

• Promoting role models and providing mentorship opportunities for the underrepresented can inspire greater participation, challenge stereotypes, and demonstrate the potential for positive contributions in electoral roles.

Illustrative activities for Objective 3 may include:

• Educating the public on verifying the accuracy of information they encounter to counter the spread of false information.

• Exploring innovative media literacy methods, including social media, developing multimedia resources, and alternative information technology platforms.

• Building resilience against disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech through interactive platforms, using games and multimedia content to engage participants.

• Fact-checking initiatives to review the accuracy of election coverage and statements made by politicians and the media. These types of initiatives helped ensure that the public received accurate information during the election period.

• Equipping media professionals with the skills to identify, report, and counter disinformation and misinformation during electoral periods.

Promoting ethical reporting and adherence to ethical standards and practices in election coverage.

7. REPORTING AND DELIVERABLES

After identifying successful applications, awardees will work in close coordination and full partnership with DI throughout the award implementation process. The awardee shall keep DI appraised of progress and challenges and any suggested adjustments to the work plan. Additionally, the awardee shall submit the following deliverables to DI throughout the award:

• Activity workplan with timeline and budget.

• Monthly progress reports, including i) a table of targeted events vs. achieved progress with an explanation of deviation and ii) a 1-2 paragraph summary highlighting a representative event with at least three photographs. The summaries should include the event date, location, number of beneficiaries (disaggregated by gender), purpose, and significant outcomes.

• Summaries, agendas, and participant attendance lists for every event using award funds.

• Clippings of media coverage and sample communications products (if any) for activities conducted using award funding.

• Final report summarizing the project’s activities, any notable successes and challenges faced during implementation, and any recommendations for possible follow-on awards of a similar nature or intent.

• Develop and submit other narrative updates/reports as requested.

This is an illustrative list, which may be further revised or expanded during the award negotiation phase. DI and the successful applicants (s) will define milestones and deliverables during the award negotiation. All awards are subject to approval by USAID.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND FUNDING

The Applicant should propose activities to be implemented beginning in early 2025 (February) through August 2025). The funding per award is expected to be USD 20,000 (or local currency equivalent). All proposed costs must be reasonable and justified.

9. ADMINISTRATION OF THE AWARD

Awards for non-U.S. organizations will include USAID Standard Provisions for non-U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations would apply.

Applicants may obtain copies of the referenced material at the following websites:

• 2CFR200: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

• Standard Provisions for Non-U.S., Nongovernmental Recipients: http://usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/303mab.pdf

Covered Telecommunications:

• In General, awardees must not utilize award funds, including directly, indirectly, cost-share or grantee contribution, or with program income, to purchase telecommunications equipment prohibited under Section 889(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (Pub. L. 115-232). The legislation specifically covers certain telecommunications equipment and services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any of their subsidiary or affiliates).

See Attachment A in RFA documents download in the top right corner of this page.

See Attachement C in download in the top right corner of this page.