PRM FY 2025 Request for Concept Notes for NGO Programs Benefiting Afghan Returnees and IDPS in Afghanistan and Afghan Refugees and Stateless Persons in Pakistan | DFOP0017032

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) discretionary funding notice inviting concept notes for humanitarian programs supporting displaced and conflict-affected Afghans in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017032.

2) Who is issuing the opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, specifically PRM (Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration).

3) What populations and locations are the focus of this notice?

PRM is seeking concept notes for two settings:

• Inside Afghanistan: Afghan returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• In Pakistan: Afghan refugees and stateless persons.

4) What type of funding instrument is anticipated?

PRM anticipates funding through cooperative agreements. This means PRM expects to stay actively involved in oversight, coordination, and performance monitoring during implementation, rather than issuing a fully hands-off grant.

5) What kinds of activities is PRM looking to support?

PRM is looking for practical, field-ready humanitarian assistance across core sectors, including:

• Education
• Health
• Livelihoods/economic recovery
• Protection
• Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)

Across both countries, the central theme is support to vulnerable populations and services that reduce protection risks, stabilize households, and improve access to essential services amid ongoing displacement, poverty, and access constraints.

6) What does PRM mean by alignment with regional response planning frameworks?

Concept notes are expected to show clear alignment with recognized regional response planning frameworks relevant to the context. Applicants should demonstrate awareness of how the proposed activities fit within broader humanitarian planning and coordination efforts.

7) What are PRM priorities for concept notes focused on Afghanistan?

For Afghanistan-based concept notes, PRM signals strong preference for projects that deliberately reach the most at-risk groups, including people with disabilities and female-headed households. Priority program areas include:

• Strengthened primary and secondary healthcare access
• Economic empowerment/livelihoods support that helps households restore income
• Protection programming that prevents and responds to gender-based violence (GBV)

8) What operating environment expectations does PRM highlight for Afghanistan?

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a realistic understanding of volatility and restrictions inside Afghanistan and to describe practical risk mitigation strategies. PRM also emphasizes demonstrated experience delivering assistance inside Afghanistan, including the reality that program delivery may require engagement and negotiation with Taliban-linked authorities or local power brokers to secure access and continuity, while still maintaining principled humanitarian approaches and compliance standards.

9) What are PRM priorities for concept notes focused on Pakistan?

For Pakistan-based concept notes, PRM targets assistance to Afghan refugees and other vulnerable groups, with emphasis on women and girls and underserved communities. Priority areas include:

• Education access and continuity
• Integration of mental health considerations into programming
• Sustainable livelihoods approaches that move beyond short-term cash relief where feasible
• Protection services for harder-to-reach populations or those at higher risk of exploitation and abuse

10) What risk and contingency planning is expected for Pakistan proposals?

Proposals for Pakistan are expected to align with the relevant regional response plan and include contingency planning and risk mitigation, recognizing that policy shifts, protection pressures, and changing operating conditions can affect Afghan refugees and stateless persons.

11) Can applications be submitted by a single organization, or are partnerships allowed?

Applications may be submitted by a single organization or by a consortium.

12) How does this notice define a consortium?

For this notice, a consortium is defined as an arrangement of at least three organizations formally partnering to deliver an activity that is larger or more complex than what any single member could execute alone. The intent is to encourage complementary strengths (for example, pairing specialized protection expertise with health delivery capacity and local access networks).

13) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is open to:

• Nonprofit organizations (with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status), excluding institutions of higher education
• International organizations, consistent with the eligibility listing in the notice

14) Are UN agencies and other multilateral organizations allowed to apply through Grants.gov under this announcement?

International multilateral organizations (such as UN agencies) are instructed not to submit through Grants.gov under this announcement. Multilateral entities seeking PRM funding for related work are directed to contact the PRM Program Officer before the closing date to discuss the appropriate submission channel.

15) What is the award ceiling?

The notice lists an award ceiling of $3,000,000 per award.

16) What are the key dates listed in the notice?

• Opportunity created: November 21, 2024
• Closing date: December 23, 2024

17) The listing shows "ExpectedAwards: 0." Does that mean no awards will be made?

The source data lists "ExpectedAwards: 0", but the notice is clearly soliciting concept notes now. The practical takeaway is that PRM will determine funding decisions based on program fit, technical quality, risk management, and alignment with PRM priorities and coordination frameworks.

18) What does PRM seem to value across concept notes for both countries?

Based on the notice summary, concept notes should clearly show:

• Strong alignment with PRM priorities and relevant regional response plans
• A realistic understanding of safety, access, and compliance risks
• Practical, field-ready activities that stabilize households and reduce protection risks
• Connection to broader humanitarian coordination efforts

19) Are there any specific groups PRM wants to prioritize?

Yes. In Afghanistan, PRM signals strong preference for reaching the most at-risk groups, including people with disabilities and female-headed households. In Pakistan, PRM emphasizes women and girls and underserved communities, and prioritizes protection services for populations that are harder to reach or face higher risks of exploitation and abuse.

20) What does PRM indicate about compliance and principled humanitarian delivery?

The notice emphasizes that applicants must understand and manage compliance risks and maintain principled humanitarian approaches, including in challenging access contexts where negotiation with relevant authorities or local power brokers may be necessary to ensure program continuity.