The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is an independent, non-governmental organization providing professional support to electoral democracy. Through field work, applied research and advocacy, IFES strives to promote citizen participation, transparency and accountability in political life and civil society.

Since 1995, IFES has conducted a range of assistance activities to support the development of democratic elections and political processes in Georgia. IFES supported the country's institutions and citizenry in building democracy through improvements in election law and administration, civil society development, rule of law and good governance. IFES continues to work closely with election officials, political parties, media, educational institutions, and the non-governmental sector through each election cycle.

Currently, IFES is implementing the Increased Trust in the Electoral Process (ITEP) project, a four-year initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This project is aimed at increasing trust in the electoral process among the public and political participants over three election cycles - 2012 parliamentary elections, 2013 presidential election and 2014 local elections. The project involves close collaboration with the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) on matters of capacity building and transparency, technical support to Georgian civil society organizations and media outlets, work with political parties on election law reform, efforts to improve voter access, and extensive voter and civic education, focusing on minorities and vulnerable groups.

Invitation for Grant Competition:

IFES invites non-governmental not-for-profit organizations, private for-profit organizations and companies, TV and production companies, registered in Georgia, to submit applications for the project aiming at improving the overall quality of upcoming local self-government elections to be conducted on June 15, 2014, through promoting issue-based televised debates among mayoral candidates in 11 self-governing cities: Kutaisi, Rustavi, Poti, Zugdidi, Batumi, Telavi, Mtskheta, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Ambrolauri and Ozurgeti.

The grant awards can vary in its amount, but in general should cost maximum of GEL 8,000 per debate organized and broadcasted. Maximum value of the award can be GEL 88,000 for organizing all 11 debates. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for conducting debates in one, multiple or all of 11 target self-governing cities. Grant funds may be used only for the activities directly related to the implementation of grant project, which will be funded under this grant competition.

IFES reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

** The goal of the grant competition is to improve the overall quality of elections by promoting issue-based debates among mayoral candidates of 11 self-governing cities (Kutaisi, Rustavi, Poti, Zugdidi, Batumi, Telavi, Mtskheta, Gori, Akhaltsikhe, Ambrolauri and Ozurgeti).

** Mayoral candidate debates conducted under this grant competition shall be broadcasted on local or regional TV. Broadcasting debates through local/regional radio stations, as well as using social media and engaging citizens in the process will be considered a plus.

** During the election campaign period the grantee(s) may conduct a series of candidate debates with a focus on getting mayoral candidates of 11 self-governing cities to articulate their policy positions for the purpose of engaging voters with comparative information about candidates and their political platforms and encouraging them to participate in the elections in an informed manner.

** All candidates participating in debates will receive equal time to speak and provide responses to previously prepared questions by the subgrant receipient(s), as in GPB-organized presidential 2013 debates. Time allocated to each candidate will be strictly monitored by the moderator(s). Debates will focus on issues important to voters that are relevant to and within the jurisdiction of a mayor of a self-governing municipality/city.

** Debates must be conducted in a political neutral and independent manner.

** IFES intends to award one or multiple grants to region-based mayoral candidate debates; an applicant may choose to propose to organize debates in one, more or all target self-governing cities.

Duration of the Project:

Project activities must start by May 1, and finish no later than June 20, 2014. Project reporting and close out should conclude by June 30, 2014.

Eligible organizations include:

** Georgian non-governmental not-for-profit organizations,

** Georgian private for-profit organizations and companies,

** Georgian TV and production companies.

Applicants must:

** Have a strong, established financial management and reporting system, and

** Not be affiliated with any political parties or engaged in any political activities.

** Prior experience and demonstrated expertise in implementation of related projects, and prior history of successful implementation of project grants and subawards is a plus.

** Proposals submitted to IFES under this competition must be original and the sole work of the applicant organizations.

Decision-making:

** To ensure an objective and non-discriminatory selection process, proposals will be reviewed by a board comprised of IFES staff and local experts. During the review process, additional information may be requested. The applicant will be asked to present the requested information within two days of the request.

** Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the IFES, nor does it commit IFES to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

The following criteria will be used for evaluation of applications:

** Project Goals, Objectives and Activities - 25%

** Does the project improve voter awareness and overall quality of elections by promoting issue-based debates?

** Does the proposal cover sufficient number of voters?

** Does the project target self-governing cities?

** Are the goal(s) and objective(s) achievable within the allocated timeframe?

** Results - 25%

** Are the expected results concrete and appropriate to the goals and objectives?

** Are the expected results meaningful, practical, reasonable and attainable?

** Workplan - 10%

** Is the implementation plan feasible and detailed?

** Do all project activities lead to accomplishing the project goals?

** Is the timeline reasonable and comprehensive?

** Monitoring and Evaluation - 10%

** Are there clear measurable criteria, inclusive of indicators and results?

** Are the indicators and results measurable and relevant?

** Organizational Capacity - 20%

** Does the applicant organization have proven experience in organizing public discussions, debates, forums or similar activities.

** Is there an evidence of previous success in related field?

** Has the applicant previously implemented similar awards successfully?

** Does the applicant organization demonstrate relevant experience of the project team?

** Budget - 10%

** Has the applicant presented a budget that follows the guidelines?

** Does budget reflect realistic costs?

** Is the budget adequate to cover project activities?

** Is the budget cost-effective?

Evaluation Criteria Grading:

** Exceed Expectations - 10 Points

** Meet Expectations - 5 Points

** Do Not Meet Expectations - 0 Points

Applicants are advised to follow the Project Proposal Format guidelines carefully to ensure they meet the criteria above. Application form and budget template can be downloaded from http://www.jobs.ge.

Applicants must submit:

** A 1-page executive summary in English and Georgian;

** A detailed proposal in accordance with the Project Proposal Format;

** A detailed implementation plan;

** A monitoring and evaluation plan;

** A detailed itemized budget and explanatory budget notes;

** A copy of the applicant's registration certificate;

** CVs of key project participants (project director, finance manager, experts, coordinators);

** A letter of confirmation from the local TV and radio channels who will broadcast the debate(s).

** Two letters of reference from other organizations and/or donors that have worked with applicant organization;

** Any other supporting document that will strengthen the application;

** If applicable, applicant should submit additional information about other projects (project summary and budget) on similar topics, submitted or already funded by other donors, and

** Applicant's commitment to cost sharing by the applicant's organization will be considered an asset.

Applications must be submitted via email on or prior to April 10, 2014 by 18:00 Georgia time to IFES Georgia Subawards Manager Eka Chemia at grants@ifes.ge. Applicants must confirm with IFES whether their e-mail submissions were successfully received by the required due date.

In addition to the email submission specified above, applicants should submit six hard copies of their proposal and required documents, along with a CD containing the whole application, in a sealed envelope addressed to: Subawards Manager, IFES Georgia, 7 Niko Nikoladze St, Tbilisi, 0108, Georgia. Envelopes must indicate: "Mayoral Debates 2014 Grant Program".

Applications must be submitted no later than: April 10, 2014. Late proposals will not be considered. IFES will consider applications in English, Georgian or Russian. All the materials and documents submitted as part of this competition become the property of IFES and will not be returned to the applicant. IFES guarantees the confidentiality of applications.

Please note that selected organizations will be subject to a pre-award audit to determine fiscal responsibility and ensure adequacy of financial controls and accounting systems.

Question and Answer Session for Potential Applicants:

IFES will organize a Question and Answer Session for Potential Applicants on April 3, 2014 at 13:00 at IFES' office, which is located at: 7 Niko Nikoladze Street, 1st floor, 0108, Tbilisi. IFES strongly encourages that potential applicants attend the question and answer session.

Competition Schedule:

Competition announcement: March 27, 2014

Questions & Answers session at the IFES office: April 3, 2014

Deadline for submission of applications:April 10, 2014

Award announcement: April 15, 2014

Please note that these dates are subject to change.

Contact Information:

To request an application form, you can download attached document or send a request via e-mail to IFES Subawards Manager, Eka Chemia, at grants@ifes.ge; request it by telephone at 995 (32) 2999309 or visit the IFES office.

source:jobs.ge