Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005270
The Strengthening Parliament Effectiveness and Capacity in Tunisia grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005270) was a U.S. Department of State cooperative agreement designed to help Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) function more effectively as a democratic institution. Created in the aftermath of Tunisia's political transition and first convened in 2014, the ARP is a 217-member parliament that the constitution tasks with representing citizens, passing legislation (including budget laws), and holding the executive branch accountable. While the ARP has demonstrated its importance by passing major laws such as the Access to Information Law, the Investment Code, and legislation addressing gender-based violence, the opportunity highlights that the institution has struggled with slow legislative progress and difficulty moving laws through the process. These performance issues are framed as more than procedural problems because they can stall democratic consolidation, heighten public frustration, and reduce faith in representative governance.
A core motivation for the funding is the sharp gap between what parliament is supposed to do and what many Tunisians believe it actually does. The notice cites public opinion showing that at least 66 percent of Tunisians feel members of parliament do not address the needs of ordinary people, and fewer than 20 percent trust parliament or understand its roles and procedures. In practical terms, this suggests a legitimacy and communication problem alongside capacity constraints. The opportunity describes members of parliament as often having limited prior experience and inadequate staff support, which weakens their ability to draft, review, and advance legislation, to oversee the executive effectively, and to maintain consistent outreach with constituents. It also points to poor communication around draft laws and new measures, implying that even when legislative work is happening, the public may not see it, understand it, or feel included in it.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, meaning the funder anticipated substantial involvement in shaping or monitoring the project during implementation rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The program fell under CFDA 19.600 and was managed by the Department of State, Assistance Coordination. The opportunity was posted on July 16, 2018, with an original closing date of August 16, 2018. The award ceiling was $2,000,000, and the Department expected to make one award, indicating a single, relatively large project rather than multiple smaller grants.
Eligibility was broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, with additional categories referenced in the full eligibility details. Taken together, the grant opportunity was aimed at strengthening parliamentary effectiveness and credibility by improving lawmakers' capacity and support systems and by helping parliament communicate and engage more effectively with the public, ultimately addressing both institutional performance and citizen trust in Tunisia's democratic process.Apply for SFOP0005270
- The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Parliament Effectiveness and Capacity in Tunisia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.600.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 16, 2018. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Strengthening Parliament Effectiveness and Capacity in Tunisia (SFOP0005270)
What is the "Strengthening Parliament Effectiveness and Capacity in Tunisia" funding opportunity?
It was a U.S. Department of State discretionary funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement to support work that helps Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) function more effectively as a democratic institution.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is SFOP0005270.
Who managed this opportunity within the U.S. government?
The opportunity was managed by the U.S. Department of State under Assistance Coordination.
What type of award instrument was used?
The Department of State used a cooperative agreement, which means the funder anticipated substantial involvement in shaping and/or monitoring the project during implementation rather than a fully hands-off grant.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity fell under CFDA 19.600.
What institution in Tunisia was the focus of this program?
The program focused on Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP), the country's 217-member parliament.
Why was support for the ARP considered important in this opportunity?
The notice framed ARP performance issues as more than procedural concerns, arguing that slow legislative progress and difficulty moving laws through the process can stall democratic consolidation, increase public frustration, and reduce faith in representative governance.
What does the Tunisian constitution task the ARP with doing?
According to the opportunity description, the ARP is tasked with representing citizens, passing legislation (including budget laws), and holding the executive branch accountable.
When did the ARP first convene?
The ARP first convened in 2014, following Tunisia's political transition.
What examples of significant laws passed by the ARP were cited?
The opportunity highlighted the ARP's role in passing major laws including the Access to Information Law, the Investment Code, and legislation addressing gender-based violence.
What challenges in parliamentary performance did the notice emphasize?
It emphasized slow legislative progress and difficulty moving laws through the legislative process, suggesting the institution has struggled to advance legislation efficiently.
What public opinion concerns were cited as part of the motivation for the funding?
The notice cited a sharp gap between what parliament is supposed to do and what many Tunisians believe it actually does. It stated that at least 66 percent of Tunisians feel members of parliament do not address the needs of ordinary people, and fewer than 20 percent trust parliament or understand its roles and procedures.
What does the opportunity suggest about trust and understanding of parliament among citizens?
It suggests low trust and limited public understanding: fewer than 20 percent of Tunisians were described as trusting parliament or understanding its roles and procedures.
What capacity constraints among members of parliament were mentioned?
The opportunity described members of parliament as often having limited prior experience and inadequate staff support, which weakens their ability to draft, review, and advance legislation, oversee the executive effectively, and maintain consistent outreach with constituents.
What communication issues did the opportunity identify?
It pointed to poor communication around draft laws and new measures, implying that even when legislative work is happening, the public may not see it, understand it, or feel included in it.
What overarching outcomes was this funding opportunity trying to support?
Based on the description, the opportunity aimed to strengthen parliamentary effectiveness and credibility by improving lawmakers' capacity and support systems and by helping parliament communicate and engage more effectively with the public, ultimately addressing both institutional performance and citizen trust in Tunisia's democratic process.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on July 16, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was August 16, 2018.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $2,000,000.
How many awards did the Department of State expect to make?
The Department expected to make one award, indicating a single, relatively large project rather than multiple smaller grants.
Was this a competitive or discretionary funding opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The opportunity also referenced additional categories in the full eligibility details.
Were small businesses included as eligible for-profit applicants?
The eligibility list explicitly included for-profit organizations other than small businesses, which indicates small businesses were not included in that specific for-profit category as stated in the summary provided.
Does the opportunity focus only on internal parliamentary procedures?
No. While it discusses capacity and legislative process challenges, it also emphasizes legitimacy and communication issues, including public trust, public understanding of parliamentary roles, and communication about draft laws and new measures.
Why does the opportunity treat slow legislative progress as a bigger concern than administrative delay?
The notice frames performance issues as having broader democratic consequences, stating that stalled legislative work can slow democratic consolidation, heighten public frustration, and reduce faith in representative governance.
What specific problem does the opportunity describe in the relationship between parliament and the public?
It describes a perceived disconnect: at least 66 percent of Tunisians reportedly felt members of parliament do not address ordinary people's needs, alongside low trust and low understanding of parliament's roles and procedures.
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