Request for Proposals: Policy Options to Advance Peaceful, Inclusive, and Democratic Transitions Africa and United States

Request for Proposals

 

United States Institute of Peace

Policy Options to Advance Peaceful, Inclusive, and Democratic Transitions

Africa and United States

Release Date: March 15, 2024

RFP Due Date: 5:00 pm EST on April 1, 2024

Refer Questions to:

Submit Proposals to:

Shobit Manchanda

Shobit Manchanda

Smanchanda@usip.org

smanchanda@usip.org

Do not use the Apply Button on this page.

Pertinent responses will be made available to all offerors by e-mail. No inquiries will be accepted after specified time and date.

The response must be submitted by time and date listed above to be considered.

 Introduction and Background

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for the United States and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. For more information, please visit http://www.usip.org.

The dramatic rise in the number of coups and coup attempts demands a focused, nuanced, and informed response. In countries impacted by coups, public opinion research indicates that citizens continue to express their preference for a democratic, accountable government. At the same time, citizens indicate a deep frustration and dissatisfaction that elected governments and current governance systems have failed to deliver. In the face of persistent and spreading violent extremism and growing economic hardship, there is an urgent need to restore security and chart a path towards a governing system that can be responsive and accountable to citizen priorities.

Engagement and assistance from international partners need to be tailored to the complexity of the political transition and the context that gave rise to it. At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the U.S. government announced the African Democratic and Political Transitions (ADAPT) initiative, totaling $75 million over three years.  ADAPT enables the U.S. Government to partner with regional bodies, governments, and civil society to support successful, stable, and sustainable democratic transitions. This initiative is just one tool of many that could be utilized to support democratic transitions in the region. Effective support will depend on a coherent approach by the U.S. government and genuine partnerships, including the activation of approaches from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. 

 

USIP’s Africa Center is committed to strengthening local and regional networks of peacebuilders, including women and youth and working with political, security, and civic leaders, as well as their institutions, who can shape and redefine peace processes. Pursuant to these commitments, the Africa Center seeks to support peaceful, democratic political transitions. This goal will be achieved through 1) identifying policy options and approaches for  international and regional partners that advance peaceful, democratic political transition and are anchored in the context and national priorities and aspirations and 2) providing timely, politically relevant assistance to key pillars of society to anchor a political transition that addresses citizen priorities, including security, and sequences elections, when ripe, among various transition processes and needs.  Through this RFP, the Africa Center seeks to advance the first objective.

Purpose of the RFP

USIP is seeking organizations, think tanks, peace institutes, youth NGOs, practitioners, and leading U.S. and African researchers to develop actionable and practical policy option papers. The short papers will address pertinent themes, questions and policy dilemmas and engage reputed experts and practitioners [in the transitions space] into a Political Transitions Working Group (PTWG).

• Scope of Work

 Background

The PTWG provides a forum to share practical, actionable approaches and options to address the key policy priorities, barriers, and challenges related to political transitions in Africa. The Group harnesses the expertise of those serving within the U.S. government while also drawing on recommendations from academic research and knowledge from leading researchers and practitioners, think tanks, peace institutions, youth NGOs, and organizations working on democracy, governance, and political transitions-related themes. Pri