Broadening Participation through Civil Society (BPCS) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

Broadening Participation through Civil Society (BPCS) is a USAID/Iraq funding opportunity designed to strengthen Iraq's civil society sector as part of the country's transition toward a sustainable, participatory democracy. The central purpose of the program is to increase meaningful citizen input into Iraq's development by supporting civil society organizations and the broader civic environment in which they operate. USAID frames this effort as both a governance and democracy-building initiative, with the expectation that stronger civic participation and more capable, independent organizations will help create more responsive public institutions and better public policy outcomes over time.

The opportunity is offered as a discretionary award under a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation, such as collaboration on work planning, monitoring and evaluation, and coordination with other USAID or partner activities. The funding activity category is listed as "Other," with clarification that the focus is civil society strengthening. Only one award is anticipated, suggesting USAID intends to select a single implementing partner (or consortium led by one prime recipient) to manage a large, multi-component national program rather than splitting funding among multiple separate grants.

Programmatically, BPCS is structured around four primary components that collectively aim to expand civic participation and improve how civil society influences Iraq's political and development trajectory. The first component focuses on increased democratic engagement of citizens. In practical terms, this could include activities that encourage public participation in community decision-making, promote awareness of civic rights and responsibilities, and create channels for citizens to engage constructively with local and national institutions. The intent is not only higher participation, but more informed and organized participation that can translate into sustained engagement rather than one-time events.

The second component targets increased institutional capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs). This is the "organizational strengthening" pillar that generally covers governance, leadership, strategic planning, financial management, compliance, program design, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, and long-term sustainability. The goal is to help CSOs become more credible and effective institutions, capable of delivering services, advocating for communities, and maintaining operations in a complex environment. This component commonly includes training, mentoring, grants to local groups, and systems-building support so organizations can manage funds transparently and operate with clear internal controls.

The third component is centered on increasing the impact of civil society on public policy. This is where USAID signals an expectation that CSOs will not only exist and function well, but will also influence the policy process through evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, research, citizen feedback mechanisms, and engagement with decision-makers. Activities under this component often involve helping CSOs develop policy positions, collect and analyze data, conduct public consultations, communicate effectively with constituents and media, and participate in formal and informal policy dialogue. The emphasis is on translating citizen priorities into actionable policy input and improving the quality of public debate around development issues.

The fourth component addresses the improved enabling environment for civil society. This typically refers to the legal, regulatory, security, political, and social conditions that affect whether civic groups can operate freely, safely, and effectively. Under this pillar, programs often support dialogue on laws and regulations affecting association and assembly, improve coordination between civil society and government entities, reduce barriers to registration and operation, and promote norms of tolerance and pluralism. It can also include efforts to strengthen networks and platforms that protect civic space and encourage constructive cooperation across different communities and interest groups.

In addition to the four core components, BPCS includes a fifth "Special Projects" component tied to management of the Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund. This indicates that the selected implementer would have a dedicated responsibility to administer or support programming connected to assistance for Iraqi war victims, likely involving specialized procedures for outreach, eligibility verification, disbursement oversight, accountability, and reporting. Including this fund within the broader civil society project suggests USAID wanted a single mechanism that could both strengthen civic systems and ensure the war victims fund is managed transparently and effectively.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity number is RFA-267-12-000001, titled "Broadening Participation through Civil Society (BPCS)." It was posted on March 22, 2012, with an application deadline of May 7, 2012. The estimated total funding is $75,000,000, and notably the award ceiling and floor are both $75,000,000, which reinforces that USAID intended to make one award at the full amount rather than issuing smaller awards. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility details that may have been included in the full announcement.

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas, and the issuing agency is USAID/Iraq based in Baghdad. For applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Belay Teame, Senior Acquisition Assistance Specialist, reachable by phone at 202-216-6276.

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