Improving Community Security and Access to Justice in Syria

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to advance the following U.S. government policy objectives in Syria: a) Ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and empower local communities to resist the encroachment of Iranian proxies by enabling the provision of community security in areas liberated from ISIS; and b) Achieve a political solution to the Syrian conflict under the auspices of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254. The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC), will support the following assistance objectives to advance these policy objectives: 1) Support the enduring defeat of ISIS by enabling the provision of community security in liberated areas; and 2) Advance a political solution to the Syrian conflict under the auspices of UNSCR 2254 by addressing security and justice issues that are among major drivers of the conflict. NEA/AC seeks proposals to carry out targeted assistance projects to empower civilian security providers in northeast Syria to deliver security services to their communities, in partnership with local stakeholders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and local governance entities. This will improve security in local communities, including for religious and ethnic minorities, help local Syrians effectively manage areas under their control, and expand space for political, social, and economic activity. NEA/AC also seeks proposals to assess the legal and judicial structure of Syria, to lay the foundation for future assistance to reform of the Syrian justice system. Although NEA/AC assesses that opportunities to support Syrian’s access to justice are limited at this time, it requests that proposals provide options to deliver such programming, if the opportunity arises. Applicants may elect to submit proposals to address one or more of the assistance objectives above.