Namibia: Civil Society Anti-Corruption Watchdog Project | DOS NAMIBIA PE 2021 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS NAMIBIA PE 2021 01

The "Namibia: Civil Society Anti-Corruption Watchdog Project" is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Mission to Namibia (Embassy Windhoek) to support a locally led, multi-year anti-corruption initiative. The central idea is to strengthen Namibia's democratic governance by empowering civil society to play a more effective watchdog role, since corruption is described as an increasing obstacle to accountable, responsive, and transparent institutions. Rather than prescribing a single model, the notice deliberately leaves room for locally developed approaches, with the expectation that the grantee will design and run a program that can mobilize multiple actors and generate practical, visible anti-corruption action.

The grant is intended to fund one project, with an award ceiling of USD 250,000, and the Embassy expects to make a single award. While it is described as a one-time grant, the project itself is expected to be multi-year in design and impact, meaning applicants should propose a longer-term strategy with clear phases and sustained activities rather than a short, one-off campaign. The program is expected to have nationwide components and, ideally, to partner with regional civil society organizations to help roll out activities beyond Windhoek and reach communities across the country.

The opportunity emphasizes coalition-building and coordinated action. Competitive proposals will likely show how the project will bring together civil society organizations, journalists and media outlets, members of the public, the private sector, and relevant government stakeholders to take concrete steps to prevent, expose, and respond to corruption. In practical terms, this could include strengthening investigative and monitoring capacity in civil society, building safer and more reliable pathways for reporting wrongdoing, improving public access to information, and creating sustained pressure for accountability through credible evidence, public engagement, and strategic communication.

The notice lays out three core objectives. First, it aims to ensure Namibian civil society organizations are actively engaged in fighting corruption and have stronger capacity to serve as effective watchdogs. Second, it seeks to increase public and government attention to corruption so that cases are more likely to be investigated and prosecuted, and so that anti-corruption laws are fully implemented and enforced. The announcement specifically highlights legislation such as the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Access to Information Act, and the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Act, signaling that projects aligned with implementation, awareness, and enforcement of these frameworks are especially relevant. Third, the project should promote broad public anti-corruption education and help develop and elevate local "anti-corruption champions," meaning individuals or groups who can credibly lead, advocate, and sustain integrity efforts in different sectors and regions.

This grant is funded through the State Department's Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF), which supports programs that strengthen democratic institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The ARDF framing matters because it connects anti-corruption work to broader democratic goals: more accountable and transparent governance, stronger protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and healthier democratic processes and norms. Applicants should therefore expect that proposals will be assessed not only on anti-corruption activities in isolation, but also on how those activities contribute to governance improvements, public participation, transparency, and institutional accountability.

Eligibility is limited to certain types of nonprofit applicants, specifically nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status with the U.S. IRS (other than institutions of higher education). The intent is clearly to fund a local nongovernmental or civil society organization capable of designing and implementing this work in Namibia. The notice also makes clear who is not eligible for direct funding under this announcement: individuals, public international organizations, foreign governments, parastatal organizations, educational institutions, and U.S. government departments and agencies.

Key administrative details from the source data include the funding opportunity number (DOS NAMIBIA PE 2021 01), the instrument type (Grant), the issuing agency (Department of State, U.S. Mission to Namibia), and the CFDA number (19.225). The opportunity was created on July 19, 2021, with an original closing date of August 9, 2021.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Namibia in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Namibia: Civil Society Anti-Corruption Watchdog Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.225.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 19, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 09, 2021. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for DOS NAMIBIA PE 2021 01

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