ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA A. GENERAL

Transcription

1

2 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA A. GENERAL 1. Total Estimated USAID Amount: $500, Total Obligated USAID Amount: $500, Cost-Sharing Amount (Non-Federal): 111, Activity Title: Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina Phase II 5. USAID Technical Office: USAID/Bosnia and Herzegovina 6. Tax I.D. Number: N/A 7. DUNS No.: N/A 8. LOC Number: N/A B. SPECIFIC Requisition Number: REQ Account ID: 1 Funding Type: Unilateral Accounting Template: 194-RSC Unilateral Program Funds Type: Appropriated Treasury Account Symbol: BBFY 2012 EBFY: 2013 Fund: EC OP: BOSNIA Prog Area: A06 Dist Code: 168-M Prog Element: A025 Team/Div: M/MPBP BGA: 168 SOC: Obligated Amount: $500, C. PAYMENT OFFICE U.S. Agency for International Development - RFMC Ulica Roberta C. Frasurea 1, Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina D. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE U.S. Agency for International Development Bosnia and Herzegovina Ulica Roberta C. Frasurea 1, Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina E. TECHNICAL OFFICE USAID/ Bosnia and Herzegovina/Democracy Office 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS USAID Grant No.: AID-168-IO ATTACHMENT SCHEDULE... 5 A.1 PURPOSE OF GRANT... 5 A.2 PERIOD OF GRANT... 5 A.3 AMOUNT OF GRANT AND PAYMENT... 5 A.4 GRANT BUDGET... 5 A.5 REPORTING AND EVALUATION... 5 A.6 TITLE TO PROPERTY... 7 A.7 PROGRAM PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES... 7 A.8 AGREEMENT OFFICER S REPRESENTATIVE (AOR)... 7 A.9 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE... 7 A.10 SPECIAL PROVISION... 7 A.11 BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN... 7 A.12 RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT... 7 ATTACHMENT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION... 9 ATTACHMENT STANDARD PROVISIONS FOR COST-TYPE AWARDS TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (PIOS) I. MANDATORY STANDARD PROVISIONS FOR COST-TYPE AWARDS TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (PIOS) ALLOWABLE COSTS (April 2011) AMENDMENT (April 2011) NONLIABILITY (April 2011) NOTICES (April 2011) PAYMENT (COST-REIMBURSEMENT) (April 2011) AUDIT AND RECORDS (STANDARD) (April 2011) REFUNDS (April 2011) AWARD BUDGET LIMITATIONS AND REVISIONS (April 2011) TERMINATION PROCEDURES (April 2011) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, PROCUREMENT, AND EVALUATION (April 2011) DISPUTE RESOLUTION (April 2011) TITLE TO AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY (April 2011) USAID DISABILITY POLICY AND UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE (April 2011) TERRORIST FINANCING CLAUSE (STANDRAD) (April 2011) Page 3

4 II. USAID Grant No.: AID-168-IO REQUIRED AS APPLICABLE STANDARD PROVISIONS FOR COST-TYPE AWARDS TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA RELEASES (April 2011) REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (UN) (April 2011) ATTACHMENT BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN

5 ATTACHMENT 1 SCHEDULE A.1 PURPOSE OF GRANT The purpose of this Grant is to provide support for the program described in Attachment 2 to this Grant entitled "Program Description." A.2 PERIOD OF GRANT The effective date of this Grant is the date of the cover letter. The completion date of this Grant is January 2, A.3 AMOUNT OF GRANT AND PAYMENT 1. USAID hereby obligates the amount of $500, for purposes of this Grant. 2. Payment shall be made to the Grantee in accordance with the Standard Provision set forth in the Attachment 3 of this Grant, entitled Payment (Cost-Reimbursement)(April 2011) A.4 GRANT BUDGET The following is the Grant Budget. Revisions to this budget shall be made in accordance with the Standard Provision of this Grant entitled Award Budget Limitations and Revisions (April 2011). Cost Element Total US$ Direct Program Costs $470, Administrative Costs $ 29, Total USAID Contribution $500, Total Cost-Share (Non-Federal) 111, Total Estimated Activity Cost* $643, Total Activity Cost is an estimation due to exchange rate fluctuations in representing CoE s cost share contribution in Euros to USD. Under this award, the Grantee s cost share will be in Euros and monitored accordingly. A.5 REPORTING AND EVALUATION 1. Financial Reporting The Grantee shall submit the original Form SF-425, Federal Financial Report on a quarterly basis the Agreement Officer s Representative (AOR) and one copy each to the Agreement Officer and the Payment Office. The form and instructions for using it are available on the Grants Management Forms page of the Office of Management and Budget s website, at: 5

6 2. Program Reporting Annual Work Plan The Grantee shall submit an Annual Work Plan of its activities during the first year of the program within 30 days of the effective date of the Grant for AOR s review. The Grantee shall then submit the revised Work Plan to the AOR for approval not later than 15 days from receipt of USAID's comments and/or suggestions. The Grantee will establish a realistic timeframe for implementing the project in the first annual Work Plan, and correct the timeframe from the original project description, as appropriate. Subsequent Annual Work Plans should be submitted 30 days prior to commencement of the subsequent year of the Grant. The Work Plan shall include a timeline and benchmark indicators for achieving the objectives of each component of the program and also include achievements against standard and/or customized indicators of the previous year. Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan The Grantee shall submit a Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan to the AOR as an attachment to the first Annual Work Plan for the life of the Grant. The Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan shall include the following: (i) The results to be achieved by the program; (ii) Qualitative and quantitative indicators to be used to measure achievement of the results; (iii) The method of data collection to be used to obtain the indicator data; and (iv) Targets for each indicator by year. The Grantee is encouraged to consult with the AOR in the development of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Quarterly Progress to Date Reports The Grantee shall submit one copy of a Quarterly Progress Report to the AOR within two weeks after the end of each quarter. Final Report The Grantee shall submit to the AOR a draft Final Report within 30 days prior to the estimated completion date of the Grant. Once reviewed by the AOR, the Grantee shall submit one copy of the Final Report to the USAID AOR and one copy to the Agreement Officer (electronically) within 60 days after the completion of the Grant. In addition, one copy shall be submitted to: Online at: Mailing address: Development Experience Clearinghouse M/CIO/KM RRB M.01 U.S. Agency for International Development Washington DC Contact Information Telephone (202) [email protected] Final Reports shall contain an executive summary of the accomplishments and results achieved; an overall description of the activities and accomplishments; a summary of problems/obstacles encountered during 6

7 implementation; and the findings, comments and recommendations based on the lessons learned during implementation of the project. A.6 TITLE TO PROPERTY Title to all property acquired and financed hereunder shall vest in the Grantee, subject to the requirements set forth in Standard Provision of this Grant entitled: Title to and Disposition of Property (April 2011), incorporated herewith. A.7 PROGRAM PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES The Grantee is authorized to procure goods and services under Geographic Code 935 using funds from this Grant, except for restricted commodities under ADS 312. A waiver must be obtained from USAID in accordance with ADS 312 prior to the purchase of restricted commodities. ADS 312 can be accessed at A.8 AGREEMENT OFFICER S REPRESENTATIVE (AOR) The USAID Agreement Officer s Representative (AOR) for this program will be designated in a separate Memorandum. A.9 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE The Grantee will be required to implement the provisions of the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and is responsible for ensuring that all requirements of the Agency's environmental regulations as described in 22 CFR 216 are met, and an amendment, if any, to the approved IEE is submitted in timely manner, as will be approved by the Bureau Environmental Officer. An IEE (DCN: 2013-BOS-006) has been prepared and approved in accordance with Section 216.2(c)(2)(i). As this project consists of technical assistance activities and is not expected to have a significant direct or indirect adverse impact on the natural or physical environment, it qualifies for a categorical exclusion. If the Grantee plans any new activities outside those identified in the approved Program Description, it shall contact USAID through the AOR for additional instructions. A.10 SPECIAL PROVISION In 2004, the U.S. Department of Treasury specifically added to its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) the Serb Democratic Party or Srpska Demokratska Stranka/Српска демократска Странка (SDS), including several individuals connected with the SDS party. The list can be found on the OFAC website: List/Pages/default.aspx.). Accordingly, U.S. Government funds under this activity shall not be used for the benefit of SDS party and individuals associated with such. Any kind of services provided to or financial transactions with SDNs involving U.S. Government funds are prohibited. A.11 BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN The Grantee s approved Branding Strategy and Marking Plan dated May 15, 2013 is hereby incorporated as Attachment 4 to this Grant. A.12 RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT Conflicts between any of the attachments of this Grant shall be resolved by applying the following descending order of precedence: 7

8 Attachment 1 - Schedule Attachment 2 - Standard Provisions Attachment 3 - Program Description [END OF ATTACHMENT 1 - SCHEDULE] 8

9 ATTACHMENT 2 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Phase II) I. Introduction The activity will focus on three mutually reinforcing objectives designed to empower women and youth to take on more active roles in political processes that will help create a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership in the run up to the 2014 general elections while raising awareness on the importance of women in political processes and improving their engagement in political life. More specifically, the activity will focus on the following objectives: 1) Increase engagement of women in political processes; 2) Create a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership; and 3) Improve cross-party communication on issues important for the country s progress toward Euro- Atlantic integration. II. Background A. Previous cooperation between USAID and Council of Europe and achievements USAID/BiH awarded $500,000 in 2011 to the CoE for a 21-month program entitled Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program started in September 2011 and ends in June Program activities were focused on a two-pronged approach designed to support stronger involvement of women and youth in the political processes in BiH with a particular focus on elections. The activities were focused on the following objectives: 1) Increase engagement of women in political processes; 2) Create a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership. The overarching goal of this program was to empower women and youth to take more active roles in the political processes of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program aimed to help create a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership in the run up to the 2012 municipal elections; to raise awareness of the importance of women s role in political processes and to improve their engagement in the local election process as voters and candidates. The CoE contributed approximately 135,000 Euros to this program. The program addressed these two underrepresented groups (woman and young political leaders) by giving them opportunities to enter into the public and political life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project has several objectives which are focused on dialogue within the political party and between political parties and improving communication, leadership and political awareness among women and young people. Implementation of this program before the October 2012 municipal elections was seen as an opportunity to build the capacity of political stakeholders to apply voluntary measures for increasing women s participation in political parties as well as the chance to open doors for women and youth to enter into municipal bodies and put additional focus on more substantive issues related to local governance. In the last six months of Phase I, January- June 2013, a focused was placed on increasing the number of women in 9

10 the legislative and executive branches including the local community. After the 2012 local elections, according to municipality rules of BiH, elections for local communities are usually organized the following year (in this case 2013). Therefore the CoE, in co-operation with NGOs, organized more than 100 meetings in 2013 across the country in order to motivate women to run for local community councils, explaining to them the importance of their participation in the decision-making processes at the local level. During this period, the School of Political Studies BiH (SPS BiH) in co-operation with women MPs from the BiH Parliament achieved a very important result -- the quota in the Election Law which requires at least 30% of women to be on party lists was increased to 40%. During the 2014 election women should represent 40% of the candidates on political parties lists, thus directly increasing chances for women to be elected 1. B. Political context In February 2012, Bosnian leaders formed a new Bosnian central government, 16 months after the country s October 2010 elections. The chairman of the Council of Ministers is Vjekoslav Bevanda. This very lengthy political stalemate was due to the insistence by two leading Croat parties, the HDZ and HDZ 1990, that only a person nominated by them, as the largest Croat parties in Bosnia, should be chairman of the Council of Ministers. The new government s period of relative effectiveness was short-lived. The country was plunged into a new round of political squabbling in May 2012, this time between two largely Bosniak parties. The Party of Democratic Action (SDA), a key Bosniak party in the government, voted against the government s budget, provoking the ire of the largest party in the government, the nominally multi-ethnic but largely Bosniak Social Democratic Party (SDP). In November 2012, after months of maneuvering and negotiations, the SDP succeeded in convincing the main Croat parties and the leading Serb party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), to end the coalition with SDA. Critics charged that in exchange for the move, the SDP agreed to SNSD demands to weaken central government institutions and the independence of the judiciary. The SDA was replaced in the central government by another Bosniak party, the Alliance for a Better Future. These political squabbles have seriously detracted from Bosnia s ability to engage in reforms needed to boost its economy and move closer to the EU. While the conflicting ambitions of party leaders is an important factor in this failure, it should be noted that in any case a parliamentary majority in the Bosnian political system has less significance than in other systems, as representatives of an ethnic group, even if in a minority, can veto any decision that they feel does not accord with their interests. This means in effect that all major decisions have to be made by consensus among the main ethnic parties, which is often very difficult since they have fundamentally different views on Bosnia s future. Perhaps the biggest single problem is the lack of support in the Republika Srpska for a more effective central government. The other entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of BiH, has also been plagued with political divisions. In March 2011, the Federation parliament approved a new Federation government, led by the SDP. It included small Croatian parties, but not the HDZ and the HDZ These two parties claimed the government was formed illegally. They asked the Central Election Commission (CEC) for a ruling on the issue. The commission ruled that the government was illegal, but the High Representative annulled the decision of the CEC, allowing the new government to continue working. In addition to concerns about its legality, the HDZ and HDZ 1990 did not see the government as legitimate. They claimed it did not represent Croat interests, since they, having received the most Croat votes in the election, are not participants. 1 Decisions of both chambers of the State Parliament were proofed and published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina and amendments to the Election Law were made valid and obligatory. 10

11 This problem was perhaps solved as a result of the November 2012 reshuffle of the central government. As part of the deal, the SDP agreed to reshuffle the Federation government to include the HDZ and HDZ 1990 and oust the smaller Croat parties. However, Federation President Zivko Budimir has refused to dismiss ministers from these parties, as he is a member of one of them. In return, the new majority called on Budimir to resign. As in the case of the central government, these political intrigues in the Federation are but a symptom of more fundamental, structural problems. The complicated division of powers and bureaucratic overlap between the Federation government and the 10 canton governments within the Federation has created a dysfunctional situation that has hindered the Federation s economic development and threatens the fiscal collapse of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. Some Bosnian Croats have called for a third entity, to ensure their rights. The international community has opposed the idea, viewing it as likely to result in an even less effective governmental system. Opinion polls in Bosnia and Herzegovina have shown a broad-based disgust with the Bosnia and Herzegovina political class. For example, in a poll done for the National Democratic Institute in 2010, 87% of the citizens said the country was moving in the wrong direction, with only 12% saying their lives had improved in the past four years. Yet the October 2010 elections resulted in many of the same ethnically-based parties and leaders returning to power with no viable non-nationalist alternative. The presidents of the leading political parties somehow took all power in their hands and became decision makers, in many cases replacing the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as State government. For instance, the Social Democratic Party of BiH (SDPBiH), the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), the Union for a Better Future of BiH (SBBBiH), Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZBiH) and Croatian Democratic Union 1990 (HDZ 1990), jointly met in Brussels on 27 June 2012 where they agreed with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Füle, to reach a political agreement by August 31, 2012 on the implementation of the Sejdic-Finci judgment and make the necessary amendments to the Constitution to make it compliant with the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the case of "Sejdic and Finci against Bosnia and Herzegovina". All power is centralized around party leaders and their advisers. The solution for this judgment is still pending, and a solution will be found only if 6 leaders of 6 parties are in agreement. The proposed project will not solve these problems but will help in building a new political climate and creating a new generation of politicians who will think and act differently. Therefore, the Phase II of the Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders activity will build on the successes made during phase 1. Through the School of Political studies, direct dialogue between young politicians is finally occurring. We are witnessing how young politicians are changing positions towards some issues, how they are becoming more flexible, more democratic, and how party affiliation is no longer a barrier for constructive mutual action. For instance, creation of the new opposition coalition in the Republica Srpska started in a spontaneous way through dialogue between young politicians from different political parties from the Republica Srpska during their participation in the workshops of the SPS. III. Problem Statement 1. Women and Youth Underrepresented in the Electoral Processes Although a very limited number of women in BiH have achieved political power at a high level, they are still underrepresented in public life and in party leadership positions at both the national and regional level. Women s participation in political and public life is still very low. The root of this issue lies in strong cultural and social prejudices towards increasing women s participation, which continues to exist. Women are often perceived by political party leaders to be marginal to their overall aim of gaining and maintaining political power. 11

12 The media has a dual role in connection with the participation of women in public and political life. First, the media is a mirror of the ruling perceptions (and stereotypes) about the role of men and women in society, meaning the role of women in public and political life as well. Secondly, the media is the manufacturer of the conscience and the guardian of certain cultural concepts, including patriarchal concepts of gender roles in which a strong role of women in public and political life and in decision-making processes is not particularly welcome. In this way, the media indirectly influences the behavior of people and in this case, voters during the elections. Generally speaking, women are less represented in the media than men, and cover stories are mostly dominated by men (in the roles of important figures, the protagonists of the public sphere, politicians etc.). During the October 2010 and October 2012 election campaigns, few, if any, women or young people were presented as significant political entities, and few were announced as possible candidates for a significant place. Only a small number of women appeared in roles that were directly or even indirectly related to the elections. Even in these cases, a woman was usually a transmission figure: she was representing a party, posing with (male) leaders, or spoke on behalf of the parties with the ruling discourse of the party Statistics: the 2010 October General elections and women in BiH Out of 8,149 candidates in the October 2010 General Elections, 5,145 were men (63.18%) and 3,035 women (36.82%). An analysis of the lists of the candidates shows that: a) The number of women on the list was exactly the number of women as prescribed by law - a larger number was quite rare. b) Male candidates were more present in the media, textually and visually, than female candidates and it seems that after the publication of candidate lists, the marginalization of women as political subjects was even more intensified (an exception was Ms Borjana Kristo). c) Many women who began appearing on posters from the official start of the election campaign were not previously present in the media, and many were completely unknown to the public Statistic: the October 2012 Municipality election and women in BiH Again in the case of the 2012 municipal election, it was clear that the political parties respected regulations proscribed by the Electoral Law: the minimum number of women on the candidates list - so called quota - without any real support for women as was given to men in the municipal council or mayoral lists. The results speak for themselves. In BiH, political representation of women at the municipal level is lower than at the cantonal, entity and state levels. During the 2008 local elections, only 15% of those elected to Municipal Assemblies/Councils (MA/MCs) were women and seven municipalities failed to elect a single woman representative. Women voters, especially young women voters, also tend to turn out in lower numbers during elections than men. At the grassroots level, in local community (MZ) councils, women enjoy even less representation. There was some improvement during the 2012 local elections; with 17.1% women elected to MA/MCs; but 7 municipalities failed to elect a single woman as a member of MA/MCs or mayor. Although 5 women were elected mayors, which is 25 % higher compared to the local elections in 2008, this is still very low as there are 148 mayoral seats. One goal of the Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders project in 2012 was to increase engagement of women in political processes. Eight thousand women participated in meetings organized under the umbrella of this program. During the informal part of the meetings, women were encouraged to join political parties and to become candidates in the next elections. Several hundred women decided, for the first time in their lives, to become candidates in the 2012 local elections and to nominate themselves to be on political parties lists. In the end, according to official data, 507 women or 17.1 % 12

13 were elected as members of the MA/MCs. Out of this number, 124 women (24.40%) participated in the USAID/CoE program. This is the result of one year of work, where trained young women politicians and members of NGOs visited many villages and local communities. Unfortunately, although it this result is an improvement, it is still far from the results of the 1998 local elections when % of the seats in the municipalities were occupied by women. Most likely, without this project, the results of the participation of women in MA/MCs would have been even worse in comparison with the results from the 2008 municipality elections Youth in the Electoral process Although most parties have so called youth organizations, there are still problems with increasing the role of youth within political parties and in public life. During the October 2010 Elections only around 6% of elected candidates were below 30 years of age. It is clear that youth engagement in the political process is critical for resolving many of the problems present in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Between the general and local election, the SPS strongly promoted participation of young people as voters and candidates. Local election statistics showed that the total number of elected candidates during the local election was 3,246 out of which 501 elected candidates were less than 30 years old, which is 15.46% (CEC data). The total number of candidates for the local elections was 30,350 and only 8,179 candidates were less than 30 years old (CEC data). Political parties have no serious statistics on the participation of youth in party structures. It is very trendy to speak about youth and women participation; therefore political parties are ready to give artificial data which do not correspond with reality. Young people make up approximately 20% (CEC data) of the electoral body, and hypothetically, they could have a significant role in the country s political and economic development through elections and other civic activities. However, deep divisions, based on nationality, religion, and ethnicity, exist among youth and have been reinforced by discriminatory electoral laws. These divisions, coupled with the complexity of the state apparatus and lack of services for youth, create apathy and reluctance among youth to participate in political life. For example, only 1% of young people in BiH think that they can influence political events in the country, and only a small number of them are involved in the structure of the political parties. Some statistic concerning the position of youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina follows: 77% of youth want to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina, 24% of them would like to leave forever; Between 45% and 60% of youth are unemployed (no reliable statistics); The most frequent reasons for youth to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina are: 1) An inefficient educational system, 2) unemployment, 3) lack of perspective, 4) an unstable political situation. Only 6% of youth are members of a political party, although for instance the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) stated that in this political party 40% are women and youth. 52.6% of voters younger than 30 years participated in the last local election the three most frequent reasons for absence during elections for youth are: there is nobody I can vote for, I am disappointed with the politicians and I am not interested. Only 15 % of all councilors at municipality councils are younger than 30 years of age. There are over 250 youth organizations in BiH, and statistics show that only 9% of youth are actively participating in their work. Given the above statistics on women and youth, Phase II of the Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders activity places a considerable focus on raising awareness on the importance of the role of women in political processes by working directly with women (the project predicts 8,000 women will be contacted), civil society organizations and women candidates in advance of the 2014 general elections. The activity will also strive to encourage greater involvement of youth in political parties and across political parties as well as increase the number of youth running for office. 13

14 IV. Programmatic Approach and Expected Results and Activities Phase II of the Strengthening Accountability of Women and young Political Leaders activity will include components from phase I and add a third component focused on creating more cross-party communication and leadership by establishing an alumni network of former SPS students. Program activities will strengthen communication and political awareness among women and youth. The 2014 general elections are an opportunity to empower youth and women to play a more significant role in the electoral and political processes. The SPS BiH in co-operation with the Council of Europe will implement a series of mutually reinforcing activities which will achieve the following results 1) Increased engagement of women in political processes; 2) Creation of a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership; and 3) Improved cross-party communication on issues important for the country s progress toward Euro- Atlantic integration. The main partner for implementation of this program was and will be the Council of Europe s School of Political Studies BiH (SPS BiH). The SPS BiH is a political education program started in 2003 in BiH and focused on young leaders active in politics, business, public administration, civil society and the media. The main goal of the SPS BiH is to help these young leaders to increase their understanding of politics, to work together, to go beyond the well-established Bosnia and Herzegovina standard political cliché and to understand that they have common concerns and problems regardless of which political party or part of Bosnia and Herzegovina they come from. The objectives of the School are to provide the next and current generation of political leaders, civil society activists, business-persons, civil servants and media professionals, with quality education in the areas of politics, culture of dialogue, human rights and rule of law. The program encourages dialogue as a positive model for communication, understanding and effective co-operation, underlining the general needs and interests of society. The selection process of the potential participants of the SPS BiH is based on direct contact with political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, civil society, journalists and institutions and an application letter. The final selection is based on the applicants CVs, letter of motivation and interview. Generally the school selects 30 to 35 participants from different regions, political parties, civil society etc. respecting fair representation of gender and minorities in the country. Participants are members of parliament, municipality councilors, NGOs, and the media, representatives of entities and state institutions, canton authorities, and leaders of the political parties. The main activity of the school is the organization of a series of seminars for the selected group of participants (five national seminars and the Summer University for Forum of Democracy held in Strasbourg). In 2012, under the umbrella of the above-mentioned program, the SPS BiH selected 60 young politicians and created two groups (30 participants each); for each group the SPS BiH organized 5 workshops with the same agenda. Result 1 - Improved participation of women in the political processes The program s goal is to raise awareness on the importance of women in the public and political life of BiH and increase their engagement particularly among women voters and women candidates as well as among political parties. An expected result after the 2014 elections is that the number of women in the State and entities parliaments, as well as cantonal parliaments will be increased. The CoE will engage women through several means including hosting of public debates on women s issues mentioned above throughout BiH. Young women politicians and members of the non-governmental sector previously trained by the Council of Europe will hold at least workshops in both urban and rural areas in approximately 20 towns and in that way reach approximately 8,000 women. These workshops will include women, youth, 14

15 entrepreneurs, educational institutions, local government representatives, women in parliament and more. In addition, women elected during the 2010 general election and 2012 local election will be invited by the CoE to develop strategies on how to increase the number and influence of women in political parties. The aim of this activity is not only to increase the number of women involved political parties, but to increase their level of engagement in the decision making process. The result will be achieved through the following illustrative activities: Around 200 public debates on issues of concern to women will be conducted throughout BiH particularly in smaller towns and villages; Approximately 8,000 women will attend public debates. Topics will be determined in line with the interests of women in specific regions; and Three seminars, at a minimum, will be conducted for around 40 young women politicians 2 and members of non-governmental organizations, who were trained under the previous CoE program. These women will mediate and organize the debates. These trained trainers will be the core group for mobilizing other women to vote for women and to promote women candidates for the 2014 Elections. During the first seminar, they will design a general strategy and during the second seminar they will develop and implement a year-long road map. At the third seminar results will be presented on the number of women candidates elected into public office during the 2014 election. Elected women at the 2010 general elections and 2012 local election will be speakers at the final seminar. Result 2 Creation of a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership The Political School of the Council of Europe in BiH has been providing political education for young political leaders since The School empowers young BiH politicians to gain knowledge in the areas important for the country to further its development toward the European Union and to take a more proactive role in the Council of Europe Association of countries. The intention of the seminars is to help young political leaders increase their understanding of politics, to work together, and to develop common ground on issues regardless of their political party. Topics also include leadership and management skills, building dialogue between political parties and inter-party democracy, relation of the political parties towards women; empowering young women as political leaders, as well as questions of economy and energy. One workshop has a regional dimension where young leaders and NGO representatives from the Western Balkans region engage in dialogue with young politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina informing them about progress and problems concerning EU and NATO integrations, as well as current political situations. Speakers from Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are invited. In addition all School participants will be active in the World Forum of Democracy which will be organized in Strasbourg in November 2013 (7 day event). They will have the opportunity to meet colleagues from 18 SPS - 16 from the SEE and 2 from Maghreb (Tunis and Morocco). Top politicians from all over the world are invited as key-note speakers, numerous workshops are planned as well as a visit to the Court of Human Rights. The SPS BiH is in contact with participants of each generation bringing them together again from time to time and giving them the opportunity to be part of the regional programs which are a result of the School network. The following illustrative activities will be implemented: Three, 3-day national seminars for 36 participants (mainly politicians) from all over the country and from the entire political spectrum. The seminars will be conducted by BiH and international experts on topics relating to the country s accession to the EU and its economic and social 2 Of the 40 young women politicians noted above, 15 women participated in Phase 1 of the project and demonstrated excellent qualities and achieved excellent results (8,000 women were contacted and 124 women entered into municipality councils). The second group of 15women are from the 2012 SPS generation and they were also selected as noted above. 15

16 development, international relations, leadership and management as well as the 2014 general elections; Selection of approximately 35 young politicians who will attend the next series of political training. In the selection process, the applicant s education is taken into consideration as well as previous experience in management and leadership, taking into account that they hold positions in political parties, local councils, parliaments, governments, and NGOs. The CVs are presented to the CoE staff (Directorate General II) and the School s management. The selection process will ensure balance in regard to ethnicity, gender, region, and political affiliation; and Convening of the World Forum of Democracy in Strasbourg organized by Council of Europe will bring selected young party leaders from eighteen (18) Schools throughout Southern-Eastern Europe and Maghreb. The Forum will include debates on ethics in politics, media; business; corruption; globalization; conflict, etc. Council of Europe will fund the cost of participants from BiH at this Forum. Result 3 - Improved cross-party communication on issues important for the country s progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration. SPS BiH has already selected 25 young politicians and former participants of SPS BiH, from different political parties to come together on a regular basis for discussions. These young politicians are members of parliaments at the State or entity level, executive officials at the positions of ministers, deputy ministers, or advisers, etc. This group will include politicians from cantons and municipalities. They will participate in meetings and possibly form an alumni network to continue dialogue and consider current problems in the country and options and solutions for these problems. The topics to be discussed at the meetings will focus on public and national policies with a focus on future improvement concerning Europeanization of BiHmore precisely, the common fiscal and monetary policy, audit reports and role of the parliament in prevention of corruption, and development of a common strategy for energy efficiency and sustainable use of energy. The invited speakers (eminent professors, diplomats, political scientists, experts) for these meetings will be selected from both domestic and international arena. Through these meetings the participants knowledge will be increased and the SPS, in co-operation with the CoE, will support creating joint platforms for public promotion of these alumni, including legislative and other initiatives in parliaments. An additional goal is to establish an Advisory board of the SPS BiH Alumni as an ad hoc body to suggest and propose further activities of the school. These politicians will also be part of several regional programs, which will bring them together, to promote dialogue and understanding and make them more proactive in moving Bosnia and Herzegovina in the right direction. The following illustrative activities will be implemented: Four to five round tables, which will help in developing better interpersonal and cross-party relations. The CoE experts will be invited to facilitate activities for each round table. [END OF ATTACHMENT 2 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION] 16

17 ATTACHMENT 3 STANDARD PROVISIONS FOR COST-TYPE AWARDS TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (PIOs) I. MANDATORY STANDARD PROVISIONS FOR COST-TYPE AWARDS TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (PIOs) 1. ALLOWABLE COSTS (April 2011) a. The Grantee must use funds provided under the award for costs incurred in carrying out the purposes of the award which are reasonable, allocable, and allowable. (1) Reasonable means the costs do not exceed those that would ordinarily be incurred by a prudent person in the conduct of normal business. (2) Allocable means the costs are necessary to the award. (3) Allowable means the costs are reasonable and allocable, and conform to any limitations set forth in the award. b. The Grantee is encouraged to obtain the Agreement Officer s written determination in advance whenever the Grantee is uncertain as to whether a cost will be allowable. 2. AMENDMENT (April 2011) The parties may amend the award by mutual agreement, by formal modifications to the basic award document, or by means of an exchange of letters between the Agreement Officer and the Grantee. 3. NONLIABILITY (April 2011) USAID does not assume liability for any third party claims for damages arising out of the award. 4. NOTICES (April 2011) Any notice given by USAID or the Grantee will be sufficient only if in writing and delivered in person, mailed, or transmitted electronically by or fax. Notices to USAID should be sent to the Agreement Officer at the address specified in the award and to any designee specified in the award. Notices to the Grantee should be sent to the Grantee s address shown in the award or to such other address designated in the award. Notices will be effective when delivered in accordance with this provision, or on the effective date of the notice, whichever is later. 5. PAYMENT (COST-REIMBURSEMENT) (April 2011) The Grantee must submit to the paying office indicated in the award an original and three copies of SF ( and SF-1035 ( 17

18 normally once a month, but in any event no less than quarterly. Each voucher must be identified by the award number and must state the total costs for which reimbursement is being requested. 6. AUDIT AND RECORDS (STANDARD) (April 2011) The Grantee is required to maintain books, records, documents, and other evidence, in accordance with the Grantee s usual accounting procedures to sufficiently substantiate charges to the award. The Grantee confirms that its program will be subject to an independent audit in accordance with the Grantee s usual auditing procedures, and agrees to furnish copies of these audit reports to USAID along with other related information, as may be reasonably requested by USAID with respect to questions or findings arising from the audit report. An audit is considered independent if the auditors are determined by the USAID s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to be independent in accordance with the standards established in International Auditing Standard (IAS/IFAC) Section 290, Independence Audit and Review Engagements, ( International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA). For Grantees for which the CFO determined in its pre-award audit that the Grantee s internal auditors meet the tests of independence in accordance with IAS standards and for Grantees that are Category 1 PIOs, internal auditors may be used to satisfy the audit requirement. For Grantees for which the CFO determined in its pre-award audit that the Grantees s internal auditors do not meet the tests of independence, the Grantee will be required to engage an independent audit firm to satisfy the audit requirement. All auditors must be considered competent under International Education Standard (IES) 8, Competence Requirements for Audit Professionals, ( International Federation of Accountants. 7. REFUNDS (April 2011) a. If the Grantee earns interest on Federal advances before expending the funds for program purposes, the Grantee must remit the interest annually to USAID. Interest amounts up to $250 per year may be retained by the Grantee for administrative expenses. b. Funds obligated by USAID, but not disbursed to the Grantee before the award expires or is terminated will revert to USAID, except for funds committed by the Grantee to a legally binding transaction applicable to the award. Any funds advanced to, but not disbursed by, the Grantee before the award s expiration or termination must be refunded to USAID, except for funds committed by the Grantee to a legally binding transaction applicable to the award. c. If, at any time during the life of the award, or as a result of an audit, the Agreement Officer determines that USAID funds provided under the award have been expended for purposes not in accordance with the terms of the award, then the Grantee must refund the amount to USAID. 8. AWARD BUDGET LIMITATIONS AND REVISIONS (April 2011) a. The approved award budget is the financial expression of the Grantee s program as approved during the award process. USAID is not obligated to reimburse the Grantee for any costs incurred in excess of the total amount obligated under the award. 18

19 b. The Grantee must immediately request approval from the Agreement Officer when there is reason to believe that, within the next 30 calendar days, a revision of the approved award budget will be necessary for any of the following reasons: (1) To change the scope or the objectives of the program or to add any new activity. (2) To revise the funding allocated among program objectives by more than ten percent (10%) of the total budget amount unless the award states otherwise. (3) Additional funding is needed. (4) The Grantee expects the amount of USAID authorized funds to exceed its needs by more than $20,000 or ten percent (10%) of the USAID award, whichever is greater. c. The Grantee will not be obligated to continue performance under the award (including actions under the Termination Procedures provision) or otherwise to incur costs in excess of the amount obligated under the award, unless and until the Agreement Officer notifies the Grantee in writing that the obligated amount has been increased and specifies the new award total amount. 9. TERMINATION PROCEDURES (April 2011) The award may be terminated by either party, in whole or in part, at any time with 30 days written notice of termination. After receiving a termination notice from the Agreement Officer, the Grantee must take immediate action to cease all expenditures financed by the award and to cancel all unliquidated obligations if possible. The Grantee may not enter into any additional obligations under the award after receiving the notice of termination, other than those reasonably necessary to effect the close out of the award. Except as provided below, no further reimbursement will be made after the effective date of termination. As soon as possible, but in any event no later than 120 days after the effective date of termination, the Grantee must repay to USAID all unexpended USAID funds that are not otherwise obligated by a legally binding transaction applicable to the award. If the funds paid by USAID to the Grantee before the effective date of termination are not sufficient to cover the Grantee s obligations under a legally binding transaction, then the Grantee may submit a written claim for such amount to USAID within 120 days after the effective date of termination. The Agreement Officer will determine the amount(s) to be paid by USAID to the Grantee under the claim in accordance with the Allowable Costs provision of the award. 10. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, PROCUREMENT, AND EVALUATION (April 2011) To the extent not inconsistent with other provisions of the award, USAID and the Grantee understand that funds made available to the Grantee must be administered in accordance with the Grantee s own financial rules and regulations, and that the Grantee will follow its own procurement and evaluation policies and procedures. 11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION (April 2011) Any differences or dispute arising between the parties concerning the interpretation or implementation of these arrangements shall be settled amicably between them either by negotiation or by any other nonjudicial means including alternative dispute resolution, as agreed upon by both parties hereto. 19

20 12. TITLE TO AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY (April 2011) USAID Grant No.: AID-168-IO Ownership of equipment, supplies, and other property purchased with funds under the award will vest in the Grantee during the life of the award. Disposition of excess property financed under the award will be made in consultation with USAID and, where applicable, the host government of the country in which the activities financed under the award take place or other recipient organizations. 13. USAID DISABILITY POLICY AND UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE (April 2011) a. The principles of the present UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities include promoting: (1) respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one s own choices, and independence of persons; (2) nondiscrimination; (3) full and effective participation and inclusion in society; (4) respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity; (5) equality of opportunity; (6) accessibility; (7) equality between men and women; and (8) respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities. The full text of the Convention can be found at the following Web site: convention/convoptprote.pdf. b. USAID requires that the Grantee not discriminate against persons with disabilities in the implementation of USAID-funded programs and make every effort to respect the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in performing the program under the award. One of the objectives of the USAID s Disability Policy is to engage other U.S. Government agencies, host country counterparts, governments, implementing organizations, and other donors in fostering a climate of nondiscrimination against people with disabilities. To that end, and to the extent it can accomplish this goal within the scope of the program objectives, the Grantee should demonstrate a comprehensive and consistent approach for including men, women, and children with disabilities. 14. TERRORIST FINANCING CLAUSE (STANDRAD) (April 2011) U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibit transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the responsibility of the Grantee to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in all contracts or subagreements issued under the award. [END OF MANDATORY PROVISIONS] II. REQUIRED AS APPLICABLE STANDARD PROVISIONS FOR COST-TYPE AWARDS TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 1. PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA RELEASES (April 2011) a. If the Grantee intends to identify USAID s contribution to any publication, video, or other information/media product resulting from the award, the product must state that the views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of USAID. Acknowledgements must identify the sponsoring 20

21 USAID Bureau/Independent Office or Mission and the U.S. Agency for International Development substantially as follows. This [publication, video, or other information/media product (specify)] was made possible through support provided by the Office of, Bureau for, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Award No.. The opinions expressed in this [publication, video, or other information/media product] are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development. b. The Grantee must provide USAID with one copy of all published works developed under the award and with lists of other written works produced under the award. c. Except as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the award, the author or the Grantee is free to copyright any books, publications, or other copyrightable materials developed in the course of or under the award, but USAID reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use, and to authorize others to use, the work for U.S. Government purposes. 2. REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (UN) (April 2011) The Grantee is not subject to taxation of activities implemented under the award based on its privileges and immunities as a public international organization (PIO). However, should it be obligated to pay valueadded taxes or customs duties related to the award, the Grantee must notify the USAID Agreement Officer s Representative (AOR). [END OF REQUIRED AS APPLICABLE STANDARD PROVISIONS] [END OF ATTACHMENT 3] 21

22 I. BRANDING STRATEGY I. Program Name ATTACHMENT 4 BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN The project title is Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina Phase II The joint Council of Europe USAID Project Strengthening Accountability of Women and Young Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina Phase II is funded by USAID and the Council of Europe (as envisaged by the Grant No.: AID-168-IO between two parties). The component activities will focus on the following objectives, as outlined below: 4) Increase engagement of women in political processes; 5) Create a new and more accountable generation of political party leadership; and 6) Improve cross-party communication on issues important for the country s progress toward Euro- Atlantic integrations. II. Program Communications Beneficiaries The main beneficiaries of the project on the Bosnia and Herzegovina side are: Young politicians and women. Civil society. Gender Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as agencies at entity level. Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alumnus of the SPS Other project s partners include: Political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina Non-governmental sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina Young journalists Young business people Indirect beneficiaries and counterparts also include: Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliaments at entity level Communication materials 22

23 The program materials and communications are used to explain and promote the program to the host country, namely to the beneficiaries and citizens in general. These communications include (but are not only limited) the following: Reports; research results; evaluations, brochures, leaflets, informational and promotional materials; posters; banners; advertisements (non-administrative) about program events/activities; and The project team will created a web-site where relevant information on the project, including respective project documents, can be found. Program message The main program goal and message is to increase participation of women in public and political life and to create a new and more accountable generation of politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina which will support understanding and dialogue. The project will be announced and promoted publicly. Prior to almost every event, project partners have decided to agree on the content of the press release/media advisory and then send it to media. Furthermore, at each event US Embassy representatives as well as USAID representatives are invited to address the audience. Since the first steps of the project s implementation, main project partners agreed on the format in which all official documents should be published/released (press releases/media advisories; technical papers; agendas for conferences/seminars/trainings, etc). III. Acknowledgements The School of Political Studies is the main project partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina side. Their logo will be is inserted in the official format of the project document together with USAID and Council of Europe logos when the SPS is the partner. For certain activities, partnership with some other institutions (such as relevant agencies or NGO of Bosnia and Herzegovina or some other US or international organizations) were agreed. In each of those cases, agencies logos will be inserted next to USAID and Council of Europe logos. [END OF BRANDING STRATEGY] 23

24 II. MARKING PLAN Public communication materials I. Program sites funded by USAID (including activities of physical nature) Type of marking Deliverables marked with USAID identity Type of materials Performance period Place of the marking Deliverables not marked with USAID identity Type of materials N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Rationale for nonmarking II. Documents, Publications, Studies, Reports, Papers, Technical Assistance 2.1Technical papers/experts advise USAID logo Period of project implementation Printed and/or electronic copy materials USAID logo in cover page, logo placed in upper part of the page on the left or in the centre. 2.2 Publications (research results, reports, studies, evaluations) 2.3 Promotional and informative materials 2.4 Advertisements (non- USAID logo USAID logo Printed and/or electronic copy materials Printed materials (brochures, leaflets, posters, banners) Audio materials, local Period of project implementation Period of project implementation USAID logo in cover page, logo placed in upper part of the page on the left or in the centre. USAID Logo Training materials Priory agreed with USAID that these specific activities will be funded by the general budget of CoE and there will be no USAID logo and/or support mentioned 24

25 administrative) about Project activities (mainly written or oral information provided in newspapers, internet, radio and TV) 2.5 Media communications (press releases, media advisory and press statements) USAID logo. newspapers, internet sites, etc Printed and/or electronic copy materials USAID logo in cover page, logo placed in upper part of the page on the left or in the centre. 2.5 Website of the Project USAID logo. N/A Period of project implementation USAID logo III. Events financed by USAID 3.1 Workshops USAID logo 3.2. Trainings USAID logo Printed materials (banners, posters, leaflets, documents) Printed materials (banners, posters, leaflets, documents) Period of project implementation Period of project implementation - USAID logo in posters and/or banner exposed in the workshops, logo placed on the left or in the centre; - USAID logo appears at the documents used during workshops as well as in the agenda - USAID logo in posters and/or banner exposed in the trainings, logo placed on the left or Priory agreed with USAID that these specific activities will be funded by the general 25

26 3.3 Press conferences USAID logo Printed materials (banners, posters, press documents) Period of project implementation in the centre; - USAID logo appears at the documents used during trainings as well as in the agenda - USAID logo in posters and/or banner exposed in the press conference, logo placed on the left or in the centre; - USAID logo appears at the documents used during the press conferences budget of CoE and there will be no USAID logo and/or support mentioned. [END OF MARKING PLAN] [END OF ATTACHMENT 4] [END OF GRANT NO.: AID-168-IO ] 26