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Lebanon's current court archiving system is insufficient to meet the demands of the caseload of the justice sector. The goal is to support the Lebanese judicial system to establish and use a legal archival system for paper and electronic cases in order to process cases more efficiently and effectively and to have the ability to retrieve past court proceeding files. As part of this project, the implementer will train file attendants/court clerks (those responsible for this process) on proper filing conventions, document preservation, tracking of files released/returned (including tracking the individual documents contained in each file to ensure files are whole upon return) and other areas related to paper and electronic file maintenance identified as-needed.

CDC announces supplemental funding for the awardee initially funded under the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) CDC-RFA-OT16-1601: Strengthening the Public Health System in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) July 1, 2016. This supplemental FOA permits the eligible awardee to apply for five new project plans to provide capacity building assistance. The additional funding for is for a regional, nonprofit organization to strengthen the quality, performance and sustainability of the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands’ (USAPI) governmental and nongovernmental components of the public health system through the provision of capacity-building assistance.

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $4 million total costs for one or more cooperative agreements to fund a technical assistance project(s) in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to improve labor market efficiency and performance. The project intends to improve labor market efficiency by assisting governments in all three countries develop labor market information (LMI) systems that publish reliable, comprehensive, and current LMI in user-friendly formats. The LMI systems are expected to: 1) enable educational and workforce training providers to help job-seekers and youth develop in-demand job skills, 2) help businesses more easily identify and hire qualified workers, and 3) enable governments to craft effective labor market policies. The project will also support LMI systems that generate data that are comparable across all three countries. The applicant must work with the official statistical agency in each country on the collection and validation of data and with those or other agencies on the analysis and dissemination of LMI, as appropriate for each country context.

With PEPFAR support, CDC Haiti works in close collaboration with Haiti’s Ministry of Health (MSPP) to increase access to quality HIV clinical services, prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and increase laboratory and strategic information capacity. In 2016, CDC Haiti adopted and implemented WHO’s Test and Start strategy, making treatment available to anyone who is HIV positive and reaching 80,000 people – over half of all people living with HIV in Haiti. The CDC program also led the development and implementation of key innovative approaches such as the biometric coding for unique patient identification and patient linkage and retention program. These interventions significantly improved the PEPFAR Haiti program performance. This NOFO aims to build upon these interventions and improve:Service delivery by providing technical assistance in the MSPP network to help strengthen HIV/AIDS-related services through clinical mentoring;Health workforce development by supporting both pre-service and in-service training efforts and working with MSPP in maintaining its national clinical guidelines; andHealth information systems by enhancing the iSanté Plus system, which includes patient care summaries, population-level data dashboards, automated program reports, epidemiological monitoring, and indicator reporting, and is linked to computerized lab results.

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of approximately $4 million total costs for up to two cooperative agreements of up to $2 million total costs each to fund technical assistance project(s) in two different countries to improve implementation of social compliance systems that promote acceptable conditions of work and the elimination of child labor and forced labor in coffee supply chains. Each cooperative agreement will fund a project in one of the following countries in the Latin America/Caribbean region, where DOL's List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (TVPRA List) documents child labor and/or forced labor concerns: Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, or Nicaragua. Project outcomes include: 1) Adoption of a robust and sustainable social compliance system by private sector stakeholders in coffee supply chains; 2) Strengthened capacity of private sector stakeholders to implement a robust and sustainable social compliance system in coffee supply chains; and 3) New social compliance tools on child labor, forced labor, and acceptable conditions of work piloted in the coffee supply chain. The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4 years (48 months) from the effective date of the award. Applicants may apply for one or two of the cooperative agreements listed above. No more than two applications per applicant will be accepted. If applying for two cooperative agreements, applicants should not combine countries in a single application, but must submit separate applications for each country. Each application should request no more than $2 million total costs in funding.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Burma and the National Department of Health (NDOH) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) plan to rapidly expand high-quality antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage in the coming years by increasing capacity at existing delivery sites and decentralizing selected services to provincial, district and township levels. In order to accomplish this expansion, the MOH and NDOH need strong laboratory systems that ensure high-quality HIV diagnostic and clinical monitoring of patients at the existing and new service delivery sites. This will require strengthening the capacity of Burma's National Health Laboratory (NHL) and Papua New Guinea's Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), as well as building capacity of sub-national laboratories and improving the laboratory network in these countries.This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be awarded to a technical assistance (TA) partner to provide support to NHL and CPHL in several key areas, including: (1) developing and helping implement standard operating procedures, policies, guidelines, and training materials related to management and operations of national and sub-national laboratories; (2) building capacity of NHL and CPHL staff to validate, conduct, and ensure strong (and often cross-cutting) quality assurance and monitoring systems for HIV-related diagnostic and clinical monitoring activities; (3) strengthening the overall laboratory network in Burma and PNG that may include specimen transport and right-sizing of various classes of laboratories; and (4) providing supporting mentoring of NHL and NDOH staff and opportunities for professional development.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages exploratory/developmental research grant applications, proposing the development of innovative, collaborative research projects on brain and other nervous system function and disorders throughout life, relevant to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research on neurological, mental, behavioral, alcohol and substance use disorders may span the full range of science from basic to implementation research. Scientists in the United States (U.S.) or upper-middle income countries (UMICs) are eligible to partner with scientists in LMIC institutions. Scientists in upper middle-income LMICs (UMICs) are also eligible to partner directly with scientists at other LMIC institutions with or without out a US partner. Income categories used are as defined by the World Bank at http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups. These grants are expected to foster the development of more comprehensive research programs that contribute to the long-term goals of building sustainable research capacity in LMICs to address nervous system development, function and impairment throughout life and to lead to diagnostics, prevention, treatment and implementation strategies. The proposed work may also contribute to developing a base for research networking and evidence-based policy beyond the specific research project.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Global Health, Office of Health Systems is organizing an Applicants' Conference to present, discuss, and respond to questions from interested parties about the new multiple-award Medicines Quality Assurance Systems Strengthening Program (MQASSP).

The United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to help the Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Health meet key International Health Regulation (IHR) requirements through implementation of priority Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) activities. The objectives of this program are to strengthen Côte d'Ivoire's health system capacities to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. This program emphasizes further improving core GHSA priority capacities in disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, emergency preparedness and response, public health workforce development, and strengthening of anti-microbial resistance stewardship. This program includes a particular focus on strengthening disease surveillance through the establishment of an event-based surveillance system in high-risk border districts, reinforced through public health staff training and supervision. Surveillance and response capacities will be bolstered through improved laboratory point of care diagnostics and the integration of epidemiologic and laboratory data. This program will also support building Côte d'Ivoire's capacity to respond to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies through the training and mentoring of a cadre of public health workers in each of the 101 districts in Côte d'Ivoire in field epidemiology and emergency preparedness and response, reinforcing these capacities via field simulation exercises.

National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has implemented a series of activities to track trends in the HIV epidemic and measure the impact of the national program. A strategic objective of PEPFAR India in COP 2017 is to ensure availability of high-quality data for planning and decision-making, and to harmonize NACO’s efforts for a coordinated HIV response. This NOFO will support monitoring the epidemic trends and continuous quality improvement (CQI) to improve data quality and its efficient use through targeted technical assistance (TA) and limited introduction of new techniques and approaches. The recipient will strengthen the individual and organizational capacities, data quality and reporting systems to inform program and health systems’ planning, and provide evidence for implementation of health policies and best practices. The recipient will collaborate with NACO to develop/strengthen and implement the national HIV strategic information (SI) plan. The recipient will provide TA to health departments and selected public service delivery sites (Targeted Interventions, which are combination prevention sites for key population, Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers and antiretroviral treatment (ART) centers) to strengthen capacities for data management and use for decision-making. Interventions will be implemented in PEPFAR-prioritized districts in two high prevalence states in India.

E3ED_Higher Education Partnerships Incentive Fund - The primary objective of the Higher Education Partnerships activity is to develop the capacity of developing country higher education institutions (HEIs) through partnerships between at least one U.S. and one developing country HEI. Partnerships may take multiple forms, including networks, consortiums, system to system, or individual institutions. The intention is to make multiple awards that support partnerships in multiple countries.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination, and implementation of international narcotics control assistance activities and international criminal justice issues for the US Department of State (DOS). The Office of Africa and Middle East Programs (INL/AME) is the designated lead for capacity building with criminal justice sector institutions in the Middle East, in particular with Lebanon. The goal of this project is to increase the ISF's capability to administer a correctional system that is consistent with international standards through having a proper classification system, institutionalized SOP's and a corresponding curriculum with sufficient training that will improve the safety of corrections officers and inmates.

Organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) outlining project concepts and organizational capacity to implement nonproliferation-related programming may propose activities in response to the SOI that help stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, as well as irresponsible transfers of conventional weapons, by assisting countries with establishing effective strategic trade and border control systems meeting international standards.

The Justice Information Sharing (JIS) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) solicitation has 2 categories listed; (1) Criminal Intelligence Online Training and Technical Assistance (28 CFR Part 23), and (2) RISS Technology Service Center (RTSC) and Administration Support. The Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Polices 28 CFR Part 23 TTA Program provides an online training to help state and local law enforcement professionals understand the guidelines that govern the development and implementation of policies and systems that facilitate criminal intelligence sharing and in FY16 over 6,900 users took this online training. The program also provide technical assistance to agencies wanting to ensure their policy and procedures protect the privacies and civil liberties as identified in 28 CFR Part 23. The RISS Technology Service Center (RTSC) staff supports technical programs and projects that span the RISS enterprise and support the six RISS Centers nationwide. This includes the infrastructure and security of the RISS Secure Cloud (RISSNET) and database applications development. The tasks will be to continue to operate, maintain, and upgrade RISSNET, support RISS member connectivity and access to RISSNET, maintain and enhance the RISSNET Portal and RISSNET infrastructure, continue to operate and further enhance RISS applications, participate in national information sharing projects and working groups, work with other federal agencies and share technology, and ensure applicable databases adhere to 28 CFR Part 23 Guidelines.

The U.S. government's (USG) Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) envisions a world safe and secure from global health threats posed by infectious diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is assisting the Governments globally to meet key International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) requirements through the implementation of the GHSA. CDC seeks to partner with the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture, through a cooperative agreement in a collaborative effort to achieve specific goals in three focus areas of the GHSA specifically: 1. workforce capacity development through FELTP, 2. the "One Health" approach through coordination and collaboration, and 3. Laboratory system strengthening. The proposals funded through the cooperative agreement will respond to Zoonotic Disease Prevention of the GHSA by supporting the Georgian National Animal Health Plan, expanding and updating a cadre of the workforce and training of public health veterinarians to work with epidemiologists and laboratorians in the context of evidence-based timely detection and response, and adapting the One Health approach with the expected outcomes of stopping the diseases in animals before they spill-over into humans and strengthening the current surveillance system.

For over forty years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with the Government of Kenya (GoK) to protect the health of the Kenyan people and strengthen health systems. The United States Government remains the largest investor in Kenya's health sector. This investment includes PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), GHSA (Global Health Security Agenda), Malaria, TB, Immunizations and Influenza. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks to build upon activities funded by CDC to support USG global health priorities in Kenya through implementation of programs and activities that focus on strengthening public health programs. After five years of implementing and strengthening global health security systems, the USG will continue to advance prevent, detect, and respond strategies to mitigate threats. This NOFO's main outcomes are to: Improve prevention of avoidable epidemics including naturally occurring outbreaks and intentional or accidental releases of dangerous pathogens Improve ability to rapidly detect threats early, including detecting, characterizing, and reporting emerging biological threats Respond rapidly and effectively to public health threats of international concern Strengthen implementation science programs and platforms to improve health outcomes

The Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) advances USDA's agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agricultural professionals of the United States, the international agricultural research system, and United States entities conducting research by providing fellowships to individuals from eligible countries who specialize or have experience in agricultural education, research, extension, or other related fields. Fellowships promote the expansion of domestic and international markets in eligible countries by educating a new generation of agricultural scientists, increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to increase trade and agricultural economic activity by extending that knowledge to users and intermediaries in the marketplace. The collaborative nature of the training and research programs not only benefits the Fellow, his or her home institution, and partner country; the U.S. host institution, its professors, researchers, and students; and the global agricultural sector by improving agricultural productivity, systems, and processes in partnering nations through the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies. As part of the Borlaug Fellowship Program, Fellows will attend the Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium (Borlaug Dialogue) hosted by the World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa during the week of October 11, 2020.

The overall purpose of this five year activity is to strengthen outcome measurements, learning and accountability systems in order to provide quality data and synthesized information for planning, implementation, policy development and decision making. This should be achieved through working with county governments and other development partners. The activity should work within the county health sector's coordination framework at the focal counties to ensure that it promotes rational and harmonized support that takes into account other donor support towards the strengthening of outcome measurements, learning and accountability systems.

The key element of the national HIV/AIDS program is ART scale up contributing towards strategic goals of treatment cascade. This project will build on the successful creation of a HIV medical information system through the ACCESS project by scaling up implementation of the MIS to treatment sites in all 12 PEPFAR focus oblasts, including capacity building of healthcare workers, improving information management, analysis and use. The project will also develop and implement a laboratory information system module. In addition, the project will work with the treatment sites to implement quality improvement and facility index testing activities in coordination with other PEPFAR and Global Fund supported activities. The major expected project results are 1) functional HIV MIS is operated by a GOU affiliated Operator at treatment sites in the 12 PEPFAR priority regions and Vinnitsa; 2) MIS data used by sites, GoU, PEPFAR , and other stakeholders; 3) laboratory module implemented; 3) quality improvement activities are implemented at all supported treatment sites; 4) high coverage facility index testing is performed at supported sites.

National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) of Japan have agreed to embark on a collaborative research program to address compelling research challenges that arise from networks supporting future demands of device proliferation and data objects. This NSF solicitation parallels an equivalent NICT solicitation. Proposals submitted under this solicitation must describe joint research with Japanese counterparts who are requesting funding separately under the NICT solicitation. This research and development program addresses three specific challenges that arise when environments with trillions of device and information objects are connected via networks. Trillions of network-connected objects are expected to emerge in the global network around 2020. This trend will require novel approaches for network design and modeling, new technologies to manage and control object mobility, and new and more flexible networks with the speed, capacity and environmental characteristics needed to accommodate communications among objects in the emerging world. This program seeks joint Japan-US research projects that leverage each nation's expertise and address these challenges via work in three areas: 1. Network Design and Modeling: Addressing the design, modeling and component interaction challenges associated with increasingly dynamic and heterogeneous network technologies and applications at scale. 2. Mobility: Addressing issues such as security, control, provisioning, naming, discovery, and fast mobility in a world in which mobility is driven by factors such as social networks, the Internet of things, and cyber-physical systems. 3. Optical Networking: Finding novel approaches for sustainable high‐speed, high‐capacity, and energy-efficient networks that will accommodate communications required in "beyond trillions of devices and information objects" situations.