The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) supports Native American communities by providing financial assistance and capacity building, gathering and sharing data,
and advocating for improved policies within HHS and across the federal government. Each year, ANA convenes panels of experts to objectively analyze and score
eligible grant applications. These scores are used to rank eligible applications which help ANA decide which eligible tribes or native organizations will
receive funds. Being a panel reviewer is an integral part of ANA’s funding process and affords participants the opportunity to have a significant impact in native communities.
ANA recruits experienced professionals who possess subject matter expertise and qualifications relevant to
ANA’s program areas to serve as panel reviewers and panel chairpersons. Panel reviewers should have knowledge and direct experience working with the Native communities and populations
that ANA serves. Panel reviewers objectively analyze, score, and comment on ANA grant applications. Panel chairpersons assist the panel in coming
to a consensus on comments and scores that accurately reflect the quality of each application as it is applied to the evaluation criteria prescribed
in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
For more information regarding the roles and responsibilities of panel reviewers and chairpersons, please download the following job descriptions.
What is it like to be an ANA Panel Reviewer?
Panel review is hard work and challenging but an incredibly rewarding process. ANA uses the recommendations produced from the panel review process to help determine which grant applications receive funding. Because of
this reliance, important decisions rest in the hands of each panel reviewer. As an ANA panel reviewer or chairperson, you may be assigned seven to ten grant applications per review session. In addition to working independently to read,
analyze and score each assigned grant application, you will participate in team discussions requiring critical thinking and writing skills while working with a panel consisting of three reviewers and a chairperson.
What are the qualifications ANA looks for in a reviewer or chairperson?
- Experience in community-based projects
- Good communication skills, verbal and in writing
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
- Experience working with native communities or other distressed communities
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Independent thinker that can also work collaboratively with others
Where is the ANA Panel Review held?
Panel Review is held remotely. Chairpersons and Reviewers are required to have constant reliable Internet access, a contact phone number, email and laptop, and
ample time and flexibility to participate in lengthy video conference calls. Chairpersons and Reviewers will utilize the Application Review Module (ARM) during
the panel review session. ARM is a web-based system to review grant applications and ensures the seamless organization, evaluation, and management of the
grant application lifecycle. Individuals will be assigned to a panel with a set of applications for which they are responsible for providing scores, comments,
and reviewing each application’s content against the evaluation criteria.
When will I know if I’m selected to be a reviewer/chairperson?
ANA will hold two panel review sessions in 2023. The first session will take place on April 17-28, 2023 to review applications for the funding announcements submitted under Native Languages (Preservation and Maintenance (P&M) and Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI), Environmental Regulatory Enhancements (ERE) and Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska (SEDS-AK). The second session will be June 5 – 16, 2023 for Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS). Registration to be an ANA reviewer and/or chairperson is now open until February 1 in the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM). If you already have a profile in RRM, please ensure the contact information is up to date and that you also upload a resume. After that date, you will be asked about your availability for the two panel review sessions. Most communications will be done by email. Individuals that are available, will be contacted to complete the reviewer/chairperson training. Based on your training performance, qualifications, and location, ANA will make panelist selections closer to the start of the panel review sessions. The number of reviewers and chairpersons needed is dependent upon the number of applications that ANA receives. The grant application submission deadline is March 31, 2023 for all NOFOs..
