Open Society Myanmar: Accepting Proposals from Local Organizations, Foundations and Networks

Deadline: 4 March 2019

Open Society Myanmar has launched a request for proposals to provide grant support to eligible local organizations, foundations and networks to design and implement programs/projects in alignment with the priority areas mentioned below.

Open Society Myanmar (OSM) works to build a vibrant and tolerant society in Myanmar. Part of the global Open Society Foundations network, they support a wide array of initiatives in Myanmar to advance education, public health, rule of law and independent media among other things. OSM is a locally based foundation with staff and board drawn from the country.

Priority Areas

Priority Area 1: Support in the education sector will be at both the grassroots and policy levels, spanning all levels from early childhood through to higher education.
Priority Area 2: OSM seeks to increase evidence-based policy research, advocacy and community understanding to address drug issues, through community-based programs, research and policy initiatives with the potential to scale up throughout the country. They will support organizations and initiatives working on voluntary community-based harm reduction of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS)-related issues, in addition to opioid substances. They will also support local organizations working on the implementation of voluntary community-based rehabilitation activities under the auspices of New National Drug Control Policy, as well as those advocating on policy and law reforms associated to drugs based on human rights and sustainable development.
Priority Area 3: OSM seeks to build skills of communities to effectively engage in peace dialogue. They are particularly interested in supporting research institutions and think tanks working on Myanmar’s peace process, to enable state actors, non-state and ethnic communities to make evidence-based decisions in peace dialogues. OSM will support institutions and think tanks to provide alternative policy options to decision makers in order to further the country’s reforms. They will also support institutions and organizations that specialize in civil-military relation studies that can provide inputs to relevant stakeholders on this important topic.

Eligibility Criteria

OSM welcomes applications from a wide array of local organizations, including non-governmental organizations, foundations, networks, faith-based organizations, non-profit entities as well as for-profit companies. Applicants must possess the capability to administer the proposed program/project efficiently and effectively. Additionally, applicants must have the capacity and ability to operate in Myanmar. International organizations are not eligible. OSM directly solicit proposals from relevant international actors when a gap is identified.
OSM upholds an anti-discrimination policy and welcomes applications irrespective of the applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Organizations that have not previously received funding are particularly encouraged to apply.
The following organizations, entities and activities are not eligible:
- Political parties or organizations that have affiliation with political parties
- Government departments and institutions except universities and associated councils, faculties, and university student/ teacher associations
- Individual researchers or scholars
- Construction activities
- Debt financing
- Organizational reserves or endowment requests
- Organizations on the United States (US) Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals List
- Organizations on the United Nations (UN) Security Council Terrorist List
- Organizations listed under Myanmar Counter Terrorism Act and Unlawful Association Act