Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor: Seeking Statements of Interest for China Programs

Deadline: 23 September 2016

The United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that support the policy objective to foster respect for human rights in China.

SOIs should have a direct and lasting impact by promoting reforms that take advantage of changing social and political dynamics in China in the areas of rule of law, civil society, and public participation.

Project Priorities

High preference will be given to cutting edge, innovative, creative, entrepreneurial program concepts that are responsive to emerging trends in Chinese society, and that leverage existing and emerging social media platforms to maximize project effectiveness.
DRL is also interested in projects that provide a proportion of funds for low-cost, high-impact small grants programs.
Projects may engage on non-traditional human rights issues that are of broad concern to Chinese citizens.
Projects should have the potential to have an immediate impact leading to long-term sustainable reforms, and should have potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources.
DRL’s preference is to not duplicate past efforts, but instead support new and creative approaches.
DRL also strives to ensure its projects advance the rights and uphold the dignity of the most vulnerable or at-risk populations, including women, youth, migrant workers, persons with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, religious minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons.

Focus Areas

Rule of Law ($500,000 to $1,500,000 per proposal): Support the rule of law and an independent judiciary capable of upholding the rights of all Chinese citizens, including through the promotion of legal reform and development of the legal profession; support for measures to help China implement obligations and commitments under U.N. conventions, recommendations and declarations, and rights-protective domestic laws; improve legal rights awareness, legal representation, and access to justice for Chinese citizens, particularly underserved, at-risk, or vulnerable populations.
Civil Society ($500,000 to $1,500,000 per proposal): Empower ordinary citizens to defend their rights, and advance freedom of association, freedom of religion, fundamental labor rights, and the rights of all citizens. Engage relevant stakeholders to encourage legal and policy reform; support the development of sustainable and self-sufficient civil society organizations; promote workplace dialogue, and representative, interests-based bargaining at the enterprise or industrial sector level; and encourage space for religious organizations to promote religious pluralism and freedom.
Public Participation, Freedom of Information, and Freedom of Expression ($500,000 to $1,500,000 per proposal): Strengthen and institutionalize citizen participation in government policy formation and decision-making; promote government information transparency and accountability, including to enhance accountability and public participation at local levels; support press freedom and media professionalism; promote freedom of expression and information, including online.

Eligibility Criteria

Be a U.S.-based or foreign-based non-profit organization/non-governmental organization (NGO), or a public international organization; or
Be a private, public, or state institutions of higher education; or
Be a for-profit organization or business, although there are restrictions on payment of fees and/or profits under grants and cooperative agreements, including those outlined in 48 CFR 30 (“Cost Accounting Standards Administration”), 48 CFR 31 (“Contract Cost Principles and Procedures”); and
Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders including private sector partner and NGOs; and
Have demonstrable experience administering successful and preferably similar programs.
DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
Applicants may form consortia and submit a combined SOI. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant with the other members as sub-award partners.
DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.
DRL welcomes SOI submissions irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.
DRL strongly encourages applications from organizations working with the most at risk and vulnerable communities, including women, youths, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic or religious minority groups, and LGBTI persons

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply via given website.

For more information, please visit grants.gov.