Deadline: 31 October 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 for a program entitled “Human Rights, Accountability, and Access to Information in the Democratic People Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea)” with an aim to support the policy objective to promote human rights, increase accountability, and foster the free flow of information into, out of, and within the DPRK.
Goals
- To have increased access to independent information that provides a range of view points and increases exposure to and understanding of environments where individuals are able to communicate information and express their opinions freely.
- To increase international pressure on the DPRK government to comply with its human rights obligations through increasing the amount of objective, credible information available about human rights in the DPRK, raising international awareness about human rights conditions, and engaging international actors to adopt approaches or actions that facilitate improvements in human rights conditions and/or lead to increased accountability for human rights violations and abuses.
- To strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of program implementation by the North Korean defector community and individuals working to promote human rights and democracy in the DPRK and to further develop the skills of potential leaders from the defector community in preparation for future political openings, including reunification.
Funding Information
- DRL anticipates having approximately $2,650,000, pending availability of funds, for new programs following the categories listed below.
- Organizations should include an anticipated start date between March 2017 and June 2017 and the period of performance should be between one to three years.
- Fostering the Free Flow of Information into, out of, and within the DPRK (approximately $1,600,000, pending availability of funding, with potentially more than two (2) projects awarded)
- Promoting Human Rights and Accountability(approximately $500,000, pending availability of funding, with approximately two (2) projects awarded)
- Developing Skills for Program Implementation and/or in Preparation for Future Political Openings (approximately $550,000, pending availability of funding, with potentially up to two (2) projects awarded)
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 partners 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 and/or additional special conditions, such as prior approval of monthly expenditures.
- DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
- Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities and relevant stakeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects.
- DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may form consortia and submit a combined application. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant with the other members as sub-award partners.
- DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
- DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects and activities.
- DRL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status. DRL encourages applications from organizations working with the most at risk and vulnerable communities, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic or religious minority groups, and LGBTI persons.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can download the application packages via given website.
For more information, please visit grants.gov.