Deadline: 24 October 2016
The United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) is inviting organizations interested in submitting 24-month project entitled “Promoting Legislative Capacity and Enhancing Government Accountability in Ecuador” with an aim to improve governance in Ecuador by promoting accountability and transparency within the Ecuadorian government.
Funding Information
- DRL anticipates having approximately $700,000 available to support approximately one successful application submitted in response to this NOFO, subject to the availability of funding.
- Applications should not request less than $500,000 and no more than $700,000.
- Applicants should include an anticipated start date between January 2017 – March 2017 and the period of performance should be between 18 months to 24 months.
Proposal Priorities
- Applicants should address challenges facing government bodies such as lack of independence among institutions, corruption, and abuse of power.
- Proposals should provide a clear plan for assisting civil society in engaging citizens and select government institutions to further initiatives that promote effective, transparent, and accountable governance.
- Proposals should include plans for leveraging potential opportunities in the run-up and following the February 2017 elections and include contingency planning based on the most likely electoral outcomes.
- Applicants should include a plan for strengthening civil society’s engagement of the media, public officials, and others around these issues while also supporting oversight and engagement of targeted government institutions.
Focus Themes
- Engage the National Assembly: Enhance the independence and accountability of the National Assembly by supporting civil society to monitor, engage, and provide strategic technical assistance to the Ecuadorian National Assembly, including new and incoming legislators and staff members.
- Support Citizen Demand for Government Transparency: Proposals should support civil society in pressing for and supporting increased government transparency and accountability.
Eligibility Criteria
- DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses.
- 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
Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit grants.gov.