Deadline: 25 March 2020
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) outlining project concepts and capacity to manage programs in Iraq that will:
- Strengthen effective governance; increase political participation and civic activism;
- Promote fundamental freedoms; and
- Support atrocities prevention, accountability, and conflict mitigation.
Program Objectives
U.S. human rights and democracy assistance will be tailored to promote governance based on democratic principles, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and peaceful coexistence. It will also provide for the protection of and advocacy for the rights of the most vulnerable, including youth, women, and religious and ethnic minorities, and mitigate the impact of conflict on Iraqi communities.
Proposed programming must be responsive to immediate needs on the ground; flexible in its ability to respond to the shifting context; and in line with the U.S. Government’s democracy, governance, and human rights goals for Iraq. Programming should also contribute to and support Iraqi efforts where possible. Helpful resources for applicants include the annual Iraq Human Rights Report, International Religious Freedom Report, and Trafficking in Persons Report.
Focus Areas
- Promoting Effective Governance;
- Increasing Political Participation;
- Supporting Civic Activism.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $4,000,000;
- Award Floor: $750,000
Activities that are not typically considered competitive include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance.
- English language instruction.
- Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware.
- Purely academic exchanges or fellowships.
- External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months.
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary due to security concerns.
- Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society.
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives.
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
- Activities that go beyond an organization’s demonstrated competence or fail to provide clear evidence of the ability of the applicant to achieve the stated impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations submitting SOIs must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S.- or foreign-based non-profit/non-governmental organization (NGO), or a public international organization; or
- Be a private, public, or state institution of higher education; or
- Be a for-profit organization or business (noting 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”, and 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.
How to Apply
For all SOI documents please ensure:
- All pages are numbered;
- All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper; and,
- All documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Times New Roman font. Font sizes in charts and tables can be reformatted to fit within one page width.
The U.S. Department of State requires that SOIs be submitted electronically via given website. Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will generally not be accepted.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=325012