Deadline: 10-Jul-2020
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for projects supporting civil society efforts to investigate and document allegations of gross violations of human rights committed in Burma, particularly in areas of conflict, for the purposes of pursuing justice for victims and accountability for crimes committed in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
A competitive project will build on existing locally led documentation initiatives to credibly and professionally collect information on human rights abuses and support the rule of law in accordance with international human rights. Within this framework, DRL seeks to expand space for domestic actors to work together to develop and drive a domestically led justice agenda. The project should strengthen and utilize documentation efforts to:
- raise awareness among the broader public of transitional justice principles and practices, including international justice and accountability processes and mechanisms, through social media, traditional media, and other mediums;
- develop sustainable and compatible coalitions of civil society, ethnic and religious, and private sector stakeholders to define common areas of interest and strategies for collaboratively pursuing transitional justice goals;
- explore and pursue a range of transitional justice tools. A competitive project will demonstrate substantial experience with transitional justice programming, an understanding of the transitional justice context in Burma, and clearly establish both a robust communications strategy and a strategy for engaging with and bringing together a wide variety of actors in Burma.
DRL seeks a project inclusive of opportunities for sub-grants and other methods of support to address needs identified by local civil society stakeholders and ensure local buy-in and ownership. Accordingly, the project must take an inclusive, community-owned, victim-centered approach when designing documentation efforts aimed at encouraging broad community ownership and sustainability.
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way. Programs should seek to include groups that can bring perspectives based on their religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible. DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for integration of individuals/organizations regardless of religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity.
Competitive proposals may also include a summary budget and budget narrative for 24 additional months following the proposed period of performance, indicated above. This information should indicate what objective(s) and/or activities could be accomplished with additional time and/or funds beyond the proposed period of performance.
Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:
- Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
- Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
- Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
- Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
- Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
- Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Award Information
- Award Ceiling: $750,000
- Award Floor: $750,000
Eligible Applicants
- 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.
- Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327319