Deadline: 24-Jun-21
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) has announce an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that prevent and mitigate violence during Kenya’s 2022 electoral cycle.
DRL’s goal is to support efforts by Kenyan stakeholders to prevent and mitigate violence during the 2022 electoral cycle. DRL’s objectives are to strengthen the ability of the Kenyan government, civil society, religious, and private sector bodies to implement sustainable violence mitigation measures that enable the Kenyan electorate to vote in peaceful and credible elections.
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.
Priorities
Illustrative program priorities can include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanisms to proactively mitigate and prevent election-related violence are strengthened.
- Citizens, candidates, and parties are aware of peaceful electoral dispute resolution mechanisms – both formal and informal – and use those mechanisms.
- Political parties, candidates and their supporters commit to a peaceful electoral process, particularly during party primaries.
- Innovative efforts to detect and counter the online spread of misinformation and hate speech are developed and implemented.
- Avenues for peaceful dialogue between political parties and/or citizens are increased and strengthened.
- Electoral violence early warning/early response (EWER) mechanisms to identify hotspots and proactively respond to violence are enhanced.
- A mechanism to address election-related gender-based violence and violence against women candidates is in place.
- The Kenyan electorate is informed of the importance of voting and peaceful elections.
- Kenyan state and non-state stakeholders have the capacity to peacefully mitigate electoral violence during the pre-election phase, on election day, and post-election.
- Kenyan state and non-state actors strengthen electoral violence mitigation frameworks, including clearly delimitating electoral violence mitigation roles and responsibilities among stakeholders.
- Kenyan security stakeholders have increased understanding of their roles and responsibilities during the electoral cycle, including their obligation to protect human rights and the right to vote.
- Mechanisms for holding state agencies, including security organs, accountable are strengthened.
- Polling staff, security providers, candidates and other stakeholders commit to ensuring electoral security and have an increased understanding of their roles and responsibilities in preventing and mitigating conflict.
- Funding Floor: $1,000,000
- Funding Ceiling: $1,000,000
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2
- Period of Performance: 12-18 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 3 months
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.
- 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333448