CFPs: Democracy and Human Rights Program in Philippines

Deadline: 22-May-25

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for the Democracy and Human Rights Program to support and strengthen civil society organisations and community-based organisations working on critical democracy and human rights issues in the Philippines.

Objectives

The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals are:
- To support human rights defenders working to stop impunity and achieving access to justice for victims of human rights violations including populations impacted by the war on drugs
- To contribute to the protection of the rights of urban poor populations in Metro Manila and nearby cities, especially its most vulnerable sub-groups
- To support civil society capacity in monitoring and advocating for the ratification and implementation of international conventions related to labour and human rights, environmental and climate protection, and good governance.

Priorities

The priority(ies) of this call for proposals are:
- Lot 1: Supporting human rights defenders advocating for access to justice
  - Filipino activists or human rights defenders (HRDs) are protected under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution, in particular right to free speech, right to organise and redress, and right of movement. The internationally-guaranteed bill of rights also protects human rights defenders from harassment and undue pressure from state and non-state actors. HRDs are active in different issues of national or local scope such as defence of the environment, labour rights, indigenous communities’ rights, child rights and socio-economic issues. In the past years, HRDs became active in calling out authorities’ abuses in the conduct of the War on Drugs in which thousands, mostly from poor communities, have been killed in police operations and vigilante killings. HRDs themselves have expressed that they have been victims of various forms of harassment, including red-tagging and, legal harassment, extra-judicial killings and forced disappearance.
- Lot 2: Protecting the rights of urban poor and vulnerable groups
  - This Lot will contribute to the efforts to protect the rights of urban poor and community-based organisations, especially its vulnerable sub-groups (women, children, persons with disabilities) from the impacts of evictions induced by state or non-state entities. The specific objective is to support civil society actions working for the urban poor to address and prevent violations of the rights of the urban poor anchored on existing laws, and ensure their equitable access to basic services and legal assistance.
- Lot 3: Supporting civil society capacity in monitoring and advocating for the ratification and implementation of international conventions related to labour and human rights, environmental and climate protection, and good governance
  - The objective of this Lot is to support the strengthening of civil society in monitoring and advocating for the Philippines‘ ratification and implementation of international conventions.

Cross Cutting Priority Issues

This call has the following four crosscutting priority issues:
- Promoting Gender equality and intersectionality/social inclusion through Gender/Social Transformative approaches, based on sound analysis of the root causes (gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI)–assessment, specific analysis, etc.), challenging harmful gender norms, promoting meaningful representation, and using SMART6, gender and age-disaggregated indicators and those that address intersectionality.
- Following Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) encompassing all human rights, whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural. Specific mentions of the use of the HRBA principles at different moments of the action cycle will be an asset. Embraces elements of inclusivity of sectoral issues on disability, rights of minorities and indigenous peoples, youth and promotion of sexual and reproductive health.
- Ensuring knowledge creation and replicability: the action should have a “multiplier effect”, i.e. a possibility for replication and extension of the outcomes. To ensure replicability and extension, the action should have a robust monitoring system, adequate documentation, and demonstrate the ‘multiplier effect’.
- Actions selected under this call must demonstrate strong coordination and coherence with other implementing partners on the sector or geographic area.

Funding Information

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 2 130 000 to be financed under 2024 budget (EUR 1 330 000) and an indicatively EUR 800 000 to be financed under 2025 budget.
Lot 1. Support to human rights defenders advocating for access to justice – EUR 600 000
Lot 2. Protection of the rights of urban poor and other vulnerable groups – EUR 930 000
Size of grants
- Lot 1: minimum amount: EUR 500 000 maximum amount: EUR 600 000
- Lot 2: minimum amount: EUR 800 000 maximum amount: EUR 930 000
- Lot 3: minimum amount: EUR 500 000 maximum amount: EUR 600 000

Duration

The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 24 months nor exceed 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
- be a legal person and
- be non-profit-making and
- be a specific type of organisation such as non-governmental organisation and
- be effectively established in a Member State of the European Union or an eligible county as stipulated in the basic act NDICI-GE. Due to the legal status of international organisations, the obligation of effective establishment in the referred countries does not apply to international organisations, where the latter are eligible, and
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the coapplicant(s) and affiliated entity(ies), not acting as an intermediary.
The lead applicant may act individually or with co-applicant(s). However, where the lead applicant is not established in the Philippines, it must act with co-applicant(s) established in the Philippines.

For more information, visit EC.