DRL: Strengthening Inclusive Governance to address shared Pacific Challenges

Deadline: 18-Jul-24

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for a project advances responsive, accountable, and rights-respecting governance for citizens by strengthening environmental governance in Pacific Island countries.

DRL seeks to support a Pacific Islands regional project that will empower a range of different civil society actors, including those from marginalized communities, to work with government actors to address the region’s shared environmental challenges, including impacts from the climate crisis and environmental degradation, in a manner that promotes and protects human rights and good governance.

All programs should aim to have impact that leads to concrete progress and 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.

DRL is committed to advancing equity and support for underserved and underrepresented communities. In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, programs should implement strategies for integration and inclusion of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries that can bring perspectives based on their religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, political affiliation, or veteran’s status. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible.

Objective

• DRL seeks applications for a program that achieves the following objective:
  • Empower a coalition of civil society, inclusive of marginalized groups, and allied stakeholders in the Pacific Islands to effectively advocate for rights-respecting and inclusive solutions to shared environmental challenges, which in turn will advance more rights-respecting, responsive, and accountable governance

Funding Information

• Total Funding Ceiling: $750,000
• Total Funding Floor: $750,000
• Period of Performance: 18 – 24 months
• Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 3 – 4 months
• Anticipated Number of Awards: 1

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.

Activities

• Marginalized groups, including Indigenous communities, women, and youth, should be centered throughout the program. Illustrative project activities could include but are not limited to:
  • Supporting advocacy and public awareness raising campaigns on the importance of inclusive public participation in government-led efforts to address the climate crisis and the impacts of environmental degradation. Campaigns should elevate the viewpoints of marginalized and impacted communities within dialogues on issues related to the climate crisis and environmental degradation.
  • Increasing coordination among different types of non-governmental actors and organizations including those working on environment, freedom of expression, civic engagement, and other appropriate issues to elevate their collective voices on climate and environmental policies and to ensure that these efforts are responsive and accountable to citizens.
  • Fostering productive relationships between civil society and the public sector to support collaborative decision-making processes on addressing challenges related to climate and environmental issues.
  • Increasing civil society’s technical skills in leadership, coalition building, negotiation, research, advocacy, and policy analysis.
  • Promoting greater trust and cooperation among key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, Indigenous communities, and Pacific political institutions (including regional forums and national and subnational governments) working on addressing impacts of the climate crisis. This may include bringing together stakeholders to design and coordinate on the implementation of action plans.
  • Facilitating regional dialogues or convenings to promote the exchange of knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge, experiences, best practices, and other resources.
  • Addressing threats, violence, and reprisals targeting civil society, activists, and/or members of marginalized communities seeking to strengthen their human rights as it relates to climate adaptation and the building of climate resiliency.

Eligibility Criteria

• DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental 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.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.