Deadline: 9-May-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for programs to strengthen the administrative and grants management capacity of up to seven locally led civil society partners that are first-time recipients of DRL funding.
The goal of this program is to grow the administrative and grant management capacity of locally led civil society organizations (CSOs) advancing democracy and human rights in the Western Hemisphere to enhance their management of U.S. foreign assistance, including that provided by DRL. DRL will identify up to seven locally led CSO partners implementing DRL-funded programs as the target beneficiaries for this project. U.S. government (USG) foreign assistance recipients must comply with myriad administrative and financial requirements, for which they must possess in-depth knowledge of various regulations (e.g., Code of Federal Regulations, Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Guidance, DRL grants management rules and processes) and implement systems for compliance.
Many CSOs that protect and promote respect for human rights and advance democracy in their countries lack the resources, personnel, and institutional capacity to fulfill these requirements. As a result, DRL is limited in its ability to directly fund locally led CSOs in the Western Hemisphere. To overcome this challenge, DRL seeks proposals from organizations interested in providing tailored, asynchronous technical assistance to up to seven of DRL’s locally led CSO partners (to be identified through a separate competitive procurement process managed by DRL) to improve their financial, administrative, and program management capacities vis-a-vis DRL foreign assistance.
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms 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.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Floor: $500,000
- Total Funding Ceiling: $500,000
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2
- Type of Award: Grant
- Period of Performance: 24 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 4 – 5 months
Eligible Projects
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.
Ineligible Projects
Activities that are not typically allowed 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 per 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.
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. 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).
For more information, visit Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).